Oh, and we are going way across the ocean..........

on Jacquelynne's Book Blog Tour to visit Natalie's blog Cinderberry*Stitches! Check out her blog and leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Jacquelynne's new book........

One of the very first blogs I read was Cinderberry Stitches. I loved the embroidery projects that Natalie designs and shared. My mother taught me to embroider and it's a gift I've used all my life. I enjoy sewing but embroidery on cotton projects or stitching on wool and woolfelt penny rug projects really, really soothes my soul and makes me happy. That's why I know that I will do Jacquelynne's wool rug project in her book. I can already see the wool and the colors I'll use in it! Of course, it will have to wait a month or so. This last month has been too hot to handle my wool projects. I figure one more month and the weather wil be crisp and cool and perfect for wooly stitching!

It's not been too hot to work with cotton fabrics, though, and the colors and prints in Jacquelynne's "Sewing Room Social" are just perfect for this summer. I thought I'd share a little project I made as a gift for Jacquelynne. It's a pincushion..........

I wanted to thank her for sending me the fabrics in her line because I had so much fun sharing them in projects at my retreat and with my quilty blogging and local quilting friends. So, over a month ago, I took one of the little candy dishes left from my DayTreat and made this pincushion. I used the Marti Michell ruler that we used for Heidi's quilt class to make one kaleidescope block. Here follows a "sort of" tutorial. I say "sort of" because I have been too busy with family health issues and stuff to take the final photos. But if you want to make a candy dish pincushion just do this.....Well, first you should find a small candy dish/baking dish that will be your base and then gather your fabrics and supplies. :-) Now move on......

Step 1. Make one kaleidescope block and then stitch it to a piece of batting

(I used Quilter's Dream cotton batting).

Step 2. Trim away the excess batting.......

Step 3. Stitch the kaleidescope block with it's batting to a circle of muslin.

Step 4. Using Perle cotton or other strong thread, stitch around rim of the

kaleidescope block as shown in the photo above.

And this is where the photos end but you can finish this just by following these easy steps.........

Step 5. After you have stitched all the way around the block, pull the thread to gather but not too tight yet.

Step 6. Time to stuff the pincushion. Here's how I do it.........I stuff a bit of polyester stuffing in the gathered piece and then I add crushed walnut shells (get them at your local pet store). When I think I have it stuffed just right, I gather the thread tightly and then lay a small circle of batting over the opening to keep the walnut shells from coming out. Then I pull the thread for the final time and knot and secure well. You should have a nice ball now.

Step 6. With a long needle and thread add a button in the center of the top of your ball. :-)

Step 7. Glue the pincushion ball in the candy dish and you have a pincushion!

If you have questions, don't hesitate to e-mail me! I will try to respond as soon as possible but will be in Iowa with my mom this week and will not have immediate computer access. It's summer so I bet you are all at the lake or the pool anyway. :-)
Have a great day!
Sandi