Hearts and pincushions

Now that the Christmas season is over we all seem to move over fast to the next occasion we can be creative about. The Christmas decorations have only just been put away or out come all the goodies and inspiration for Valentine's: in the shops, on internet, on the blogs, on Pinterest. You can close your eyes on it, or enjoy it and go for it. Heart shaped quilted mug rugs or a table runner with hearts, for instance, take some time to make and might be ready just in time as a gift on Valentine's Day.

In my craft room there are the occasional hearts: in bangles, in jars, in baskets and as I have decided to put up curtains in this room with woven hearts the colour 'red' and 'hearts' certainly attract my eye.

During our last quilt bee before Christmas our teacher Hanneke had put a Christmas wish on our working space, in a bright red envelope and on top of it this beautifully wrapped up parcel waiting for our arrival. Such a warm and surprising welcome! She had engaged her father to help out with the wrapping up, as Hanneke is as busy as a bee in this season, with all its specific happenings, materials and projects.

What a wonderful atmosphere - Season's quilts (you would like to make them all for next Christmas), toys, cookies, embroidery all around us. The quilt shop is inspirational as such but over Christmas has all these extra's - your eyes go round in wonder. Have a look at Hanneke's blog here on the Christmas time in her quilt shop, her December entries. We got all excited and cheery, what a superduper surprise to find a magnetic pin cushion, to put next to our sewing machines. With hearts! Red! Big hearts, small hearts! This is mine ....

Christmas gift for the Monday bee from Quiltatelier Vlijtig Liesje (background private pillow)

Such a huge magnetic pin cushion had been on my wish list for a long time. Once observed during sewing classes years ago when a fellow student carried this back and forth every week (together with a very smart sewing box, which I acquired afterwards just the same). Recently seen on a craft show, but thinking 'I'll get it another time' and therefore remaining on the 'wish list'. A very welcome gift, it will be well used!
When you sew, quilt, embroider, there are all these various pins you use. For dress making I like plain pins and this magnetic pin cushion is great for this.
We became all very giggly and boisterous, and discussed the advantages of the magnet. One girl turned her whole pin box upside down to illustrate how strong the magnet is - you have your pins back in no time, no problem.
With a challenging smile we tried out the variety of Christmas cookies going with the coffee: 'Would you like another one, have you tasted this one?!' ;-)) Gorgeous! Thank you Santa Hanneke!

So, that is hearts for my sewing from now on. There is the little felt heart in my small sewing box, used for embroidery moments, or when I visit classes. It was a packet once at the 'Hema' and if remembered well sold in aid of charity, or sold as a craft project for kids.as a key holder, for Mother's Day maybe. I gave it my own twist with a leaf (still lying there from a strawberry project and waiting for a destination), little silk roses and a red bead, until it looked good to me, chosing the pink as the front as it matched best with the roses. It is cute, it is nice and puffy, about 2 inches in size, and I just love it.

The needle keeper was quickly made from a little project for sale at 'Wibra' (also for kids I think) when I needed to take some needles on a river quilt cruise (organized by Hanneke). Well, you cannot take a cabin trunk with all your notions on a quilt cruise, can you?! The Wibra also meant it to be a key holder, but it ended up like this in my creative world. Running out of red floss in the outer line the white was just as good to finish it with. Who says it has to be perfect? Prepunched, precut, everything there and off you go - back to childhood and making a pretty heart! Wonderful!
Why the big needle ended up on there is a question - it was certainly not needed on the cruise .....

In the middle you see a small enamel pin with the symbol of Friesland, a province in the north of Holland. The heart shaped leaves of a yellow water plant, family of water lillies, are the symbol in the flag of Friesland, so called 'pompeblêde'. So much water all around in Friesland, so many waterlillies. No idea how this little item ever arrived in my sewing box - it found an 'on show' place now on the needle keeper.

Well, guys, pin cushions, pin cushions, pin cushions. In a previous post I asked: how many can you have? In my case never too many. Hearts - hearts - hearts - the same goes here: how many can you have? Well, not enough ..... Share the warmth of your heart with others and enjoy the warmth of accepting a gift and creating small things! .