A Poppy Pincushion and Pin!

This is our last installment in our Hopeful Bluebird Sewing Smalls, and "hopefully" you have been joining in on the fun. This week we will be showcasing our Poppy Pincushion.

Hopeful Bluebird Poppy Pincushion

To start the pincushion, cut out the wool pieces and appliqué the poppy—the templates for the poppy can be found in our Hopeful Bluebird pattern (website link below). The first two petals are stitched down on one of the circles, and then the smaller petals are just tack stitched in the center. Once that is finished, it is time to add the embroidery to the top and side piece. We used a stem stitch down the center and then embellished that line with lazy daisies and French knots. We added a stem stitch around the poppy in purple just to bring a hint of that color to the pincushion, and the center of the poppy is made by using a spider web stitch with 5 spokes. Here is a video of how we did that stitch:

After the embroidery is finished, it is time to assemble the pincushion. First stitch the top to the side using a blanket stitch and #12 pearl cotton in green starting 1 inch from the end. You can pin if you like to help keep it together.

When you get to the end, overlap the two ends and finish off your blanket stitch. Line up the bottom ends, pin, and then sew the overlap with matching sewing thread.

Overlapped ends

Overlap sewn closed

Next, attach the bottom circle with a blanket stitch as you did for the top. You can choose to pin the whole thing, but we found that it was easier to just pin at the end after we had stuffed it.

Blanket stitching the bottom circle

Leave an opening and stuff.

Pin the opening and stitch closed.

Stitched, stuffed, and ready to go!

An extra project this week is to make a pin to wear for Remembrance Day! It's super simple to do—just cut a small piece of wool for a backing and then tack stitch the centers of your poppy petals to the backing, embroider the center, and then add a pin to the back.

 

We hope you have enjoyed making our sewing smalls—and don't forget, we have kits for sale on our website that contain all the wool needed to make all four smalls: scissor keeper and fob, needle book, and pincushion. You can find all links needed for all the smalls below, as well as a link to our Facebook group where you can meet other stitchers and participate in our great giveaway. All you need to do to enter is join the group and then post any of the Hopeful Bluebird projects, either finished or in progress.

Update!

The Giveaway is now closed, but you can now purchase the Hopeful Bluebird Sewing Smalls Printed Pattern along with the wool kits using the link below.

Have fun stitching and don't forget to share your pics!

Hopeful Bluebird Pattern and Kit

Hopeful Bluebird Facebook Group

Hopeful Bluebird Stitching Smalls

Back in April, we introduced our Hopeful Bluebird Stitch-Along during those uncertain times at the beginning of the pandemic—it certainly helped to keep us occupied as we all stayed at home. Our Hopeful Bluebird Facebook group was created and we really enjoyed seeing everyone's version of the wallhanging. Because it was so fun, we wanted to keep that fun going by creating more options to use our pattern so we created some sewing smalls that used our Hopeful Bluebird motifs. And to make it even easier to create, we have put together a kit for all four sewing smalls! 

The limited edition kits are available on our website starting today and will include all the wool needed. The Hopeful Bluebird pattern is available in our store in either digital or printed form if you don't have it already.

Each week, for the next 3 weeks, we will give you the instructions to create the showcased small for that week. This week we are creating our pansy scissor keeper which will be a pretty complement for those special scissors—pair that with our scissor fob that we showed you a couple of weeks ago (HERE) and your scissors will be set.

Hopeful Bluebird Scissor Keeper

Cut your wool out using your templates
and staple or fuse and then appliqué.

Stitch the vine onto your scissor keeper 
top. We used #12 pearl cotton.

Blanket stitch the top of your keeper front
with #12 pearl cotton, starting and stopping
an eighth of an inch from the ends.

Assemble your scissor keeper by placing
the keeper top on the top of the back piece, 
then place your front on top of that
aligning the edges.

Pin or staple all your pieces together to keep them in place and then 
blanket stitch around the entire scissor keeper.
Sometimes I lightly draw a line around the edge of the piece I am
working on to help keep my blanket stitches even.

(The first scissor keeper we made had a purple pansy, but we changed that out later to make it purple and orange as those colors looked better with the rest of the projects.)

The leaves are stitched down with an angled blanket stitch.

To add a little pop of color, you can make a
few straight stitches in a contrasting color
on the bottom three petals.

The finished vine.

If you choose to purchase the kit (and we hope you do!) your kit will include all the wool needed to make all the smalls including the scissor fob. The cream background for all of them is a 12" square and we have included a picture here of how we laid our templates out to make sure all your pieces will fit.

These little sewing treats would make lovely gifts for a fellow stitcher or for yourself and let's face it—we can always use some new stitching items! If you don't have the pattern, you can head to the website to purchase it in either digital or printed form. While you are at the website, feel free to pick up a kit while you are there.  Just click on the Hopeful Bluebird link in our shop.

The next step will be to download the instructions for the scissor keeper. You can do that below or better yet, join our Hopeful Bluebird Facebook Group. All the links to the instructions will be there as well and you can share your progress, and maybe make a few new friends. We also have an ongoing giveaway that is running. All you have to do to enter is post a picture in the Facebook Group of any Hopeful Bluebird project you have done or are doing. The giveaway will close on November 23rd and the winner will be revealed on Thanksgiving Day, November 26th.

Update!

The Giveaway is now closed, but you can now purchase the Hopeful Bluebird Sewing Smalls Printed Pattern along with the wool kits using the link below.

Hopeful Bluebird Pattern and Kit

Hopeful Bluebird Facebook Group

If you are already a member, please share our group with a friend. The more the merrier and the more inspiration and encouragement we will receive from one another. We can't wait to see everyone's stitching treasures!

Happy Stitching

At Home in a Quilt Shop

For the last two weeks, I (Teri) have had the privilege of visiting Alaska. Our primary draw was spending time with our son's family, but we've also had the opportunity to visit some lovely parts of the state. And throughout our travels, one thing I've learned is that quilting is alive and well in The Last Frontier!

Whenever we travel, my wonderful husband indulges my passion by driving me to any quilt shop I find in our general vicinity. (The deal is that he gets to pick a BBQ restaurant for every quilt shop we hit. On this trip, I'm way ahead.)

We spent the weekend with my son, his wife, and our adorable grandson, and then took a side trip north to a small tourist town called Talkeetna. We walked through the many shops, most of which featured local artisans' work. While there was no actual quilt shop, there was something quilty in nearly every shop we entered. And much of it was uniquely Alaskan.

"The Blanket Toss today is used as a form of recreation and celebration. But the origin of the blanket toss had a much more serious purpose. Much of the coast of Northern and Western Alaska is barren and flat. The native people of this region would use a blanket made from the hide of a walrus to toss a member of their hunting party high into the air to spot game such as walrus, seal, whale, and polar bear. This practice often meant the difference in the success of a hunt.
This pin cushion represents not only the blanket toss, but also the ingenuity of Alaska Natives which helped them survive in their often harsh environment."

I was intrigued by these unusual thimbles, but I resisted the temptation to purchase one.

One gift shop had this small display of Alaska-themed fat quarters.

In another gift shop, we saw this lovely yarn display.

And then there were these rolled ribbon rabbit flowers.

The next day we ventured further north through Denali State Park, as far as the town of Healy, where we boarded the bus for our tour through Denali National Park. I was happily surprised to look across the street and see this big FABRIC sign; I wasn't expecting a quilt shop in this tiny town! Taking pictures in the shop wasn't allowed, so I can't share the joy with you, but there was a nice selection of Alaskan fabrics and original patterns, created by the owner's niece.

On our way back to my son's home in Anchorage, we sought out our next shop: Sylvia's Quilt Depot in Wasilla. Our GPS took us in a wrong direction, but I called the shop, and a gracious employee talked me there. What a delightful shop! Racks of Alaskan patterns, displays of fabrics designed by local artists (like Barbara Lavallee and McKenna Ryan), and lots of friendly quilters. The shop has an "open sew" on Wednesdays and Fridays, when anyone can come and sew. Some days they have potluck lunches, and on some they order from a local deli. Not just a quilt shop, but a gathering place for fellow stitchers.

A welcoming front-door view: so colorful! Great thread selection, as well as fabric.

The "sew-in" the day we were there was well-attended, and there was a lot of laughing with the sewing.

   

A bit further south, in Eagle River, we found The Quilt Cache. Again, I was greeted with warmth and friendliness. The young lady, above, showed me around the shop, and told me about making the bear's claw wall-hanging with her grandmother. I met the owner, who ironically, has good friends who live in my home town. The quilt world is a small one!

Patterns, wool, threads, rick rack: a bit of everything!

Alaskan fabrics, some designed by local artists.

The color wall, where fabrics go to make room for the newer bolts or collections in the center of the shop.

The following day, we all went to the Anchorage Market and Festival, with a variety of different kinds of vendors. I'm sure you can guess why this tent caught my eye. No better way to display one's goods than on lovely quilts!

The quilts drew us in, and we admired his wood-turning skill . . .

. . . but my attention was grabbed by these needle holders: beautiful wood containers, which open to store needles or pins, secured by a magnet inside. Such pretty and distinctive pin holders.

But when I saw these, I knew he must have a quilter in the family. (Indeed, his niece is a quilter.)
Perhaps unsewing would be less painful with such a beautiful tool. I may or may not have a lovely new awl and seam ripper. 
If you're interested, you can email the artist, David Staeheli, by clicking here.

One of the local quilt shops in Anchorage, Seams Like Home, had a tent set up at the market. They had a display of many fabrics and prints unique to Alaska. I purchased a hand-painted raven panel and received a coupon for a free fat quarter. Guess we'll have to check out the shop!

A good selection of hand-painted panels of prevalent Alaskan animals, including raven, bear, and moose

After the Market, we took a walk through downtown Anchorage. I knew there was a quilt shop in the city and wanted to visit. The Quilted Raven is a lovely shop, with something for everyone who loves needles!

Many Alaskan prints and panels; the wall on the left is full of panels by Alaskan artist Barbara Lavallee.

More Alaskan-themed patterns and stencils

A wonderful assortment of threads and wool fabrics

Talk about a color wall! A slice of rainbow heaven.

There are four more quilts shops here in Anchorage to visit, but I think I've fought photos in Blogger enough for one vacation. Perhaps I'll share more about those visits in a later post, as I'm quite sure we will make the stops. Maybe it's because of the long, dark winters that quilting is so popular, but fortunately, quilters in Alaska don't have far to go to stock up on the supplies of their craft. What a blessing it's been to see such wonderful works of artistic quiltmaking that reflect the stunning beauty of this state.

I was texting with my friend, Barb, telling her about my personal "shop hop." She responded that she always thinks it fun to go to quilt shops, because it's like visiting friends. I have to agree. Quilters are all friends, even if we don't know each other. I felt welcomed and at home in each shop I visited. I may live on the other side of the continent, but when I'm in a quilt shop, even in Alaska, I am at home.