Tiny World Make-Do Pincushion and more teasers from Flora and Fauna!

I love pincushions! They are practical and they can be so whimsical! Over the years I’ve made a few and collected a few. Recently I came across a pincushion pattern titled “Tiny World Make-Do Pincushion” designed by Mimi Kirchner. I bought it from her Etsy shop for $10 and it arrived in my inbox shortly thereafter! These little houses in teacups are totally adorable and so much fun to make. The instructions are well written, well-illustrated and easy to follow. The pattern calls for wool roving for the "world" but I am frugal by nature so I decided to make-do with what I had on hand which was pantyhose and fibrefill. It worked just fine. And here is my first tiny world make-do pincushion.

I had so much fun making this pincushion – I’ve already started a second . In fact think I might want to make an entire village! Guess I’ll have to make some trips to the local Sally Ann Thrift Shop for teacups, mugs and other suitable vessels if my tiny world is going to expand!

And now for a few more “Flora and Fauna, Parts of a Garden” teasers. I tracked down one of the challenge fabrics, Romancing the Rose. It is definitely not my cup of tea - the dramatic print did not appeal nor did the colours. So I had to figure out how to use the components in a way that would be appealing to me. At the end of the day I want something I am happy with.

So after a good long think I came up with some ways to use the fabric that were interesting to me. I used the stem of the rose to make the walking stick insect (there is such an insect) and I used the rose blossoms to make the toadstools. A bit of the rose and the black background were used to make the butterfly wings.

From my perspective the key benefit of participating in a fabric challenge is that I am forced to look at the fabric in new and interesting ways. The result can be very exciting and it can be applied to non-challenge projects.

I have a few more teasers for tomorrow and then it will be time for the reveal! I hope that this images are giving you some ideas about reinterpreting your fabric in new ways. You don't just have to cut strips, squares or triangles!

And it isn't too late to enter a quilt made of just squares and rectangles in Quilting Gallery's Show and Tell Works in progress can be entered too! So take a picture of your quilt and enter. I've been invited to be a guest judge this week.

Until I post again, happy sewing!