Whimsy Wednesday - French Textile Triangle Pincushions

A few times in the past I made plans to list items once a week on this blog. Some times it happened, some times it didn't, and then finally I forgot about it.

My son and I were talking about it again this week and I was trying to come up with a catchy name. He suggested Whimsy Wednesday... and I love it! So... I am going to do my best to have something handmade to list each Wednesday (in addition to items in my Etsy shops or on my shop blog).


This week I have several small triangle pincushions for you that are based on a couple of antique pincushions I have in my collection.

Each pincushion is made from mostly antique and vintage fabrics, some of which I purchased directly from a dealer in France. In the photo below they are freshly laundered, waiting to be pressed...

I've listed the Triangle Pincushions below. Each one has been completely hand-stitched and embellished with feather-stitching.

When ordering, please choose by number of the item(s).

$15 each plus 1st class shipping (priority mail if several are purchased).

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Email me to ask questions or to purchase.


1. Made from an antique ticking fabric that was once a pillow. I bought the pillow years ago at an antique store, removed all the feathers, and have been using this fabric sparingly in my projects. About 2 1/8" at widest point.

2. Top left fabric is antique / vintage ticking from France, top right fabric is aged, reproduction dotted / paisley cotton, bottom fabric is aged, vintage damask. About 2 1/2" across widest point.

3. Top left fabric is a vintage floral stripe, the fabric on the right is an antique silk ombre moire, bottom fabric antique / vintage ticking from France. About 2 1/2" across widest point.

4. SOLD ~ thank you!
All three fabrics are antique / vintage French textiles. About 2 1/2" across widest point.

5. The red and white floral is a vintage French textile, dark red print is a reproduction calico cotton, bottom fabric is from an antique linen towel. About 2 1/2" across widest point.

6. The silk stripe is antique, the raw silk is recycled, the bottom fabric is cotton lining from a vintage curtain. About 2 1/2" across widest point.

7. SOLD ~ thank you!
All fabrics are antique / vintage French textiles. About 2 1/2" across widest point.

8. Top two fabrics are antique / vintage French textiles, bottom fabric is aged linen. About 2 1/2" across widest point.

9. All three fabrics are antique / vintage French textiles. About 2 1/2" across widest point.

10. Top two fabrics are antique / vintage French textiles, bottom fabric is aged, vintage damask. About 2 1/2" across widest point.

 Thanks so much for visiting!

Take care & God bless,
Lana

Antique French Textiles, Civil War Blues, Favorite Tool and More!

I have really gotten into making these puzzle balls! Each one is completely hand-stitched, which is much more time-consuming, but very much worth the trouble.

I can sit with my husband in the evenings and work on them, rather than being in my workroom by myself.

And stitching antique textiles with needle and thread by hand is wonderful!

Three of the four fabrics pictured below are antique textiles from France: ticking, damask, and a floral print. The last fabric is a vintage damask that I hand-dyed.

I never thought needle-nose pliers would be so handy, but I use them in nearly every thing I do in my workroom... jewelry-making, wire-work with my folk art pieces, turning fabrics, and stuffing those fabric items with small openings.

This blue puzzle ball went to a customer who decorates with prims... especially Civil War era. It was made using recycled wool and reproduction cotton prints. The prints look light in this photo, but they are aged more than they look here.

These are the fabrics I used, minus the velvet. It didn't quite work out so we decided on the wool. You can see the colors better in this photo.

And these are the fabrics I am working with today...
an ivory (but aged) linen,
a reproduction dusty pink cotton that looks like watered silk,
a vintage (possibly antique) brown floral,
and another reproduction cotton print.

The brown floral is a scrap that had bits of green corduroy in the seam. I can't remember where I purchased it, but I had been saving it for a few years. It has a really nice weight and texture for cotton, not the cheap thin stuff you find in stores now.

Now that I've started making these puzzle balls, I am excited to dig deeper in my tote boxes of antique and vintage scraps. So many ideas... so little time! ;)

Have a wonderfully blessed week!
Lana

Something New - Folk Art Eagle Pincushion Ornaments

Sometimes I just have to do something different. I may be right in the middle of something else and an idea strikes and I have to get it on paper... or fabric. Does that ever happen to you? It happened to me, and the patriotic eagle (above) was the result.

I've had this amazing antique piece (below) pinned for a while, but the other day I happened to think of an old quilt square I had in a box and thought it would make a perfect patriotic eagle... and it did!

{via Pinterest}

I drew a pattern (or two or three) and finally had a shape I liked. I took the old quilt square apart traced the pattern on the fabric, using both front and back fabrics, hand sewed it, then stuffed it with a combination of the original cotton batting and some new cotton batting.

Then I added decorative stitches to the seams and used an antique shoe button for the eye. I had enough scraps left to make a few little strawberries, too!

Then I thought I'd make my own fabric panel from a few strips of antique French textiles. Once the fabric panel was hand sewn together, I cut out another bird pattern, hand stitched it, and stuffed it.

I added little antique bone rings to the backs of these so they could be used as ornaments.

The patriotic eagle sold right away, but if you are interested in the French textile eagle ornaments, you can find them in my Honeysuckle Lane shop.

Thanks so much for visiting!

Take care and God bless,
Lana