Valentine

I have been busy preparing for my valentine promotion at my shoppe, Marcella-Mia.
Here are some of the little tags that are completed, still lots more to do.
Mt theme is olde worlde red and pretty pink and will include lots of hearts and roses.

Pink & Blue

will never do,
all the boys will wink at you!
How often we chanted this little verse as children and one can see why these two colours catch the eye.
Part of my valentine theme for open house is pink and blue, the other part is "Roses are Red". I just love my little one cup tea cosy in candy stripe pink with bouquet of roses a-top. The little soft pink and blue apron is a vintage, the pink organza is so delicate. The lovely rose bowl and plate are amongst my favourite crockery pieces. now to get the rest of the sewing done.

Nut pinkeep

I have made these little nut pinkeeps over the years, they make lovely gifts for someone who sews. Small and easy to attach to a sewing basket,these pinkeeps are easy to make, the hardest part is cracking the walnut shell in half.

For each pinkeep you need a half walnut shell, a bit of fabric, I like to use a velvet but they look equally cute with a cotton print, a little trim (lace, ricrac etc)stuffing, (polyfiber or my preference, old wool, sawdust,), some ribbon for hanging nut pinkeep, and hot glue gun and glue sticks. Pins to embellish. Sealer for nut, i like to use shellac flakes but a spray sealer is fine as well. This will just make sure no little insects get into the nut.
Seal your nutshell.
Cut your fabric about an 1" larger than the diameter of nutshell. Run a gathering stitch around egde of fabric using strong thread or double your thread. Pull up thread to so fabric fits inside rim of nutshell. Fasten off thread. Glue fabric to just inside nut shell, leaving a small opening for stufing. Stuff shell and fill up fabric until you have the shape required. Glue opening closed.Stitch gather lace or trim of choice around fabric edge. glue or stitch thin ribbon where lace and fabric join, leaving a long tail end to make loop for hanging. Knot ends of loop. Place pins in fabric to embellish and your little nutpinkeep is completed.

Primitive pinkeep

Here is my latest primitve pinkeep. I just love pincushions, pinkeeps and make-do's.

This one is well aged, baked and stained muslin head and wool hair. I painted in her features using watercolours and faded it as i stained. She has a pinched nose. Her collar is vintage and has an old leather button. She is weighted so sits well.