Flower Pincushions from Medicine Bottle Caps

I know this has been passed around, but I wanted to share the little pin cushions I've been making with 'childproof' pill bottlecaps. It's the ones that are on the large bottles. The caps are about 2 1/2 inches across.

As you can see, you cut out circles larger than the top so that you can stitch around it like a yo-yo and draw it up around the lid. Then you do the flower middle (where you stick the pins) the same way and draw it up around the ball of batting. Fit the middle down on the bottom and stitch them together. Make 8 triangles cut from 4 approximately 2 to 2 1/2 inch squares. Gather the long side of each triangle on a thread and stitch them down gathered around the edge. This looks like leaves or petals. You can attach a string to hang it from if you like or just sit it by your chair for your stitchin' time.

As far as the material, I used wool felt and I think some of it was kunin felt, too. But you can use poly felt or cotton fabric or any fabric. Wool is good, especially inside, to keep your needles from rusting.

To look at some more AWESOME PINCUSHIONS click the link

I'M BA-ACK!

What a great time I had! We stopped at a quilt shop in Beeville on the way up on Wednesday. We got to our room and settled in before dinner. Of course, for four days we sewed and ate and sewed and snacked and sewed and ate and sewed and snacked and sewed and ate and sewed and snacked, then slept. In between we stopped at a couple of quilt shops that gave us nice discounts. I bought a yard each of a set of fabrics half price! from Oak Leaf Quilts in New Braunfels and the cutest fat fruit bottomed girls at the Quilt Haus. We were given an incredible gift from guild of a plastic tote for blocks and it was filled with lots of great supplies. We each sewed up a quilt block that was pre-cut and my buddy Judy who visited me twice (YEA!) got to draw two winners of block sets. (She didn't draw my name -- )-8 LOL) an Austin quilt guild was in the smaller meeting room we used last year and they shared lots of great projects with us. Two of which one our sweet ladies learned to make and we got started making pocket organizers that hang down in front of the machine and little "ort" bags for scraps and threads. Plus, a small group of us went for the mystery quilt project. I almost finished my top at retreat.... OMG, a lot of 2 inch squares to cut! I'm holding my "Autumn in the Valley" that's just missing two borders. I want to finish it soon! We got home Sunday early evening and I slept two hours because I stayed up til 3 am so I could finish the top before I left retreat. I'm starting to get things back together around here and it's time to get it together again for our trip to the Texas Renaissance Festival next week. I've never travelled twice this close together. I'm a homebody. But... I'll tell you I'm already planning on retreat next year. What a Hoot and a Hollar!!!! Thanks to all my wonderful guild friends for their good times and friendship that we shared.

I'M GOING TO RETRE-E-EAT!!!!!!

I'm getting excited! I really didn't think it was 'sposed to be' this year. Last year's guild quilt retreat was so much fun and this year is one day longer and in a bigger sewing room. Sweet! A sweet lady, Mary, in guild is unfortunately unable to go and invited me to take her place. I had a 'list' of things to overcome to get to go, but HALLELUJAH! It is working out. It is amazing though how many important things can get planned for one week!

Oh, well, lots of people have been good to me and are stepping in and helping. Including my wonderful husband and three daughters who will be caring for my mom.

Her health is deteriorating and she is not as independent as she has been. I'm very concerned about her, but she really seems to be wanting to pass on and not hurt anymore. We're not going to rush it, but God has a day and an hour and we're not going to 'try' to get in his way either. I just pray that He will let her be comfortable and happy for as many days, weeks, months she has with us.

Retreat is at John Newcomb's Tennis Ranch near New Braunfels Texas. What a beautiful area, beautiful facility, incredible food, great accomodations... and wonderfully sweet ladies to sew with, too. Last year we shop-hopped all the way up, during and on the way back, too.