Procrastinator & a Tutorial

I'm not sure what's gotten in to me lately. I thought I had beaten the procrastination thing, but now, it is rearing it's ugly head. I just finished my pincushion for the Scrappy Pincushion Swap today...the mailing deadline! But, I thought this pincushion turned out so cute that I plan to make some more, and thought maybe I wasn't the only one. So, here is the Hexagon Pincushion Template for you to download.

Super Easy Directions:

1. Use your favorite hexagon method, or try my no-baste hexagon tutorial.
2. Hand stitch the hexagons together at the seams until you have a hexagon flower.
3. Cut out two circles from the templates - one cream and one print, and stitch the flower on the cream circle.
4. Then stitch, right sides together, leaving a 1 1/2" opening, turn right sides out, and fill with stuffing.
5. Whip stitch the opening closed, and stitch the centers together {you can add a button if you'd like!}.

And, voila! A cute little pincushion.

I also made this cute needle holder. If you want to make one to hang with your sewing stuff, it's easy too!

Directions:

1. Cut two 4" squares of fabric and a 3 1/4" square of felt.
2. Interface the wrong side of one of the squares and sew centered felt across the top of the other.
3. Use a 4 1/2" x 2" scrap of fabric, folded as for biased binding, to make the loop.
4. Pin the loop to the top of one of the squares, pointing down, and sew the squares, right sides together, and turned them.
5. Finish with a 1/8" top stitch {no need to whip stitch, the top stitching will close up your opening}.

If you make these, we'd love for you to add them to our Flickr group.

P.S. Are these directions easy enough, or do you want more pictures? I wasn't sure if they were necessary, and it is dark, so they weren't turning out. Let me know and I can expand it, but if this is enough, that's great too!

Little Notions (Giveaway)

Comments closed, winner will be announced shortly.

To celebrate my post being featured this week, we thought we'd hold a little giveaway of a few notions!  My mom made up this darling pincushion and needlebook {out of Kate Spain's Central Park}, and I added the pins and needles, and together we've got a lovely little giveaway.

To enter all you need to do is leave a little comment about what unique notion you use or like most and why {feel free to add a storage tip too!}.  Here's mine:

I really love a small crochet hook for turning points, especially in a tight corner.  The blunt edge is perfect for not poking through the corners, but the small size is perfect to really get a nice point.  I keep things like this in a little tin basket by my ironing board, so it is within easy reach!

You have until next Wednesday, January 19th at midnight, and will draw the winners Thursday!  If you're a follower {or if you become one}, you may leave a second comment telling us for another chance to win {in order to get two chances, you must leave two comments!}.  Please make sure your e-mail address is in your blogger profile or that you leave it in your comment {to avoid spam, you may want to write your e-mail address like this: jennie(at)cloverandviolet(dot)com}.  If your number is drawn to win and your e-mail address is not available, we will have to draw again.  Good luck!

Featured!

Maybe you remember my post about my disasterous sewing room?  Well, although it always looks like that in the middle of a project, I try to keep it more organized.  So, when Shruti of 13 Woodhouse Road was hosting a sewing spaces week and wanted contributors, I volunteered.  Head on over to read my post on Notions Organization.  And, if you're interested, do your own post about notions organization and join the linky for a chance to win fun prizes!  And, for our readers, check back later for a fun little giveaway here too!

In Use

I love looking at pictures of designers studios {I think most people do}.  Seeing all their supplies neatly stacked, organized, and ready to use is like being in a candy shop filled with beautiful and sweet things.  But what I like seeing just as much {if not more} is their space in a little bit of chaos.  If you do any kind of sewing or crafting, you know what I mean.  Fabrics, books, notions strewn everywhere.  The way {almost} any space looks in the midst of an actual work-in-progress.  So, that's what I'm sharing today.  I've been working on some fun Christmas projects, and this is what my room looks like:

How do you like to work?  Do you keep everything neat and orderly, or strewn all over the room?  Is there anything about organization {or the lack thereof} that helps or hinders your design process?