A block with a tomato pincushion which gives me a nostalgic feeling as I have one since I remember my mother's when she would sew all the time. I think they were required sewing accessory number one in the 1970s.
Here is a little tomato pincushion history for you from Wikipedia...
The most popular design;[citation needed]; a tomato with a strawberry attached was[1] most likely introduced during the Victorian Era. According to folklore, placing a tomato on the mantle of a new home guaranteed prosperity and repelled evil spirits. If tomatoes were out of season, families improvised by using a round ball of red fabric filled with sand or sawdust. The good-luck symbol also served a practical purpose—a place to store pins.[2] Typically, the tomato is filled with wool roving to prevent rust, and the strawberry is filled with an abrasive to clean and sharpen the pins.
I also wanted to include a sewing machine but decided I needed to try drawing my new 'old' Singer who I named Florence. You can read about her here.
So it is back to the drawing board to decide on the next few blocks. I am cutting out some tiny patchwork pieces for one also today.
Note: Thank you for the get better wishes. My ribs are still painful but I can tell they are getting better. During the day it is not as bad as nights and mornings which must mean the infection is starting to clear up. At the beginning, I could only take shallow breaths but that is improving. So lots of time to sit and things with needle and thread...or yarn and hook as the case might also be.
Heidi
Glad you are feeling some relief! Love you blocks!!
ReplyDeleteThat is coming along so well. I keep teasing you about burning your fabric, but it is really nice. I learned a lot about my simple cheapy old pin cushion now. Never knew the strawberry is to sharpen pins. I might have to go hunt it and put it in the living room. LOL
ReplyDeleteKeep dreaming up your ideas, you have so many in that head of yours.
Love you, Mom
Good to hear you are feeling better! The blocks are really cute. I didn't know about the strawberry used for sharpening.
ReplyDeleteI have one of these tomato pin cushions, and will have to give the strawberry a try at sharpening.:-)
Enjoy your day!
Glad to hear you are starting to feel better.
ReplyDeleteThe blocks are lovely
Very nice blocks. Love the kitty cat one!
ReplyDeleteLove the pot holder blocks, I hadn't heard that information about the tomato pincushions before. I'm sorry you've been unwell, do hope that the infection will clear up quickly.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous blocks, I love that the stories behind the motifs, thanks for sharing. Have a great weekend and stay warm. Deb x
ReplyDeleteHoop dat je al weer wat beter bent! Zeker nu het 'jouw' weer is, moet je daar lekker van kunnen genieten. De potholders worden echt leuk! Ik ben er ook fanatiek mee bezig. Heel verslavend...
ReplyDeleteGood news you are feeling a little better, super blocks.
ReplyDeleteHello Heidi,
ReplyDeleteLong time no talk!!! I'm sheepishly raising my head here!!
I posted a recent post on my blog that you might like to read to see what has happened in my last year and a bit!!
I did read a few different blogs, like yours, while I was AWOL. I feel like I fell of the band wagon, and lost touch with many "blog" friends and quilt groups.
In the couple of weeks since being back from the trip to Africa and before school starts next week, I've been working on a couple of table runners using fabric I bought in a market in Mwanza, Tanzania. I will do a post on them in due course.
I like the idea of the pot holder quilt. I've seen some bags made from these padded hexagons. I also have a pattern for a bag with padded squares. I want to share these ideas with the missionary back in Tanzania as I think the village ladies could do these by hand and make bags for themselves and others.
I do hope I can be accepted back "into the fold" as they say.
God bless,
Susan from Manjimup WA