To all that participated in my giveaway, thank you so much for your kind and generous comments. It was wonderful to hear from both old friends and new. And it seems that practically everyone from this group is a big button enthusiast…I love knowing this. I also loved reading your personal button stories – thank you for sharing your memories with me.
For this giveaway I went old-school again. I hand wrote each name on plain lined paper, which I then cut into small strips, which were all then hand folded and tossed into a bowl. There was something about this repetitive activity which was surprisingly soothing and pleasurable. It was also my pleasure to pick Amy’s name (cottageprims) from the bowl.
Since you’re already here I thought you might like to see another heart project. This one is also felted, but not by needle-felting so you might already have the makings on hand. This mini heart pillow or pincushion is made from a recycled red wool sweater (which can be felted in the washer and dryer.)
Use scissors to cut wool from a felted sweater into a heart shape (2 per heart.) If you’d like to make a pincushion like mine, a vintage tart tin can be used as a template when cutting your heart shapes from the felted wool. Once you have both heart pieces cut out, stack them with the right sides together/touching and then sew (by either machine or hand) around the edges, leaving about an inch opening. Then use this opening to turn the heart inside out. Next, stuff poly-fill through the open hole. Then sew the hole closed with needle and thread.
I painted the vintage tart tin using a sponge brush and Titan Buff acrylic paint (Golden.) Usually one layer is enough since I like the original tin to show through in random spots. To attach the “love” tag to the heart pillow, I used a straight pin and added a vintage bead along with a strip of mesh fabric (the pin keeps all these elements together.) If you like, you can use craft glue to adhere the bottom of the heart to the inside of the tart tin. You can also choose to turn the heart into a hanging make-do by punching a hole through the top of the tart tin, and then use this hole to attach ribbon or string. If you don’t have a tart tin handy, the pillow alone can also be hung simply by attaching a ribbon or string loop.
If you like this project you can see more examples in my article, Vintage Tart Tin Pin Keeps published in Stampington’s Somerset Life (July/Aug/Sept 2010 issue.) In contrast to this bright red wool, all of the pincushions in the article are creamy-white and latte colored. I love playing with different color palettes…how about you, do you enjoy experimenting as well?
21 Comments, Comment or Ping
Love, love your pincushion! Thanks for sharing!!
Yay for Amy!
January 15th, 2011
Congrats to Amy! I love tiny tarts, this heart just amps up the message, even more. Truly LOVEly~
January 15th, 2011
Yay for the lucky Amy! Thanks again for offering such a lovely giveaway.
♥jenny
January 15th, 2011
I am loving that pin cushion and tart tin. I have seen those tins at the antique stores, but always wondered what I would do with them. You have the cutest ideas! Congrats to Amy, and have a great weekend! 🙂
January 15th, 2011
Congrats to Amy – what fun. Love the hearts.
January 15th, 2011
Becky,
I just love that pincushion! You did a great job of explaining, as usual.
Hugs,
Sux
January 15th, 2011
Congratulations Amy. Becky as for your newest heart tin it is lovely. I am enjoying your creations. Happy hearts weekend…
January 15th, 2011
Love that sassy red pin cushion. Congrats to Amy! I know she’ll be so excited.
January 15th, 2011
I simply adore the heart pin cushion, it put a smile on my face, Thank you.
love me 🙂
January 16th, 2011
I love the look of felted items, but it’s not something I’ve ever tried!
January 16th, 2011
Congrats Amy! And this is a very sweet project with the tart tin. I don’t really experiment except to see things that others have made and try to make something similar. I think that’s one of the MOST fun things about our blogs…sharing our creativity! Thanks for the birthday wishes! Hugs! ♥
January 16th, 2011
What a pretty little heart pincushion! I love that it came from a recycled sweater. Thanks for the tutorial!!!!
January 16th, 2011
Love the hearts! I to use old school method for giveaways! I have my husband pull the name out and then I don’t get blamed…ha ha
January 16th, 2011
Congratulations to Amy!
Thank you for sharing such a cute idea. The little heart in the tart tin is just adorable. I have that issue of Somerset Life. Your creamy tart tins are beautiful!
January 16th, 2011
What an “inspirational” idea. I knew it was going to be like this when I pulled your blog up from my favorites. have a great week. Susan
January 17th, 2011
Just found your site on referral from Melissa! Wonderful! So sweet to put the pin cushion in a vintage tart!! Absolutely charming! Just marked your site as a favorite!!!
January 17th, 2011
Thank you for all the terrific feedback regarding my pincushion project – I’ll take this as a signal to keep posting more projects, thanks.
January 17th, 2011
Sweet as anything!! I’m determined to try wool felting this year 🙂
January 17th, 2011
Love, Love Love the tart tin! I collect them too and vintage jello molds!!! I have a little shop on Etsy that I make tags!!! Sometimes I make ornaments out of these kind of tins, hope you’ll stop by for a visit!:) My shop name is Birds Eye View!!!
so happy I found you!!:)
Kim ♥
January 18th, 2011
i am loving this idea.
especially with valentines day coming up.
i always seem to gravitate towards the tart tins at thrift stores.
they are just so cute and sweet.
just like you.
xo
c
January 20th, 2011
So excited to recive the goodies! I love the heart tin project.I have a ton of old tins so will have to try it.Warm Blessings!~Amy
January 21st, 2011
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