Craft Fail

So here it is my newest obsession - Craft Fail. As crafters it is in our very nature to experiment with different mediums and try new projects. After all, we are a creative breed and creativity thrives on new. Like any scientist, a true artisan knows that with experimentation comes the potential for negative results - or just flat out disasters. And here's where Craft Fail comes in.

It's a community blog where fellow crafters from various niches go to post their not so successful crafting attempts and share their most entertaining "what was I thinking" moments - and we've all had those. The best part about Craft Fail is that each disaster is told with honesty and humor. Whether or not you can relate to the particulars of an unsuccessful attempt, I guarantee you, you will find yourself cringing along as you read all about a crafter's crazy project debacle.

Some posts will leave you in utter disbelief - did they really try that?! - while others will have you laughing so hard your sides will ache. Either way you'll find comfort in the fact that others out there have tried and failed right along with you. Do yourself a favor and check out Craft Fail. I promise you'll be entertained.

For you busy gals I've put together a little link list of some of my favorite craft fails:
1. "Bad Peeps!" A tragic tale of hope and loss and yes...peeps.
2. "Can You Make a Tie-Dye Shirt With Leftover Easter Egg Dye? Apparently Not." The story a mother desperate to do right by her son.
3. "The 'Bummer' Basket - Knitted & Felted Fail" A failed attempt to make a felted basket shaped like a bum. Why you would ever want an ass basket - I don't know, but she did and her failed result was very entertaining.
4. "A Bad Attempt to Use Fabric Scraps" I found myself quickly defending this craft fail. Its not that bad. While it may not have been what she intended, I think its kinda cute - in a lopsided way.
5. "Spam Soap Fail" A woeful tale of a batch of homemade soap that looked... like spam. Hey, at least she found a clever way to use it.

How To Make a Homegrown Tomato Pincushion

There are so many different ways to make a simple round pincushion that when I decided I needed my own I didn't know where to begin. So I did the only logical thing to do - I called up my grandma and asked her how she makes hers. Here's how to make a tomato pincushion of your own according to Ellie...with a few modifications.

First You'll Need:
-scissors
- fabric scraps for the body of the pincushion
- green felt scraps for the tomato leaf
- 1 button (or 2 if you don't want to make a leaf)
- standard sewing needle
- embroidery needle
- cotton thread
- embroidery thread
- batting; if you don't have any laying around dismantle an old stuffed animal from the attic
- fabric glue; I recommend Crafter's Pick

How To:
1. Cut a circular piece of fabric 8" in diameter; this tends to make a decent sized pincushion not too large or small. A pot lid makes a great circle template.
2. Lay the fabric down wrong side up and sew a running stitch along the edge of the circle.
3. Break your batting into small tufts and place it in the middle of your circle. Pull the thread to cinch up the top a bit like a little pouch and continue to stuff with more batting until it's as firm as you'd like it.

4. Cinch the opening completely closed being mindful not to pull too hard and break the thread. Once the top is cinched in stitch it securely in place.

{Note: with this kind of tomato pincushion steps 5-7 can be skipped. For a more traditional look go to step 8 and add your felt leaf now.}

5. Thread your embroidery needle and triple knot the end. Be sure to cut an extra long piece; you'll have to wrap your pincushion with it 8 times.

6. Poke your needle through the center of your pincushion and pull the thread through. Bring your needle back up to the top and thread it through again at the same spot. Continue to do this 7 more times spacing out the thread accordingly and pulling it tight. Think of it like cutting an apple pie into 8 slices, everyone needs to get the same size piece and by pulling the thread tight each time everyone gets a plump slice too.

7. After you have separated your pincushion into 8 sections and tied it off, sew your button on to the bottom half to cover up where the embroidery thread exited from. You can use a tiny button in the same color as your fabric if you want it to blend in.

8. Take your felt and freehand cut a six pointed star. You can take some green thread and sew a small loop on to your leaf before you attach it. (I find this an unnecessary step.)Using your fabric glue attach the leaf to the top of your pincushion and viola you have made your very own tomato pincushion!
{Now, if you'd prefer you can sew a button on top rather than your felt leaf for a more modern twist on an older design.}

I sew so rarely these days that the one I made, Jr. as he prefers to be called, has become a thumbtack cushion for now. I just love the warm fuzzy feeling I get when I see it sitting there on my desk!

Pincushions Have Personality!!!

My grandma, the lovely Eleanor - Ellie, taught me how to sew as a young girl. She made me an Amish doll when I was eight and taught me how to sew different dresses for it. She's also quite the accomplished quilter and has generously made one for all of her grandkids. Mine is red, white and blue as I was born on flag day.

As long as I can remember she has always used the same tomato pincushion. I know its an old idea that's been around for ages but I love it. I've always loved it. I'm obsessed with its tiny stuffed shape and big personality. Even as I write now I can picture my grandma's hands carrying it around the house as she takes her project from the sewing room, to the couch, to the dinning room table.

The other day I discovered a new blog (well new to me anyway) called Twig and Thistle. I love the author's, Kathleen, consistent tone of voice, artist spotlights, and all her neat projects. Upon digging through the archives I found a lovely little pin cushion project that reminds me of my grandma's tomato pincushion.

Since reading the post I've gone on a mad pincushion picture search. What I've realized is that its not just my grandma's tomato cushion that I love, but pincushions in general. They are the grown-up's stuffed animal; soft and cuddly, made in different shapes and colors. Be it quirky or classic - pincushions, all pincushions, have some serious personality. Here's a look at some of the neat ones I've found by fellow etsy artisans...


twin chairs by rabbits moon, linen lace pincushion by namolio


lovely pear by Fluttersby and Flowers!, tomato by Country Accents by NJB


sunny side up egg by dottyral, yellow egg cup pincushion by The Sometimes Crafter


mini mushroom by Olga Almond, grey squirrel by Lucy's Locket, little monster from Jessica Kay


tiny bottlecap pincushions:
glub glub goldfish by ReFabulous, cherry blossom by Schmaltzy Craftsy


peppermint filled moss by Ottoman, rubix cube pincushion by pinpinn

Delicious pincushions:

cappuccino by Fuzzy Rose, cupcakes by Crazy Cakes, banana cream pie by Glittermoon

Pincushions are wonderful and great and full of so much creativity and personality. They are certainly worthy of our respect. Please take some time to explore each artisits' shop. They are full of so many little gems! And stayed tuned for my How to Make a Homegrown Tomato Pincushion post on Monday.