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Saturday, July 15, 2017

Once A Candle Snuffer ...


Hello my dear friends,

these days some pieces I choose to work with are not old, but everything is something that someone didn't want anymore.

I was at our local Goodwill store donating some stuff that was not needed in our home anymore and while I was there I decided to pop in and take a look around. I wasn't looking for anything,  just browsing but I did find something little that just spoke to me. It was a little silver candle snuffer, not old or too fancy but neat and nicely tarnished. It just appealed to me so much and instantly a picture formed in my mind. I knew what I would want to make with it and exactly how I wanted it to look like, so I bought it.

And this is that little candle snuffer.


Is is a simple tarnished silver cone with a little ring to hold it with so you don't burn your fingers and the special little thing of it is, that this neat piece has a half moon that embellishes it nicely.

Going with the picture in my mind, I wanted to use dark blue fabric with this creation.That gave me a chance to do a little fabric dyeing again, which I enjoy so much. I choose to dye a piece of an old linen table runner, a small doily, a piece of drop cloth and some seam binding too.

 I was so caught up over the kitchen sink ...


 ... that I didn't even notice that I had a little furry friend which was laying on the railing of our deck, watching me through the window whilst I was busy working away. So sweet!


The little squirrel stayed there, just laying down for at least another 15 minutes ...


... with his/her head resting it's front paws before it was time to leave again.

Once my dyed pieces were rinsed out, I hung everything outside to dry which didn't take long at all since it was a very warm day. Unfortunately not all of them turned out to be the shade of blue that I was hoping for. It is amazing how different materials take on color because everything was a different shade of blue.


With my fabric dyeing not have turned out the way I hoped it would, I went in search for something that was the right color and I found it in one of the drawers in my studio. A few years ago I had bought a stack of cotton velvet samples that were from a Toronto furniture store and they were in the most beautiful colors.

 I found what I needed! ...


 ... "Midnight" blue velvet!


 It was beyond perfect and exactly what I was looking for, for the creation that I was wanting to make. One of the lengths of seam binding that I had dyed was almost a match and it harmonized very nicely with the velvet. Now I could finally start actually working on my little idea. 

It took me a little time but now it is done and that is what I am sharing with all of you today ... my newest creation (and yes, it is a pincushion). I can't help myself ... I am an passionate pincushion maker! And here it is! I named it ...

... "Midnight Skies".


At times I like to keep my creation simple but lovely and that was my first thought with this one too.
I wanted to keep it very simple by just embellishing the outside of  the candle snuffer with some seam binding that I had dyed in a lovely shade of blue but that just wouldn't do. It needed more! I wanted this little piece to shine. I was thinking of looking into the midnight skies with the moon looking down on the world and the stars sparkling like tiny diamonds from afar. Sparkling ... stars ... that is, what was missing! ... Sparkling stars! In my eyes one of the best thing to use to achieve that neat look is ... sparkling Swarovski crystals.




 I added one to each of the ends of the seam binding and was so pleased with the way it looked ... just the way I had seen it in my mind and I didn't stop there.

 I made the actual pincushion from the lovely midnight blue velvet I had found in one of my drawers. I framed it with a double frill made of the same blue seam binding that I used on the outside of the candle snuffer and with the sparkling stars still in mind, I also added some Swarovski crystals to the velvet pincushion as well, to make it also sparkle a little.
  


 


I hope you have enjoyed my newest pincushion creation as much as I have enjoyed making it. 

I am still working on painting our hallway. I had hit my right elbow very hard on the corner of one of the walls and unfortunately need to rest my arm for a few days. It is so sensitive at the moment, that I need a towel, that is folded thick, to rest it on the table when I am sitting at it, that's how sore it is. I am just waiting for the bruise to come out and my elbow to start turning colors. That will teach me to be more careful next time. 

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and visit me here at Todolwen. It is always so nice when you do. 
I hope you are well my dear friends and life is treating you kind.

Have a peaceful and creative day.

5 comments:

  1. How unique as most of your creations are! Beautiful blue to fit with the moon and little shiny stars. You are an inspiration to me - love your blog. Hope your arm is better soon.

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  2. How lovely and clever an idea ... this is so fun and I can see it being a cherished addition so some sewers collection.
    Thanks for sharing!
    (Hugs) Cara
    My Creative Chaos {My Personal Blog}
    TTCRD Challenge Blog {Owner}

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  3. It's stunning - I also love that dark blue you used, but the ones you dyed have their own charm and perfect in a soft and faded way.

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  4. Oh wow... what a wonderful creation, even I don't understand, what the nice moon was for in his last life. I like to have a look out of your window with my camera too. What great photos Karen!

    Hugs Ines♥

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  5. I usually read all of your posts in my email, but this time I have to comment! This is my all time favorite of your pincushions. Blues, Velvet, Moon... all very important to me. Wow! As always, I thank you for sharing your creations and your life.

    <3 Jan

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