The Early Workbasket ~ Darning Tins

Welcome Friends & Needleworkers!

What an upside down day I've had...happy it's Friday!

It seems like it was just Monday,

how time flies when you enjoy your work!

As promised on Monday,

I have a wee sneak peek to share with...

This will be the third kit for the Sheepish Needle Club.

I hope to have the model finished soon, 

so I can share the complete reveal with you!

The scheduled ship date is on or before 

January 30th.

~*~

 The Early Workbasket...

Today's topic is going to be ~Darning Tins~

Definition of Darning...

  Darning is a sewing technique for repairing holes or

worn areas in fabric by weaving thread or yarn across the 

gap or hole using needle and thread.  

It is often done by hand, but it is 

  also possible to darn with a sewing machine.

Today, we'll be looking at just Daring Tins...

Darning tins are fun to look for while out antiquing!

They range in size from small to large,

but are usually very affordable!

I especially love small round ones...

A true darning tin is so unique...from top to bottom!

The bottom belly has room for storage,

while the center ring holds balls of thread and

 the top dome of the lid has a felt pincushion

  and thimble holder...HOW CLEVER!!

They typically have a round nob on the lid... 

They come in a wide range of colors...usually bright!

And are commonly made of metal or tin...

This one nicely holds some little Valdani thread balls.

I only have a couple tins that were my Grandmothers...

This was a popular tin design to look like needlepoint!

My Grandmother lived through the Great Depression 

and saved little scraps of just about anything...

Just as she left it so many years ago...frozen in time!

(very dear to my heart)

This one is just wonderful to hold in your hands...

Very smooth and worn with age...love, love, love it!

This style of darning tin will only be 1~2 inches high...

Just the right size for storing threads!

This next style is similar to the first little white one only bigger...

Baked enamel darning tins were popular during the 1940's 

and were made in the USA.

It has the round nob on the lid...

With the special felt pincushion and thimble holder.

Nice removable thread tray...

Roomy storage under the insert for things like

tape measure, scissors, etc.

What I really like about this style is that 

it can be easily modernized... 

Makes the ultimate Punchneedle tin! 

If you're out searching for one of these,

the two most popular colors were red and yellow...

The best place to find one is on Ebay.

Another great way to make a darning tin is to 

recycle wonderful old candy tins...

This one is a Thornes's Premier Toffee tin from

Leeds, England.

I love the tartan print on the lower part...

Again, you could find something like this on Ebay.

Or, maybe you have a neat old tin tucked away...

Just waiting to hold some of your special sewing goodies!

(Mrs. Steven's Candies...Chicago)

Do you remember the old Fruit Cake tins?

They also work great!

Hope you enjoyed today's Early Workbasket!

So many fun and unique sewing notions to make

our sewing rooms special!

~*~

Weekend Soul Food...

As the cold of snow in the time of harvest,

so is a faithful messenger to them that send him:

for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

Proverbs 25:13...KJV

~*~

Hoping you enjoy a wonderful weekend!

Find joy in the simple things in life,

Kindly, Tammy

Sheepish Needle Samplar Club Update ~

Welcome Friends and Needleworkers!

Burrr...Olde Man Winter has arrived in Wisconsin!

Our morning temperature was -15° 
but I can't complain because my neighbors 
in Minnesota are reporting -25° to -27°!!!

Oh well, this too shall pass...only 69 days until the 
1st Day of Spring!

~*~

Sheepish Needle Underway...

Today, I'll be finishing up the design I created yesterday,
and choosing just the right linen and threads.


The rest of the week
 I'll be working round the 
clock stitching away...

On Friday, I'll share a sneak peek!


The local countryside sheep look so content  
with their nice warm woolly coats... 

 It's hard to believe that in only 69 days  
the farmers sheep shears will be clicking away!

*|*   

Please remember to feed our little feathered friends,
sowing them seed in winter is like...manna from heaven!

Cold...what cold?
I can't feel anything anymore!

I felt so bad this morning seeing my sweet 
Mourning Dove clutching her cold foot to her chest!

~**~

Early morning is so pretty here on the farm...

 Misty fog, you could get lost
 if you didn't know your way around!

~*~

Our world is changing around us so quickly, BUT...

It's so nice to see kids still love to go sledding!



Kids just having good old fashioned fun...

Totally disconnected from all electronics!


I can remember making snow angels, building snowmen,
playing "King of the Mountain", throwing snowballs,
building Igloo's, even eating fresh snow!

Now, my favorite outside winter pass time would be
feeding the yard birds and rabbits!

~**~

Last week some friends of our from the Dallas, Texas area
send us some pictures of their winter scenery...

With all this talk about snow, it made me realize how
different winter is for our southern friends!



Texas Longhorns and green grass!!

I love the idea of green grass, but I think I'll pass on 
Longhorns surrounding my car!

~*~

Weekly Soul Food...

But godliness with contentment
is great gain.

1 Timothy 6:6...KJV

~**~

Stay gentle in a loud world,
Blessings, Tammy 

The Early Workbasket ~ Make~Do Pinkeeps

Welcome friends and needleworkers!

Hope you're all enjoying a 

fabulous Friday!

First, a quick little shipping update on the 

Little Sparrow Pinkeep Club Kits.

Most kits were received at the Post Office on 

Monday, but due to a setback with the 

ink on my printer the remaining 

were received on Tuesday.

If you have not received your's yet, 

you should have it hopefully by Saturday or Monday. 

I sincerely apologize for the shipping delay!

♦

The Early Workbasket...

Make~Do Pinkeeps...

Definition ~

A form of folk art, "make~do's" are useful objects created from

broken or old discarded oil lamp bases, cups, glasses, or 

  anything with an opening to put a pinkeep in or a 

shaft to put a pinkeep around.

Today, I'll share examples showing different 

materials and bases that can be used...

There was no right or wrong when it came to making~do,

ladies from days gone by just used their imagination!  

Search for vintage fabrics...

I've had so much fun collecting antique make~do's over 

the years, but any of these could easily be recreated!

I always keep my eyes open while antiquing for 

unique glass or wood bases...

When ever I purchase an old make~do, its's fun

 to imagine what the base was originally used 

 for...maybe this was a candle stick holder?

Do you have any old needlepoint pieces in your stash? 

Here's a great example of how you could transform

it into a sweet little make~do!

Here's the underside...

No two make~do's are alike, they seem to have simple

construction and what a great way to use pretty

  odds and ends just laying around!

This next example is my favorite...

I love, love, love anything Cobalt Blue! 

Wonderful faded, time worn velvet!

Or, maybe you like vintage Satin...

Do any of you collect "make~do's"?

I wonder what this base was...

Maybe a custard glass or malt glass?

In the days of using glass oil lamps, I'm sure they were

easily knocked over and while the top glass was

 easily broken and lower base usually survived

because of the heavy glass used...

This is a good example of an oil glass lamp base.

Sometimes there will be layers of different fabrics

covering over a previous worn out one...

Here you can see the multiple layers!

Embellishments...

Old lace is a nice choice.

This one also has several layers of old coverings...

Usually finished with just a simple thread 

gathered around the bottom!

This next photo is taken from one of my collector books...

Do you have any old glass bases that could be turned 

into something special for your sewing room?

An then there are the rare, elaborate Strawberry Make~Do's...

My favorite, I also love, love, love "Milk Glass"!

The large Strawberry on top is the pinkeep, while the 

 little hanging berries are emeries...to sharpen your needles!

Endless possibilities!!!

Hope you've enjoyed today's subject on "Make~Do's."

I'm going to have to try my hand at making a 

special make~do!

♦

Weekend Soul Food...

A time to get, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.

Ecclesiastes 3:6~7...KJV

♦

Fill your mind with happy thoughts, 

and blessings for a wonderful weekend!

Kindly, Tammy