Many thanks again to Rachel for hosting the monthly “Fully Finished Gallery!” It is an opportunity to show off fully finished stitches and provides great motivation every month to keep things out of the “drawer of shame.” (that special drawer or box we all have of stitched pieces that never get that final touch!)

I finished up 4 small projects this month.

First up is Jump Into Spring from Jeannette Douglas. I bought the pink chenille for the trim as suggested but my whole family thought it was the wrong color. Now I’m waiting for some alternate choices. I am sharing it anyway and will put the trim on when I find a good match.

Next is the Chessie and Me “Out on a Limb” pin pillow. It is backed the the background fabric there in the picture. After I took the picture I added a rick rack trim. I stuffed it with shreds of linen and fabric. I like stuffing with fabric shreds because 1)I hate to throw away scraps of “very expensive” linen! I just can’t bring myself to do it! 2) It gives the pillow a bit more heft than poly fiber fill which is a little too soft and cushy for a pin pillow. 3) It gives the pillow a softer, longer lasting shape than walnut shells which settle and don’t always hold a firm shape. 4) sawdust is nice but messy! I have learned that the smaller shreds you can cut your scraps into, the better the results, otherwise the pin pillow looks like a tiny bag of laundry!

Next up is the GPA 2016 Christmas Ornament (now available as a PDF on her Etsy shop!) I finished it the same way as the Fuzzy Fox Snowflake I made last winter. The tassle is a hassle 🙂 but comes out so gorgeous I just had to make it.

Finally I have the With Thy Needle Pinball from the “Stitch In Time” set. I will probably not make the scissor/needle case thing. It is the same design with an alphabet next to it. I really love how this pinball came out and that’s what I bought the pattern for anyway.

What is a pinball? Very similar to a pin wheel or pin disc. You make 2 cardboard circles, but instead of stretching your stitching flat over it, you puff up your stitching so it is completely rounded out with stuffing. Do the same thing with a matching piece of linen in the other circle. Join the 2 half spheres together and then cover the join with trim. It wasn’t much harder than a pinwheel, though getting the shape round was tricky. After doing this one I am much less intimidated to make another as it is a beautiful and satisfying small finish.

Head back to Rachel’s to see more inspiring finishes!