Hello, friends, and happy Nearly Thanksgiving to those of you in the United States! Today's post is something I've never done before -- a shopping guide chock full of gift-worthy goodies that I personally would love to find under my tree on Christmas morning. If you have quilters, sewists, or embroiderers on your shopping list this year, I have some suggestions that are sure to be received with delight. (If YOU are the quilter/sewist/embroiderer reading this post, you may find a few items for your OWN wish list). What's more, every item on my list is in stock and coming from a small craft business owner via Etsy -- and none of them contains those pesky microchips that are delaying just about everything else you might want to buy for the holidays this year.
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| A Few of My Favorite Tools |
Each of the items on this list is something I personally own and love, or something I currently have on my own wish list. Feel free to share this post with others, post on social media or wherever. Disclaimer: this post does contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) if you make a purchase after clicking my link. I do appreciate your support of my wicked thread addiction! 😉
Beautiful Tools: Where Form Meets Function
The items in this section are a pleasure to own and use because they combine the finest craftsmanship with beautiful design. Bonus: They make great Instagram props to "style" your work-in-progress photos.
1. Hand Embroidered Felted Wool Pin Cushion from Etsy maker Martha of Quilt Shenanigans. Who is this good for? Anyone who does any kind of sewing at all can use a pin cushion, and these must take Martha hours to individually hand stitch and embellish with tiny beads. Her hand stitching is exquisite, the felted wool is soft and luxurious to the touch, and the pin cushion is well-packed to hold its shape and is stable on a flat surface. Even the slenderest pins slide in and out with ease, and she has lots of beautiful designs in stock to choose from.
2. Handmade, Hand Paired Embroidery Scissors from Maison Sajou. These are manufactured by a 200-year old company in France, but available in several Etsy shops. I got mine from Penelope Textiles' Etsy shop. A few things to know: There are lots and lots of cheap imitations out there for a fraction of the price, but while the mass-produced knockoffs might look just as cute as photo props, there is no comparison to the way they actually cut. It's like the difference between a Wustof steak knife versus the plastic knife that comes with your takeout order. The lesser version SORT of cuts, but not cleanly or easily and it's not a joy to use! Authentic Maison Sajou scissors are individually handmade by French craftsmen, with hand paired blades that are kept together throughout the entire production process to ensure that they match up perfectly. They are sharp, accurate, and cut smoothly and cleanly all the way to the tip (which is absolutely crucial for snipping the inside corner seam allowances in needle turned applique). Who is this good for? Anyone who enjoys any kind of hand stitching like cross stitch, embroidery, needle turned applique, or hand quilting would love to receive a pair of Sajou scissors! In addition to the Hare design that I own, there is also a cute Eiffel tower version, gorgeous Art Nouveau Peacock scissors, and other historic reissue designs to choose from. Of course, if you just want a cute pair of scissors for a photo prop, those cheaper knockoffs will suit you just fine!
