Hi beth -

also do you repurpose old pins/badges or start with new materials?

Well, I live near a button store (yes! a BUTTON STORE!) and they have fabric-covered button blanks in every shape and size imaginable, so I've been using those, and they work so well.  I've been using repurposed and scrap fabric that I have lying around, because you only need such a teeny piece for each one.  One challenge is that I can't seem to find a teeny embroidery hoop anywhere, which would make it easier to use smaller pieces of fabric scraps.  I know they exist, I've seen them before somewhere...

thanks!
E

This is what I've been making lately!  Cute little embroidered pins.



Each one usually takes a couple hours, to draw the pattern, fit it to the 1-inch button, trace, stitch and mount.  They don't have the pins on the back yet, because I'm working up the courage to bust out the noxious epoxy glue.  I used a lot of stem stitch, some satin stitch, and some thick straight stitch for shading.  A bit of cable chain stitch for the sparrow perch, some split stitch on the hedgie quills.  I'm really happy with the outcome!  Thanks for looking!

**Oh, also, if anyone has suggestions for low-profile pin-backs, do let me know!  I don't really like the 'flopping' effect I get from normal ones (unless I glue them vertically)!

****I think I should also mention I was obviously subconsciously influenced by the awesome cuttlefish love pattern here: http://corvustristis.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/cephalopodia/

Wow! What an amazing modern use of stumpwork!!!  I absolutely adore this, it's so creative!

I love it! Mini skates! MINI SKATES!  *squeal*

holy crap! well done!  that must have taken sooooo long! looks great

saucy n sassy ;-) ow! Tute?? Any prayer of a tute?? :-) How you make 'em stick??

thanks!  well, maybe next time I'm making them, I'll take some pics for a tute   To stick them on, you can use spirit gum, eyelash glue, or my favorite, double-sided fashion tape (not for the faint of heart though, lol).  If you try this at home, learn from my mistake, and cover the most sensitive areas with baby powder or lotion, and just stick it to the area AROUND this. lol. ah, memories.

Thanks everyone!  I didn't sew them down, I actually hot-glued the sequins down (which involved many minor burns, and glue-strings, lol).  I used foam backing, but from now on, I'm going to use Buckram interfacing, because I think it will be more durable.   Thanks for all the positive feedback!!

I've been crafting up a bunch of pasties lately!  My favorite ones are the mermaid shell pasties.  What do you think?  Our owl coaster holder is "modelling" them, lol.  Sorry, no action shots!

Group Shot:


Saucy pink tassels with red heart rhinestones:


One purple heart pastie with red outline - I ran out of sequins for this one, because it's big, so I haven't been able to finish the pair, lol.


The mermaid shell pasties (my favorite!)


And my partner made these cute pink bow pasties (they look like cute little presents to me!):


Hope you like them!!

that is SO freakin' cute!

Thanks for all the great comments guys!  Actually I just used flesh colored craft foam for the backs of the pasties.  I just hot glued them into the cone shape and then I hot glued the sequins on.  I bought some eyepatches at walmart and hot glued the sequins onto them as well.

thanks for the tip! that's such a great idea!