This is Buddy. Buddy is a pincushion.



This is Buddy with his friend Toshi. Toshi kept me company while I sewed Buddy up from some felt. And cursed at my sewing machine.



This is Buddy's new home, on my craft desk.

Buddy's a little wonky, but I still <3 him! He's wonky because I've never made a pincushion before, and frankenstein-ed a printout of a nautical star to make my own pattern. It was a good learning experience, for sewing my first completed project flying solo. It took around 3 hours start to finish, with a good 30 minutes trying to wind a bobbin, including all the measuring, cutting, and stuffing.

He's inspired by my tattoos:



It's crazy how much more confidence with a sewing machine such a tiny project can give you. I think it turned out well for being a fussy geometric shape. What do you guys think?

My hubby and I are throwing a hookah party next weekend, and I'm stuck on decorations and activities. Our apartment is pretty small since it's just the two of us, so we got some cheap seat cushions to sit around the table the hookah will be on for extra seating (we have a couch, 2 big chairs, and 6 dining room chairs for those who want a cushier seat). We also bought an inexpensive curtain that I'm turning into a table cloth to protect my precious table from ashes and drinks. I'm making ribbon tags for the 6 hoses so people will be able to tell them apart. I'll be playing a lot of hookah type and chill out music, and serving some appetizers. I'm still looking for some middle eastern or mediterranean appetizer recipes (we're in Italy so mediterranean ideas shouldn't be so hard). I definitely need some more ideas to turn our living room and balcony into a hookah lounge.

My hubby is deploying (in like an hour) and he'll be gone for all the important holidays this year, like Thanksgiving, Halloween, our 2nd anniversary, Christmas, New Year's, Valentine's Day and possibly both of our birthdays. I know we're having a big holiday makeup  party with another family (Christmas tree and presents, Thanksgiving dinner, Halloween costumes and candy, maybe some small fireworks, birthday cakes, etc) when he gets home, but I want him to be able to still celebrate a bit. I am expecting astronomical shipping charges, so whatever I send him has to be pretty small... so no mini Christmas trees  . I was thinking maybe a 3D paper build-your-own tree for Christmas with some paper ornaments, but I'm pretty stumped for other things to send him. Any ideas?

Ok, Craftsters, help me out.

I've been drooling over soapmaking for the last 4 hours, and I would very much like to start. The thing is, I live overseas and have an APO address, so I really need to make sure it's something I could actually stick with to be worth the possible hassle of getting everything I need shipped. How expensive is it to start making soap on a hobby level? What about a super-small to small business level? I don't want to try it and get hooked only to realize it's way too expensive. And if anyone has any experience ordering online, especially to overseas APO addresses or Italy, do you ever have any problems with getting any of the ingredients through customs? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi all! I moved to Pordenone in May, and I still don't know the area all that well. Are there any good places to find fabric or art supplies close by?