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Thursday, February 25, 2010

Top Note Needle Book

This morning I started out with something completely different in mind to work on than what I ended up doing, but it worked out pretty well :-). I don't know about you, but I sometimes need to use a needle for some of my crafting projects. I kept my needles close at hand by sticking them into a piece of ribbon that had some Snail on the back, which I stuck to my cabinet. First off, that wasn't very pretty to look at, but it was somewhat serving its purpose. This morning as I looked up and saw my little piece of ribbon, I decided I was going to do something about it once and for all. There had to be a nicer way to keep those needles close by! I thought about it for a few minutes and decided that a needle book is what I needed. Needle books were before my time, but I remember reading about them in books as a kid and ya' know, needle books deserve a comeback, don't ya' think ;-) ? I looked around my room wondering what would make a good needle book and then the light bulb went off- the Top Note die would be perfect!! So here it is, my little needle book.....

I used a scrap of Sending Love Designer Series Paper from the current Occasions Mini and paired it with the retired Pirouette Pink. I so wish we still had Pirouette Pink (sigh). I topped my book with a flower punched out from my 5 Petal Flower punch and the Little Leaves Sizzlit. When you open the needle book, there are two pages of white felt to stick your needles into. Two pages is plenty for my personal crafting use :-) .

My little needle book is bound on the inside and on the outside so there are no unsightly edges showing. I think the Scallop edge punch looks pretty as a binding- what do you think? As you can see in the photo below, I put an eyelet in the binding to hold my notebook ring securely.


And here is my completed little needle book hanging on the hook along with my card stock sample ring. All nice and handy and cute, cute, cute! No more ugly ribbon for my needles, no sirree Bob!

I really like my little needle book and I am so glad that I made this instead of what I was going to make this morning. I can sleep well at night knowing that my needles are still handy, but so cutely housed ;-) . LOL!! Have a blessed day today and a wonderful weekend!!!

Edited to add: I did a little tiny bit of research this morning on needle books so wanted to share-
Needles, apparently were quite the deal to make at one time, so people did not want to lose their needles. All the way back to the Vikings, people kept their needles in ornamental boxes and cases, so they clearly were highly valued. During Victorian times needle cases were made of materials such as bone, sterling silver, pewter, wood, and of course, Victorian women hand embroidered and hand sewed needle books to hold their 'labor intensive to make' needles. So there you have it- a little bit of history about needle books :-).

Blessings!
Barb

Supplies:
Paper: Regal Rose- 105130, Pretty in Pink- 100459, Old Olive- 100702, Barely Banana- 102701, Pink Pirouette (retired- boo hoo hoo!), Sending Love Designer Series Paper
Classic Stampin' Ink: Pretty in Pink- 101301
Punches: 5 Petal Flower- 109041, Trio Flower- 109183, Scallop edge- 112091
Dies: Top Note- 113463, Little Leaves- 114511, Big Shot machine- 113439
Other: Hobby Blade- 102449, Crop-a-dile- 108362, 2 small eyelets, 1 large eyelet, brad, white felt, 1/8" white grosgrain ribbon- Offray, 1" notebook ring, Scor-it Board, scrap of white chipboard inside a pack of Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Now this is just tooooooooooooooo stinkin cute! If I was sewing again I would sure make one. Maybe will make on anyway. LOL Adorable Barb, just adorable. Also I never heard of a needle book, but yet when you think of it they do come in like a book but by no means as pretty as yours.
tfs
Donna

Wanda Williams said...

Oh my gosh this is soooo cute!!! I have a friend who does cross stitching. I'm going to make one for her! Thanks!!!