I love making presents for my mother-in-law. We like the same sorts of things. For her last birthday I made these bobbins of hand-dyed embroidery thread. Of course. Who wouldn't be thrilled over thread?
I was inspired by this antique, rather-hammered lace-making bobbin.
I made the spools from a dowel and some finials. Painting and distressing them was the funnest part.
I spooled off hanks of Coats™ pearl cotton and dip-dyed them in little cups.
Voila! Spools of happiness.
Then, of course, I was jealous and had to make myself a set as well :-)
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These are fantastic! What a great idea.
Posted by: Nichola | May 30, 2006 at 09:03 PM
This just blows my mind! Sent here by whipup, by the way...
Posted by: anja | May 31, 2006 at 05:19 AM
wow, i am jealous too. These are great!
Posted by: janelle | May 31, 2006 at 05:28 AM
These are so nice! Simple and fun... Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Kajin | May 31, 2006 at 05:38 AM
wow heather - welcome to blogworld. I am linking to you so i can keep up and I can see right now that i will have to make some of these for my specialty threads.
please come by and visit me
www.maggiegracecreates.blogspot.com
Posted by: teresa | May 31, 2006 at 06:18 AM
just found your blog and I am adding it to the favourites....lovely to find someone else who loves their mother in law- mine is an absolute gem - guess we're the lucky ones!
Posted by: mariannealice | May 31, 2006 at 06:51 PM
Wow, those are great!
Posted by: Maitreya | May 31, 2006 at 09:01 PM
These are so pretty! I really love them. I'm so glad I found your blog. I'll be back for sure.
Posted by: Toni | June 06, 2006 at 08:53 AM
I just adore these bobbins. Do you sell them? If not, could you tell me what the finished size is? I'd like to try making some for my Mother and Aunt,,who both have incredible knitting and stitching talents. Did you glue the finials? Or do they screw on? LOVE YOUR BLOG!!!!
Posted by: Sarah Dugan | January 11, 2007 at 07:56 PM
Your mother-in-law is elinor peace bailey? Wow! And I love, love, love your little spools of thread. Just gorgeous!
Posted by: Hashi | March 10, 2007 at 06:41 PM
A year later...happy blogiversary!
Posted by: Monetvalley | May 23, 2007 at 10:46 AM
Hi, Heather,
You inspired me to make some of these for my sister, my friend, and myself. I love any little tools for the fiberarts! Thank you.
Posted by: Cheryl at Confections/Stelladanza | August 05, 2007 at 10:40 PM
Holy. Now that's what I call a solution!!!
Posted by: Alicia P. | September 05, 2007 at 09:20 PM
Bonjour
vos bobines sont tres belles , est ce qu il est possible de savoir où je pourrais les acheter ,par ce que je ne suis pas sur qu'en France , j'en trouve.Merci pour m'avoir fait découvrir votre blog
Posted by: cameron | September 26, 2007 at 12:29 PM
I love everything about your creativity!!!!!
I thnik if you posted a pincushion pattern people would be thrilled!!
p.s. Including me!!!!
=]
Posted by: Elizabeth | September 30, 2007 at 07:14 PM