Because life’s celebrations shouldn’t cost the Earth

Sunday 27 April 2014

Travel Sewing Kit

 Altered Mint Tin


My parents spend quite a lot of time in waiting rooms as my father, who has early-onset Alzheimer's, is on a new trial at Addenbrooke's hospital, Cambridge.  My Mum takes her knitting along with her, so I thought I would make her a little travel sewing kit ready for when she stitches up finished items.


I upcycled an old mint tin by colouring it with alcohol inks and then painting the lid with a coat of emulsion (vinyl) paint.  The next step was to stamp an all over flourish pattern using white StazOn ink.  The die-cut shapes were cut with my trusty Sizzix machine and I used the same motifs for both the paper and felt. The needlebook was cut using a 'Matchbook' die which gave it a lovely embossed line along the length of its spine.


The little needlecase fits neatly into the tin lid, leaving plenty of room for thread, scissors, thimble and other sewing essentials. 


My Mum also keeps various other 'essential' items in it including tweezers and nail-clippers, but I whipped these out of the way for this set of photos! 


The tin is lined with the same soft pink felt as I used for the pages of the needle-book. Once all the stitching and gluing was complete, I varnished the outside of the tin for a little added protection. 




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Finally, here's a couple of pictures from lunch on Easter Sunday, it's hard to believe it was just last week!  It was a bit chaotic once the guests arrived, so I only managed to get a couple of photos in the morning.  We seated thirty-one in total, one at each end with fourteen down one side and fifteen along the other.  The menu consisted of soup and bread for starters, jacket potatoes with salads for the main course and then a 'shared' (each family bringing a contribution) sweet trolley. Once we had finished eating the children had an egg hunt in the garden and then we 'geocached' around the local countryside.  



I had intended placing the egg cosies on the table as a place marker for each guest, however we then decided this was asking for them to get covered in food, so we popped them onto the windowsill instead.


If you fancy winning a pair of egg cosies, don't forget you have until midnight tomorrow to enter my Egg Cosy Giveaway.  To take part you simply have to leave a comment on this blog and sign up to follow it either through Blogger or Bloglovin'.  The winner will receive a handmade pair of linen egg cosies lovingly appliqued in any design or colour scheme chosen from these. 

Good Luck!





23 comments:

  1. What a lovely and truly thoughtful gift for your mum. My mum has Alzheimer's, so I understand completely what you are going through at the moment and wish your dad, and all of you, all the best.
    As for your Easter Sunday celebrations - wow! All those place settings and your egg cosies look amazing all lined up on the window sill. It sounds like you had a really wonderful day and, like you, I can't believe it was only last Sunday.

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  2. What a great idea but can I ask a daft question (as its something thats put me off altering tins) - does the smell of the mints not linger??? Your Easter looks like it was fun :-), your egg cozies looks great - you are right though it does seem like ages ago xx

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    1. I haven't found the tins to have any lingering odours, but then we do eat the mints pretty darn quickly once they have been opened! xx

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  3. That's a really pretty and practical present for your mum. I take my crochet to hospital appointments with my mum and have often forgotten some scissors so am stuck not being able to finish! (http://patchworkfairy.com/diary-of-a-crafty-fairy/)

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  4. That is just so beautiful. A very special sewing tin. Sorry to hear of your Dad's troubles a trying time for you all, hugs x

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  5. Sew sweet?!!
    I am sure she will appreciate all the thought that went into it, like having a little piece of you there too as support..
    bestest wishes
    daisy j x

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    1. Oohh, on first reading your comment I missed the confectionary pun, very good!

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  6. What a fantastic gift for your mum, looks such a beautiful set x

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  7. Lovely gift....and impressive dinner table! I didn't know you geocached - hope you had a great time, we need to get out caching again - it's been a while :)

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  8. What a cute little sewing kit. I love the tin and the felt needlecase.

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  9. Hi Josie, what a great gift idea! Wow looks like you must have super busy at Easter!
    Hugs Lynsey x

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  10. Well it's a double 'wow' from me. I just love your mini needle case (I've been sewing some needle cases today too) what a lovely little gift and what a fabulous get together you must've had last weekend. Xx

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  11. What a beautiful and thoughtful gift for your Mum. Your Easter looked busy and the egg cosies are so sweet. I hope that a good time was had by all. Xx

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  12. Lovely pics J! And your upcycled tin/sewing kit is genius! You are queen of details! Jxo

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  13. That little tin and contents are adorable (and that's not a word I use very often!)
    The egg cosies look so cute all lined up like that too. Hope you had a lovely Easter bank Holiday weekend.

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  14. What a lovely gift for your mum, and I love the way the tin and needlecase have the same image on them. Your Easter egg cosies look great round the windowsill too.

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  15. This looks so good. Just discovered your blog and going to have a good read through - I love the egg cosies.

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  16. Hi there! Your little travel sewing kit is so lovely and unique! Glad you had a nice Easter and thanks for stopping by! x

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  17. 31 for lunch! My head's spinning just thinking about it! Love the sewing kit for your mum - so clever and so thoughtful x

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  18. What a delightful little kit you created! How very special!

    And your Easter sounds marvelous! Loved the sweet cozies in the window! So glad you recorded them all... They were a labor of love!

    Hugs and happy week,
    Kelley~

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  19. I use a little tin for my portable knitting kit - now I am thinking I should have decorated it first! Lovely egg cosies!

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  20. Great upcycle Josie, I am sure that knitting helps your mum at what must be a difficult time for you all. How nice for her now to have a constant reminder of your support as she waits.

    Don't even want to think about the washing up for that lot :)

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