Frankie the Safety Pins Keeper

I recently moved and most of my stuff is in storage until I move again, (hopefully that will happen at the end of this month), but one thing I did not pack away is some safety pins because you never know when you will need one.  And, yes, I could go buy some if I needed any in the near future, but the point of this post is I found a neat way to store your safety pins.  Meet Frankie the Safety Pin Keeper.  I love him!  (I'm going to label him as a needlebook even though he technically isn't so I can find him when I'm ready to make one.)
I think he could double as a Halloween decoration too.  

P.S.   I just found this piggy bank on the onelmon blog (home of Frankie).  Must make this too!  

Vintage Thingies Thursday -- Piggy Banks

I'm cheating a little with this week's Vintage Thingies Thursday because I've posted both pictures before. But that was over a year ago when no one was reading my blog but me so it doesn't count.

Once upon a time, I collected pigs. When people find out you collect something, they often buy you one when they come across it. As a result, I had pig slippers, pig clocks, pig socks, stuffed pigs, piggy banks, pig Xmas ornaments, pig pajamas, pig postcards and a pig purse. It was really sweet that my friends, family and co-workers would think of me when they saw a pig and I loved every pig they gave me (well, except a few ugly cartoon-y ones) but my favorites were and still are the ones I picked up myself.

This piggy bank came from a trip with my mom to an antique store in Dana Point (the next town over) years ago. Usually, I would think the flowers were a little too much but I really like her. The only marking on her is N-117, whatever that is. My sister knocked this piggy bank off a plant stand a couple of years ago -- my fault for practically putting the plant stand in the doorway of the bathroom -- and the pig broke into several large pieces but my mom was able to glue her back together. Thanks, Mom!



Even though I stopped collecting pigs, or maybe I just told everybody that I did so I wouldn't get any more ugly cartoon-y ones, I still found a few on eBay, including this pink cutie. She doesn't have any markings on her, just some scribbles in pen & pencil on the bottoms of her feet, so I have no idea how old she is but I'm guessing it was way before PETA arrived on the scene. I think she would make a fun embroidery pattern.



Thanks for coming to see my Vintage Thingie! You can see who else is joining in on Vintage Thingies Thursday over at Confessions of an Apron Queen.

Farmer Pig

Once again, I missed Vintage Thingies Thursday over at Confessions of an Apron Queen. But had I remembered in time, I would have shared this piggy bank that I found in an antique store back in the days when I was collecting pigs. I thought he was cute, like here's Farmer Pig and his adorable bunny sidekick.

Depending on how you have him tilted, Farmer Pig's eyes appear open . . .

. . . (wow, he looks a little insane, doesn't he?) or shut . . .

I'm not sure when I noticed what Farmer Pig was holding in his other hand. (It's an anthropomorphic pig so I can say hand. And yes, I had to look that word up.)

At first I thought, Oh my God, the pig shot the bunny and now he's going to eat him for supper! But the rabbit is obviously alive so maybe the farmer just caught him stealing carrots or something. He seems to have that expression. "Oh, look. Farmer Pig got me."

I don't know how old the piggy bank is. Even though there's a shotgun involved, this is still one of my favorite pigs.

I Must Learn How To Knit

Sarah at Penguin Knits is doing a craft-along for animal shelters. You can make things like blankets and toys, and then donate them to your favorite animal shelter. (You should contact your local shelter to see what they will accept.) It goes from January 1 through February 1, although Sarah says you can keep on making stuff to donate after that. She linked to a list of knitting patterns for pets and a list of crochet patterns if you need some ideas on what to make.

There aren't any details posted yet but earlier this month, Crafty Daisies asked if anyone would be interested in a learn to knit school. They have 55 comments so far so I hope they decide to do this.


I just found this blog, Crafty Beats, that has some nice tutorials, like this one for a crochet pig and for a puppet bear. I really like the flower pin and the t-shirt bookmark.

Finally. Another Pig Picture

I had my camera out Christmas morning to take pictures of us opening presents, and hardly took any, but I got one of this pig ornament that I've had for years. I think it came from a co-worker. I used to collect pigs and for awhile people were always giving them to me. If somebody knows you collect something, they really will think of you every time they see one, and often get it for you. This pig is made of some kind of stiff material -- maybe canvas -- but it's squeezeable too. It's always been one of my favorite ornaments.



I must link to this cute ATC. It was made for a weekly challenge and the theme this time was cross stitch. I just love Kewpies. Well, I don't love the actual dolls. I guess I should say that I love images of Kewpies. You can find a few free ones here. My personal favorite is the Kewpie with the hatchet. (WTF?)

That Kewpie with the axe reminds me how my foot is still swelling every day and I'm about ready to just have Kathy Bates come by and chop it off. This has been going on for over a month now and I am really sick of it. Some days it's just really uncomfortable, and other days, it really hurts. It's annoying and frustrating. And, many times, I can't even get a shoe on. I now completely understand why people go to rehab for an addiction to pain killers. If Percoset didn't make me dizzy and nauseous, I'd be popping them like I do butter mints.*

The orthopedic surgeon said if the swelling in my foot and leg wasn't being caused by a blood clot, he didn't know what else it could be from. Well, I don't have a blood clot, although the woman who performed the ultrasound to rule that out was in still in training and had no idea what she was doing so maybe I do have a blood clot and she was just too inexperienced to catch it. My diabetes doctor thinks the swelling is from the knee surgery, and I find it odd that the orthopedic guy wouldn't feel the same way. I wish I had said no to the surgery and just worn a cast for three months, I would have had really bad B.O. when it was time to remove it but at least I wouldn't have had all of these other issues. There is some good news though. I am able to move much better nowadays. I can use a step stool now and I'm able to sit on the floor with both legs bent at the knee and off to one side -- something I couldn't do two weeks ago. Last week, I went dancing. Ok, it was just me and my iPod, but it was so great to be able to do that without any pain, and to actually move around the room. I haven't been out dancing in a club for like eight years but it's nice to know I could go if I wanted. (Except I couldn't wear a shoe on my swollen foot.) The last time I tried dancing, my knee began to hurt within minutes and the pain lasted for days. I still can't jump and I will always feel the plate in my leg when I kneel on it, which creeps me out, but it's so good to be able to do some of this stuff again.

How did I get on that subject?? Oh yeah, it's that Kewpie with the hatchet's fault.

I added a header (thanks to the Blog Header Generator) and realized there are way too many dog pictures on this blog. Hello, there are four of them in the header alone! No, I'm not obsessed at all. Later, I will make a new collage to use for a header and will not include a single dog. And, then that pig ornament will take flight.

Maryse posted some details about her 2008 Stitch A Long and Frimousse has a free chart for another stuffed little building. It's a boulangerie. Speaking of Maryse's charts, last night I started this heart for a friend. It's going really quickly.


*the best butter mints ever

Animal Painters

You may have seen this since it was linked on Cute Overload but here are some pictures done by animal painters. Their work reminds me of artwork that 2 yr olds in my class did. :) I love "Pigcasso."

Dang, I wish I had some Velveeta

I think we all read the same blogs but in case we don't, I wanted to mention that the Pioneer Woman now has a cooking blog that you really need to go look at. You might want to bring a napkin with you because you will most likely be drooling after seeing the pictures.

Why I wish I had some Velveeta

If you go to the Cross Stitch For Life blog, you'll a list of links on the right side to some free charts, including the Winter House (I have to do that one).

Speaking of houses, Maryse has put up the free chart of her Summer Cottage. I did the Winter one but hadn't gotten to Spring yet. That's my version of the Winter Cottage down below. I turned it into a small pillow. And that's another one of my pigs.

Peonies

Here's my peony from the other day (my mom got rid of hers but mine is still looking good) And here's the new one



And, now look at this freaking adorable pig collage [link via Vintage Transfer Finds]

Here's Another Pig

I really need to hire someone to remember things for me. I'm only 43 (I know I write like a 12 yr old most of the time) but there is so much I forget. Like, I had planned to post pictures of my pig collection every week. I was just reminded of that after seeing the 4th photo down in this post on PAMKITTYMORNING.

That piggy bank came from an antique store in Dana Point years ago.

So, there's another pig and now I can go to bed.

For My Mink Coat

Blackbird Designs has a free chart of a little house called Spring's Notice. You can also change the colors to make it for Fall (see the color list on their website). I see a lot of stuff that I like on their site.

That's one of my pigs. I got that one on eBay a few years ago. I love the saying on it. (Not that I would save up for a mink coat. A BMW, yes, but not for a fur coat.)

Pig of the Day - Mar 25, 2007 - Shanghai

Pig of the Day - Mar 25, 2007 - Shanghai
Originally uploaded by meckleychina.

I love this pig!

Dogs and Pigs

If I check the Remember Me box on the Blogger dashboard, why do I have sign every single freaking time? Grrrr.

I was just at Table Calender, [link via Lanetz Living], admiring this adorable stuffed doggy and this cute little red pup. (I was looking at other stuff too but I'm a geek for dogs, ok?)

The picture in this post reminded me of my own pig collection and how I need to get off my butt and get the digital camera out so I can start taking some pictures of things like my cross stitch so I can add them here. And, since it's the year of the pig, I could post one of my pigs every day like that guy did with Dog Each Day (he posted original artwork though) . . . ok, I swear I had not seen Pig of the Day on Flickr until just now [link via Dog Each Day].

I look at this cute one and wonder how I can ever eat bacon again.