What is this? A pin cozy??!
Actually it's my studio's coaster. I had just gotten into working with felt, and experimenting with how much stitching to put on it. This is the very first coaster I made. What's funny, is how much I love it. I often come into my studio with a cup of tea and can't set it on the cardboard cutting table and don't want to leave a wet mark anywhere else. It's lovely to have a regular destination for the cup. Wool felt is naturally water proof so I don't need to worry about moisture. Wool felt is wonderful to work with, is all from recycled sweaters (ye haw!), and it turns out to be a GREAT place to temporarily stick my pins as I'm working along. I've heard that the natural lanolin in the wool is good for pins and needles, helping them glide through fabric easier. I like to think that's true.

And the bottom line is this: I love my coffee, love my afternoon tea (two o'clock- time to put the jug on!), having nice accessories, sharing with friends, and the ritual of it all.

Arrrrrrrr! Pirate tableware!

Where else have ya seen pirate tableware? I got to thinkin'... what would lady pirates set their table with? Certainly, they would have some down time at sea, occasional marronings, or boring, no-wind-in-the-sales time with nothing but blue ocean on the horizon.... they would have done some piratical crafting. Fixin' up the the galley with some traditional crossbones and such.

Here's what came out of the studio today: pirate coasters. Made of recycled wool sweaters, felted, add some wool roving needle-felted on, and a big dose of rustic embroidery. Yes, they are actually flat when you get them off the fence from the photo session. They are naturally water proof, which makes for great coasters, and they look splendid pegged on the galley wall. Sail into port and stop by AlyTheRed's Bliss Monkey Studio on etsy to purchase these wares for yerself. Arrrrr!

I've read several books about women pirates. Really fascinating! The trouble for historians is lack of real documentation on these wild women. They often passed as men to survive life at sea. Some caught women pirates were used as examples by the government, who made up a history worse in crimes than anyone could possibly accomplish in one lifetime. Or their lives weren't documented at all. Most of what we "know" about female pirates is pure fantasy. Have a little fun with it!