The Magic Pincushion

Thirty years ago when we were leaving central Texas after DH had retired from the military, a dear friend the pastor's wife gave me this pincushion she had cross stitched.

It has journeyed around the world and the country with me ever since, I used it mainly for needles especially those tiny quilting needles. Next week we are having a mini reunion of five women who were friends then, although two of them I have not seen since we left central Texas, and one probably for twenty years. We have somehow managed to keep in touch mostly due to one of the five who lives in Colorado Springs. Thinking to bring along the pincushion I began to remove the needles and found that even when I had removed all visible needles I could still feel some there.

They continued to pop up as I gently squeezed the pincushion and by the time they were all out I counted 37 needles!

I would never have guessed that it could contain so many, it is a very small thing only three inches square and one inch tall.  I did take a photo of them all but of course now that I have the latest Photo software I cannot find it! I have hand laundered the pincushion and now free of it's spiny contents I will take it along to show my friend.