Pretty Pinbooks

Always looking for a needle, emergency safety pin to hold your shirt together, or thread? Usually can't find them when you need them, right? Well here is a really easy project to make. Takes about 30 minutes, start to finish. I made about 15 of these for Christmas Kris Kringle gifts.

They are great to throw in your purse or stash in luggage for a trip. Everything in one place. Make these pinbooks out of a heavier weight fabric, like upholstery or duck cloth, and you won't even have to use any facing fabric to stiffen them up. Go ahead, make a few!

To begin, cut two pieces of material, same size each, about 9.5" long by 5.5 " wide. You can really make the pinbooks whatever size you want, but this size works for me. They are small enough to fit in your purse without taking up too much space.

Now all you do is place fabric together, right sides facing each other. You'll see I used black thread just so you could see my stitching, but I would recommend you use thread that matches your fabric.

I sewed about a 1/2" seam all around, leaving a 2" opening on a long end. (you'll whip stitch it closed afterwards.) You'll need the opening to turn the pinbook right side out.

I would quickly whipstitch the opening closed now. Even easier, just sew it shut, sewing close to the edge with your machine. You can hardly see it if you use matching thread. Then, that eliminates any handsewing. : )Even faster!

After turning the book out to the right side and sewing close the opening, iron the pinbook in half. It will look like a wallet.

Then, cut 3 pieces of felt, just a few inches smaller than the original fabric, so they fit inside the book. I use a pinking sheers....it just looks a little nicer than a straight edge.


Stack the three felt pieces on top of each other. Next, all you do is place the felt on top of the pinbook, sew down the center of the pinbook, which will hold the felt pieces in place. TaDa! That's it!

Then, go ahead and start filling up your book with the things that you need the most. I found a spool of different colored threads at the dollar store and ran a ribbon through it and tied it around the pinbook to keep it in place.


I also just put a couple of buttons in those clear packets you get when you buy clothes (when they give you extra thread and buttons) and I just used a safety pin to attach it to the felt.

Finished! I can't tell you how many times I have used mine. It's super handy. They are quick little, inexpensive gifts to hand out to your friends. They will love it!


If you move fast like me and always in a rush, this little pinbook is a convenient item to have handy. Enjoy!

GoodWill Hunting

OK so we decided to start a new section called "GoodWill Hunting".  We want to share with you the incredible treasures we have found thrifting and antiquing (sometimes even dumpster diving!!)  Most of the time we can take these dumpy old things and make them "new" again.  A couple coats of paint and some finagling with the hubbies, these new pieces become part of our homes!  If you've read Mo's bio she tells you a little bit about this thing we do.  We name where, when and how much.  Its a habit I suspect we picked up from our mother.  With seven kids in the family I think we all learned how to become bargain shoppers and now we HATE to pay full price for anything, especially when you know it will go on sale the second after you buy it!  We've always said "cuanto cuesta?".  Its a Spanish phrase for "How Much is it?"  and we ALWAYS use it.  Actually I think we've shortened it to cuanto.  But you get the drift.  We hope you enjoy our finds and maybe they will inspire you to  start "hunting"!

I'm going to kick start this new post with a few of my most recent favorites.

The first piece is this cabinet redo, I found at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.  The one by me has tons of great finds, while Mo tells me hers is kind off lacking!  So, I usually hit up every couple of weeks to see what new finds they have, and all the money goes to a good cause, so its a win, win! 

What: Ugly Green Cabinet

Where:  Habitat for Humanity ReStore (Jefferson City, MO)

Cuanto: $53.00

We had an small empty wall and I'd been looking for a small cabinet that would fit for months. I spent an afternoon sanding and painting.  I found a great gray, black and yellow shelf liner paper at T.J Maxx for $5.99 that matched my kitchen perfectly.   I added some new knobs from Hobby Lobby  for $1.50 each (I still need to go grab a couple more!) and I love it.  Its so perfect for that little spot.  Here are some more shots.



What: Vintage Aqua Sewing Machine

Where:  Habitat for Humanity ReStore (Jefferson City, MO)

Cuanto: $3.00



For $3.00 I couldn't pass this baby up. I had seen a post on a blog that i of course can't find now with a machine similar to this.  She had it as an accessory in her craft room.  I thought it was so adorable and for 3 bucks, it was TOTALLY worth it.  I haven't done anything with it yet but I will. 

What: Antique Letterpress Drawer

Where:  Applewagon Antique Mall (Mongomery City, Mo)

Cuanto: $11.99

Now, this is not in the best condition but these things can get really expensive.  My mom has been wanting one for a while but couldn't justify spending the cash that people wanted.  I had found one a while back and she was JEALOUS!  So on my way home last weekend I stopped in this antique mall that I pass everytime.  Of course it was getting late and they were closing in 10 minutes, so I had to hurry.  The first thing I saw was this letterpress drawer and I knew it had to be.  For 12 bucks it was a steal, even if it is a little beat up.  I want to make a jewelry holder out of mine like these I've seen on Etsy

bluebirdheaven on etsy

This will give me a few more projects to work on and for only a few bucks!!!!  LOVE GoodWill Hunting!

What are you favorite thrift shops to check out?  What is your latest find??