My family and I went hiking and camping this past weekend. We decided to visit, for the first time, Brandywine Falls, then drive south and camp at Mohican state park. I’ve camped and hiked in Ohio many times. After so many hikes, I sometimes wonder if there really is something new to see here where I live. We were delighted with the beauty of the hike, campground and the surrounding area. It was good to get away and have a new experience.
Downstream at Brandywine Falls, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
I was thinking about our camping trip and comparing it to making pincushions. There is joy in the familiar as well as excitement in the new and undiscovered. In hiking, that can be an interesting bridge, a scenic view of a river, or a waterfall.
Hiking on the Stanford House Trail 
When making pincushions, I use a lot of clear salts because they are so common. I’ve made hundreds of pincushions “walking down this familiar path” and enjoy it each time I do.
Pincushions made with Sharon Holland’s fabric
Pincushions made with Tula Pink’s fabric
Pincushions made with fabric by Anna Maria Horner and Conservatory designer artists
Pincushions made with Tilda fabric
Looking for the unexpected in making pincushions can come with an unusual or rare piece of glass or vessel, paired with beautiful fabric and finished with a pretty button and pin.
Lace edged green glass pincushion made with Monika Forsberg’s Bubbling fabric
Anna Maria Horner fabric
pincushion in white hobnail dish
Alexander Henry moth fabric in Fenton green hobnail glass ashtray
Tula Pink fabric pincushion made in glass jar with lid
Anna Maria Horner fabric in glass inkwell
Pincushion with Rifle Fabric Co. fabric by Anna Bond
in a Japanese made metal jewelry box
Learning to enjoy all parts of the journey is important to me. If sweeping river views or waterfalls were commonplace, I would then be seeking something different and new. Additionally, all of the practice making pincushions in smaller salt cellars has given me confidence and experience to stretch and make pincushions in other vessels.
These thoughts all came to me in the quiet morning while waking up in woods in my tent. We took our chances and left the rainfly off of the tent believing in the 1% chance of overnight rain. When I woke up in the morning, I could look up and see the sky. As I was lying in the cocoon of my sleeping bag with the damp air around me, I thought about so many things in my life that I’m grateful for as well as enjoy. It can be a challenge to learn to appreciate all parts of our life experiences. Finding context for growth can be helpful.
Brandywine Falls, Ohio
Happy quilting, crafting, hiking and camping! ▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎
Storts Market 
August 10, 2020 at 2:37 pm
Great hike isn’t it? Thanks!
I hiked it last year and posted about it.
https://bithiker.wordpress.com/2019/10/07/cuyahoga-valley-national-park-waterfalls-waterfalls-waterfalls/
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August 10, 2020 at 3:00 pm
I enjoyed your post – especially all of your pictures and the details. We only made it to one waterfall – time to go back!
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April 8, 2021 at 10:47 am
Your pincushions are great !!! How do you Finnish the bottom? Are they glued in the vessel? Thank you.
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April 9, 2021 at 4:31 pm
We do glue them into the bottom. We have a 2 step process we follow so the pincushion stays and is secure.
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October 21, 2022 at 3:03 pm
What do you stuff the pincushions with? Are they mostly decorative, so usability isn’t a big deal?
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October 21, 2022 at 4:14 pm
They are stuffed with polyfil. I use mine all the time. I do think people use them because I see pictures of people using them.
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