Charming Antique Walnut Pin Cushion tin cat toy Smiley went on to major

Smiley went on to major in painting at Sarah Lawrence College where she received her BA in 1946

Completely satisfying

engaged in similarly laborious tasks

This cheerful fellow immediately made me happy when I spotted him

I find reverse glass paintings pretty magical feeling things

Charming Antique Walnut Pin Cushion tin cat toy Smiley went on to majorAnother great old pin cushion and another example of putting readily accessible (free!) materials to practical use, in this case the shell of a walnut. Brown fabric (silk I believe, and I think two layers of it) with tightly packed stuffing inside (perhaps sawdust, it's a bit hard to tell), and with a red ribbon loop, which would make it easy to wear around one's neck when doing some sewing or mending. Definitely it was used, with plenty of pin pricks