The dog ate my pincushion. True story.

He’s fine (and the vet is richer by the price of three x-rays to prove that no pins were swallowed), no worries there…

But my vintage (Korean War era) Tokyo-made pincushion is now reduced to a small heap of sawdust and shreds of damp silk!

On the search for an equally special pincushion to take the old one’s place in my sewing box, I just now came across some handmade lovelies at Running Hare Art & Design.  This sheep motif pincushion, handstitched in calico, caught my eye for its totally charming toile de jouey sheep motif and tiny French button detail. Toile is hot right now, of course, but this has an even more lasting appeal in its unpretentious vintage style. I also enjoy it as a tongue-in-cheek nod to sewing as one of the domestic tasks that traditionally fell (and still do, most often) to the woman of the house. Pink is strong and proud!

Just oogle that Black Toile bedroom ensemble, and the Waverly appeal becomes obvious…

When Waverly decided to discontinued their bedding lines in 2005, some home decorators and their clients had a real scramble to find a substitute for that luxurious genteel style.

Oh yes, you can still buy some Waverly home fashions — there’ll be a certain backlog of inventory for some time yet, but we’ve been finding that the choices are very limited and getting more so.

Also, of course, items from discontinued lines can’t usually be returned to the retailer if they don’t fit or don’t suit the room, once you get them home and try it out…

Fortunately, Waverley continues to offer their fabulous fabrics — and aj MOSS has used those fabrics to create their own signature line of comforters, bedskirts, pillows, pillowcases and shams, duvet covers, window treatments and shower curtains… with the coordinating fabrics also available by the yard.

So, lovers of that luscious French Country Black Toile (count me in!) can still do the bedroom happy dance.