Almost every home in America had a version of a molded glass hen on a nest covered dish. But most homes did not have this clever “make-do” pin cushion, made from just a broken lid. I assume the intact bottom half was reused as a dish, but the top half remains were encased in fabric and cotton batting, crocheted with red “feathers” around the neck and transformed in to a practical pin cushion.
Pin cushion hen measures 4-1/4″ high.
The mother hen pin cushion began life looking something like this.
Photo courtesy of Cornerstone Collectibles
This could be one of my favorites along with the toy fire engine of course! How clever people were.
I love this! Necessity is the mother of invention!
I found a blue glass hen head (and shoulders) like this on a bluff in northern Michigan many years ago. I still have it and now I know what to do with it. Thank-you!
Thanks for your comment. I’d love to see the completed pincushion so good luck with it and please keep me posted.