Scrappy pin cushion swap

Introducing the 'Fairytale Cottage Pincushion'!
This is my entry for the Scrappy Pincushion Swap, another Flickr group with a lot of the same lovely people from the Doll Quilt Swap. It has been a nice quick fun swap.

I decided to make a little patchwork house, and, of course, for me that means a proper working door with something behind it! So here is the Princess who lives in the cottage. She is cut from the 'princess in the pea' fabric by Heather Ross. I had a bit of trouble with fraying at the bottom of the door frame, hence the slightly untidy 'darning' there.
But the inside of the door can also be used as a mini needlecase!

Here is the back. A tiny matryoshka doll is peeping out of the upstairs window. I had a lovely time embroidering the 'creepers' on the sides of the house. It was very easy, just backstitch and tons of french knots. I must try to do more embroidery as I really enjoy it but I need more practice.

Here is the front again. Can you see the little owl who is upstairs too? He is from my favourite Alexander Henry fabric. And the little bird sitting on the (very bulgy) chimney? The bird is a hand made Fimo pin I bought from the quilt show on Sunday.
Let's not dwell too much on how these 3 came to live together (princess, owl, babushka). It's an odd house share but we musn't judge... Actually it would make a great sit-com!

Here is the full package going off in the mail today to....
This is another secret swap so my partner doesn't know this is for her and I don't know who is making one for me. I am just sending a few small pieces of fabric and some really cute fruit fabric paper clips that just arrived in the shop this week. We have been encouraged not to send too many extras in this swap. And as the pin cushions have all been so amazing (check out the Flickr group pool, you will be so inspired), the pincushions themselves are more than enough booty!