This winter, Miss Snarky Pants had a migraine for four months. Writing – and worse, editing – with a headache that lasts longer than a session of Congress is a hell reserved for someone much worse than myself (no, really, there’s this guy in Omaha), so I thought I’d spare you (but, mostly, me) the misery. Instead, I focused on my new, erm, hobby: Snarky Threads!
I know. Who gets a mega migraine and ends up with a hobby? Handwork, like cutting and embroidering, is incredibly soothing – and doesn’t require the intense constant thought that writing demands, except during the initial design process. I’d begun playing with the idea of working with wool felt and creating high-quality, but funky, fun designs – products I wanted to see in stores…but wasn’t. Day of the Dead. Steampunk. Whovian. Nerd chic.
All the work is completely hand-done – the cutting, the embroidery, the beading, the felt flowers – so it’s not a quick process, but every piece is a new adventure. I use high-quality 20% and 35% wool felt for the base pillows, which is much softer and durable than the craft felt you made ugly things out of when you were a kid. C’mon, they were ugly. The pom pom and felt panda bear ornaments I made in Girl Scouts looked like interracial snowmen with testicular cancer.
Take a peek at some of my designs and let me know what you think.
Unless you hate them. In that case, move along. Nothing to see here. This is not the Comment Box you’re looking for.
xo
MSP
P.S. All photos are the exclusive property of Miss Snarky Pants. 🙂
P.S.S. Now comment away. I can’t wait to hear what you guys think of my little endeavor.
Funnier In Writing 
Yes cool. They all appeal because they look lovingly crafted. I especially like the flames, flamingo and dragon. i wonder if the number of skulls resulted from having a migraine. I hope you don’t get tonsillitis.
Sorry you were having a hard time and glad you are better. A friend of mine had frequent migraines. He eventually discovered it was an allergy. To Soy Sauce of all things. I hope yours doesn’t come back. Have a Teddy Bear for luck 🐻
Oh, thanks grahamatlinc! The headache was cured; it just took a long time to get in to see the right doctors, so I’m all good. Thank you for your concern, though. 🙂
Glad to hear it. If you want to get in to see a doctor quickly, just put one of your cushion covers over your head and and scream like a banshee.
P.S. I haven’t got a plan for getting back out again.:-D
Good idea. I could make a skeleton mask that would make me look extraordinarily ill…or like a zombie. Or maybe not. There are people who believe in a coming zombie apocalypse and I don’t want to get an arrow through the head shot by a wanna-be Daryl.
Are you on medication by any chance. 🙂
You mean that stuff my hubby calls “candy” and makes me take several times a day?
LOL 😀
So glad your migraine is in retreat, as i really wonder what you will do with your awesome art now that you have full mental faculties! LOVE the Day of the Dead kitties and the pirate! The bear pillow is cool too. And the detail on the flamingo is impressive. Naturally, I am biased towards the steampunk dragon. 🙂
Thank you. I’m so glad you like them. The steampunk dragon was made for a trade I did with an incredible weaver, Susan Voss, who I met through a mutual friend on Facebook. It took a crazy amount of work, but I’d never made a purse before, so it was a blast to learn. Hopefully, I’ll be spending a lot more time writing, but I do love making things with my hands – and the joy that handmade gifts bring to others.
LOVE them all! Very creative!
Thank you! Please drop by again. I’ll be posting more as I make them. 🙂
You know I’m a fan! I think the circles and skulls are my very favorites, but the bear is pretty sweet too. Keep up the great work, and I hope that headache has migrated somewhere else, like into the ocean 🙂 xxL
Headache was banished in February, thank goodness. Miss you, Laura!
First, happy the migraines are taking a dive into the backseat. I love the new hobby, wonderful designs. I especially love the sugar skulls!
Thank you, Valentine! Appreciate you dropping by. It was the sugar skulls that first make me want to embark on this little adventure. I couldn’t find any awesome sugar skull pillows, so I figured I could make some for myself.
I love the panda pillow and the dragon purse. Totally awesome! 🙂
Thanks! 🙂
These are wonderful! I’m impressed and envious since I have no crafty genes in my DNA. I particularly like the ones with circles and squares on them. Geometric patterns always appeal to me. Very cool!
Thanks, Carrie. I like the geometric pillows, too. It’s amazing how different a pillow can look even though it’s just made out of circles – I could make a hundred circle pillows and they’d all be completely unique. The felt colors, shape size, embroidery thread colors and stitches all impact the final design; the variations are endless. BTW, Carrie, I think it’s okay not to have a “crafty” gene when you’re trained to heal people and save lives. I’d just tell everyone they have dengue fever and send them home with a prescription.
Eh, it would probably still work. 🙂
BTW, if you like what I’m doing, check out this blogger I discovered last night. She’s creates a lot of cool things.http://starsandsunshine.com/projects/craft-projects/
Thanks! I will.
You are Superwoman. I don’t get migraines anymore, just the aura that precedes them, and then a dull ache behind my eyes — even THAT does me in. Your work is so beautiful, and you know I love the “stuff” I’ve gotten from you. I’m glad to know the headaches have stopped — hope that holds!
Expect more “stuff” later in the year – when I have time to stitch again. I think you’ve earned a pillow. I love you, Miss Judy!
Why do you always make me tear up?! I love you, too …
If I was closer, I’d come over and tickle you. ‘Course, that could make you tear up…or tinkle, if you’re like me.
The latter. For sure.
Hi BB! I love everything you do. That’s all. Nothing profound, just heaps and heaps of admiration. =)
Hey BB! I owe you a phone call. You’re the best! ❤
You’re a freakin’ renaissance woman, that’s what you are! Please email me a price list or barter demands (Pinot Gris, bad blog illustrations, old etchings). The Desert Sugar Skull Pillow is my early favorite, but I could still change my mind. Glad your head feels better. dlovett54@gmail.com
Oh, you’re so sweet. Of course, we can barter! I’ll email you tomorrow. 🙂
Marvelous, darling. Why not a prancing slattern?
For you dahling, anything.
These are the coolest! Are you selling them? I want the pirate one!! And all the others too. How fun. Love the close up shots of the detail work. So very cool.
Thanks, Jess. The pirate pillow was made for a friend’s daughter, but I can make a similar one for you…and you can pick your colors, change the design, request certain detailing. These are very much custom pillows at this stage. The more elaborate pillows take up to two or three days to complete because everything is done by hand. I’m so glad that you like them. You made my evening!
what made the headache go away you think? just went or by chilling and sewing?
Nah. I wish. My former doctor down in your neck of the woods doesn’t accept our new insurance plan (no, it’s not Obamacare, readers; don’t need to hear from Obamacare haters) and I wasn’t set up with a neurologist here in town. It took a lot of time to find a doctor who could effectively treat me up here. I won’t make that mistake again. I’m all set up now – and if the migraines start again, I have immediate treatment options now. And no, (in the voice of Arnold Schwartzenegger), it’s not a tooomore!
Love the skulls and pirate pillows!
Thanks. I plan to make a Tampa Bay Buccaneers version soon.:)
Oh my, they’re seriously fantastic. Kittens and skulls, eh? Not your grandma’s embroidery! How long does one take you to craft??
Thanks so much. Depending on the pillow, they can take me a day or several days to make. Everything is done by hand, so it’s a slower process. I love your description: Not your grandma’s embroidery. I should use that as a title the next time I post a bunch of photos for you guys to critique. 🙂
So very beautiful and well crafted. I am sorry for your pain, but delighted you were able to turn your time into lovely creations. Thank you for the beautiful photographs and art!
You’re so welcome. Thank you for the lovely compliments. Fortunately, the headache pain is gone, but I’m still really enjoying the whole creative process. It’s one thing to be creative with a words, but it’s a different type of creativity that emboldens you to try to actually turn fabric and thread into something beautiful. I’m still learning, but it’s so much fun. Thanks, again!
Kinda freaky and awesome, all at the same time! Especially loving the demented looking cat 🙂
Thanks. Yeah, the sugar skull cat pillows have been very popular. I’m planning to do so dog sugar skull pillows as well. 🙂
These are very cool! I like the circles and the flamingo. I like the bear in the forest too 🙂 I’m so glad you found something that you could do even with a migraine. Hoping the migraine leaves permanently!
It was gone, but it sneaked back up on me this weekend. At least, I know what to do now. Thanks so much for reading and for your comments. 🙂
The LGBT pillow seriously rocks
Thank you. I’ve also designed one with a rainbow-colored heart and, inside the heart, I can embroider the names of the two people getting married and the wedding date. If you’ve got any LGBT pillow ideas you’d like to recommend, please feel free. 🙂 Thanks again for dropping by.
I liked the bear in the forest, then I saw the flamingo and then I liked the feathers more, and when I saw the LGBT cover I think I decided to not choose the best but like them all! Nice work 🙂
Ha! I’m glad you liked the pillows. I have so many LGBT friends, I knew I wanted to design pillows for those of my friends who are loud and proud. I also do one with rainbow colored circles in a heart shape that is personalized for LGBT couples getting married. 🙂 Thanks so much for visiting my site and for your feedback! Please come again.
I really love these pillows! They’re pretty awesome and not something you usually find around. Where can i buy one?