CROSS STITCH

If you have access to the Little People, please follow these directions...

• First, you need to find a snail (or, perhaps, a crab) who's thinking about changing his address. Politely ask him/her if you may take possession of his old residence.
• Next, you'll have to rely on the generosity of an Elf... approach him gently and sweetly ask whether you may have one of the tiny elastic bands with which he arms his catapults. (DON'T try to steal one while he's sleeping, you don't want to mess with an angry Elf!)
• Gather enough Dandelion Fluff to form a small bundle (the size of a blueberry).
• Take one of the blankets that the fairies, so carelessly, leave laying about the garden and place your Dandelion Fluff in the centre. Bring up the sides to form a bundle and tie tightly with the Elf's elastic band.
• Snip away all the extra, loose blanket material.
• Apply a few drops of sticky Tree Sap just above the elastic band and press your bundle firmly into the door-opening of your snail's house. VOILA! You now have a 'Fairy Pin Cushion'.

If there are no Little People in your neighbourhood... well! First, I'd like to express my regret at your deprived condition - and recommend the following substitutions...

MATERIALS

• A small, clean Snail or Sea Shell
• Approx. 2" square piece of any thin, silky fabric
• A small piece of quilt batting (or a fragment of a cotton ball) - approximately blueberry-sized
• A very small elastic band (#10 size at office supply shops)
• Hot glue gun

DIRECTIONS

• Lay your square of fabric, face down, on your work surface.
• Place your quilt batting (or small piece of cotton ball) in the centre of the fabric.
• Bring up the corners and sides of the fabric, and twist to enclose the cotton.
• Secure tightly with your elastic band to form a bundle.
• Check that your bundle is the right size to attractively fill the opening in your shell. If not, dismantle your bundle and tinker a little with the amount of cotton used as stuffing.
• Using scissors, trim away the excess fabric from below the elastic band.
• Apply a small bead of hot glue just above the elastic band.
• Working quickly, push your bundle into the shell and hold briefly until the glue sets. Keep for yourself to use as a diminutive pin cushion or set into a pretty box and present as a gift.

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