If you’re a sewist -a sewer – or you sew things – then the chances are that you will have heard of a Bodkin. If you don’t sew things, you may still have heard of a bodkin. But … if you haven’t heard of a Bodkin, then I share the definition of ‘bodkin’, as per the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:-
Definition of bodkin
1a: dagger, stilettob: a sharp slender instrument for making holes in clothc: an ornamental hairpin shaped like a stiletto2: a blunt needle with a large eye for drawing tape or ribbon through a loop or hem
It was that:- “b: a sharp slender instrument for making holes in cloth“ on which I focused while I was embroidering tiny little pieces of fabric, which I wanted to make brooches (or ‘pins’)
Read on dear reader, read on . . .
I wanted a special name for my brooches. One which said something about them, instead of just calling them ‘brooches’ or ‘pins‘. I looked around my work desk for inspiration. Needles; thimbles; threaders; embroidery threads; markers; beads; buttons…. no, nothing seemed to give me the joy I always feel, deep within my heart and within the central core of my body, when I know I’ve found the right name for something.
When suddenly … ‘Bodkin‘ came to mind.
Now I know that there is a Fairy Elf, in the Land of Fae, called Bodkin.
Bodkin is a sewer and stitcher of all things which require a needle, thread and, more importantly … his expertise. His knowledge knows no bounds. He has skills unknown to man, not just in a particular field of sewing, but in the whole worldy world of sewing ANYTHING!
It all made sense! A bodkin is a sharp slender instrument for making holes in cloth …. and a brooch has a pin which is a sharp slender instrument, which makes holes in cloth – in clothes! It makes the holes in your clothes to attach the brooch to your jumper, blouse, top, dress, coat or cardigan, – or even your tie! That was it!!! My Brooches were to be called: Bodkins!
So, now you know this …. may I introduce you to my first Bodkin Brooch ….
~ The Lords my Shepherd ~
Measuring just 2.9cm, which is just a smidgen over an inch, this little brooch has three, tiny, hand embroidered sheep, complete with white daisies and bright yellow buttercups which they’ve found to chomp on.
The pale pink ribbon you see ‘attached’ to the brooch (in the photo above) is a piece of re-cycled silk. It’s been washed and roughly cut into a ‘flag’ shape, onto which I printed the name of the brooch/pin – ‘The Lord’s my Shepherd’. The delicate ribbon isn’t a permanent fixture on the brooch, it can be taken off by simply undoing the pin on the rear of the brooch.
To pack the brooches – rather than simply put them into boxes, I wanted something a little more tactile and textile – so I chose to tissue wrap each brooch, and put them into a little drawstring top muslin bags which have the Cobwebs logo printed on them.
And that, fabulous readers, is what a Bodkin is according to Cobwebs. I think Bodkin the Fairy Elf will approve.
You might now be thinking that that is the end of this post. Ohhhh no. You still have some Monday Jokes to read!
These are the Jokes Folks!
Q: Why did the yoghurt go to the art exhibition?
A: Because it was cultured.
~~ ❤ ~~
Q: What breed of dog can jump higher than buildings?
A: Any dog, because buildings can’t jump.
~~ ❤ ~~
Q: What do you call a train carrying bubblegum?
A: A chew-chew train.
~~ ❤ ~~
And that’s it! You’ve managed to get through another post from me, with all your brain cells in tact!
Thank you SO much for coming and spending a little time with me. Please… talk to me, via a comment, so that I know who I’m talking to. To make a comment you simply have to click to read this post (click the heading at the top of the page on my blog) – then scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a box, inviting you to comment. You don’t have to say a hundred words of chat – just simply hello and a few words – even inviting me to your blog to see something. It’s just so fabulous to ‘know’ who’s reading and who I’m talking to!
May you have the happiest of Mondays, and I hope your week ahead is a good one.
Don’t forget to count your blessings – you have more reasons to smile than you might imagine.
Sending heaps of squidges and lots of love ~ from me in my corner, to you in yours.
Share this:
The Art of Cobwebs 
It is so you Miss Cob. The bodkin elf that is. Did you fashion him yourself with all of your magical talent.? And as for the bodkin sheep…just the sweetest thing ever. Your talents just always amaze me. I am so glad you are back in the workshop of blog land. Love you.
Shout out for cooler temps. It has been an awfully hot Summer and now we are possibly looking at a
cold winter. .This old gal doesn’t handle either very well but will carry on as best she can. Sometime us folks are just too hard to please…..but tomorrow evening, if the weather stays west of us, this Bebe gets to watch the grandson play football for the first time. It won’t be a record breaker, only 5 and 6 graders, but he is determined to be ‘in the game’. I’ll send you a picture of him all decked out and ready to play.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Beverly! Aw, it’s lovely to see you here.
I’m thrilled that you like the Bodkin Brooch/pin, with it’s little sheep.
Bodkin, the Fairy Elf – that’s (almost) exactly as he appears to me. His face is perhaps a little bit chubbier, and I think his ears are perhaps a teeny bit shorter, but his little round belly and his chubby cheeks are just him, himself. :o)
I too am glad to be back in the workshop of Blog Land. I’ve missed everyone, and missed making and sharing those makes. I kind of feel like …. “everything’s all right with the world” now. It’s perfect. Or … as one very famous man called Sidney Charles Larkin, used to say: “Perfick!”
– from a much loved by me book written by H.E.Bates, called: The Darling Buds of May.
They made this book into a fabulous, wonderfully warm and lots of fun TV series which you may not have seen. It’s VERY much worth a watch Bev, and I think you’d like it. I’ve found the first episode on You Tube. If you have time, give it a watch. You’ll feel all warm and squishy inside by the end of the episode.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFqzQdIyihY
It’s safe to click. No nasty things in that link.
Like you, I don’t handle the high heats or the drastic colds either. My favourite seasons are Autumn (love the colours) and Spring – who doesn’t love spring? Everything in nature waking up and getting out of bed, and spring lambs, jumping up and down like they have springs on their feet! Love it.
Ooo…. going to watch your Grandson play football! I shall send messages, heaven bound, for the weather to be just right for you to go.
I shall keep checking my email account (send the photo to my personal email) and then I can share the next David Beckham, dressed up and ready to go!
Aww, I can’t wat to see it.
Thank you so much for coming Bev.
I am sending much love your way, and hoping you have a truly blessed day today, with a fabulous week to follow.
love ~ Cobs. xxx
LikeLike
I have clicked and saved the video. Looks delightful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I promise (crosses heart with her finger) that you’ll like it Bev. It’s filled with charm and love. xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here are a few words. I’ve used a safety pin as a bodkin, not knowing I could have had such a fancy name for it. Thanks for that name.
I’m sending you some of your famous squidges. oxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww, I’m forever giving squidges out – so to be on the end of receiving them is MAGICAL! Thank you Anne – both for the squidges and for coming.
P.S. I’ve only ever used a safety pin, but I feel my Grandma over my shoulder every time I use it, and I can feel her saying…. “I taught you to do that!”.
Grandma would definitely approve of us both using safety pins! :o)
Sending love ~ Cobs. xxx
LikeLike
Both of my grandmothers sewed, but I was too young to learn from them. xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
My Grandma taught me to sew and to knit. However … she never taught me how to go round corners when knitting. So … if you ever want a scarf, I’m your (wo)man. But if you want socks or a cardigan …. look elsewhere.
I did try to teach myself how to knit something wonderful, by trying to follow a pattern to knit a rather lovely cardigan/coat for my friend who was expecting a baby. I got nearly to the end of the pattern when I suddenly realised that I’d gone terribly wrong somewhere, as one arm was in the middle of the back and the other was placed on the front left side!
Goodness knows what I did wrong, but I never finished it, and simply bought a gift for the new baby when it arrived. tsk tsk. I’m such a disappointment to myself. [sigh] lol
Your Grandmothers taught you different things, Anne. Values, joy, love. And the greatest of these gifts …. as we know…. is love.
Sending you love ~ Cobs. xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sorry, but I had to laugh at the picture your words conjured up in my head. You needed a misshapen baby to wear it. Thankfully, your friend’s baby was not the one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ll laugh even more Anne when I told you where I was when I found out that I’d totally messed up the knitting of the baby cardigan/jacket….
I was sat in the chair at the hairdressers – waiting for my hair to be washed. I was folding (as best as possible – as it was still on the knitting needles at this point), and I held it up, grimaced at it …. then laid it on my lap, ‘folding’ it this way and that and suddenly a light bulb moment happened.
I’d done all this knitting and I’d
DONE IT WRONG
!!!
I know that I must have pulled a really shocked face, because the young girl who was about to wash my hair put her hand on my shoulder to ask me to come to the chair, and she said …. “Are you alright??? You’ve gone as white as a sheet and look like you’ve had bad news.” …. “Would you like some water?”
I had to explain that I was fine, but that I’d just that moment found out that I’d totally “messed up on this knitting! Wrecked the whole thing!” …. and say that I was really cross with myself, and that’s probably why I looked shocked. LOLOL.
ALL of the people in the hairdressers knew about it by the time I’d finished having my hair done.
How embarrassing! eeek.
LikeLike
But you handled it like a pro!! xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know of bodkins, Cobs, but didn’t know what they were for, so you’ve enlightened me here!
By the way… your comments have come through to me exactly as they should have, so that’s good. Your post didn’t appear in my reader on th’app, so I found it on my filter. There are always ways and means to get around things!
Enjoy the rest of your Monday, Cobs! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘Ello Tom!
Glad to be your teacher for today. You can now impress everyone with your knowledge of Bodkins. (How exactly you’re going to fit that into a conversation is …. well, I’m truthfully scratching my head here. lol)
So glad to hear that the comments are going to the right place – at last. Akismet have done a wonderful job and I thank them sincerely.
Posts appearing in the Reader… No, I’m not getting an amazing amount of posts from blogs I follow either, which is distressing me somewhat.
Could you please give me idiot proof instructions for this “filter” you found posts on? I don’t know where to find said ‘fllter’. DOH! (as Homer would say).
Thanks for coming Tom, and for your lovely comment. Great chatting with you.
Sending squidges ~ Cobs. xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Filter is on the WordPress App on the mobile phone… I squint at it all the time! It doesn’t appear to be on the reader on the computer, which is a bit unfortunate. I’ve just had a quick look at the dashboard and it isn’t there either.
And some time over the next week or so, someone will ask me if I know what a bodkin does… to try to catch me out, I’m sure, but I can now show them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahhh, that’s why I can’t find it then.
I think I might try and see if ‘unfollow’ then ‘follow’ again straight away would work for me.
Hmm…. since I’ve told you this …. I’ll try it with you, so that you know I’m just trying out a thought and not trying to a) get attention or b) fallen out with you.
I shall have a go a this right now. ~ C. x
LikeLike
Just unfollowed and then followed you again …. then went to my reader and guess what?
You’re all over it now!!! YAY! ~ C. x
LikeLike
Such teeny tiny, perfect sheep! They are amazing, just like you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awww, QWCraft, thank you. Bless you.
Thrilled you like the little baa lambs.
Thank you so much for coming, and for your lovely comment.
Have a fabulous rest of your day. ~ Cobs. xxx
LikeLike
I love your blog post, no where else do I get fun vocabulary lessons, get to view beautiful art while being transported under the toadstoles to meet and learn about a new fairy. Of course, I am sucker for your jokes. I still share them with my youngest we giiggle together. Thanks for the always fun read, I always come away having learned something!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ohhh, bless you, and thank you so much, Morning S. What an incredible, beautiful comment to have left for me. It’s truthfully done wonders for my self esteem!
Although I know I perhaps come over as quite confident, I’m actually not. I’m – as my mother used to say about me – “backward at coming forward” – or as I would more simply say: ‘shy’. I have almost zero self confidence and question everything I think of putting on the blog here – just in case it’s only lovely in my eyes. [sigh] I drive my husband nuts. Poor chap.
I visited your own blog some days ago and left a comment on your latest post. Now … I’ve had problems with leaving comments on W.Press blogs – as all my comments were going to peoples spam folders.
Akismet – the spam catching folks linked to W.press blogs – have helped enormously and seem to have solved the problem – but only from a couple of days ago – so anything that was in spam before that will still be there.
I’ve just been back to your blog and my comment isn’t there – so check out your spam folder. With a bit of luck it will still be there, (providing the bin hasn’t been emptied). If you find the comment, you’ll have to click to say it’s not spam – so that it goes into your comments secion and you can then put it on your blog post.
Thank you SO much for coming MScrapper. I love to see your name pop up here. And … thank you again for your wonderful comment. Bless your beautiful soul.
Wishing you a beautiful rest of your day!
Love ~ Cobs. xxx ❤
LikeLike
HI Cobs,
I am sorry if I didn’t respond I will check it. I have been remodeling the site and dealing with the “block editor” in design which is driving me nuts! I will look! I love the description of “backward at coming forward” I can relate to everything you said about yourself. You know, It was odd, right before your first return post I was thinking of you and wondering if I would ever see another post from you. As if my thoughts went winging off to you, roughly two hours later as I was just sitting down with my evening cup of coffee, you popped up in my email. The timing couldn’t have been better! Your writing style and the magical thinking you infuse is something I appreciate but need more than ever right now. Every one of your posts brightens my day, I am happy if my comments return a little bit of the joy you give me! ! Hugs all around! Keep writing!! Have you thought of writing children’s books? I would buy them in a heartbeat under the guise it’s for my son but keep it for myself! shhh, don’t tell! Off to go find your comment! Thanks for sharing the love!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m actually giggling here. 9am in the morning and I’m giggling like I’ve had a couple of glasses of wine. (or bottles!).
Yes, have had a thought of writing a book for a long time, and have recently set about ‘having a go’. It’s a little slow, as I’m ‘aware’ I’m writing a book, rather than just writing. I need to let go and just write. It will come, eventually, I’m sure.
How strange that you should be thinking of me, and TA DAH! … I turn up in your email inbox! It’s obviously that close and psychic bond that we have. (or is that psychotic bond? LOL)
Block Editor…. what a shambles that is! I did a post all about it, recently… here—>
https://thecobweboriumemporium.wordpress.com/2020/09/10/missing-comments-on-other-peoples-posts-and-what-the-heff-wordpress/
I didn’t have a choice – even though they said I had – the Block Editor was just foisted upon me when I began to try and build a post. Mighty shock, – and after trying to build a post, I gave up and instead banged out a complaint about it and then tried to add a picture – O M Goodness!!! That was impossible!
Aw I won’t go on. Suffice to say that I asked for the help of other bloggers, and they gave it … thankfully…. which then enabled me to make a decent post which had photos. But it wasn’t the easy thing that it was before.
Re-modelling the site! Whoohoo! We all need to wake up our blogs now and again. It gives it a fresher look and something that people can connect with all over again. So I’m fully behind you and cheering you on with that. I hope you end up with exactly what you feel is right for your. Something which tells a story about you.
In the meantime – I’m sending love, and a big car full of squidges ~ Cobs. xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so glad you are pursuing a book! What an adventure! I agree you need to just write; it might take you in a whole different direction, which could be fun, or you may just surprise yourself with how much you have to say. You can always go back and revise it before you ever share it. You get to decide. Happy writing and I look forward to more posts!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re right, . . . I need to just write and stop trying to second guess myself. I’m dreadful for that, I do it all the time and it’s so tiresome.
You’re words of advice have spurred me on. It doesn’t matter what it says to start with, because it’s not set in stone. I can go back and change it, time after time, after time – for however many changes or times I need to!
Ohhh, LOVE you for this comment MSrapper. Thank you so, so much.
Have a blessed rest of your day, and a wonderful weekend. ~ Cobs. xxx ❤
LikeLike
What a cute little fellow, Bodkin is and how much fun is he going to be? He really is adorable 😉 Love your sheep on the brooch. 🙂 Great idea with the tissue and muslin bag. 🙂 Big hugs to you and wishing you all things fairie and elf.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Soozy!
Aw, lovely to see you here.
Glad you liked the Fairy Elf known as Bodkin, and the ‘Lord’s my Shepherd’ pin brooch.
I trust you are well, and that your four paws is likewise.
Thank you for coming Soozy. I love spending some time chatting with you.
Take very good care of yourself.
love ❤ and hugs ~ Cobs. xxx
LikeLike
What a wonderful little bodkin button. How you sew those tiny sheep, amazing. Lovely story too! 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, hank you Kim! Glad you like the story… of course, every word of it is true. ;o)
[smiling to self here, with twinkles in eyes]
While I’ve got you here … I’m not getting your posts in my reader – so I’m going to try to beat the (new and useless) system by unfollowing you, then following you again, and see if that works. Telling you so that you don’t think I’ve gone mental. (already that way anyhoo. lol)
love ~ Cobs. xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Cobs. That’s quite alright as yours keeps going into spam too, so hopefully it will sort it out! Xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so glad you are back Cobs! You know……I had heard the word bodkin but never really knew what it was! Now I know. You always educate me with something new and I love those jokes! I read the dog one about jumping higher that a building to my husband. He just laughed and we decided I really need to tell our 9 year old grandson that one. Oh……..and that brooch (bodkin) is adorable and so is Bodkin the elf.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Chicken!!! Ohhh I’m thrilled to bits to see your name here.
Tickled pink that you like the brooch, and that you enjoyed meeting Bodkin the Fairy Elf.
The jokes … well that’s my inner child talking and having fun, so sharing them with your 9 yr. old Grandson will about reach the right level. LOL.
Thank you so much for coming Chicken. love seeing you.
Sending hundreds of squidges and a whole bucket of love ~ Cobs. xxx ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
So that is called a bodkin. I never knew the name. Yours is a lot nicer though. The bodkins are so cute! Oh, and that elf is magic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Markus + Micah
Yup, that’s a bodkin, in sewing terms. It’s a handy little tool to have if you want to feed ribbon or some sort of ‘tie’ string etc through a channel that you’ve sewn in something – like, for example – the ‘channel’ which runs around the top of the little muslin bag which the Bodkin Brooches live. That channel is for the ‘pull string’ which closes the bags. You can use a bodkin to thread the string through that channel.
So happy to hear you like the brooch, and that you enjoyed Bodkin, the Fairy Elf.
Thank you so much for coming, and for the lovely comment. It’s fabulous to know who I’m talking to when someone reads a post – and now I know!
Have a truly blessed rest of you day both. ~ Cobs. x
LikeLike
It’s Perfect! Not only is it beautifully crafted and with much love and thoughtfulness Cobs, it touched my heart because reciting the 23 Psalm has by means of comfort and strength this year.
Bless you my friend. I hope you have many reasons to smile.
LikeLiked by 1 person
More than I can count, Ruth. … and you’re one of them. ❤ ~ C. xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your Bodkin is adorable!!! So cute! I love your explanation, and of course your jokes! Thanks for sharing! I’m looking forward to see more of your Bodkins!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, thank you Nancee. The jokes … I cannot resist a good joke, and can’t resist sharing them. I’m tickled pink that you like them.
Thank you for coming Nancee, and for your beautiful comment.
Sending you much love ~ Cobs xxx ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Cobs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I still can not believe you are back-Do you know that I stood beside the ocean and sent prayers your way in June? Now here you are again-too good to be true. I love the elf and the bodkin. So adorable. Plus I love sheep. More than that . . I just love you dear Cobs. love Michele
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love you too Michele. BIGLY!
Your prayers obviously got to the right place, because I’m here and raring to go.
I’ve missed you so much, and thought about you often. It’s so good to be back and chatting with you, and everyone, again.
So happy that you like the Bodkin, and elf.
Thank you so much for coming for a visit, and for your lovely comment.
I’m sending my love to you, tucked into the wings of an Angel, heading your way.
love ~ Cobs. xxx ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are one of a precious kind. The world needs your lovely magic-I know I do!! x love your rabbit
LikeLiked by 1 person
My name is Bodkin, do I get some royality for you using my name? Just kidding. The Bodkin Fairy is precious so I borrowed the image, hope you don’t mind. Cute items you are making.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thrilled you like him.
Nice to meet you Teresa – great name ‘Bodkin’.
Hope to see you again! ~ Cobs. x
LikeLike