For over a hundred years military staff were issued with a sewing kit to keep their uniform in good order especially when on active service. They were referred to as a ‘housewife’.

Obviously the size of the kit was important and several attempts were made to provide a compact easy to carry kit.

 I made this ‘housewife’ in the shape of an acorn, from boxwood, it has a threaded lid to keep its contents safe, it contains a thimble, needles and thread.

It was made as a commission for an ex-soldier, he called himself ’an old sweat’, I think he was an infantryman.

Some miniature wooden barrels turned as a commission, they are to provide a load for a model truck.

My thanks to Andy Ross for allowing me to use the photos of his steam wagon showing the wooden barrels.