My pincushion was made for me, it's huge because I use a lot of pins and is made of wool stuffed with raw wool. The wool has the natural lanolin and it good for the pins, especially in my humid part of the country. Not a cheap way to go, wool...
My portable pincushion in my sewing kit was also made, but not by/for me but was bought for me. It's a knitted/crocheted? cupcake filled with poly. What was really nice was the maker included a large metal washer in the bottom of the cupcake so it has a weight to it, otherwise any breeze would knock it over and roll it across the room.