New Year, New Challenge

I began blogging about nine months ago and had some ups and downs getting going, but my goal has been to get back to creating regularly and sharing my work with others who enjoy this kind of thing. I had also hoped to get back to selling online, something I did a lot of before returning to an office job, and I am so thrilled to have been accepted back into the Simply Primitives group! Wouldn't you know, our old digital camera had to quit just before my first uploading deadline, but that was quickly replaced and I think the updated technology in the new camera will really improve my photography.

Red Work Sewing Book

The first project I'm sharing is a sewing book from a design by Stacy Nash. We travel by car a lot and I always have a stitching project or two with me. I can't tell you how many times I've been frustrated to find I have my project and thread, but no needle, so I try to keep all those necessary notions together in a bag ready to go.

Inside the Sewing Book

Inside the book is a scrap of material for holding needles and a string of vintage buttons along with some wonderful German wool yarn. I'm always drawn to vintage finds like the wool and the buttons at antique shows. I think that's the kind of thing you have to get while you can because women don't sew as much anymore and one of these days sewing supplies and notions will become scarcer then hen's teeth.

Valentine Annie

And then I've always had a soft spot for whimsical dolls and really enjoy looking through my finds to find the little details that will make each one special, so I made this little gal from a design by Jenn Steffa. She sits well but she could also be hung or set into a wreath, I think.

Valentine Annie

Some of the fun details on Annie include her crocheted tea cup and saucer hat, sparkly chenille heart and feed sack Valentine holder stuffed with special cards.

Last week was also a very busy one at work. One of the teams I work with was getting ready to begin our Souper Bowl food drive and recruited some of the high school students to create a piece of can art to bring attention to the drive. Here is the finished product, which I think turned out great! Isn't it fun? After the drive, all the canned goods will be distributed to local food pantries.

Pineapple Pie with Dollop of Whipped Cream