Please be kind, January

I wished for a quiet and productive beginning to the year, and it would've been just that -- except for losing my job last week.

It was a day like any other until my boss told me that my job had been eliminated and sent me home, with no severance.  I'm so sad.  Most of all, I'm not up for another year of ups and downs, employment-wise. 

I spent the last week trying to ignore the situation as best I can, and crafted, got projects done around the house, and shopped for buried treasure.

I had my friend Karen over to craft on Martin Luther King Day and we made vintage fabric hearts.  Above was the spread on my dining room table -- lots of fabric and fun things to choose from!

Mine started with a layer of felted wool, then velvet, then some lovely brown netted lace, then some novelty painted fabric, more velvet, and, finally, a lovely antique millinery rose.  I added charms, buttons, and lots of trim and hand-stitching.  I'm happy with the result!

My favorite thing about it is that it hangs from a vintage sweater clip.  If you have a chance to go and "favorite" it in my Etsy shop, that would be much appreciated!

I was on a roll, so I created a second one (above.)  A third one is also in the works!

As you know if you've been a blog reader of mine for a while, I love the valentine motif for making art.  I'm participating in one fabric heart swap next month with a Facebook group, and plan to keep all my supplies out there on my dining room table so I can spontaneously pick up and keep creating as often as possible!

As far as my Etsy shop, I'm keeping it as full as I can, at about 100 items available, and there is a 40% off purchases over $25 sale going on, still!

While out thrifting and junking, I've been finding fun vintage "picks" and plan to make many valentines with them and other vintage items in my stash.  Just today I sold some 1950s era valentines and I scanned them before sending them off.  Here are a few that you are welcome to download and use in your art:

And I'm just beginning to list some vintage Easter items!

I'm happy for the company of kitties while I'm bouncing around the house on these wintry, cold January days.

Art likes to lay on top of the highest cabinet while I sit at the desk and type...

while Paul usually prefers to camouflage himself downstairs.  While the rest of the country's been experiencing unusually cold weather, we have not.  But, tonight we're bracing for a big change in weather and SNOW, so we've stocked up on necessities.  I have a couple of books to read, and all of the above-mentioned art projects planned, too, so it can snow all it wants!

Will you be making valentines this year?  I'd love to swap some hand made paper cards or tags with friends; let me know if you're interested in doing that -- comment below and be sure I have a way to reach you if your Google account is set to no-reply!