The Return of Craftiness

Well, here goes nothing! Welcome, kind readers, as I embark on another writing endeavor. It's been quite some time since I kept a blog, but I remember enjoying it. I suppose as my life got "less interesting" after college, facebook seemed sufficient for any sort of life updates or posting photos.
The main focus of this blog will be on my crafty projects, as is probably obvious by the title. I used to be pretty creative and crafty in my youth - sewing doll clothes, making jewelry, painting and drawing various things I was inspired by, etc. My creativity was somewhat suppressed as I focused on my love of science and marine biology in college and afterwards, but inspiration began to really hit me again when I bought my first Canon with 12 MP and 16x zoom. Suddenly, I had to take a picture of anything that caught my eye.

 I highly recommend it to any aspiring photographer who is looking for something more portable and affordable - the color and crispness is awesome. But I digress...
In February of last year, I was inspired by my trip to Portugal to make a lenco do namorado for my (then) boyfriend. I had read about them as a tradition before going and hoped to find one to buy as a souvenir, but the least expensive ones, even, were well over $65US. I couldn't justify spending that much on a handkerchief, as beautiful as it was. It wasn't like I could read what it said anyway, haha. So, as my job then involved spending hours on fishing boats, often with nothing to do but sleep or read for days at a time, I got started on my lenco and was almost finished in 3-4 days. I had so much fun doing it, I couldn't wait to give it to him after I sewed it into a pillow!

 

His and his brother's kitties modeling for a picture with my lenco do namorado pillow

After finishing that one, I couldn't wait for a reason to embroider again and it was such a good way to pass the down time at work. My sister was graduating that May and I decided to make one for her, as well.

My sister proudly holds her pillow gift from me

Since then, I also embroidered mini pillows for my sister again, as my maid of honor, and my best friend, as my bridesmaid, following ideas I found on Pinterest of bridesmaids gift ideas. And then I used my renewed embroidery skills on our card basket for the reception!

I don't foresee the embroidering stopping anytime soon! Depending on how I feel after finishing the book I'm currently reading, I may turn it into more than just a hobby, along with some other crafts I've been dabbling in. Tune in next time for more of those!
Thanks for reading and I hope it was enjoyable, as I'm a little rusty on the whole writing thing. :)
- Jess