So far it’s been a very wintery winter here in our part of Virginia. Some of us are loving it, and some of us (me) are freezing. I must say that looking through my photos from the last few weeks, it does give me a nice, cozy, wintery feeling. I just have to ignore my icy fingers.
I was at the ironing board the other night, pressing some fabric intended for a pencil pouch and Jonny made a comment along the lines of, “When my wife is struck with an obsession and can’t stop making pencil pouches.” He’s been there, done that, with various things over the past couple of decades. I do tend to get obsessed and a little bit single-minded. However, in recent weeks I have realized that pencil pouches are missing from the lives of many people whom I love and I feel it my duty to try and remedy that, one pencil pouch at a time. For those who have asked, here are some details: The pattern I follow (minus the tab) is HERE. The zippers (Amazon links are affiliate links) are THESE. And I typically include one fancy pencil, and a pen. I have been sewing them mostly from fabric I already had on hand, namely a bunch of Heather Ross fabric that I bought many years ago because Jonny and I wanted to sew a quilt together. (We never did.) I was asked where I buy fabric, and I don’t have one particular place because I haven’t bought any in many years. However, I did need to get a bit of fabric recently for pouches, so I searched ‘Heather Ross fabric’ and then shopped around. I am not a Heather Ross purist, but I do like her prints and that search was a good starting point for me.
One of the fabrics I purchased recently was a pretty pale pink linen blend with warm brown asters and I made a pouch using that on the outside and one of my older Heather Ross prints for the inside. It’s very cute, and I’d like to give it to one of you. (I wish I could give pencil pouches to ALL of you.) Beatrix and I went shopping for a used book to go with this giveaway and while she lobbied hard for Jane Eyre, I settled on this pretty copy of Middlemarch. It’s a wonderful and very long book. Perfect for getting through the rest of winter! I will confess that when I read it a few years ago I alternated between the book and the audiobook and that helped me get through it faster. However, it’s not a slog, and you may be just fine with only the book depending on your stage of life! I will also include a bar of goat’s milk soap and a tin of calendula salve.
**Thanks to everyone who commented! The giveaway is now closed and the winner (selected using a random number generator) is Heidi, who commented, “Your photos here remind me of the Little Women movie which is my favorite. A sort of haunting and cozy stillness. Beautiful. And as always, love your makings. Stay warm!”
p.s. Here’s an affiliate link to the pretty book pictured above (From Laurel Hill to Siler’s Bog). I am reading it now amongst other things. And I hope you noticed how my yarn matches the latest issue of Bird Watcher’s Digest! That was a total accident. Also, that winter blooming shrub in the top photos is witch hazel. It’s one of my favorites!
p.p.s. There is a soap sale going on in my shop as I make way for new soaps!
Beautiful fabric and pouch! Just lovely! Thank you for your generosity.
That fabric is so cute. I also like the photos of the birds. My current pencil pouch is a carryover from homeschooling children. It is zipper pouch that completely unzips until it is just a long zipper. One of my grandchildren got upset when we unzipped it and said, please put him back together!
Thanks for having giveaways and a nice etsy shop.
It has been a very wintery winter here too!
We have had snow, something we haven’t seen since 2018.
Your pouches are beautiful !
This is another beautiful giveaway. Anyone would be delighted to be the lucky recipient!
Another Canadian here, Ginny. Your blog is a huge blessing. Winning your generous prize would be a bonus…and certainly I’d pay the difference between the local & foreign postage. Blessings.
That metal zipper is perfection!
Wish I can sew! Indeed the pencil pouch is absolutely lovely. 🥰
Gorgeous pencil pouches! This kindergarten teacher has filled every pencil case in my classroom😊
I love the pencil pouches! I love beautiful and practical things! Thank you for sharing with us.
I always look forward to your posts! I’ve gotten many book suggestions from them in the past 🙂 I’ve had the sewing bug recently (it comes and goes) so this was very timely for me and so I will be looking up that pattern! I try to settle in and enjoy winter, but I find myself looking so forward to spring, so I think some sewing will get me through as well 🙂
It’s a lovely edition and I haven’t read Middlemarch yet.
I love your natural pictures and what a pretty pencil pouch! Going to look for heather ross fabric now. Thank you for sharing!
Ginny, you are such a joy! Can I order a pencil pouch, I would love to!
As a long time follower, I love reading your updates…..would love to win! P.S. I’m longing for spring.
Your work is always so lovely. I am tempted to pull out my sewing machine after a very long hiatus. Stay cozy. xo
I so look forward to your posts, I love how you see the world, thank you for the opportunity to obtain a thoughtful gift! Greetings from the White mountains of New Hampshire, your pictures are a visual treat!
Gorgeous post, as always! What a blessing to have babies around all the time!
It’s always a joy to read your posts and see your lovely photos❤️
I love how simple it all can be!
Beautiful
I love your nature pictures!
Beautiful as always. I may have to try those pouches. That would be a lovely package to win. Thank you Ginny
It does look cozy in your pictures! You capture beauty so well! What a treat to receive all these goodies-thanks for the chance to win!
Pencil pouches just hit right! Thank you!
PS I just cleaned out my fabric and found 4 yds of HR light blue fabric with tiny VW vans. Bought it when my soon to be 18 year old granddaughter was born😬
How delightful! I’ve been making little coin purse pouches lately and am quite obsessed too. Each of my girls got one for Christmas this year. Maybe next Christmas I will switch to pencil pouches!
What a wonderful bit of cheer in the middle of this cold! My mother speaks about Middlemarch from time to time – it would be a lovely thing to actually read it… And to enjoy your pencil pouch too. Thank you, Ginny for your cozy posts. I so look forward to them especially now in this day of fast media.
I suddenly feel an urge to make pencil pouches!!
Thanks for sharing.
Longtime reader from the Ozarks, and we’ve had ice along with the snow.
Just love your photos and such a sweet giveaway to pass the winter. 😊
Blessings,
Anne
Would love to win! So pretty!!!
I have been following you since before Job was born! It’s always a delight to read what you write. Thank you for sharing!
Love this giveaway! But I also have to chime in with Beatrix—“Jane Eyre” is one of my all-time favorite classics. I haven’t read “Middlemarch,” so that would be fun. And I am enjoying seeing all of the different pencil pouches you are making.
Thank you for sharing your blessings!
Your blog and way of life soothe my soul. Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos, happy reading, and cozy, artful projects!
Our winter in California has been very non-wintery so thank you for the lovely photos. The pouches are adorable and so practical!
Always love you posts especially the photos.
Thanks for the beauty of your blog!
Everything is so pretty and such a delight to see.
Blessings!
Oh course I will leave a comment. Perhaps, just maybe, I will win the give away. Such fun to think of. You are too kind!
Be well!
Thank you for a new fabric style to go explore. I would love the challenge 9f reading this book. Good luck to everyone.
Beautiful snow pictures! I love reading your posts so much – they always make me smile and I come away appreciating the beauty that can be found in life. Thank you!
Thank you for this lovely giveaway! Long time reader from WI-it is certainly cold here but we are missing the snow!
Your photos are beautiful as always🩷
I had no idea, but I am in desperate need of a lovely pencil pouch! 🙂 Thanks for the chance!
What a lovely giveaway!
Beautiful! Your photos, your words, the pencil cases, all of it!
I always love reading your posts! I am constantly amazed at how much you get done, and yet how calm you appear to be. Blessings to you and your sweet family!
Beautiful! I love the pictures of the sweet little birds, and the joy on Ambrose’s face as he sleds down the hill. 🙂
I’ve followed you for years and I always love seeing how you appreciate the small things through your pictures and words. I’d love to win your beautiful pouch! I love the fabric!
I’m in Canada, so we’re well entrenched in winter here and used to it, but I have family in one of the States that has an unexpected wintery blast and I have a lot of sympathy for you all! I lived in Ireland for many years, and my first year there they experienced the most snow the country had expected in decades and what I learned from that experience was that as much as we Canadians like to think we’re super hardy, we just have accumulated a lot of equipment and gear that keep the cold out. When faced with winter weather without them, I was just as cold and miserable as everyone else 🙂 Thank you for the lovely giveaway! If I were to be fortunate enough to win, I have access to an American mailing address.
What a wonderful giveaway to help spread some sunshine to us all through these chilly winter months.
Ginny, as always, I loved reading your post. I am amazed by your abilities and just so admire your lovely family. We need all families to love and work and worship together, as the good Lord intended. Take care. (And I totally understand getting caught up in a new creative venture every so often.)
Thank you as always for the loveliness.
I have been reading your blog for years- and love it, it always makes me smile when an email announcing your post shows up in my inbox! I was feeling a bit blue today and not only did your post cheer me up, but I was very much struck by your quote at the bottom that I have somehow missed before!
I believe that when you slow down and savor the small things, you don’t have to wish for a different life; you can discover beauty in the life you already have.
It was something I very much needed to hear today! Thank you!! Thank you for doing this!!