Di's Nifty Needle

HI! Welcome to my shop! My name is Diane, though many friends call me Di. I was born and raised in Colorado, and over the years, I’ve called West Virginia, Nashville, and now North Carolina home.

Growing up, my mother was a constant source of inspiration, always crafting something beautiful—whether knitting, crocheting, or sewing. She passed her love of creating down to me, and some of my fondest memories are of us working on projects together. From paint-by-numbers and Tandy leather kits to making tissue paper flowers, she taught me hand embroidery, cross-stitch, and crochet. My journey with sewing began in junior high, when I took home economics, and my mom shared her tips and tricks. I made a few clothing items back then, but life soon took me on a different path, and I put sewing aside for many years.

In 1999, after raising four boys as a single mom, I met my second husband. We moved from Colorado to West Virginia, where he began making handmade knives. This led us to pre-1840 rendezvous events, where he could sell his knives. These events required period-appropriate clothing, and after a 15-year break from sewing, I found myself creating outfits for our family. Before long, I began sewing men’s clothing like waistcoats and knee breeches to sell at these events. We spent nine years immersed in that world until health issues forced us to step away.

Even though the rendezvous chapter of our lives ended, my love for sewing didn’t. I realized I wanted to create something different. Frustrated with the purses I found in stores, I decided to make my own—something that fit my style and needs. That’s how I got started making purses about ten years ago. I tweaked patterns to suit my taste and began selling them online under the name Simply Nifty Bags. But as my interests grew, so did my creations. Now, I enjoy making more than just bags, which led to a fresh new name for my shop.

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you find something here that speaks to you!

I hope you enjoy my shop. If you have any questions feel free to reach out and ask. Thank you for shopping handmade. Have a fantastic day!