Hannah Ammons of Laurinburg has a big talent and a big heart to match. At 13, she has won an award for her painting in a 4-H activity day contest as well as a participatory ribbon in a sewing contest sponsored by the North Carolina Sheep Producers' Association. A selection of her work in both mediums is currently on display at the Rebound Book Store, located across the road from the historic John Blue House in Laurinburg.

"I enjoy painting in acrylics and in high definition paint as well," Ammons said. "High definition is like oil, but it is easier to work with and dries quickly."

Hannah was awarded a bronze medal at the South Central 4-H Activity Day contest held in Montgomery County June 25.

"She won the award for a one stroke rose painted on a circular platter," her mother Ruthann Ammons said. The one stroke painting technique involves the artist "loading a brush with three or four different colors and doing the stroke" as opposed to traditional methods of painting.

In addition to sewing, painting, and cooking, another of Hannah's talents, the young artist has shown an altruistic bent by developing the "Paperbacks for our Troops" program through the Rebound Book Store.

"A friend of my father is presently serving in Afghanistan, and he was complaining that all the troops have to read at the base library are romance novels," Hannah said. "Because of that, we are collecting mystery, sci-fi, True Crime and other paperbacks to send to the soldiers. We can have a 20 pound box of 25 to 30 books, bookmarks and a bag of candy delivered to overseas military personnel for about $11. Please consider donating books to servicemen by contacting the bookstore."

Hannah's current display contains approximately 25 pieces of art on canvas, wood, and glass, along with several examples of sewn items, including a purple wool dress that earned a ribbon at the NC Sheep Producers' Association event in September titled "Make It With Wool".

"Another of her projects involves recycling candle jars, the kind that you can buy at the grocery store," Ruthann Ammons said. "She enjoys taking the used glass and repainting it, then giving it back to the owner."

Bookstore manager Sara Stewart invited Hannah to exhibit her work in an area of the building that links the store with the Scotland County Museum.

"I think Hannah is doing a great job with her artistic work," she said. "We are very happy to have her exhibit her paintings and sewing with us."

Hannah plans more showings and further explorations of art in each of her favorite mediums.

"She has always colored, and we noticed that her drawings were staying within the lines at an early age," her mother said. "Now, we never know what she's going to do; an art or sewing project might be waiting for us when we wake up in the morning."

To see Hannah's work or to donate to the "Paperbacks for our Troops" program, visit the Rebound Book Store Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. or by appointment. Call 276-7238 for details.