The Earliest Daffodil

With these recent cold days and nights, the sewing machine has been kept busy.  There are new eye pillows and therapy pillows.  Once I finish up the inner pillows, they'll be listed in the shop. I really loved what recent featured seller on etsy, Odelae,  had to say:

"The idea of hundreds of thousands of sellers from around the world participating in a single marketplace 24/7 is mind boggling, yet this is what is occurring on Etsy. For me, Etsy is a rare opportunity to connect with artisans and appreciators worldwide. It means I get to live where I do and do what I love with many others doing the same, yet different thing. Also, we all are part of a shift that is happening. We’re players in a movement that’s empowering people to follow their dreams. We’re rebuilding our skill set via the DIY movement, breaking the mold of the 20th century workplace and remembering how to function as a community. The artistic trends we are witnessing suggest a shift in our mass consciousness toward a very different, invigorating way of being."   To check out her beautiful shop, click on her shop name above.

I saw this early daffodil a few days ago, shortly before the ice and sleet arrived.  There's a new shop in Asheboro, called Brightside Gallery.  A few weeks ago, they asked if I would like to create a custom soap for their shop.  Keeping a "bright" theme in mind, it has local honey, calendula petals from my gardens, organic cornmeal and four essential oils creating a wonderful lemony-scented yellow bar.

The cold temperatures have also inspired me to bake.  Last night, it was crescent rolls.  This morning, it was my friend Teresa's Mom's Rock cookies.  I always make a full recipe, which makes a lot of cookies, and freeze some.  You could halve it if you'd like.

Rock Cookies

1 c butter                                                        1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 3/4 c brown sugar                                         1/2 tsp salt
3 eggs                                                              1 lb raisins
3 c flour                                                           1 lb pecans, chopped
2 tsp cinnamon                                                  1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cloves                                                       1/2 c additional flour

Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla, and mix well.  Sift the 3 cups of flour, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda and salt together.  Add to egg mixture.  Add the 1/2 cup flour to the raisins and pecans.  Stir into other mixture.  Drop by teaspoonful on greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Cookies will not look done.

Wishing you a cozy weekend, with lots of good things to eat!

Far Flung Places

It has been heartwarming to see all the support for my online shop this holiday season.  How wonderful it's been to wake up to orders each morning.  And to see the far-flung places they're going.  Yesterday, I shipped an order to Anchorage, Alaska.  How lovely to think of my products being enjoyed in so many places around the world.  I just wanted to say a big thank you to all my friends, family, and those I've never met, who have supported my little shop this year.  I can't tell you how much it has meant to me.  You're the best!  *Of course, this thank you goes to all my customers~ from shows, local shops and otherwise.