where would we be without friends?

thank you friends, for all your sweet words! i am feeling much brighter now.
i'm off in a dash to finish some smocks but wanted to let you know there are some new drawings up in my shop, including the one above titled spend some time with me.

until tomorrow, may you sparkle all day!

loving by the listful

a quick post just to put some love out in the universe tonight...feeling all kinds of sadness {and not quite sure if i should go to sleep or push through another hour in hopes of going to bed with a smile on my face.}

some things i adore tonight:

warm flannel sheets out of the dryer

c being proud of me, and telling me so many times each day

my o, snuggling with me at every opportunity

a day full of creating, working, loving

ray fenwick; especially art #5

nyra lang's amazing photo stream

stewart+brown

bench

beautiful mail from beautiful women: *, *, *, *

memories of two beauties...i have only begun to understand their impact on my life, and loving that

edelweiss

my flickr favs

and this recipe of my grandmother's

doris' meringue cookies
***
2 egg whites, beaten
2/3 cups sugar
1 cup chocolate bits {choose your favorite...i like dark chocolate chips}

beat egg white until stiff, adding sugar a little at a time. gently fold in chocolate bits. drop by teaspoonful on a cookie sheet lined with parchment. preheat oven to 350, then turn off oven. put in cookies for two hours {and NO opening door to peek!} so simple. so good!

this helped a bit, a smile seems much more possible now.
do you ever feel like giving the entire universe a warm tight hug,
and a kiss on the forehead...but not being able to?
i do, most days. tonight i will close my eyes and try to make it so.
good night, craftwonderland.

and then there were nine

i love mondays. there's such a sense of beginning, of purpose, of excitement for all a new week will bring. i suppose to feel that way about a monday is a thing to be grateful for...and to be sure, i am. i really am.

the holiday weekend was so full of joy {and heartache}, and creativity, and friends and family {though many i treasure were not near}. a rich four days i know i will remember.

i have made a conscious effort to be in the spirit this season, for fear that if i don't i will sink in sadness. most moments are bittersweet, but i do feel so full of love and possibility and gratitude for every single second i am breathing. i find the best way to care for yourself in times like these, is to reach out to others in need. i have a growing list of ways i plan to help and have helped my fellow citizens of the world this season. what are you doing for someone else this year? i'd love to hear!

thanks to stephanie, the day after thanksgiving was spent creating something just for me, something i haven't done in a long time. it really recharged my creative spirit! such fun!

the remainder of the weekend was dedicated to crossing orders off my list, i made a great deal of progress! woosh. i feel like i can breathe again. and now there are only nine orders left to create* and send, which feels really good. the custom smocks have been such a joy to work on. i love all the input and ideas for quotes you all send, sometimes it's like seeing your own face with new eyes...to those of you still waiting: they are coming! this entire week is dedicated to halving my list, and then completing the last ones next week!

may your day be merry, and bright!

*if you are thinking of ordering a custom smock, next friday is the cutoff for holiday orders. i have 5 spaces left.

believing

our first snow this morning! i'll be watching it accumulate all day from my studio window, with the crooners holiday collection from itunes on in the background {pure bliss}. busy finishing up some more new items for the shop. i added some new pillows and artwork this morning. up next are some smaller items {stocking stuffers?}...

have you seen mav's gift guide??? what an amazing list. i plan on sitting with a cup of tea this afternoon and going through it...so many beautiful things, i can't wait to start shopping. thanks for all the hard work, maria! i feel more than honored to be included!

tomorrow i'll post holiday recipe #2.
until then - be well, friends.

holiday goodness

here's a new little item going up in the shop! i'll be making a whole series of these for the holidays. there will be both wool felt and linen fronts and a print in cotton on the back. this one is up in the shop now, and there will be more to come either later today, or tomorrow.

:: :: :: ::

HOLIDAY RECIPE 1
i thought this was a great idea coming from maria {as many of her ideas are!}. here is my first recipe. this is great as a sort of we're approaching the holidays and things are going to get very busy quite quick type recipe. there is about an hour of work that goes into this pie, but if you are only a couple of people in your house it will easily do two dinners and a lunch {which i love...yummy homemade goodness at the ready!} perfect for when you want something warm and good, but are up to your eyeballs in orders, or gift making, or trimming the tree!

:: :: :: ::

best pot pie ever {an emeril recipe...i make this about once every two weeks!}

6 tablespoons butter 1 cup chopped onions 1/2 cup chopped celery 6 tablespoons flour 2 cups chicken stock 1 cup half and half 2 cups diced potatoes, blanched 1 cup diced carrots, blanched 1 cup sweet peas 2 cups shredded chicken, cooked 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley 1 Savory Crust {confession: i use pillsbury pre-made crust, its so good with this recipe, in my opinion} Salt and pepperPreheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 9 by 9 by 2-inch square baking pan.

In a large saute pan, melt the butter. Add the onions and celery and saute for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the flour and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes for a blond roux. Stir in the chicken stock and bring the liquid up to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and continue to cook for 4 to 6 minutes, or until the sauce starts to thicken. Stir in the half and half and continue to cook for 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper {and i add a pich of curry powder here, sometimes, to give it a little kick}. Stir in the potatoes, carrots, peas and chicken. Mix the filling thoroughly. Line the baking pan with one of the crusts. Pour the filling into the prepared pan. Place the top crust on top of the filling. Carefully tuck the overlapping crust into the pan, forming a thick edge. Crimp the edges of the pan and place on a baking sheet. Place the sheet in the oven and bake for about 25 to 30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and crispy.

Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes before serving.

hope you enjoy this one!

outgoing

today = correspondence, orders, postal runs, preparing for the future, dreaming of the future, thinking and writing about life; what it means to be alive {for me}, cups of tea in my feather cup, missing ollie and c, looking forward to a cozy sunday together with light streaming through the windows, the sewing machine humming, good music on, a tasty late breakfast, and the new york times.

happy thursday, craftwonderland.

keep on keepin' on

thanks to all of you who left me well wishes on saturday! every little note and phone message helped to brighten my day. i am so blessed to be a part of this wonderful community! it may seem silly to some but so many of you have truly helped make a difficult time easier.

many times throughout the year, just having a blog to read or a photo to look at or talking to wonderful new friends has helped me see it through. another minute, another day, another week. lately, life seems to pass through me a little easier. every day i get a little better at practicing acceptance {of course sometimes i fail miserably!}. less resistance =a good thing!

of course, being busy is one of the biggest helps of all! i am so thankful for the wonderful distraction of two trees, which has actually grown into a {semi} full-fledged business over the course of just a few months. i want to share a bit of my story with all of you {you are such a big part of it!}. soon. in a post to come.

there are a couple of new children's items up in the shop. and some holiday items will be up on friday {time to branch out a little!}

i am thinking of so many of you.
be well.

remembering {missing}

today my mother would have turned 60. i miss her so much i ache...
a scrap of paper she left behind {found by my sister} becomes something treasured.