treats

[at the end of a long day yesterday I toasted some homemade cinnamon swirl bread {recipe coming soon}, fixed some hot tea, and opened this lovely snow-cone made by stephanie.]

Good morning,

How are you on this second December day? Surprised as I am that it is already December?

I want to treat you, if you'd like. I'm going to have some surprises in my shop this month. Today, Dec. 2 through Friday Dec. 5, save 20% on purchases of $20 or more. The details are in my shop policies.

} I enjoyed reading this joy + ride this morning.
} I wish I had an advent calendar. I loved opening the little windows as a child, to discover a different part of the nativity. Do you have an advent calendar?
} Give handmade, here's why. My reason is no. 29. :)
} I will be adding some new sequin hearts to the shop today as well.

There's much to share this week: a recipe, a little show, and hopefully our Inspired pair.

It's supposed to snow here tomorrow,
H

hazy

Hello to you,

So it was snowing when we drove back into town today and this is how it looked out the car window. Are we sure it's still autumn and not winter?

I'm not quite ready to re-enter the world after being away for Thanksgiving so I'll be back soon with some homemade cinnamon swirl bread and new sequin hearts to share.
But before I go, Sunday is the last day to sign up for an art card subscription. {Subscribers receive an original piece of art mailed to them, every month for three months. Each piece is unique and not like anyone else's. There's about 3 spots left.}

I hope you're well & I'll see you soon,
H

blessings

Hello,

Today I enjoyed the quiet of my kitchen as I was tidying up around the house, doing laundry, cooking cranberries, preparing pumpkin cheesecake and making cinnamon swirl bread. The cats were content in their sunny perches, the candles were flickering, the clothes dryer whirring, the timer ticking away, and Christmas music was lulling in the background. I was thinking about these moments and counting them as blessings. I have so much to be thankful for even if all of our circumstances are far from how I'd want them.
That's what I have to remember, to be thankful, to have a grateful heart, regardless of circumstance. It's not always easy, but it's always good.

I wish you a time of Thanksgiving, relaxing with family and friends and considering your blessings. I'll see you Sunday or Monday.

H

ps. I loved reading Emily's post today.

my handmade faves part one

Hi!

I want to pop in and share my "handmade faves part one" with you before I head up to the studio. This will be a little ongoing series of some of my favorites. The collections I don't anticipate will be thematically arranged but rather ensembles of pieces that are inspiring to me at the moment.
I don't want to jump into Christmas too early because Thanksgiving and autumn are certainly worth embracing. But it doesn't hurt to begin handmade gift giving early so to relieve last minute stress. {I'm telling myself this as well. I'm soooo last minute it's just plain silly!}

top - bottom & left - right :
} silence print by Rachel Saldana|Buttons Magee Photography {shop just updated! check out her lovely teal sequined pillow too!}
} wood pecker collage by Rick Beerhorst
} stamped cup, frost by Kristen Kieffer {Kristen is a long-time friend of mine. We met during an 11 month artist residency eleven years ago. She just updated her shop yesterday with so many beautiful wares!}
} paper ornaments by sprouthead
} tin art - bird on rusty tin by little black rabbit at Poppytalk Handmade Market
} Veranda print by Stephanie Levy {Stephanie now has prints in addition to her beautiful original works and is at Poppytalk Handmade Market.}

Have you seen the Heart Handmade Holiday Zine just released today? You can preview it and download it. You may see me in it along with a downloadable print I made. Marichelle did some amazing work putting the entire zine together!

Off to work for me,
H

pumpkin muffins

[we had a little thanksgiving meal for two tonight of pumpkin muffins, roasted vegetables over couscous with parmesan and applesauce]

Good evening,

This afternoon when I got home from teaching all day I decided to make my favorite muffin recipe, pumpkin muffins. This has been my favorite since I was a child and if you like the flavor of molasses and are not afraid of a little butter, then try this one out. This makes a tender muffin and tonight I altered the below recipe slightly by substituting 3 T. of the butter with an additional 3 T. of pumpkin. This made it even more tender and it quite nearly melts in your mouth.
So here it is:

HEATHER'S FAVORITE PUMPKIN MUFFINS
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/4 c. molasses
1 egg
1 c. pumpkin {I used canned}
1 3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. pecans or raisins or both, optional

Combine sugar, butter, molasses, & beat well. Add egg & pumpkin, beating until smooth. {I just mix with a wooden spoon.} Stir together the dry ingredients and add to the pumpkin mixture. Stir just until moistened. Fill lightly greased muffin pans, half full. This will make more than a dozen muffins. With my extra batter I filled a couple mini bread loaf pans.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes {or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean.}
These are so good warm and cut in half with a little dollop of butter melting into each half.

Will you let me know if you try this recipe?

I think I'm to go make some hot tea and work on some new sequin hearts. I hope to add a few over here tomorrow.

Good night,
H

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ps. nov. 26 |
Emily and Alicia just made this muffin recipe and posted pictures that make them look so good! Now I better go eat another one. :)