Monday, September 28, 2009

For Dad... Woodland



This time of year makes me think of nature and the woods from when I was a child and I went camping with my dad in the beautiful North Carolina mountains. That's where the inspiration for this treasury came from. So dad, this one is for you! Love ya!

As usual, I love clicks and comments!


Sunday, September 27, 2009

Shortbread Cookies

This afternoon while sewing, my sweet tooth kicked in so I decided to make some cookies. I made these for friends and family last year and put them in little decorative bags with ribbon and they were a hit. So, I made them today minus the peppermint (because I didn't have any), and added in some cocoa. Ya know, for that chocolate fix too. Here is the original recipe for the Peppermint Candy Shortbread Cookies. If you want to make them chocolate like I did, add in 1 tablespoon of cocoa to the dough. These are delcious! Don't mind the different sized cookies, I had little helpers.

Peppermint Candy Shortbread Cookies

cookies
1 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup peppermint candy, crushed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon of cocoa (optional)

frosting
1 cup powdered sugar
1-2 tablespoon milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons peppermint candies, crushed

Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 300°F
  2. Cream butter, sugar, crushed candy, and vanilla thoroughly using an electric mixer. Gradually blend in flour and cornstarch.
  3. Form dough into 1-inch balls and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Gently press down on each cookie to flatten, either using fingers or a flat-bottomed drinking glass that has been dipped in sugar to prevent sticking.
  4. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until bottoms begin to brown.
  5. Cool for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
  6. For frosting: combine powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Mix thoroughly until frosting is smooth. Drizzle cookies with frosting and sprinkle with crushed candy.
Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Halloween Decor

With fall and Halloween quickly approaching, I've been shopping around Etsy for fun, new decorations. So when a treasury opened up this afternoon, I decided to use all my Halloween finds in it. Check it out and leave me a comment!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Meet ME!

This week's EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival Topic is either show yourself or your studio. Since I don't really have a studio, I'm showing me! LOL.

Let's see.... I'm Jordan, I'm sure you never guessed that (haha) and that is where I got my biz name from. I thought for weeks on a biz name and came back to my own name. I have two sons, Cody who is 4 years old and Carter who is 2 years old. They keep me VERY busy but somewhere better all the breaking up of fights I manage to get some work done. :) I've been with my love Scott for the past 5 years and we live here in North Carolina with our 2 boys.

More about sewing... I often get asked how long I've been sewing or how I learned. I think I learned to sewing when I was about 9 or 10 years old. I was involved in 4-H and took a holiday class to learn how to make a vest. That was my very first project. There were several others in the class that had an interest in sewing as well so a sewing club was formed. I learned a lot more in the club about sewing and techniques and that next Christmas, Santa brought me my very own sewing machine. Up until a couple months ago, I've still be sewing on that same machine. There was a period of time in my teenage years when I probably didn't touch my sewing machine for years, but right after my second son was born in 2007, I picked it up again and here I am!

Monday, September 21, 2009

New Items!

I've added several new items to my shop in the last couple days including some very cute Halloween bags! Check it out!

Friday, September 11, 2009

GIVEAWAY!

I'm having a giveaway on Twitter for the handbag below. Follow me on twitter here and go find my first tweet about it. 361st RT (retweet) wins. Please, no more than 1 RT per hour.

Sewing Machine Day

Ok, so I meant to post this last night but I fell asleep and forgot so it is a day late. Anyway, yesterday was Sewing Machine Day. The sewing machine was patented on September 10, 1846. I made a treasury in honor of it. Clicks and comments are appreciated!


Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Featured EtsyBlogger of the Month

I recently joined my first Etsy Team, EtsyBloggers. We are a team of individuals who love Etsy and blogging! Septembers EtsyBlogger of the month is Designs by Vanessa. She has some beautiful items in her shop. I especially love all her cards, so cute! I'm a big fan of birds so those are my faves. So go check out Vanessa's shop and if you can't buy, favorite her!

Sunday, September 6, 2009

My First Gift Guide!

I have to say, this selling thing on Etsy is going much better than a thought. Less than a month on Etsy and I've made 15 sales, my first treasury made it to the front page, and now I've been featured in a gift guide! YAY!

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Don't forget Weekend Deals!

Through Monday, September 7th save 10% off your entire purchase (excluding shipping and custom items)! Enter promo code "weekend deals" in the notes during checkout and I will refund your discount via Paypal. So get to my shop and start shopping! Here is what I have in-store now.

Friday, September 4, 2009

First Day of Preschool

As I mentioned in another post, Cody's first day of preschool was yesterday. He was super excited about it and did really well! He cried when I left, which I expected, but he made a quick recovery and had a fun day! When I picked him up, I asked him what he did that day, did he make any friends, etc and every answer was "no", "I don't know", or "nothing." LOL. After we got home though, he started telling me about his day and how much fun he had. He woke up this morning asking if he goes to school tomorrow. Here are some picture I took. The last one is the best, but I took it in bad lighting so I'm going to try and find someone to fix it for me. (in other words, if you are really good in photoshop and think you can fix it, email me! LOL.)

Getting ready to eat breakfast (that he didn't eat. He's not a early morning breakfast person)


Showing off the backpack

And getting ready to go.

Treasuries.... again

Yeah, yeah I know. More treasuries. I'm seriously obsessed. And I figured out how to take screenshots too so now I can show them off here! The first one, A is for Apple, I made. And the second one, Shades of Blue, I am featured in. So click and view!



Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Extended Labor Day Weekend Deals!

Starting tomorrow, I'm participating in Etsy's Extended Labor Day Weekend Deals! Save 10% off your entire purchase (excluding shipping and custom items) through September 7th in my shop. Just enter promo code "weekend deals" during checkout and I will refund your difference through Paypal.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Soooo

I've been a slacker and haven't posted, but I have been busy! Make sure you check out my shop to the right, there are new items! I've got business card holders and sandwich bags. Have a look! I will have some Halloween items up in a couple days. I'm so stoked, I love Halloween!

Oh a non-business note, my oldest son starts preschool this week. I'm half excited, half sad. We went today to see his class and meet the teacher and he seems excited. Lets hope he's that way on the first day on Thursday too! He is 4 years old and never really been away from me. I think I'm more sad than him though. I'll try to post some pictures of his first day here on Thursday afternoon.

Jordan