[BOUTIQUE] Journals

[BOUTIQUE] denotes an ongoing endeavor of mine--to share my creations with the world. I spend hours and hours upcycling scraps of paper and fabric into a variety of items that would make lovely gifts for yourself, your family, and your friends. I realize I should move this to etsy at some point, but I want to get a little nest egg going so I can pay them, buy more fabric, and maybe buy better Christmas presents--some people have just been getting cookies for years.

Today's post focuses on journals crafted with my own hobbit hands. The journals measure 5 by 7 inches, leaving  about 4.75 by 7 inches of writing or drawing space for you. Each journal contains 100 unlined pages.

I charge $15 for each journal, which includes shipping and handling to anywhere in the United States.

To reserve an item or obtain more information, please post a  comment, e-mail me at fanklubz at meowmail dot com, message me on facebook, or just mail me money (if you already have my address ;) ) If a journal is sold or pending sale, I will mark it as such.

You should ask if you'd like a journal in another color family. I have a backlog of my creative genius but I didn't want to cause this page to explode. I can also make special orders, but I may have to charge extra depending on the fabric desired.)

Note that for journals covered in similar fabric, I have posted a picture of one journal and listed the number of items available in lowercase text. Also note that I have numbered each one so use the number for the journal you like when contacting me to ensure we understand each other. (So the first picture below is journal #1 and I have 2 journals from that fabric available.)

#1- two AVAILABLE

#2- two AVAILABLE

#3- one AVAILABLE This one has a sheep on the front. Not the same as the following journal.

#4- one AVAILABLE This is not the same as the previous journal. This is the back of the journal. The front has some tree branches and a couple birds.

#5- one AVAILABLE Not the same as the following. I felt they looked different enough to merit their own pictures.

#6- one AVAILABLE Not the same as the one above.

#7- one AVAILABLE Not the same as #2. This one has more distance between the weaves.

#8- one AVAILABLE I don't think this picture captured the deep red of this journal.

#9- two AVAILABLE The pattern on these two journals has a hint of gold to it, which my photography didn't capture.

#10- six AVAILABLE

#11- one AVAILABLE This photo may not do this journal justice. Depending on the light, the pattern or the background appears darker.

#12- one AVAILABLE Notice the bird in the corner. He's watching you.

#13- one AVAILABLE This one doesn't have a bird to watch you.

#14- two AVAILABLE 

#15- two AVAILABLE

#16- one AVAILABLE

#17- three AVAILABLE

#18- five AVAILABLE

#19- one AVAILABLE

[REVIEW] [RECIPE] Silver Borne

My last book of the season features werewolves, shapeshifters, and fae. With nanowrimo berating me for having too few words, I don't think I shall finish it by tonight, so I shall comment on the first two thirds of the book.

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs follows a cookie-baking, shapeshifting mechanic named Mercy, short for Mercedes. The author has carefully crafted her werewolf mythology but works on the assumption that people have read other books in the series, so I feel like I am playing catch-up. I wonder if readers of an ongoing series would appreciate optional prologues that sum up what they may have missed or forgotten from the previous books...

Anyway, as I unravel underlying facts about the world in which the characters live, I find myself more intrigued by the characters and more invested in seeing them survive the perils that plague them. Hopefully, the promise in the words I have read plays through to the end.

Keep reading, my friends.

Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies

I saw this recipe posted somewhere. I think my standard chocolate chip cookies are far better, but you can try it for yourself.

1 1/8 c whole wheat flour
1 1/8 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 c butter, softened
3/4 c packed brown sugar
1/4 c sugar
1 (3.4 oz) pkg instant vanilla pudding
2 eggs at room temp
1 tsp vanillla
2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine whole wheat flour, flour, and baking soda in small bowl. Set aside.
3. Cream butter until fluffy.
4. Add brown sugar and sugar and continue to beat until creamy.
5. Add the vanilla pudding mix.
6. Add eggs and vanilla, one at a time.
7. Add flour mixture and stir until fully incorporated.
8. Stir in chocolate chips.
9. Scoop out cookies onto silpat (or parchment paper) covered cookie sheets and bake for 11 minutes.
10. Allow to cool, if you can, and enjoy.