new item

just finished a new item! From 9 am til 11pm lastnight, i was crocheting and writing up a pattern for this bunny. She took me some time to make, since i had to do alot of counting and back tracking, but was worth it.

Its an amazing feeling when you think of something and are able to create it. Ive been trying to think of how to make these bunnies for a while, but hadnt had the time to actually sit, write and crochet it. Im very proud of the way she turned out. I do plan on making a few more for this weeks stocking of my main cart. Id like to make a couple boy bunnies, since boyish stuffies are hard to find.

so here she is, Clara, the first of many of my "trendy" bunnies. look for more on April 8th, at my personal cart.

www.hyenacart.com/jodysdesigns

Eggtraterrestrials

Eggtraterrestrials? Yup, im a geek. i love word play. I wanted to stock some kick butt aliens for my guest spot on Universal Mama. But i wanted to get the early Easter shoppers attention.. so the aliens got a temporary name change :)

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be guesting at Universal Mama on Monday March 21st. This has been a dream of mine since i first found my way onto Hyena Cart and the world of congos. Universal Mama is the best variety of Wahms from HC and Etsy. I have had the priviledge of getting to know a few of the ladies off the congo, and have found them all to be really wonderfully talented and fun. To be able to guest stock with them is an honor.

So i had to stock something awesome, right? i mean, i wasnt about to show up to stock with something a simple as booties or a piece of play food. I want to impress these ladies with my mad crochet talent ( lol, i like to talk myself up!), so i listed one of my most popular items. Aliens. Aliens are good for boys or girls, and are made from the brightest neon yarns i could find. To top it off, the aliens have that one glow in the dark eye, that the kids really love.

So be on the lookout for the full lineup of aliens, stocking MArch 21st at 10pm.

http://hyenacart.com/stores/UniversalMama/

Herd of elephants

i recently recieved an order for 24 mini elephants. thats alot of elephants. it took me about a week and a half to do them. the time involved alot of cutting of the fabric and interfacing, then ironing, then the sewing, stuffing and hand stitching. They are a tideous thing to make, but the end result is worth it. So this herd is on its way to a lovely family! enjoy!

Alien invasion!

I recently recieved a custom order for a whole bunch of play food, and a few aliens. This order has been taking me forever, due to the fact that we keep having snow days and my kids are constantly around, which keeps me from the hook. SO anyway, i finally finished the buyers aliens. Im soooo thrilled with the color she chose, that i felt the need to share. I think we all need a little color this week, since we are surrounded by white. i cant take much more snow.. maybe ill have the aliens take me with them when they return to their ship, seriously..lol

Chicken Corn Chowder

After getting 20 or more inches of snow in the past week, ive needed something warm and hearty to chase away the lingering chill. My favorite thing to make in the winter is corn chowder. I buy fresh corn in the summer and freeze it to last through the winter. Since i have such an abundence of it this year, it needs to get used up. So chowder is on the menu, except this time i decided to throw in a little chicken. I roasted a chicken earlier this week, and was left with alot of leftover breast meat. After countless chicken salad sanwiches, we wanted to do something different with the left overs.

My chowder is more chunky and meaty then your average chowder. I enjoy something that will last with you for a few hours, and give you that warm hug in the belly, like moms soups used to. My corn chowder is meant for a meal, not an appetizer!

Chicken Corn Chowder

1 tbsp olive oil

2 tbspbutter

1/2 onion, chopped

1 tsp minced garlic

1 tbsp flour

6 cps chicken broth (46 oz)

2 cps half and half

2 cps diced potatoes

3 cps corn

2 cps cooked/chopped chicken

1 cp cooked/chopped turkey bacon

Sautee butter and oil with onion, garlic and bacon in a skillet. Dust with flour, pour into a soup pan. add chicken stock and bring to boil. Once boiling add half and half and potatoes. Boil for 10 mins. Add Corn and chicken, boil for another 10 mins. Check to make sure the potatoes are cooked through, then take off burner and cool.

Soup can be reheated, its recommending using a microwave though. Soup can also be frozen.

2011 SB Wahm Awards

Jodys Designs has been nominated for best crocheter at the Spotted Box 2011 wahm awards! Its always nice just to be thought of, and i want to thank the person who nominated me as well as the people that are voting for me.

I have participated in the Spotted Box several time, always sending in my famous butterfly samples. Its a neat way to get get your name out there to a large group of Etsy and Hyena Cart shoppers.

Be sure to vote for me on their blog:

http://thespottedbox.com/index.php?view=entry&year=2011&month=01&day=12&id=27%3A2011-wahm-awards-let-the-voting-begin&option=com_lyftenbloggie&Itemid=67

Christmas toffee

When i was a teenager, i worked at a little country resturant called Stoggy Hollow ( in Woodstock CT). i spent a good 8 years waitressing, baking and cooking there. In those 8 years i made some life long friends. My former boss, Carol, is still one of those dear friends. Every year around Christmas, Carol would make tons of this toffee and package it up in attractive tins to sell. Every year i got yelled at for eatting what i was suppose to be packaging. Finally, a few years before the business sold, Carol gave me the recipe. Now i make this toffee every year, and think of her every time.

Christmas Toffee

2 sticks butter

1 cp sugar

1 tbsp light corn syrup

1 tbsp water

1 large bag sliced almonds

1 large Hershey chocolate bar, shredded

Mix first four ingredients over medium heat. stir occasionally. Using a candy thermometer, stirring occasionally, wait for the temp to be just under 300 degrees. This is just below the hard crack level.

while the toffee is cooking, butter a cookie sheet and top with almonds then chocolate. When toffee is done, pour over the almonds and chocolate. Immediatly cover the bare side of toffee with chocolate then almonds. Allow to refridgerate for atleast an hour before cracking into pieces.