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.

Gingerbread cookies

Christmas traditions start with gingerbread cookies. My gingerbread cookie recipe is borrowed from my friend Dawn, who makes the most amazing gingerbread you will eat. Every year she would bake some and bring them into work for us to enjoy. Thankyou Dawn, for giving me a new tradition to share with my kids.

Gingerbread Cookies

3 cps flour

3/4 cp dark brown sugar

1 tbsp cinnamon

1 tbsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 tsp baking soda

2 eggs

12 tbsp softened butter

3/4 cp molasses

2 tbsp buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla extract

combine all dry ingredients in a medium bowl. in your mixer combine butter and sugar til fluffy. add egg and vanilla and mix. add buttermilk and mix well. alternatly add dry mix and molasses. mix til soft dough forms. make two balls out of the dough, wrap in plastic wrap and refridgerate for atleast 4 hours. roll out til 1/4 inch thickness. bake at 350 for 9 mins

Healthy eats basket

Theres a really great cafe that opened in the center of my little town in Eastford CT. The owners of Corriander, were nice enough to allow me to sell a few of my crochet foods. So i went down with an arm full of doughnuts, cupcakes, and a few dolls. But then i got home and thought, maybe i should create something extra special to display there. So over the past two weeks, in between customs, i created a few new items and threw them all in a very cool basket.

I have featured my carrots, eggplant, and strawberries in my farmers market sets. With this basket i wanted to add a few new items, so i came up with a pear, apple, and a couple large portabella style mushrooms. In my Farmers Market set, theres a half dozen of white eggs, which i didnt want in this set. So i took out them and added the other new items in place of them. All displayed in a cotten crochet basket.

Im really excited about this set, and i think Corrianders people will think its something unique as well.

Big toy stocking November 18th!

getting ready for Christmas shoppers! Im doing a pretty big toy/playfood stocking at my personal cart on November 18th. I have a little of everything, in all colors. I was really inspired by rainbows this stocking.

www.hyenacart.com/jodysdesigns

Be on the lookout for Wonderland Congos Stocking stuffer stocking. The first week of December, me and the other vendors will be stocking small wonderful items. I plan to stock alot of little elephants, and maybe some reindeer poop! Wouldnt be xmas without the reindeer poop! Be on the lookout for that stocking.

www.hyenacart.com/wonderland

lets not forget Black friday is approaching.The ladies of Mainstreet Congo will be stocking crazy sales, auctions, lottos. So make sure you sit by your computer and stalk!]

www.hyenacart.com/mainstreet

Home Grown Familie/ Polar Bear Creations

One of my Mainstreet Congo mates, Sue of Polar Bear Creations, was reviewed by the Home Grown Families Blog! Showing my excitement and support for her, as well as entering the blogs giveaway, i am posting a bit to help out!

to check out the giveaway/review, check out the link here:

www.homegrownfamilies.blogspot.com

there are several ways to enter the giveaway. you can fan her page, her blog, etc. i recommend giving it a shot, cause Sues dolls are worth the effort. We own one of Sues mini babies,and have bought a second for my niece. Sue puts alot of love into the dolls, and is dedicated to the homemade toy movement! Sue can be found at

www.polarbearcreations.com

www.hyenacart.com/mainstreet

Time to make the doughnuts!

My kids scream for doughnuts on the weekends! They call them "do dos!" So of course i had to crochet some! Im listing sprinkles and frosted doughnuts on my big stocking November 18th. This is a new playfood to my growing menu, that im hoping will be a hit!

A rainbow of colors!

With the seasons changing, i have found inspiration everywhere! The leaves on the trees are a brilliant display of a whole rainbow of colors. Its the perfect time of year for a nice walk, and pumpkin picking!

With the rainbow inspiration, i have decided to stock my personal cart with colorful items. With the holiday shopping season lurking, i know some moms are already thinking ahead. So, to make it easy for them, i am going to do a nice big stocking of my finest goodies and some new items.

Pictured here is a small tease of what i will be stocking on November 18th. These are my magic mushrooms in rainbow. The mushrooms are perfect for play kitchens or pretend play. My children love them for throwing at each other, lol..

To see when im stocking, and where in November, please visit Jodys Designs facebook page. Look under notes for the whole list.

baby shower gift

My brother, Bob, is expecting his first child next month. They are not finding out the childs sex, wanting the big surprise. So i had to make something gender neutral for the baby shower this sunday. I had some gorgeous japanese sheep knit, that i have been saving for something special. Whats more special then a newborn baby? So i sewed up this adorable set, and had my friend Dena ( lulu Bird Designs) applique a sheep on a onesie, just to add that little something extra to the gift. Im super excited about how this set turned out, its too adorable for words.

Wonderland Congo

I am joining the ladies of Wonderland Congo for the holiday seasonl. this is a special congo that is only open for about 4 months, til the end of the holiday shopping season. There is a big variety of vendors, all exceptional in their own way. I am thrilled to be a part of it. Grand Opening is September 15th at noon.

I am starting to preview a few dolls for the Grand Opening. I have my favorite doll, Zoe, who has a special dress dyed by Indigo Onion ( who, if you havent figured it out, i worship). Im also featuring a new doll, Penny. Penny is perfectly purple! My daughter is obsessed with this doll, its calling to her. Pennys skirt is patchwork with two kinds of batiks. Im a huge batik nut, so this doll is very exciting for me. Her hair is vibrant purples and pinks, which Johanna is drawn to. I have to say, Penny is second in line with Zoe on my favorites list!

check out wonderland congo:

www.hyenacart.com/wonderland

Rainbow swirls!

If you ever need anything dyed, Pam of Indigo Onion is your lady. I had Pam dye up some hemp fleece that i had just laying around. She dyed it in her famous "carnivale" colorway, which is my absolute favorite. Every color of the rainbow, showing in their intense vibrancy, in a marble swirl dye technique. Pam makes this look easy, but im sure it cant be!

Anyway, so i finally sewed up the fabric. I had just enough to make my daughter this hoodie. I am trying to make all of her back to school clothes this year, and felt this would be an awesome addition. Thanks to Pam, my daughter will be the most colorful child in Preschool!

please check Indigo Onion on,

www.hyenacart.com/indigoonion

www.hyenacart.com/universalmama

Release your inner rockstar!

Mainstreet is going with a Rockstar theme this month! This just happens to be one of my favorite themes to work with. So far im previewing an amazing 3T set, featuring a skirt and top. The set is glamed out with pinks and blacks, rocking the guitars and skulls as well.

Another item i have previewing is the awesome purse you see in the picture. Made from a very hard to find Micheal Miller, Groovy Guitars fabric. Lining is the coordinating Hoopla fabric, also by Micheal Miller. This purse has a magnetic closure and a inner pocket. By far, my favorite purse yet.

I have a few more items left to finnish and stock, so make sure you check out the stocking om August 17th at 12:30!

some fun sewing this month! ive been making these elephants for fun, for my kids, and decided to list a few on Mainstreet. the first two i listed sold within an hour, so i decided to make up a few more. They will not be a regular item, i just like to sew them for fun. Im enlarging the pattern as well, to make them more hugable for kids. They will make great gifts for my niece and upcoming niece or nephew. I love how the heather Ross goldfish fabric looked on this one :)

a few weeks ago i noticed some unusal grunting coming from the bunny hutch. My husband went out to check that night, and noticed two little baby bunnies had been born. The babies were about 3 inches long, huddled together in their nest.

So far, Momma bunny ( Nibbles) has done a great job taking care of her babies. We removed the daddy ( scrapper), to his own little hut. My daughter likes to say that Scrapper needed a time out!lol. today we noticed the babies are moving onto real food, nolonger their mothers milk. in a few weeks they have grown so much! my son has named one of them Mumu. we can only keep one, because we think they are male and female, and we cant have them breeding. So we will be finding the male a new home soon! The kids are having a blast with them though, and really enjoy watching them grow. Its such a mircle on our little 1/2 acre farm!

johannas 3rd bday

today is my daughters 3rd bday! She told me she wanted a Hello Kitty party this year, so thats what she got. I made my first rainbow cake, in a square sheet pan. that was a trip! very time consuming thing, since you have to dye several bowls of cake batter, then layer them in the pan. Luckily it came out gorgeous! I used a shaped cake pan for the Hello Kitty face, which wasnt easy either. But the finnished cake looked fun. Johanna really liked it.

Everyone bought her Hello Kitty items or Barbie items. I dont think there wasnt a gift that wasnt pink!lol. But she had a great time, and so did everyone else.