Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! I hope that you all had a wonderfully positive & fun celebration. Things have been wonderfully low key at Casa George.

Ringing in the new year with a lingering flu funk has not at all deterred me from a positive outlook.  2010 delivered quite a few fistfuls of ummm... let's just say interesting changes.  I am however, very happy to report that said changes motivated me to generate some really awesome stuff; opening the cyber doors to my Etsy Shop, making a ton of inspiring new friends, & gaining more clarity on what I'd like my life to show up as.

2011... Let's get it on Baby!

Some of you may have noticed that I made some big changes to the appearance of this here blog.  I have been de-cluttering & brightening up the place.  Stay tuned as I plan to try on a few more changes, a fresh color palette,  possibly changing up the logo, & some content changes as well.  In fact later today I will be posting a new feature that I am pretty excited about.

Rather than making resolutions at the start of a new year...
I have found that staying open to constant change is a far more expansive way for me to approach every day of my life.  Every morning I wake up & ask "How much fun, money, & joy can I add to my life today?" It feels good to invite new possibilities into my life.

What would you like to invite into your life today?

Rosco & I Ringing in 2011!

 ❤
-t

Holiday Baking... at last!

I have been home pretty sick all week long. Christmas continued to barrel closer despite my aching skin & hair, stuffed up nose, & high fever.
Instead of being at the store this week, helping customers pick out last minute gifts, I have been reading tweets & blog posts in between marathon nap sessions.  It seems like everyone on the internet has been talking non stop about making holiday cookies & showing off pictures of said cookies like they were newborn babies!

 

Tammy's Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
I dare you to click on the photo!

Around Wednesday the craving for peanut butter thumbprint cookies started twitching.  You know, the kind with the Hershey's Kiss on top.  Everyday I read about more holiday baking. Everyday I saw more cookie pictures.  My craving was growing. 

I went to bed last night excited to wake up & go to a dear friends home for Xmas pancake breakfast.  But I woke up feeling more congested & weak than the day before.  Determined to get some Xmas baking in...

I gathered up my strength & baked a batch.  Having no chocolate kisses in the house, I improvised with a few chocolate chips on top.  They didn't exactly come out thumbprint-y.  And they didn't end up with a uniform blob of chocolate in the middle.  They did however come out amazingly delicious! 

Pictured alongside my peanut butter darlings is one of my Orla Kiely mugs.  The styling of this photo was inspired by the delightful Caren of the Tea & Chickadees blog.

What's YOUR favorite cookie to make &/or eat during the holidays?

A very Merry Day to you all!

❤

-t

edit:
duh... it never occurred to me that people would want the recipe. I think it's a pretty standard recipe.  Although I grew up thinking it was my Grandma's special recipe... I see pretty much the same recipe everywhere.  It's funny...  I grew up eating these long before I even knew the word Gluten. haha 

Grandma's Gluten Free Peanut Butter Darlings

 (if making them for GF purposes be sure all ingredients are GF)

(Makes about 24 cookies)

1 Cup Chunky Peanut Butter (creamy works fine too)

1 Cup Packed Brown Sugar

1 Large Egg

1 tsp. Baking Soda

1 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract

1 Cup mini chocolate chips (chocolate kisses on top work too)

Mix everythig but the chocolate w/ a mixer on medium speed. 

if using chocolate chips, stir them in last. (if using kisses you will add them after baking, as soon as they come out of the oven)

Using damp hands, roll dough into tablespoon-ish sized balls

Arrange on an ungreased baking sheet.  (Be sure to leave 2 inches between each cookie- they grow!) 

Bake 10 -12 minutes (depends on your oven)

& then the hard part: Let them cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes before eating transferring them to rack to cool thoroughly. (they are very delicate when first out of oven. use a wide cookie spatula to transfer them)

To: Me, From: Me "Merry Xmas Tammy"

Isn't it lovely how well it suits my favorite winter cap?

My Xmas Gift to myself was this irresistible custom made cowl from My Girl Thursday! 

I met Thursday on Twitter.  I have no memory of how we came to be Twitter pals. But I do recall the very moment in time that I saw a scarf made from the above fabric in her Etsy shop. (Which is now closed for vacation. But be sure to sign up to be notified when she reopens in January)  

I recall thinking... "I knit, why in the hell would i buy a scarf made out of fabric".  But I couldn't stop stalking this scarf.  Then I remembered that i don't even like wearing long knit scarves. I am a cowl or triangular scarf type of gal.  I thought I had finally reasoned myself into NOT buying that scarf.

I begin tweeting a lot w/ @mygirlthursday & found her to be not only super friendly, but hilarious as well. That damned scarf in her shop kept haunting me. So I marched out on a limb & sent my new Twitter pal an Etsy convo.  Perhaps she'd have some of that dreamy vintage fabric left. And perhaps she'd be willing to make me cowl from it.  Of course she was a doll & asked me what details I'd like.  I was obnoxiously clear about what I wanted for my custom cowl; at least 4 buttons, a certain fit, lined with a coordinating fabric (as if she wouldn't have done that on her own), etc.   

I am in love with my new cowl. 

& I am grateful for the laughter & crafty friendship of @mygirlthursday.

What gift(s) have YOU given yourself this season?

Ninth Street Open Studios

Last weekend we had way too much fun...  

Come on down & see us in Berkeley!

We've got hot cider, yummy snacks, & lots of talented people!

Holiday Shopping for Bay Area Arts & Crafts

The San Francisco Bay Area is very lucky to have SOOO many amazing Arts & Crafts Fairs/Sales/Bazaars/etc to choose from this Holiday Season!  (after the jump for a list of some of my favorites)   

PuNk rAwK pUrL will be selling her wares at::

The 9th Street Holiday Arts & Crafts Studio Sale in Berkeley

The awesome Jenny Hurth of Elbow Grease Designs is hosting an Arts & Crafts Studio Sale for THREE weekends in December!  There will be a rotating roster of several local artisans to make your holiday shopping a breeze!  

All Dates will be from 11 AM to 6 PM

at

Elbow Grease Designs
2743 9th St.
Berkeley, CA

• Saturday & Sunday Dec 4th & 5th  
• Saturday & Sunday Dec 11th & 12th
• Saturday & Sunday Dec 18 & 19

A collection of items made from Recycled Banners by Elbow Grease Designs

If you know of some additional Bay Area Craft Sales this season?  Please share!

How About a Sale?

Black Friday.  Cyber Monday.  Fred, Sally, Herman, or Joe.  Call it whatever you'd like.  PuNk rAwK pUrL is having a weekend Sale!  Sale applies to all in-stock inventory!  How does it get any better that that?!! 

Bonus: Tweet or Facebook this blog post between now & Monday to receive a surprise gift with your order placed during this sale!  To ensure that you get your gift, be sure to leave a comment here telling me that you have done so (tweeted or facebooked)!  (Coupon Code is below)

❤ 20% OFF Everything in The Shop! ❤
Starts with Black Friday November 26 and lasts Thru Cyber Monday Nov. 29th!
✄ Use Coupon Code CLICKNSAVE2010 

It's starting to look a lot like... a Technicolor Xmas!

Never having been a traditional gal in any sense of the word I have long adored Xmas decor in bright funky colors.   

I bring you the PuNk rAwK pUrL Winter Wonderland Holiday Cards: Brightly colored paper trees are festooned with colorful stitchy Garland & topped off with a shiny metallic star.  The first batch of cards have just landed in the shop. & will also be available at my upcoming craft sale appearances. (details to come)

Special Holiday Pricing:

$6 each ★ $10 for 2 ★ $15 for 3
Choose from Any of my
Listed Xmas Cards to Get Special Pricing
If you would like a larger quantity, just contact me for pricing.

  

Forever a Lover of the aqua & chocolate (chaqua-late?) combo I have whipped up a forest in that combo. 

 

  & my current color combo crush... HOT Pink, Orange, & Golden Mustard. (I even snuck teal into a few of these).    

 There is just something about a Springy Green coupled with Happy Orange & a dash o' Chocolate Brown that makes me miss my mother's Tupperware laden kitchen! 

I Have Been Treasured!

I am squirming with the giggles that my little Oliva Owl Notecard has been featured in an Etsy Treasury by one of my super cool Twitter friends, Jenifer from KusalaKnits! 

Thank you Jenifer!❤

 

One of my faves from amongst this treasury are spillyjane's Gnome Sock Pattern.  Check out her entire shop of patterns, they are amazing!

clickity click the pic to go buy this!

Another fave is from Kala from Vegancraftastic. Squirrels, 

Owls, Trees AND birdies all on one project bag... who could resist that?!

I have been Twitter pals w/ Kala long before i had my own shop. She has the BEST taste in fabric & shows it off with her super rad project bags & pins! Check 'em out, you won't be disappointed.  

clickity click the pic to go buy this!

We Have a Winner!!

YAY!  Using a random number generator a winner for my first Blog Giveaway has been chosen!!  The winner is Michelle & has been emailed.  Congrats to you Michelle!

Michelle has chosen her colors & I am super excited to get started making her custom prize!

Big hugs & thanks to EACH of YOU who entered!  I truly appreciate your feedback & participation.  More Contests & Giveaways coming soon, so keep checking back!

Raise Your Right Hand...

I took the Buy Handmade Pledge as myself, Tammy George it seems like eons ago.  I have recently taken the Pledge as PuNk rAwK pUrL, my business entity.  And I am encouraging everyone who reads this post to consider taking the pledge to buy from & support independent businesses & craftspeople! 

Click the big button at the bottom of this post to take the pledge.

I am also asking that you pass the word along.  Tell your friends, family, & coworkers about the pledge, and they'll tell two friends, and they'll tell two friends, and so on.  (If you are under the age of 35 that last bit might not have been so funny to you, but trust me, it was mildly chuckle worthy.)

Please don't mistake this as a plea from me for you to shop exclusively from me.  There is an entire world chocked full of immensely talented  artists & craftspeople... including yours truly.  There are numerous websites which support these people.  There are also local craft fairs/bazaars/markets, especially during this time of the year.  Ask around & you will be surprised at what you find.  One of my favorite local Craft Sales is held monthly at the very cool knitting & craft studio in Berkeley, Knit One One.  How do you like to shop for Handmade? Online? Locally at markets & fairs? Share your favorite places to shop for handmade in the comments here.