Today my car is (hopefully) being fixed! Last month it stopped starting on a regular basis, so I got a new battery. And then the car decided it didn't want to start at all. Yes, I know, it's not really bead- or book-related, but it's what I've been thinking about in the search to get it fixed. (The dealer's first open appointment was mid-January!) It's reminded me how easy it is to take things for granted when all is going well. It's only when your well-oiled machine breaks (sometimes, quite literally!) that you appreciate it. Anyway, here's a look at what else I've been doing in the last month:
On My Work (Art) Table
I've been working on some personalized gift orders, so I can't share most of what I've been working on. (I know the chances are very remote that they would be reading my blog, but you never know!) So what I'm sharing here is my free gift that came with my recent Lima Beads order. They were running a special where you got to pick your free gift from a list of options. I chose these turquoise wooden beads. I don't usually work with beads this size (20mm), so it will be fun to see what I end up using them for. Maybe beaded beads?
In the Kitchen
I'm having a cookie crisis! I made some butterscotch bars and just like all the other bar cookies I've made in the last year, they sunk in the middle. They're both undercooked (in the middle) and overcooked (around the edges). They still taste okay, but they look terrible. I've done some research and the culprit could be an extra hot oven or butter that is too hot. I'm determined to figure this out! Before I bake another batch of cookies or brownies, I'm going to get an oven thermometer. I might also chill my cookie dough before baking, which was another tip I read.
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
This thriller/mystery is definitely on the dark side as the main characters are professional assassins, but it's hard not to relate to the four women who have dedicated their lives to an organization, only to be brushed aside because of their age. I saw one description of this book as "Golden Girls meets James Bond."
On My Library Hold List
I'm working my way through the J.P. Beaumont mystery series by J.A. Jance. A few months ago I realized that I had read most, but not all of them, so I printed out a list. I'm going to read Ring in the Dead, a novella, next. It is pretty satisfying to be a completist in some things.
What I'm Watching
I'm watching Wednesday on Netflix. A little darker than what I usually watch, but very well done. (Okay, I'm weirdly noticing a theme here with dark entertainment - am I trying to counterbalance an excess of holiday cheer?) I also saw the second Enola Holmes movie on Netflix. Not quite as good as the first, but still very enjoyable. I would love it if there were another.
Art I Admired
Do houseplants count as art? Maybe not exactly, but there is an artful aspect to this story: Fort Collins woman spreads joy through plant giving.
Made Me Laugh
This isn't a laugh-out-loud type of thing, but it did make me smile to learn Dutch Supermarket Adds "Slow Checkout Lanes" for Senior Citizens Who Could Use a Chat.
New in the Shop
I've been working on filling Christmas orders, so I don't think I've listed much that's new since last month. Maybe these treble and bass clef earrings? I can make them in lots of colors, but black has been the most popular!
I did add my baking aisle design to my Society 6 shop. (You might recognize the design from last month's post.) I think it would be fun to grocery shop with this tote bag or hang the mini art print in a kitchen.
See you in January!
P.S. If you're looking for a creative challenge to start the new year, this one just popped into my inbox: 4th Annual Doodle-a-Day Challenge. The theme this year is "making"!