Some pics from this weekend’s fair. It was a blast and we had great traffic despite the rain.

Isn’t that sales guy dreamy?

Still have a few things left, including soaps, art, sushi magnets, and bead kits (which you can add acorn tops to to make the sold out acorns). Holler at me if you are interested in anything.

I had forgotten about the existence of Monkey Bread until I saw it on a blog earlier this week and decided to make it for Bill’s birthday breakfast yesterday. It was buttery melt-in-your-mouth supreme. How did I forget about the best thing I have ever tasted? Welcome back into my life, Monkey Bread.

(Photo from the Edgemon family on Wikipedia)

In what we will call “The Great Lentil Disasters of 2009,” I made a few less than tasty lentil dishes this past year. Healthy eaters sing lentils’ praises, and they taste amazing at Indian restaurants, but for some reason the versions I made ended up looking and tasting more like poo.

Until now. Kielbasa to the rescue! The secret is to add something UNhealthy to something healthy. I made this great soup last night and we’re going to enjoy the leftovers for lunch. But I altered it, so here’s my version of  lentil goodness (and it’s perfect for this rainy day).

Kielbasa Spinach Lentil Rice Soup

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup uncooked brown (or white if you prefer) rice
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 8 ounces polska kielbasa, chopped
• 1 onion, minced
• 3 cloves crushed garlic
• 1 carrot, chopped
• dash pepper
• 8 cups water
• 6 chicken bullion cubes
• 1 cup dry lentils
• 5 oz. of spinach (half a frozen package)

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat, and cook the kielbasa until lightly browned. Mix in onion, garlic and carrot, and season with pepper and salt. Cook and stir until tender. Pour in the water, bullion cubes, lentils, and rice. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 30 minutes.
2. Stir the spinach into the soup, and continue cooking 5 minutes before serving.

I wondered this morning if the macho looking gentleman in our packed elevator knew that we could hear what was playing on his ipod…female-vocal love ballads.

Dear friends,
In three weeks on Sunday, December 13 from 12-6, I will be participating in the Hearts and Crafts Affair at Cafe Grumpy in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. I will be selling my felt wallhangings at 20% off Etsy prices, and will have lots of other felty goodness priced for giving at $8 – $18… beads and bead kits, felt acorns, garlands, ornaments, toys for babies and pets, soap that looks like rocks…you name it!

Cafe Grumpy is located at 193 Meserole Avenue, Greenpoint, Brooklyn (off the G train, and also with plenty of street parking).

I would love for you and your friends to swing by and say hi! It’s a great cause (supporting local artisans), and a great place to get those last-minute Christmas gifts for your friends, family, or self.

Check out the preview of what you’ll find! Click on the image to see it full size.

All the best,
Jessica Franks
www.junebugfelts.etsy.com

Love these uses of twine…

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/11/diy-project-david-starks-twine-snowmen.html

Felt haters, this is just not the blog for you. Felt lovers, rejoice. Some more lovelies for the upcoming craft show. 

And these were crafted by Ashley at last night’s church craft night. Though I’m making some for the craft fair, her’s were particularly photo-worthy.

(They’re smaller than a dime.)

My brain has been humming with ideas for the the upcoming Christmas craft fair I am in, though I can’t really take credit for these “soap stones”–I got the idea on Etsy. They are bars of soap that I felted around. Once they dry, you use them as normal soap (and get some quality exfoliation), and the felt shrinks even more around it. Pretty sure I’m going to have to keep one for myself.

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/10/diy-project-chelas-fabric-screen.html

Can’t wait to make one for our bathroom window (it’s small!) later this winter when I’m bound to get sew crazy.