Link Roundup: I feel like a hobbit...

Autumnal Equinox 2009 at Loughcrew Cairn by Clare Tuffy

Today is the autumnal equinox, and the offical beginning of fall.  So far I've spent the day fussing around the house - I made french toast and a strawberry ginger syrup, washed some dishes, and next will be bottling some wines and meads.  Days like this one, when the clouds are thick and the sun is hiding, the air is cool and windows open, make me feel like a hobbit.

Speaking of which, have you seen the Shire Cookbook?  It is being put together by one of the authors of A Feast of Ice and Fire, the Official Game of Thrones Cookbook (yes, they have lemoncakes).  Just for fun, you can see a few sample recipes from Bag End to try out!

Do you want to jump into cooking from Middle Earth? There's another slew of recipes here, complied by a few folks. 

I'm going to go apple-picking soon, and I can't wait! I love making applesauce and apple butter, as well as using my apple peels to make infused rum.

I'm going to try something new with applesauce this year - Roasted Applesauce, from the blog Beets & Blue Cheese.  

The first time I tried to can a batch of apple pie filling, it didn't work out so well.  Some apple bits were mush, the others firm, and the syrup was watery! It still got used as baked apple goodness, but I want to do better next time.  Do you have a good recipe for canned apple pie filling?

Blog Love - Yankee Kitchen Ninja

Click here to visit an awesome blogger! 

Do you have the CSA blues?

Are you sick to death of zucchini, squash, and tomatoes?  Swimming in basil?

Yankee Kitchen Ninja has a great series called CSA Share Ninja Rescue, where they provide recipes for the in-season veggies that you might be getting sick of.  This is the Ninj's last post in this series for 2013, but they have wonderful archives so that you can find the perfect recipe for that huge box of tomatoes...

Blog Love is a new feature on Swamp Pixie Herbal, where I share some of the blogs that I follow!  Go visit, find new recipes or new skills, and enjoy. 

Raspberry Allergy?

ASAP is a great way to find
local produce and farmers!

Aww...after a few in-home experiments, I've got a strong suspicion that I have developed a mild allergy to raspberries!  I got some lovely fresh berries from Stepp Orchards via Mother Earth Produce, and had a handful right away last Friday.  A bit later, I realized that my tongue was a little tingly and burning, and that my stomach was rumbling and acidic.  Then a few small itchy spots appeared on my arms.

The next day, I had raspberries again, and later noticed a similar feeling.  I recalled everything I'd eaten in the past two days, and only raspberries were both consistent and something I hadn't had in a while.

Later that week, I happened to be at a lovely bar (The Thirsty Monk) and found that they had Framboise Lambic on draught.  Delicious!  I've often loved Lambic, and couldn't pass up the chance to have it from the tap.  It was after the first sip that I recalled that Framboise is French for raspberry - and just like that, my tongue was burning and the tart flavor gave way to a sharp metallic taste.  *pout*

Now, it has been one week since my first uncomfortable raspberry experience, and there were a few more in the fridge just now.  One final test.  A handful of yummy, sweet, tart raspberries later, and the results are the same.  Acidy, achey tummy - a burning tongue, and oops...there's a new itchy bump on my upper arm.

*sigh*

My next experiment is going to be with red raspberry leaf - a longtime herbal ally for menstruation, cramping, and grounding in states of emotional turbulence.  I hope that my new sensitivity does not reach to the dried leaves that I've so often used for teas and medicines!

---

I've been off visiting family for my birthday, and saying goodbye to my grandmother's home - a place that has been around my whole life.  I hugged my favorite Catalpa tree and watered him with my tears, I walked barefoot in the sweet, thick grass, and took cuttings of my grandmother's rose to grow in Asheville.  I've been so busy with my own thoughts and emotions that I've not had time to write much.

The new site is still under construction, but we'll unveil it soon!  Until then, here's a few cool things:

Home-made Jerky from theKitchn - I've done jerky before, but I think I need to apply myself a bit more and perfect the recipe.  I'm not 100% happy with my efforts, but this seems like a really good guide.

Crushed Red Pepper Flakes from Sweet Domesticity - I just got a mess o'peppers from my uncle's garden, and aim to do this over the next few days.  I'm fresh out of chili powder, and low on red pepper flakes!  Time to spice things up.

XKCD is an amazing webcomic - oftentimes I don't understand their mathematical references, but there are so many thought-provoking ideas conveyed quite effectively through mere stick figures...for example, today's comic about the orchid Ophrys Apifera nearly made me cry.

Link Roundup

SimpleBites Pickles...mmm...

Vinegar-free, lacto-fermented garden pickles from one of my favorite sites, SimpleBites!  I've always wondered how to make pickles in the days when vinegar wasn't just a grocery-store run away...this sounds like a great way to add more live cultures into my diet.  I've noticed that consuming live cultures are a great assistance with my candida issues, and allow me to eat a little more sweet stuff if I have lacto-fermented food to balance it out!

Sweden has run out of trash.  Their effective trash and recycling system, which uses the waste to create fuel and energy for the nation, has the added benefit of now being paid to take and process the trash of other nations in Europe!  Why are we not ALL DOING THIS?!

Another lacto-fermented beauty:  Pickled Carrots (specifically ginger and orange pickled carrots!)  This post from Prim & Primal (love their banner, too *tweak tweak*) sounds absolutely delicious!  I would eat this on pita, on rice, in sushi....anywhere nice and cold and refreshing.

Also, after everything I've been dealing with in the Lyme world, this Threadless shirt made me giggle:  

Summertime Kitchen Projects

Howdy, folks!  I'm going to be out of town and away from the computer for about a week - so here's some things to keep you busy while I'm gone!

• I love this handy article from "Attainable Sustainable" called "Five Ways to Cut Food Waste."  I'm going to try their suggestion on Turning Funky Milk into Ricotta Cheese.

• Pesto doesn't have to be made with Basil...try mustard greens, radish tops, dandelion leaves, kale, chickweed, or other fresh herb and greens combos!  Throw some garlic, pine nuts (or sunflowers seeds, almonds, macadamias...), parmesan cheese, and some sea salt in a food processor.  Give it a whirl, then add a handful of greens.  Process until smooth and delicious!  

• Make your own "Magic Shell" chocolate for topping desserts from My Homespun Home!

• I love Little House in the Suburbs - not only are they clever folks, but the use SCIENCE!  Check out their recent research into making your own orange enzyme cleaner.

• Mountain Rose Herbs just posted this amazing looking No-Bake Herbal Cookie Nuggets! I will totally give these a try when I get back from my vacation. 

Connect with the Pixie...

Come, visit, like, and chat with me!

We welcome you to connect with us...

Swamp Pixie Herbal has a Facebook page!

Feel free to visit my brand-new fanpage and post your herb-related queries for help and discussion, or neat articles, or anything else related to this blogs general theme of health, herbs, homesteading, and more.  See you there!

Pixie's Pocket

Currently, the Pixie's Pocket is still open, but only a few products are listed for sale.  I do not have any honey for sale, but hope to restart that venture at some point.  If you need help finding local honey in the meantime, write me with your zip code and I shall do my best to find someone in your area who can help you out!

Herbal Goods

If you are looking for herbal products (other than the few on Pixie's Pocket), I encourage you to check out a few awesome places.  Poppyswap.com is a wonderful marketplace for hand-crafted herbal wares from teas to tinctures.  If you prefer to make your own, I whole-heartedly endorse Mountain Rose Herbs!  If you want plant starts, seeds, or gardening goods, I suggest Richters.

Winter Reading and Project Round-Up

Click the image to get your
free sample issue
of Plant Healer Magazine!

Whether you have snow on the ground or not, now is the time to start looking for Sister Chickweed hiding the in shaded moist areas of your yard!  I've been keeping a pot of the sweet greens blooming in my window for constant pruning and adding to salads.  Revisit my profile of Chickweed here.

Are you familiar with Elizabeth Gowing and her wonderful blog, 100 Days of Honey?  The author has beautiful tales of traveling around Kosovo and tasting different honeys straight from the hives.  She shares her experience, and delectable recipes, such as Irish Honey Mousse!

Mountain Rose Herbs has announced their three non-profit organizations that they will support this year.  Visit their recent blog post to find out more about Friends of Trees, Long Tom Watershed Council, and Predator Defense.

Finally, the awesome Plant Healer Magazine has a FREE ISSUE for download!  Visit the following link to get the PDF, and if you want to subscribe to Plant Healer Magazine, you can do so here!

Some folks to follow...

You can make this, too! 

KaraPaints has a great tutorial on how to make a chalkboard quote-board, and use it to set goals and reminders for her two kids as they go to school every day. 

She also shares watercolor lessons for beginners, photo fridays, and the occasional recipe!

Adonis DNA chain by DoktorNix

Doktor Nix's Mercantile is a great shop on Etsy.  If you are into lovely chainmail accessories, handcrafted corsets and vests, and the occasional slave collar *ahem* - check out the lovely work offered by Nix and Terana. 

Lynette McDonough has just made her amazing crafts available via her new venture, Littlest Pumpkin Studio.

Her paintings are fabulous, her creepy baby dolls are mind-blowing and spine chilling, but where she really packs a punch is in making lightweight, flexible masks.  They are quite simply awesome, and sold in Asheville at The Costume Shoppe.

The same skill sets go into crafting some amazing corsets and costumery, just trust me and go see!

August Update

Howdy there, folks! 

I'm working out a bit of revamping with this blog and with my honey shop at PixiesPocket.com.  Between that, and canning up the garden as it's coming in, I've not had time to write. 

Bear with me, and until I'm back to creating content, I'm happy to share some awesomeness from other sources that you might not have seen!

Some Great Recipes

Cooking Comically:  These are excellent!  Tyler Capps creates simple but really good recipes drawn in comic form.  It's a great for getting the no-frills person in the kitchen to try their hand at making things, and he'll have a published book coming out soon.

Quinoa and Potato Curry: This is from the blog KaraPaints.  True, she does normally keep her posts to art-related topics, including a series teaching you (Yes, YOU!) how to paint with watercolors.  But even artists have to eat...so Kara made a nummy meal the other day and shared her recipe.

No More Herbalists on Etsy?

So, there are a lot of herbalists who are annoyed with Etsy due to new labeling requirements that are more stringent than the FDA requires, and are moving their wares to new venues.  If you are on that boat and want a new place to sell your products, or if you are an herbal shopper who is wondering where all the good stuff has gone, visit PoppySwap!

To that end, you will see me listing more bulk herbs and honeys on PoppySwap, and using Etsy for jewelry and divination listings. 

Friday Followup

Hello, lovely people!

• This week, my article about Queen Anne's Lace Flower Jelly was posted online at the Herb Companion magazine - which features a coupon code for my shop on PoppySwap.com!  Go check it out.

• My dear one and I are rearranging our home as our housemates have moved out and onto new things!  When it was time for planting this spring, we were uncertain if we were staying in our little cove and so did not put in a garden.  We've been gifted excess squash and cucumbers from our friends, and the few tomato plants we have are starting to make little green fruits!  All of our herbs have returned, the native Yarrow, the huge Wormwood, and the mint that I can't harvest fast enough.

Solar Stone Studio's beautiful work

• FIRE.  I've had some dear friends lose their home and pottery workshop to fire.  The couple and their two kids have a place to stay for the moment, but they've lost everything!  If you have a dollar, or two, or any bits to spare, please consider sending a PayPal donation to Solarstonestudio@yahoo.com so they can get back on their feet.   You can check out their pottery work at Solar Stone Studios.  <3 Also, they are a Bele Chere vendor, for you local folks. 

• RAIN.  We've had a ton!  Which is good, until it isn't anymore.  Luckily, Asheville's only had a few minor floods, but some of our dear friends in Tennesee have waterfront property where there used to be an ankle-high gurgling creek.  Phew! 

This weekend I aim to start some beer, can some blackberry jam, and see what other mischief I can get into!

What are YOU doing this week?  What projects have you finished, or are about to begin?

Good Reads from Fellow Bloggers: May 2012

Bawk in the Wormwood

Howdy, y'all!

Eric and I have been super busy lately, and the perennial herb garden is growing on without much assistance from me.  I have images to share later, and plant and herb profiles, but those are on the back burner.

We are looking for a homestead, and putting all of our energies into manifesting our dreams into reality.  I promise that I shall return, and soon!

Until then, I am happy to give you some links to a couple of wonderful bloggers that I adore, in hopes of spreading the knowledge that they have the time and energy to share. <3

• Small Measure:  Ashley English is an awesome lady.  I've had the chance to meet and share some communication with her, as we live in the same town!  But whether you are in this here valley or no, you can find some great information on her blog.  She teaches classes on raising backyard chickens, shares her experiences with sustainable living with a small child and the assorted products available to mamas and babies, and is a foodie...the images of the food she creates make my tummy rumble!  Ashley often hosts giveaways for nifty products as well, so check her out!

• Little House in the Suburbs:  I've been following this blog for years, now!  Daisy shares great tips for gardening and raising animals in a suburban environment without freaking out your neighbors.  Think you can't be sustainable in the 'burbs?  Think again!  I was lucky enough to win a copy of Daisy's recently published "Little House in the Suburbs" book via a Goodreads.com giveaway, and I'll begin reading it in a few days.  After that, I'll be happy to share a review!

Mountain Rose Herbs is my favorite place to buy bulk herbs that I cannot find with my local sources.  They are an amazing example of an environmentally responsible company, and I have no qualms about supporting their business, and promoting them with my affiliate account.

Recently, Mountain Rose Herbs announced that they have a new sustainable method for packaging their organic teas.  The boxes they you are made from recycled newpapers, lined with non-GMO plant cellulose, and quite beautiful to boot!

Visit Mountain Rose Herbs by clicking the image to the right, or you can follow my link to one of my favorites: Persephone's Tea.  This blend is for cleansing the liver after any overexertion, too much partying, as Persephone rises from the underworld and up into spring.  It contains  organic Dandelion root, organic Eleuthero root, organic Burdock root, organic Milk Thistle seed, and organic Yellow Dock root. 



Until next time...enjoy the beautiful spring!

WNC Farm Profile: Spinning Spider Creamery

Bloomy Samples at Market, photo from
SpinningSpiderCreamery.com

Now, I know that there are people out there who just do not like goat cheese, no matter what.  Let it be known that I am NOT one of those people! 

I adore chévre, ever since I worked behind the cheese counter at Integral Yoga Natural Foods in Charlottesville, Virginia.  Back then, I tried my first taste with a wrinkled nose and look of displeasure even before it touched my tongue...but it wasn't so bad!  And it's only become a stronger addiction since then.

And now I'm in Western North Carolina...a wonderful place with many small farms creating fabulous cheeses.  One of my favorites is Spinning Spider Creamery.

From the fresh creamy chévre to their aged varieties, I've enjoyed every bite of cheese that I've had from Spinning Spider Creamery.

The creamery is run by the Owen family.  They are dedicated, from the eldest to the youngest members involved in the raising, milking, and cheese-making process on their Madison County Farm.  The cheese is made with love and focus, and you can tell it in the quality.

Visit their site to see a list of shops that carry their cheese, and check the sidebar for links to their Farm Markets and other appearances!

Good Reads from Fellow Bloggers!

Yarrow is flowering, berry canes are budding, and I may be a little too busy to write at this moment in time...but I still read the wonderful words of folks out there living their sustainable dreams.  Here's a whole bunch of awesome from the recent weeks:

• From Patchwork Radicals, a recipe for Dandelion wine, measurements given for both a gallon or a quart at a time!  I am going to try this one soon.

• Here's a great article about capturing a bee swarm for the first time, from Red Moon Musings!

• Blogger "Little House in the Suburbs" has published their first book of the same name, and is offering a Giveaway on Goodreads!   If you care to join me on Goodreads, I'm Amber Depixi.

• Honey extraction, soap-making, and chicken-tending, what a weekend for Elaine of "The Radical Rolling Pin" blog.

Don't forget to check out the fabulous work of many dedicated, talented herbalists bringing you the art, articles, and musings from Plant Healer Magazine!

Featured in the "Mental Farmer" blog!

This coming Saturday is the final day for the Woodfin YMCA Winter Market!  If the weather is nice, the market will be outdoors...mmm...sweet spring air.   If you are local, come out and see me!

One of my favorite parts about vending at markets is meeting customers and peers and new friends face to face...watching people's eyes light up as they sample the honey, and chat about the products filling their bags. 

I met a nice woman named Mary, and she is the brains behind the "Mental Farmer" blog!  She was kind enough to mention Pixie's Pocket in her post about the Woodfin YMCA Market, along with the other great vendors she purchased from!  Check it out here.

Photo by "Mental Farmer" blog, click to visit!

WNC Farm Profiles: Hickory Nut Gap Meats

Pepperoni.  Hot Sopressata.  Sweet Sopressata.  I keep trying to get a picture of these amazing meats for you all, but it's been impossible.

Every Saturday, I go to the Woodfin YMCA market.  Every Saturday, I come home with some cured meat product or another from Hickory Nut Gap, and place it on the counter, and BOOM!  It's gone!  Within hours, it has been devoured, nommed and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone in my home.

This family farm has branched out beyond their own acreage and created a partnership with other meat producers from up and down the east coast.  They all agree to the same excellent standards of animal rearing and butchering, and the quality shows in their final products.

From their page: "Our mission is to connect sustainable agriculture practices, our family history, and our customers by sharing the family farm experience and serving as an example of healthy land stewardship while providing high quality ethically raised meats.  At Hickory Nut Gap Farm you will find animals raised in their natural environment. Pigs outdoors, cows on pasture eating grass and clover, multiple species grazing together, drinking fresh spring water and living the good life."


Since I can rant and rave and praise but can't get a picture, I am happy to let you know that you can purchase their products online! They also supply many Asheville restaurants with their fabulous food.

(March 23) Update from Hickory Nut Gap Meats:  "We are looking forward to our upcoming market season, you'll be able to find us at the North Asheville Tailgate Market, Asheville City Market, and West Asheville Tailgate Market. You can also come out to the Farm Store in Fairview where we house our meats, eggs, berries, and dozens of other locally made products."

The Local Food Movement in Western North Carolina

There were many things that caused me to move to Western North Carolina to seek my fortune...my time spent in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia taught me that I enjoy life in the rolling elevations and sloping hills.  Many of my friends had visited or spent a bit of time living in Asheville and I often heard about how much I would love this odd little town with it's vibrant art scene and it's appreciation for it's green places.

One of the things that I have most come to appreciate about western North Carolina is the vibrant local food scene.  The farming community here is strong, and made up of folks whose families have been working the same spots for generations, but equally represented are the suburban organic gardeners and small-scale city farms.  A lot of the people here are very aware of everything that they consume, and do their best to ensure that it is organic and as locally-sourced as possible.

After a couple months of living here, it dawned on me that my honey-infusing hobby might actually be a viable business in a community like this.  With the help and support of my friends (Modern Scribe Photography) and family and with time, trial and error, I find myself a busy pixie with a small but increasingly stable business.

As such, I've been honored to be the newbie vendor at a great little farm market.  The Woodfin YMCA is hosting an indoors Winter Market through the end of March, and I have been learning a lot.

I've also been meeting some amazing people, farms and food producers who are well-known and much-appreciated in WNC for their amazing products.

Home Grown Goodness!

For example, for lunch today I had a slice of Farm & Sparrow market bread, with Spinning Spider Creamery plain chevre spread on thick, and topped with slices of Hickory Nut Gap Farm's pepperoni.  Freaking amazing, simple, and such good quality food!  Each of these places are located within an hour's drive of my home.

I'm going to be doing a couple of posts to highlight some of the farms I've met in this market.  Keep posted, and if you live in the area, please come meet me at the Woodfin YMCA Farm Market (Saturdays, 10-noon, through March) and support your local food producers!

Busy as an Autumn Bee...

Things I have learned in the past few days:

• When making bread that requires kneading for ten minutes, don't use a timer, just sing "Matty Groves" once through to obtain perfect crumb.  The rhythm of the song helps greatly with the process!

• Spirit Horse Herbals makes a great lip balm!!  It's very moisturizing, has no flavor, and is super soft.  I was lucky enough to win a tube of "Soothe Those Lips" in a recent giveaway on their Twitter! <3

• Mountain Rose Herbs is doubling donations to Oregon Wild until September 30! 

 "Oregon Wild (formerly the Oregon Natural Resources Council or ONRC) has been instrumental in securing permanent legislative protection for some of Oregon’s most precious landscapes, including nearly 1.7 million acres of Wilderness, 95,000 acres of forests in Bull Run/Little Sandy watersheds (to safeguard the quality of Portland's water supply) and almost 1,800 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers.  As a leader of the national grassroots charge for conservation of roadless areas in our national forests, Oregon Wild helped secure administrative protections for more than 58 million acres of spectacular roadless areas across the country. "

• I'm packing up with my dear love to go to a festival in Georgia this weekend.  I'm looking forward to fires, drums, friends, and time spent with trees over my head.  Another couple of attendees and I are planning an Autumnal Herb Exchange, where we can share the fruits of our labors this year with one another.  There's at least one wonderful woman at the festival who makes the BEST handcream for tired drummer's hands that I've ever had the honor to use! 

I'll be back soon to do a newsletter and update my shop!

Shine with love, Happy Equinox!

Three awesome giveaways...

 Ends on Saturday, September 10th: Are you into jewelry?  There's a lovely giveaway happening over at HandmadeMN and Out Of The Cracks bead shop.  Let them know which of her items you love most, and be entered to win a lovely peyote-stitch bracelet!

http://etsymn.blogspot.com/2011/08/handmademn-giveaway-from-out-of-cracks.html

 

 Ends on Friday, September 9th:  One of my favorite bloggers, Ashley English from "Small Measure" fame, is hosting a giveaway for a copy of The River Cottage Cookbook by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.  All you have to do is  leave a comment detailing what the phrase "sustainable meat" means to you.:

http://small-measure.blogspot.com/2011/09/river-cottage-meat-book-giveaway.html


 

Ends on Friday, September 9th:  The third giveaway is MINE!  Sign up to win a free jar of Pixies Pocket herb-infused honey!


http://swamppixieherbal.blogspot.com/2011/09/pixies-pocket-honey-giveaway.html

Holy Goats and Bacchanalia - an Etsy Treasury

'Holy Goats and Bacchanalia' by Anchasta

Mid-March marks the festival of Bacchanalia. This treasury celebrates the stink of rut and wine, the horned god and piping Pans, and the return of warm Spring!

Satyr Glare - Fantasy w... mtnlaurelarts $8.00	Bacchus (Dionysus) God ... DreameryStudio $8.50	Goat with Aulos Giclee ... HansMyHedgehog $15.00	She Ram VROOOOOM $20.00
Pan Necklace in solid b... billyblue22 $100.00	Corn Husk Goat Head Amu... magickshop $18.90	Playmates - 8.5x11 Limi... awinthrop $40.00	Bacco Satiro Wine God V... VenetianArtiqu... $205.00
Pan Harvest Flask CabochonPersni... $30.00	Fourth Man Song - print JCobbsFolklore $10.00	Dancing With The Devil ... EyeCandybyGreg $49.00	Drinky Faun CodyPendent $12.00
Dionysus God Of Wine, V... MissKym $2.00	Curious little goat veracauwenberg... $420.00	NAPA VALLEY GOATS Wine ... susanbrack $42.00	BUBBLEGUM GOAT pop art,... saratpeintre $17.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

Kara, the Awesome!

Isn't she adorable? *squoosh*

I am one lucky lady.

I received a package in the mail from a dear friend who I haven't seen in *mumblemumble* years...and a thrill of excitement flickered through me!

Kara was a buddy of mine during my very short stint in college.  She was the first person who I allowed to be my friend, the first person I could stop being afraid enough to talk to besides my roommate. Part of it was her colorful Doc Martins.  Part of it was her Navy blue pea coat. And part of it was her complementing my magazine cut-out of David Bowie in my orientation notebook as we sat cross-legged on the Quad, listening to helpful Seniors babbling about the history of the school.

Apple-fairytale-goodness

We shared Play Analysis, and later, a Bitter Actress Tea Party.  We shared tea, and music, and it was in her room that I first discovered the world of Sandman and Neil Gaiman and Johnny the Homicidal Maniac.  She giggles like a Muppet, and is adorable beyond compare! She is a crow, and a foxy lady. She is also a magnificent artist!

Every gift I've ever received from Kara is a treasure that I still hold dear:  the handmade luck stone with a raven and a rune, the Yule card stamped with her engraved art, and the crayon drawing of a fairy in a rainbow river she passed me in Play Analysis on my birthday.

A portion of map from the area I was born

And now, years later, here before me was a box from my sweet and wonderful friend.

Inside of this box was.....MORE BOXES. How awesome is that?  It makes the pleasure of opening gifts even more pleasurable.  I removed a small, green treasure chest, and a yarn-wrapped cardboard jewelry box, and an OOAK art card.  Each box contained one of her lovely handmade necklaces, beautiful collage charms that she sells on her Etsy shop, No Rabbits Here. 

The "Eat" apple charm made me squee for it is tiny and reminds me of the Snow White fairy tale. It makes me think of apple magic, of the star at the center of the apple when you cut it just right...of the health and earthiness of this luscious fruit. It makes me think of my time of year, the harvests of August and the early sweet apples that can be plucked from the trees and enjoyed immediately!

The "Virginia Beach" charm astounds me for it contains not only a portion of a map from the area that I was born, but also the smallest half-doily that I have ever seen. Her collage work is fabulous, subtle, and overall quite impressive!

If you want to learn more about Kara, she blogs about her art over at Kara Paints.  And her Etsy shop is again, No Rabbits Here.  Everything you buy goes to support her, her tattoo business, her art, and also her precocious children who I can't wait to meet one of these days!

Thank you, Kara!