More info about the project from Jeska:
Matchbox Challenge – To decorate, alter or fill a different matchbox for every day of February.

The Gist – Each tiny artwork will be listed in the Lobster & Swan Etsy shop and sold to raise funds for Oxfam.

Jeska hopes that other crafty folks will join her and she’s made a schedule to inspire everyone with themes loose enough that they can be interpreted any way you choose! You can find out more about the project over on Lobster & Swan. Looks like lots of fun!

*All photos by Jeska. See more of her beautiful photography over here.

You can visit their Etsy shop, website, and blog, too.

Your work is beautiful! How did you begin letterpressing?
We took a letterpressing workshop down in Irvine. We were addicted (I think we both dreamed about printing that night) and decided to buy our very own press! We took some more classes but are largely self-taught. We’ve definitely learned through doing.

What is your favorite part of the creative process?
Our favorite part of the creative process is seeing our designs come to life – that final stage where we ink up the press and start printing! It’s such a satisfying feeling seeing it pressed on to paper.

What was your inspiration for your Valentine cards?
My dad always draws an arrow through his hearts when he writes me a note. It’s the sweetest depiction of his love. I’ve been incorporating arrows in a number of our cards for a while. One of the prints we made is also of a heart with the phrase “You Quiet My Wild Heart” inside of it – Sarah designed it and thought it was a common phrase, but we’ve come to realize she just made it up. It was inspired by Valentines but really could apply year round as a nice gift.

What’s your favorite dessert?
Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies hands down. Ok, that’s a lie. Oatmeal chocolate chip cookie dough. The salt, the sugar, the oats – nothing beats it.

Sarah’s got a vicious sweet tooth… she’ll pretty much eat anything in the dessert department. But for her, nothing beats a scoop of well-made vanilla bean ice cream.

It’s a pretty simple three stitch lace pattern with some ribbing. To keep things simple, I knitted it flat and just sewed up the ends. It was relaxing, repetitive project.

I can’t stop wearing it. It’s so warm and cozy!

2012 Goals for Wayside Violet:

• Improved/updated packaging. Time for some newness.
• Discontinue products. A few cozy styles and colors will no longer be available.
• Create new things! I’m really excited about this one. There are tons of sketches piling up and I think there are some wonderful things coming. You can be sure to see sneak peeks and in progress updates right here in the next few months.

The first recipe, well, I don’t have a good name for it. Growing up we called it “Christmas tea”, but that’s not quite right. It’s almost like a cider. Whatever it is, when I smell it I know it’s Christmastime. Today I’ll call it Cranberry Citrus Amazing Cinnamon Christmas Punch.

Cranberry Citrus Amazing Cinnamon Christmas Punch

8 oz. Whole Cranberries
3 qt. of water
1/2 cup of sugar
1 cup of cinnamon imperials
3 cinnamon sticks
24 whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks
3 oranges – juiced
3 lemons – juiced

Boil the cranberries in 1 qt. of water for about 10 minutes.

Mix 2 quarts of water, sugar, cinnamon imperials, cloves, and cinnamon sticks in a large pot. Heat until the cinnamon imperials melt. Add the orange and lemon juice to the pot. Serve warm.

Strain the cranberry mixture into the pot. Discard the cranberries. Simmer on low for 2 hours.

This next recipe I just tried this year and it tastes like a new tradition. Delicious!

Christmas Day Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce

For the pudding:
2 eggs
2 tbls. melted butter
2 tbls. vanilla
1 cup of milk
2 cup sugar
2 cups sourdough bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat the oven to 325.

Beat eggs and add butter vanilla, and mix.

Gradually add the sugar and mix thoroughly until sugar is dissolved.

Place bread cubes in the bottom of a 9-inch round baking dish.

Pour liquid over bread making sure all the pieces are fully saturated.

Sprinkle pecans over bread and push them down into the bread.

Bake in the oven for 50 to 60 minutes.

For the sauce:
1/2 cup sugar
1 stick butter
1/2 cup cream
1/4 cup of whiskey (I use Jameson)

Combine the ingredients in a medium saucepan.

Stir constantly over low heat until mixture reaches a low rolling boil.

Pour a small amount over the individual servings of bread pudding.

Lottie + Doof has a wonderful 12 Days of Cookies series going on and day 5 was a recipe from Matthew Rice for Gooey Butter Cookies. Gooey Butter Cake is a St. Louis delicacy so I was instantly smitten and knew I had to make them. I tried out the recipe for a Christmas party last week and it was a hit.

Gooey Butter Cookies

• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 pound cream cheese
• 2 sticks unsalted butter
• 1/2 vanilla bean, scraped
• 3 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Confectioner’s sugar for rolling and dusting

Stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Set aside.  In the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the cream cheese, butter, vanilla bean seeds, and sugar together until fluffy.  Add the eggs and vanilla extract.

Incorporate the flour mixture.  Chill for at least 30 minutes.  Scoop roughly 1-ounce balls and toss in the confectioner’s sugar.  Place on a baking sheet, lined with parchment, a couple of inches apart.  Bake at 325° F until they spread and puff slightly, about 12-16 minutes.  They will be really soft in the center.  If they start to brown, they’ve gone too far.  Cool to room temperature.

Refrigerate cookies on the tray because as the cream cheese and butter get cold, they’re easier to pick up.  Dust with more confectioner’s sugar before serving.  Serve chilled with a mug of hot cider

I’ve learned this year that my positivity could drive me crazy if I let. I broke down and I bought my Christmas cards. They are gorgeous and I love them!

I went with posts cards from Rifle Paper Co. in the Happy Holidays and Noel designs. The little monogram notes in the upper right-hand corner are from In Haus Press and they are the perfect size for little gift tags or stocking stuffers.

I also threw in a few fun mailing accessories like this return address stamp and golden heart stickers and dotted washi tape for sealing envelops. Time to get writing!

I’m getting close to the end of the semester and it’s actually winding down quietly. I’m completely done with one class and just have two final projects to go. Almost done!

Since things aren’t quite as busy (and because I have to mail presents this year), I’ve been giving myself breaks for hot chocolate and present wrapping.

Wrapping might be my favorite part of gift giving. This year I’m using brown paper, a pretty red print on brown paper, lots of different ribbons, these gift tags and these jingle bells. I think they look pretty good!

The venue and the event were both wonderful! There were booths set up upstairs and down and in lots of different rooms. Everywhere you turned there were pretty things, tasty things, and interesting conversations.

The Fieldhouse from outside and down the street a bit:

I didn’t take very many photos of the lovely booths, because I’m shy and feel awkward pointing my camera at someone else’s hard work. Some year, I’d like to take portraits of all the venders, but that would be a project for the bold.

A few views from the balcony in the large auditorium:

Booths!

Abby and I both ended up bring headbands by home with us:

We needed a break from the crowds (We also needed to move the car. City parking!) so we went over to Wicker Park and popped into a few shops:

Lunch (for me breakfast) at Milk & Honey is a Renegade must!

It was a wonderful day!

The shop will close at 7pm on Friday December 16th. Any US orders placed on or before  the 16th will be shipped in time for Christmas gift giving. Unfortunately, I can’t guarantee that international orders will arrive before the holidays.

Thank you to everyone who has made a purchase from my little shop so far this season. I still have that, “Yay! A sale!” feeling every time that Etsy notification pops into my inbox. It is a pleasure to be a part of your holidays!