This Week in Our Haven: Back to School
This week in my haven was the first week of the school year. Joanna started second grade and is in school five days a week again. (I have very mixed feelings about this, but that’s another story.) Peter and I are also both back to teaching. Yes, you read that right! I have returned to teaching part time now that it seems like schools are fully open and intend to stay open, but I also fully intend to keep the Haven Handmade open. Haven Handmade has quite a lot going on actually, so keep reading to get the details!
Shop announcements:
The Made Shop opens in Chicago today (September 3, 2021) and is carrying a selection of Haven Handmade products, including Huggables, Travel Drawing Sets, and Coloring Placemats. Definitely check them out!
I’ll be at Teeple’s Pond in Milford, Indiana for an artisan market on Saturday, September 11. If you’re looking for a relaxing place to browse handmade items outdoors, this is it!
Don’t forget that the Nappanee Artisan Market also carries Haven Handmade products!
September Flower of the Month bookmark
September Flower of the Month: The flower for the birth month of September is the aster. This is a beautiful flower with lots of petals radiating out in a starburst pattern around a yellow center. They are often purple, pink, or white. They symbolize wisdom, patience, love and faith. Instead of making a pillow or embroidery hoop for this month, I wanted to try making a smaller gift, so I chose a bookmark. A purple aster flower is free motion stitched to one side, and I can also personalize the back with the recipient’s name, a date, or a short message. I think that giving someone a book and a special bookmark is a superb gift! Here are a few books that I think would make great reads to go along with this special bookmark:
For fans of fantasy: The House in the Cerulean Sea
For a feel-good read: Anxious People
For mystery lovers: The Witch Elm
For elementary school readers: Maya and the Robot
Recipe Recommendation: I started the tradition of making a “Back to School” cake for us when Joanna started kindergarten. I don’t remember exactly how the idea came to me, but I like the idea of celebrating this yearly milestone. Going back to school each fall always feels like a fresh start to me, even more so than a birthday or a new calendar year does. For this year’s cake, I knew I had to “go big”! I picked the Cookies and Cream cake recipe from King Arthur Baking, and it did not disappoint!
As students return to school, summer winds down, and fall approaches, I wish us all good health, happiness, and hope! (Also, don’t forget to think about the origin of Labor Day on Monday before you light the grill for a barbecue.)
(Disclosure: I do not receive any compensation for the recommendations, links, or reviews I post here. All opinions are my own.)
