This Week in My Haven: No. 8
This week in my haven was fine...I guess. That sort of describes how I am feeling about most things right now. I recognize that all the most important things that I value are still present--my family, our health, our home, healthy food to eat, etc. However, the current surge in coronavirus cases has been bringing back the feelings of uncertainty, worry, and grief that I experienced at the outset of the pandemic last spring. Those two forces are pulling my feelings in opposite directions and leaving me feeling stuck in the middle. I recognize that these emotions are natural and I’m not trying to fight one or the other. I just thought I would share both sides here rather than only giving voice to the positive feelings and denying the negative ones. If it helps any of you to read this, then I’m glad I shared it.
Shop announcements:
I’ve been trying to sew up a little inventory to have ready and in stock so that I can send out holiday orders quickly. Keep an eye on the shop for frequent updates of what I’m sewing and have ready to send out!
Haven Handmade is listed on www.ChiLocal.com. It has a wealth of small Chicago businesses listed and might just help you find the perfect gift! (Hint: Follow @chishoplocal on Instagram to hear about some upcoming giveaways and holiday gift guides.)
Want to win a handmade apron for yourself and for a friend too? Participate in my giveaway on Instagram by commenting on any post in the month of November with what you are grateful for and tag a friend! Each comment is one entry. On December 1st, I will choose a winning comment. That commenter and the friend they tagged with both win an apron from the Haven Handmade shop! This giveaway is open to anyone with a U.S. shipping address.
What I’m thinking about: Adapting. There has been so much that we’ve been forced to adapt to lately, whether we like it or not, right? I have been reflecting on that a lot this week as I make future plans for this little business. I have to be able to adapt to grow--as a business person, as a maker, as a wife, as a mom, etcetera, etcetera. As they say, the only constant is change. I’m sure this isn’t news to anyone, it’s just what’s been circling in my mind.
What I’m making: I am finally making some placemats for my own table! Can you believe that I hadn’t done that yet? It was so hard to decide what color I wanted because I liked all the colors so much that I hadn’t made any for myself. I finally decided to make steel gray placemats. I chose this neutral color so that I can easily change up the color of the napkins we are using to go with the season or the mood. This tends to be how I go about decorating. The bigger, more permanent pieces in a room tend to be neutrals and the accent pieces add little splashes of color.
What I’m cooking: I have started to think about what holiday cookie recipes I want to make this year. I know I’m not going to be able to make them all because that would really just be too many cookies for three people. (I can’t believe I just wrote that!) I’m either going to have to cut some from the list or make bunches of super small batches. Here are my picks so far: olive oil shortbread with rosemary & chocolate chunks, chocolate gingerbread cookies or cut-out gingerbread cookies, and meringue Christmas trees. Do you have a favorite cookie recipe to make for the holidays?
What I’m reading: Instead of sharing something I read, I’m going to share something I listened to. I listened to this episode of the Splendid Table podcast and it left me feeling very hopeful about making the holidays special, joyful, and memorable in spite of the challenges brought on by COVID-19. I recognize that it is important for all of us to choose the common good over our own personal wishes right now. In making these difficult choices, I can actually come to a greater appreciation for the holidays and the ways we celebrate them together.
It looks like it’s going to be a chilly, drizzly weekend here so I predict lots of cozy, indoor activities like playing board games, building Lego sets, snuggling on the couch in pjs, and bread-baking. I hope your weekend is looking like it’ll be cozy too!
(Disclosure: I do not receive any compensation for the recommendations or reviews I post here. All opinions are my own.)
