This Week in My Haven: No.1
This week in my haven things have started to feel more routine. That is probably surprising to read considering the fact that I just launched the Haven Handmade shop a couple days ago. However, I have been working on getting the shop ready for the past several weeks, so my work isn’t just getting started. It was also the third week of the school year, so our whole family has had time to make the transition out of summer break mode. Getting up and getting the day started is feeling good. I have always loved the transition back into a regular routine that the start of a new school year brings. How about you?
With all that being said about routines, there are lots of things that I am doing and discovering for the first time. For example, I have spent more hours than I ever thought I would thinking about sales taxes. What a chore! Even though I have felt stretched and stressed at times, learning about the ins-and-outs of owning my own business has been very empowering so far. I have loved coming up with all the designs for the shop, sewing up the samples, and designing my website. I am really proud of what I am building and am excited to continue to share stories about my journey right here.
Behind the scenes at Haven Handmade
What I’m thinking about: Taking risks. Between the continuing risks we face from the COVID-19 pandemic to wondering how successful the Haven Handmade shop is going to become, risk is one thing that is occupying my thoughts pretty frequently. I am definitely the kind of person that you would hear saying things like, “Safety first!” and, “Better safe than sorry!” I am not a natural risk taker or thrill seeker, to say the least. So how am I handling the inherent risks of starting a new business?
It all comes down to the support and encouragement that I have received from my family and friends. I wouldn’t have been able to follow through with my idea of starting the Haven Handmade shop if I hadn’t received such a positive reaction from them. They understood that the circumstances brought on by the coronavirus pandemic necessitated a schedule that was more flexible, and they expressed complete confidence in my ability to adapt to the situation and learn the new skills I would need to run my own business. My loved ones’ excitement and encouragement was absolutely necessary to keep me moving forward because I certainly had (still have) my share of doubts and worries. I can barely express the immense gratitude I feel when I think of all the people that are cheering me on.
What I’m making: I have loved to sew since I was a teenager and, until now, have mostly sewed clothing. So besides making aprons and table linens for the shop, I am also working on sewing a dress for my daughter. The pattern I’ve chosen is the Playtime Dress by Oliver + S. I had a piece of vibrant pink cotton poplin that seemed perfect for this pattern. I think I’m going to do the little topstitched faux-collar to dress it up a little.
What I’m cooking: One of the reasons that I chose to make kitchen textiles for the Haven Handmade shop is that I am an avid amateur cook and baker. The times when my home feels most like my haven often involve good food! I love cooking and baking all year round, but the change of seasons always gets me re-excited about it. Fall, in particular, never fails to give me lots of kitchen inspiration. I hope you don’t mind if I share a few recipes that I’ve tried recently that I think are perfect for fall. The first is one pot lemon rosemary dijon chicken and butter toasted rice pilaf from Half Baked Harvest. The rice took longer to cook than the recipe stated and I should have cooked it in my dutch oven instead of a large skillet because it was almost overflowing, but it was very tasty! This one will make it into my regular fall dinner rotation for sure.
If you want something to go alongside your meal, these soft & fluffy sourdough pull-apart rolls are just the ticket. I have made this recipe several times and they work just as well as slider buns as they do for dipping into a bowl of soup. I never forget about dessert, and this chocolate and almond blondie recipe from one of my favorite past contestants on the Great British Baking Show is a perfect one! My daughter helped me make these last week and they didn’t last long. It is easy enough for young kitchen helpers to join in and the addition of cardamom makes them a little more unique and memorable. Do you have any favorite fall recipes I should try?
What I’m reading: Whether it’s a novel, the news, blogs, or non-fiction, I read everyday. I love getting so immersed in a book that I don’t notice anything else going on around me. The book I have on my nightstand right now is Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore. Even though I am only a couple chapters in, I can tell that I am going to enjoy this read. The premise of the story is that the title character, Oona, jumps to a different year in her life as each new year begins. I am very curious to see how she navigates going backwards and forwards through the timeline of her life. Thought-provoking, right?
It’s almost time for me to get back to my sewing machine, but one more thing before I go. If you want to be kept in the loop with Haven Handmade news, sign up for the monthly newsletter at the bottom of the page. You will be the first to know when there are new products in the shop and other shop news. I will be sharing a special offer in the October newsletter, and if you subscribe you will be the first to know about it! I hope you have a wonderful, restful weekend.
