Goings On: The Makery/Kickstarter

Phew, February is kind of kicking my ass.  I've got my hands in a lot of different pots (is that the correct expression?) and I'm feeling really overwhelmed a lot of the time.  But!  Everything I'm doing is so exciting.  I'd thought I'd write to share one of my newest involvements with a great new shop in Durham, The Makery.  The Makery started as an online shop selling hand-made goods from North Carolina.  Now The Makery has opened up a permanent shop in the Central Park area of Durham, which is by far the most creative and exciting part of town.  So, I'm very lucky to be selling my little ceramics there, yay!

But, The Makery still needs help with some funding for a few last things that will really make the shop great, so check out our Kickstarter fund!

500

I can't believe that I am writing this, but this is post #500 for this little blog.  I started this blog in high school before the internet blew up and social media took over.  Facebook wasn't around yet, not to mention smart phones.  I'm still pretty behind the times on all this technology stuff and that's ok with me really. 

This blog has changed a lot since I started it as a teenager.  A lot has changed for me, I graduated high school, moved to Cleveland, OH, graduated college, traveled a lot, moved back to Durham, NC.  Most importantly I now focus mostly on my art and creative endeavors on this blog, with little bits of my personal life and my Durham community.  I know my posting has never been very regular and although it is New Years and I could make a resolution about posting more often, I won't.  I'll just say that I hope to have some really fun and exciting things coming up and when they do I'll be sure to record them here.

I'd like to dedicate this 500th post to my two grandmothers on my mom's side, her mother and her step-mother.  I lost them both recently.  They both died at 97 and a few months apart from each other.  They were both incredible women with many talents and I was lucky to have them in my life.

Here first are some images of my grandma Dorothy Darling, and wasn't she the most darling?  The black and whites are the oldest pictures I have of her,  before she joined the Miller family and married my grandfather.  The colors are from later in her life as a Miller.  That purple blanket now belongs to me; it was one of my favorite things of hers.

She had the most amazing cheekbones, no?

And this doll below is my grandma Betty.  She loved playing keyboard and did so until very near the end.  I can't stress enough what a kind, loving and understanding woman she was.  And check out that tribal print top she has on!  My mom always told me how stylish grandma was in the 60s and 70s while she was growing up.  

Loving and thinking of you always, Betty and Dorothy.

Florida Wedding

First off, I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas. And New Years is just around the bend so I hope your plans and resolutions are shaping up. I just popped down to Florida for a warm weather winter wedding.  My cousin Josh got married to the lovely Vanessa. It was such a sweet wedding and I'm so happy for them both.

Durham, North Carolina Bakery Spotlight

Before I left for college 4.5 years ago, none of these bakeries were in existence.  Now, Durham is a veritable bakery paradise.  They spring up every few months it seems and thrive in the downtown.  Get to Monuts too late in the day and they've already sold out of their cake donuts.  Durham likes its sweets.  Most of these lovely places began as a Farmer's Market stall (like Scratch and Loaf).  The Parlour began as a food truck, which they still have.  Monuts Donuts began selling their creations on the back of a bicycle around Durham.  Watching Durham become so fabulous and delicious has been a dream come true.

Daisy Cakes, serving cupcakes and so much more.

The Parlour, serving homemade ice-cream, sundaes etc. 

Loaf makes the best bread ever! 

I think Scratch has to be my favorite.  They do so much and I am seriously obsessed with this drink they made called the London Fog.

 

 Monuts Donuts... um, donuts, need I say more?

   
And because you can never have too many cupcake shops, The Cupcake Bar.

And of course I had to do a little spotlight on Dolly's Vintage.  During High School I worked here for 4 years while it was located in Bright Leaf Square.  Since I left Durham Dolly's moved downtown on Main street and as been thriving along with all the lovely bakeries.  I'm now back in Durham and working at Dolly's again and fingers crossed... hopefully one of these bakeries as well soon.

It's Christmas Time

Christmas finally arrived at my house. We do pretty much the same decorations every year, which is fine with me.  I like traditions. Here are just a couple snap shots of some baubles and my Christmas sugar cookies. I use the same recipe every year and I don't worry about making them perfect. I love trying new fancy recipes but for me, Christmas cookies aren't the time for anything fancy pants.

Farmer's Market

Today my mom brought home some gorgeous vegetables from our local farmer's market in Durham. I couldn't help but clear off the kitchen table and snap a couple pictures with my phone.

DIY Christmas Cards

I started working on a project that was originally going to be 25 cards of Christmas but I guess I'm really feeling the love because I think it is going to turn out to be a lot more that that. Shout out to the lovely ladies at A Beautiful Mess. I downloaded their app even though I'm generally not interested in things like that but I actually love it!