Native Woman Sews, Crafts, Writes, and More

Embrace for the Year

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I’ve picked a word for the year in the past and for this year I pick EMBRACE.

I am going to EMBRACE change (we’ll be moving again at some point), EMBRACE work (I love my podcast and I’m applying for a work from home position), EMBRACE who I am (I’ve never denied being a Native woman, but I also didn’t put it to the forefront of everything, which can sometimes feel stifling), and EMBRACE being creative.

And I’ve probably always been embracing. But now I am moving on to doing so with intention.

I have lots of plans – fantastic people to interview, a wide variety of projects I’m working on and planning, and I can’t wait to share.

When we pick a word to focus on for the year, it helps us pay attention. We can check ourselves, be sure we are on track with our goals, and say no to things that don’t line up.

Do you pick a word each year? What is your word?

019: Tsoniki Crazy Bull: Happy New Year! And What’s To Come

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Head over to iTunes and subscribe to Me Being Crafty so you don’t miss an episode! You can also subscribe on stitcher.

Welcome to episode 019 of the Me Being Crafty podcast, where we explore creativity in your life.

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In this episode I am talking about what is coming in 2015 on the Me Being Crafty podcast and for my business.

I am excited to bring you more conversations with creative people in 2015 and also excited to talk with more Native American artists, crafters, quilters, designers, musicians, and more. Our community is full of makers and I am happy to be able to bring them on the show for you.

I’d love to hear your feedback on the podcast, leave me a rating and review on ITunes if that is where you are listening to the show, and don’t forget to click subscribe so you don’t miss out on any future shows.

A reminder of where you can find me – Me Being Crafty facebook page – Tsoniki on Instagram – Tsoniki on Twitter 

Listen to episode 019 and let me know what you are working on for 2015! Have you made plans yet, do you have a to do list, how many quilts are you planning on making?

Leave me a comment and let me know how you were creative today. Me, I’m enjoying this first day of 2015 by sewing a little and also doing some beadwork.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies

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The original recipe came from the Food Network, but I changed the ingredients. I also converted to other measurements for some of the ingredients and the temp to Celsius.

ChocolatePeanutButterThumbprintCookies

I changed the recipe because I couldn’t find almond butter at the grocery store. I substituted peanut butter and still used actual almonds.

Ingredients

Cookies

1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
115 grams butter, room temperature OR 1 stick
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup plus 3 tbsp white sugar
2 small OR 1 large egg
2 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup chopped almonds

Ganache
5 ounces of chocolate – I used Tablette d’Or Chocolate Noir Patissier – but I think any dark chocolate will work
recipe calls for heavy cream, I used creme fluide – finding a substitute for what I use in the US is only a minor inconvenience, the store usually has something I can use
Microwave and stir frequently so it does not burn

Preheat oven to 190C/375F

I made the ganache while the cookie batter was being prepared so it would be cooled off when the cookies were ready. It was the perfect amount of time.

Mix flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. Combine the butter and peanut butter, add brown and white sugar, add egg (or eggs) and vanilla to the mixture. Slowly add the dry ingredients until the cookie dough is mixed completely.

Use two small bowls for the 3 tbsp of white sugar and the chopped almonds. Use a scoop to get a small amount of cookie dough out and roll into a ball. Roll the ball in the sugar first, and the almonds second. The almonds will not entirely coat the cookie, but many will stick.

Cook for 12-13 minutes and take out of oven. Once the cookies are a little cooled, press your thumb in the center to form an indentation. Select a large star tip and fill a pastry bag with half of the ganache. The ganache needs to be cool enough to put onto the cookies, if it is too warm it will spread further. You do not have to use a star tip, using a round is also fine.

You also may be interested in: my Pinterest Challenge – Chicken Taquitos and Sugar Skulls and Chocolate Pumpkins

P.S. These are similar to the peanut butter cookies with a Hershey kiss on the top of them, but if you use a better chocolate and make a ganache, these cookies will turn out to be amazing!

018: Tsoniki Crazy Bull: Plans for 2015

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Head over to iTunes and subscribe to Me Being Crafty so you don’t miss an episode! You can also subscribe on stitcher.

Welcome to episode 018 of the Me Being Crafty podcast, where we explore creativity in your life.

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In this episode I am talking about three things that I am using as we go into 2015 to help with being creative and to help with my business. The first is a productivity workbook and planner by Lisa Jacobs, the second is the bullet journal, and the third is the Year of Making ebook by Kim Werker.

Link to the PDF version (this is the one I have! Print it out and put it in a binder): Your Best Year 2015 Productivity Workbook and Creative Business Planner

Amazon link: Your Best Year 2015 Productivity Workbook and Creative Business Planner

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Bullet Journal – I have modified how I use my journal, I don’t use the same icons as he describes, though I do separate out the tasks once there are a few that are related. I also realized that if there was something I kept putting off, I either decided it just didn’t need to get done or I found someone else to do it for me (like asking my husband to make the dentist appointments last month when I kept putting it off).

I use this white Moleskine notebook, it’s the one with the grid inside. Mine came with a pen that clips to the cover, but I found that the ink soaked through the pages too much so I use other pens. I love these notebooks.

Kim Werker’s episode 4 of Compulsory and her interview with Mariam Felton regarding the Year of Making. I started my year of making a few days ago, friend me on instagram so you don’t miss what I am making and I can find you to see what you are making! Here is Kim’s ebook Year of Making on etsy, buy this today while it has a special launch price which is good until January 5, 2015. I bought this and printed a few pages. I hung up the page that keeps track of what you made (just a simple fill in the blank for you to make a note on each day) on a cabinet in my sewing area.

A reminder of where you can find me – Me Being Crafty facebook page – Tsoniki on Instagram – Tsoniki on Twitter 

Listen to episode 018 and let me know if you buy either the Your Best Year Productivity Workbook and Creative Business Planner or the Year of Making ebook. I would love to connect with you and support you in 2015!

Leave me a comment and let me know how you were creative today. Me, I’m working on really old WIPs, check out my instagram for a picture, look for the picture with two curved quilt blocks. That is a quilt from a class I took in 2008. It’s time to get this one finished.

CraftSanity Magazine Sale

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You don’t want to miss this – Jennifer over at Craft Sanity is having a sale on the print and PDF versions of the CraftSanity Magazine. I love this, I didn’t realize that I needed a couple of the editions so I bought them. Jennifer’s magazine is beautiful, full of really great stories and interviews, and of course a wide range of patterns. This is a great sale, stop by today!

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