Tomato Goodness

These are photos from Friday morning that I took while making the tomato goodness that I posted about yesterday.

Tomatoes from the patch - a mix of Brandywine, Ramapo, and Bistro.

Toss with salt, pepper, whole peeled garlic cloves, and olive oil.  Into the oven at 375 for 40 minutes.

The tomatoes after roasting.

I put fresh basil from my patio herb garden to help brighten the tomato goodness.

My six-year old helping with the squeez-o strainer - I love this machine!

Tomatoes in the hopper!

Tomato goodness in the front bowl, the seeds & skins in the bowl to the left.

Delicious soups will be made this winter to nourish my family & friends.

So you may be wondering how all of this relates to my business... I am living my Woodstream Dream - I am able to be home and enjoy my children, my home and my garden all while crafting, running my business on etsy and occasionally participating in crafting vendor events.  This is my dream.  I've been blessed to be able to be home to enjoy each of these moments with my family.

Have a blessed day!

Rainy Sunday...

So last night was a disappointment.  I was loading my car when dark clouds started filling in.  I checked weather.com and saw that a storm was rolling in, so I made the decision not to risk ruining my stock for the outdoor event at 2nd Saturday in Collingswood.  I can say that everything is beautifully organized and ready to go for September's 2nd Saturday event.  I was still pumped to work last night, so I worked on organizing my craft room and planning out what I want to accomplish before the next crafting event.

This morning we woke up to several hours of thunderstorms and heavy rain that has lasted all day.  The garden will love this - it was such a parched July here in New Jersey!  I look forward to visiting the patch on Monday or Tuesday.  The patch is the community garden plot that I work with a dear friend.  We had a bumper crop of summer squash last month.  This month the tomatoes are yielding heavily.  We're praying that the lima beans and butternut squash start setting soon.  We have a short growing season at the patch, our time is up in two months - by October 16th.

Our Patch on June 18th

early stages of squash, sugar snap peas, tomatoes, poles for lima beans, sunflowers, peppers, celery, leeks

I'll post pictures of the patch this week in it's current lushness - the transformation is amazing to behold!  I made chocolate chip zucchini bread, blueberry zucchini bread, a squash casserole called calabacitas, chocolate zucchini cake, and sliced many summer squash down and froze them for winter soups.  The tomatoes have been glorious - so delicious just fresh in salad and grilled in a cheese sandwich.  I roast them with tomatoes, garlic, s&p, and olive oil and then put them through my squeez-o strainer to make what I call tomato goodness - a thick tomato broth.  I put fresh basil from my home garden in with the tomatoes through the squeez-o strainer to help perfume the broth.  It makes divine soup base for the winter when I'm tired of the dreary days!  3 quarts frozen from 5 trays of roasted tomatoes.  Hopefully a few more quarts of tomato goodness will be made before the plants give up!

My husband left this afternoon for a business trip and I'm home with our boys.  The little one is napping, giving me a chance to update some information on my etsy site and then I'll be playing games with my older son.  I love the opportunity for time alone with each boy.

Well, I need to get back to playing with this guy before the little guy wakes up!
Have a blessed day and thanks for reading!

2nd Saturday in Collingswood!

Just a reminder that I'll be at 2nd Saturday in Collingswood tonight from 5-9pm on the 600 block of Haddon Avenue.  I would love to see anyone who's in the area!  Also, my etsy shop will be closed from 4pm today until tomorrow when I can recheck inventory.

Thanks for all of those who have clicked "Like" on my Facebook Fanpage:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/WoodstreamDream/131330936956305  If you're on Facebook & you like my page, it'll give you access to coupon codes to use on my site as well as give aways and special sales that I will be running during the year.

Have a blessed day!

Marie No.030

I just finished this felted cashmere flower hair clip in time for a birthday party tomorrow.  I think it looks great!  My son was invited to a birthday party for one of the little girls he went to kindergarten with last school year.  So I decided to make a gift instead of purchase one.  I think this is just adorable and I hope that she likes it as much as I do!

Marie No.030 Felted Pink and Green Cashmere Flower with Vintage Button hair clip (gift)

I'm working on more 100% US grown cotton washcloths and a petal pink and lilac double strand crochet crib blanket in acrylic.  I have several more felted flowers cut and waiting stitching.

Thanks for reading & I hope that you have a lovely weekend!



Upcoming Events

August 13th Weather permitting I'll have a table on Haddon Avenue in Collingswood for the 2nd Saturday event - all different crafters & artists set up tables outside shops in Collingswood for the evening.  Hours are 6 to 9 pm, shops are open late and so are restaurants!  Stop by and search for my table!  I'll be down by All Fired Up (600 block of Haddon Ave.).  There are 2nd Saturday events May through November.  Weather permitting, I will make an appearance at the remaining events in 2011.

September 17th I'll be at the Blue Barn in Marlton on Tuckerton Road.  It's the semi-annual Indoor Flea Market & Yard Sale, there are all different vendors, plus some crafters and direct sales businesses and food items.  8-2pm

October 22nd I'll be in the Fall Craft Show at Resurrection Parish Center, The Church of the Holy Name, 260 Conrow Rd., Delran, NJ.  9-3pm.  This is mostly crafters and some vendors from direct sales companies (Avon, jewelry, gourmet foods).

November 19th I'll be teaching a holiday card making class at Zuzu Studio Gallery in Collingswood.  More details in September.

As always, I'll have stock from my etsy shop available, plus off-season merchandise and some fun extras that I make just for events that are listed on etsy after events.

Hope to see you out supporting local crafters!
Thanks for visiting & reading!

It's WoodstreamDreamWednesday

It's WoodstreamDreamWednesday - I've just added a selection of items under that category that will be onsale for the week. Those items will go full price next Wednesday and I'll have a new selection of items onsale next week. Take a peek at www.woodstreamdream.etsy.com

Yesterday I made a new round washcloth to add to my shop.  I think I'm kind of addicted to the prettiness of the round washcloth.  I think I want to make a bunch for my own home now!!!

100% US Grown Cotton Washcloth

Have a blessed day & thanks for reading!

Aunt Sally's Felted Flower Pin

This is the pin my mother-in-law ordered for her Aunt Sally's 98th birthday this weekend.  I finished stitching it tonight.

Marie Collection No.029 Felted Ivory Cashmere and Vintage Button (custom order)

Yesterday I completed crocheting a set of seven pink, white, and light brown washcloths of 100% US grown cotton.  There is a flower, granny square, circle, pentagon, hexagon, and two traditional stitched washcloths.  All of the washcloths are edged in pique for a little more fun!  I plan for these to be a gift.  I'll be making more in the next couple of weeks to add to my shop.

Thanks for viewing.  Have a blessed week.