In The Studio

I have barely left the studio since I got back from New York. The dirty dishes and coffee cups piling up around me would tell anyone that I don't even leave for meals. I start my day in my little corner of the world and end my day in this very chair. My life becomes smaller as my business becomes bigger, but I find it sort of exciting. I just sent out two large orders and I am about to deliver two huge ones to the boutiques I am lucky to be a part of in Rehoboth Beach Delaware. I will stay down there for the night and allow my hands to rest as my feet become re-acquainted with the sand.

Isn't this how prisoners keep track of their days in captivity?

Goings on

I have been really productive in the studio lately and thank goodness for that. Heavens to Betsy, Heavens to Bessie has a lot going on! Work has been solid since before Thanksgiving which was great surprise, given that in this business you come to expect January and February to be flat. Etsy orders have been rolling in, along with some really fun custom orders! I have said it before, but I get a lot of enjoyment out of doing custom orders.

I just dropped off a big order of my popular two toned pieces at Pandora's Box in Federal Hill, Baltimore MD (50 East Cross Street Baltimore, MD 21230). If you have not been in this adorable shop yet, GO! Tonight would be a great night to do it as it is Third Thursday in Fed Hill (http://historicfederalhill.org/www) ! Not only is it going to be a beautiful night for this event but Pandora's Box is giving 15% off from 6-8 tonight (3/15/12)! This shop is filled with fun and colorful items, I guarantee you will find something you can not live with out! You should give their Facebook page some love http://www.facebook.com/shopPandorasBox and follow them on Twitter too @ShopPandorasBox.





A HUGE order is currently being finished up to take down to my favorite stores in Rehoboth Beach Delaware, Azura (139 Rehoboth Ave Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971) and C.L.A.D. (70 Rehoboth Avenue

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware 19971). These orders will make it down there next week, just in time for Get Down In Town (http://www.azuraclothing.net/getdownintown/). This is an awesome event taking place in downtown Rehoboth Beach on March 30th. Wine, shopping, food, and prizes. What could be better? You will be seeing some brand new handstamped pieces made just for Azura (pictured). Give Azura's Facebook page some love too (Azura Clothing Company) and next time you are down' the ocean be sure you stop by these great boutiques! They both carry an amazing selection of clothes and accessories. I never leave there empty handed...seriously.

 

 

 

I currently have bride's on the brain as I just finished up a custom order for a bridal party consisting of 13 ladies! They are all going to look amazing! I can not wait to see the pictures. In the mean time I am busy prepping for a great bridal event. The Dazzling Details Wedding Bazaar (http://www.dazzlingdetailsbazaar.com/) will be taking place on Sunday April 22, 2012 from 12-6pm at The Historic Savage Mill Manor. Tickets can be purchased at their website. Also on the site get a sneak peak at just some of the great vendors that will be participating in this fantastic show. So bride's....I hope to see you all there!!

 

New Items have made their way into the store as well so be sure you check out www.heavenstobessie.com or just click the Etsy mini below! Mother's Day is not all that far away so contact me soon for any custom orders you may be thinking about. Together we can make something perfect!! For up to date info please give my Facebook page a like (Heavens to Bessie Jewelry) and you can follow me on Twitter too (@heavenstobessie).

 

Hope you are all enjoying the amazing weather! I know I am!

 

 

About Pie on Pi Day

Well happy Pi Day! I hate math and used to hate pie but that changed recently. I have always considered myself to be a fruit purist. I never liked cooked, sugared or syrup like fruit. I have always loved fruit but in it's natural state. Even sweetened apple sauce is a no no for me. Because of this, I have never been a fan of pie. I had never even had it up until this past year. Yeah, you read that correctly. NEVER HAD PIE.


One night we went to the home of a friend (who happens to be a chef) for dinner and for dessert he made baked apples with a brown sugar pretzel topping. I ate it and it changed my world. So good was this dessert that it seriously opened up Pandora's box of baked fruit desserts. Next came cobbler and pie. All delicious! But my taste buds kept begging for that dessert that started it all. I finally did some googling, copied down some recipes and got to work. I have made this dessert 100 times, 100 different ways and it is always delicious. Below is the recipe I have come up with over the last few months, but I assure you, you do not have to follow this to a T to come up with an amazing dessert. It really is easy to make and you can't go wrong.


TOPPING:


1/4 cup pretzels, coarsely chopped
2 Tablespoons flour
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1-2 Tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon


THE REST:


2 (or about) large apples
1-2 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons lime juice
1 Tablespoon flour
Dash O' Nutmeg
Dash O' Ground Ginger
Dash O' Ground Clove
Splash of Vanilla




Topping: Mix everything in a small bowl and set aside. Sooo very complicated :-)


The Rest: In a large bowl, mix everything other than the apples together. Peel apples (or don't, whatever you'd like) then evenly slice. Toss in the lime juice mixture until evenly coated. Lightly spray two ramekins or an appropriately sized baking dish with cooking spray then evenly arrange apple slices trying to keep them as flat and evenly layered as possible. Pour any remaining liquid onto the apple slices. Top apples with the topping and then back at 400 until apples are soft. Sorry that is as specific as I can be, I am lucky I have measurements....it is just not my style in the kitchen. I never time anything and pretty much bake everything at 400 degrees. But there it is.

You must must must serve this with frozen yogurt or ice cream!! I like plain tart frozen yogurt. It goes great with this sweet, tangy, salty, crunchy delicious dessert!


I know it is not pie  but make this tonight and then tell me how it went! Have a Happy Pi Day, whatever that entails.

My week in NYC

I had the balls to ask my friend from college if I could invade her space for a whole week recently. I knew it was a lot to ask but lucky for me she said yes. She handed me the keys to her super beautiful apartment in Queens so I could come and go as I needed while she worked. When she had off we spent time wondering around together and even though she has been living there for 3 years we discovered new places which is always fun. We ate amazing food, drank amazing gimlets, walked amazing distances and then both came down with amazing colds. All in all a great time was had. I had a few surprise visitors while I was there, my sister and her family, and my friends Alan and Fred came from Baltimore for the day.  Then there were not so surprise visits with the hoards of friends I have who have moved to NYC over the years. Here is my incredible week in pictures. As always I wish I took more. I have come back home feeling sick with a cold, fat from all the food I ate, full of inspiration and drive to get to work, but more than anything I feel joy and thanks for a such a great time.

 Thanks again Amanda! You are amazing!

Brooklyn Bridge on a beautiful day.

Some of the best from Brooklyn Flea.

Best Fish and Chips I have had in this country, AND they had Mushy Peas! My Favorite! Chip Shop, Brooklyn NY

My breakfast companions and I eating outside the New York Public Library.

Lillie's, the most beautiful bar ever.

Fun day with Alan and Fred.

Charm City

I saw something beautiful in Baltimore as I was headed out of town. Today I left my house, bags packed, bus ticket in hand, ready for my week long trip to New York City. It was sort of a grey day and it started drizzling a bit just as I was leaving my house. By the time I got to the bus stop it was RAINING, and if you have ever ridden Bolt bus you know it is not so much a bus stop with a shelter as it is just a corner on St. Paul Street. So I stood there, waiting for the bus, watching my bag become more and more saturated thinking to myself "great, I will be damp for the 3 and a half hour ride and then some". Right at that moment a girl came up to me and asked me of I was waiting for the bus to NYC. "Yes" I said, noticing immediately she was DRENCHED! I invited her to share my umbrella which she was very excited to do. Making small talk, I asked her if she had taken the Bolt bus before. Not only had she not, she had never been to the US before. Right as we started talking about where she was from an older gentleman got out of his car and handed this girl an umbrella and told her to keep it. As he got back into his car, she said to me "Everyone here is so nice" to which I replied "well that is not an everyday occurrence here". She told me that that sort of thing had happened a lot over the past week. Needless to say I was a little surprised but I was super proud of my city in that moment. Baltimore truly lived up to its Charm City name, at least to this girl. 


This proved very well just how much small kindnesses mean to people! On a rainy crap day like today it would have been so easy to be grumpy and this girl was just so happy. It rubbed off on me with out a doubt. It's going to be a great week rain or shine!