20 November 2008 How heavenly to nest at this time of year!  For me nesting means getting all my reading material ready for the winter.  So, I was very happy to jog down to the Literacy Council of Alaska’s 35th birthday celebration last Saturday.  Their bookshelves were brimming with some great finds; I couldn’t help adding several books to my heap.  One find that I’ll be sharing with you from time to time is a little book published in the 1970s titled Alaska Haiku.  Here’s a sample from that book, a haiku by David Hoopes:

The shadow of trees-
My own shadow is moving
In the cold moonlight.

Because of the clear November full moon this month, this particular piece resonated with me.

Nesting brings out other desires in me as well.  Before winter settles in good and hard, like it is right now, I make sure I’m well stocked with maple syrup.  I’m not talking about syrup laced with corn syrup, but the 100% Pure Maple variety-the kind made from sap that drips slowly from Sugar Maple trees tapped over in Vermont.  The sap is boiled down to lovely amber sweetness that is great on pancakes.  It’s also a wonderful alternative to cane sugar for wholesome goodness.  Inside the store, we have some of the best syrup around, made by none other than Rebecca’s cousin, Burr, over there in Vermont.  Burr’s family’s been sugaring for 8 generations so he knows a thing or two about how it’s done.  My advice to you is to get in and get you a quart for the winter.  If you want to know about sugaring and all about how it gets from tree to syrup jug, you can ask Rebecca.  She knows a bit about it, too.  You can, for sure, slather it on your pancakes in the morning, but I’m banking that if you use it making baked beans, you’ll have a whole pot full of comfort food that will last you through a heap of cold weather.  It’s great stuff!  And we have more wonderful treats in the store for you than I can mention here.  You’ll want to come by often to check out your many choices during this holiday season and beyond into the depths of winter.

We are honored to have Pauline Lian as our guest artist on Friday, September 5, 2008.  Pauline produces exquisite pressed botanical art at Iceworm Studio here in Fairbanks.  She chooses flowers and berries indigenous to the area and presses them while they are still fresh to give them lasting color.  The pressed botanical art is mounted on textured or handmade acid-free paper.  Pauline’s pieces are truly one-of-a-kind.  If you’ve missed Pauline at the Farmer’s Market this season, be sure you put this First Friday on your must do list. 

We’ve brought back Langford Petals Shortbread to complement Pauline’s work and will reintroduce it to the store on Friday.  We’ll be serving Pansy Up-delicious blueberries with a glorious mix of multi-color playful pansies, violas, and bachelor buttons, and CranSnaps-tart, chopped whole cranberries garnished with radiant pink and red geraniums.  Beverages include misty fjords Raven’s Brew Coffee and jade bouquet Sterling Tea.

 Join us for First Friday on August 1 when Anna Waschke will be our guest from 5 to 8 p.m.  After completing degrees in physics and mathematics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, she began her own business creating jewelry and mixed media boxes.  She creates stained glass earrings and mixed media pendants as well as limited edition boxes.  Anna draws much inspiration from nature; even her abstract designs are based on natural shapes and patterns.   

If you missed our August First Friday event, come by the store soon as we have a superb selection of Anna’s stained glass earrings and pendants.

 Our wide array of jewelry represents the artistic component of our exquisite findings. Browse our displays for styles that resonate personality and individuality. We offer works by more than twenty artisans at any given time.  Chosen for shape, color and texture, river rocks enhance the remarkable silver artistry of Rebecca Bashara depicted in the photo at the right.

Ever wonder how a Musk Ox stays warm on the frigid coastal plain of Alaska? Qiviut, my friend, qiviut! Qiviut is the light under down from the belly of the Musk Ox. Eight times warmer than sheep’s wool and much lighter, it is the warmest natural fiber on the planet. Soft, delicate and deliciously warm, our selections from The Qiveut Collection are sure to bring a smile. Award winning fiber artist, Colleen White of Palmer, Alaska, produces heirloom quality qiviut treasures. We carry headbands and smoke rings and can special order a variety of other offerings. Truly an indulgence for yourself, a special friend or graduate, or World’s Best Mom.