This holiday season, Jessica's Jacket has a packed schedule of craft fairs in SC and NC. Be sure to come by and visit my shop as well as all the other talented artists and crafters that will be selling their wares. The holiday season is the perfect time to buy a handmade gift and let your family and friends know how much they mean to you!

Friday, November 19, 6-9pm
Concord Art Walk
Downtown Concord, NC

Saturday, November 27, 8am-noon
All Local Farmers' Market
701 Whaley St., Columbia, SC

Monday, November 29, 4:30-8:30pm
Sustainable Midlands Holiday Craft Fair
701 Whaley St., Columbia, SC

Thursday, December 2, 7:30-9:30pm
Crown Town Handmade Make Out -
How to make pop up cards for the holidays
taught by yours truly
Patchwerk Playhaus

Saturday, December 3, 11am-5pm
Faithful Friends Animal Sanctuary Holiday Bazaar
Historic Salisbury Depot Station
Depot St - Downtown Salisbury, NC

Sunday, December 5, 1-5pm
Queen of Craft Art Show
Women Centered Art Co-op
711 Pressley Road, Charlotte, NC

Wednesday December 15 & Thursday, December 16, 6-10pm
Nodarioty's All Arts Market
Neighborhood Theater, 511 East 36th St, Charlotte, NC

Wonderful Finds at The Big Crafty in Asheville, NC - Summer 2010

This summer I took a day trip to Asheville, NC to attend The Big Crafty. Several friends and Crown Town Handmade members had booths and the list of artists in attendance was too good to resist taking a day trip.
Upon entering the Asheville Art Museum at Pack Place, I was immediately drawn to Lets Be Friend's booth. Each of her wonderful creations had a distinct personality and I couldnt resist taking my favorite home. Hank, the creature I adopted, is superbly made and I just knew that he would make the perfect addition to my home. As Let's Be Friend's motto states, "who says money cant buy friends?" letsbefriends.etsy.com














Whenever taking a day trip, I always feel guilty leaving my cat locked up while I go galavanting around. Catzilla Crafts helped ease my guilty conscious though when I saw her adorable cat toys stuffed with super strong organic catnip. I picked out this "kitty-o" for my kitty, Roarie, and gave it to him upon returning home. Roarie is a siamese snow tiger and loves fetching and had me throwing the toy for him for over an hour! The organic catnip in his kitty-o made him an instant fan and this toy is now one of his favorites. With such cute designs and wonderful craftsmanship, I highly recommend you do some shopping for your furry little friends at catzillacrafts.etsy.com.

Homemade Bacon Vodka?

While wine tasting one Saturday at The Gourmet Shop in Columbia, SC's 5 Points, I learned of a new bacon-infused vodka on the market. At first the thought of drinking this made me think of grease, gagging, and that jar full of congealed fat scrappings some people keep next to the stove, all of which are completely repulsive. However, after hearing more from Brian (Gourmet Shop's wine expert) and his recipe for using bacon-infused vodka in a bloody mary, I decided this was a drink I should try atleast once.
Sadly, Bakon Vodka, a Seattle-based company, does not yet distribute in the Carolinas. Happily, I have relatives that just happened to be traveling to Seattle in the next few weeks! While researching this liquor online for info to pass along to my now most favorite of relatives, I came across Brownie Points's blog on how to make homemade bacon vodka!
http://www.browniepointsblog.com/2008/01/20/homemade-bacon-vodka/


While I am still a little skeptical, the thought of drinking that mind-blowingly amazing bloody mary tempts me to give it a go. I am posting the recipe below for my fellow curious connoisseurs of food combo oddities. After all, you can always put it in a diffuser and spritz it on salads or maybe even behind your ears--that would definitely make for one interesting trip to the hardware store, football game, or other mostly male-populated location!

Bacon Vodka

makes up one pint

Fry up three strips of bacon.
Add cooked bacon to a clean pint sized mason jar. Trim the ends of the bacon if they are too tall to fit in the jar. Or you could go hog wild and just pile in a bunch of fried up bacon scraps. Optional: add crushed black peppercorns.
Fill the jar up with vodka. Cap and place in a dark cupboard for at least three weeks. That’s right- I didn’t refrigerate it.
At the end of the three week resting period, place the bacon vodka in the freezer to solidify the fats. Strain out the fats through a coffee filter to yield a clear filtered pale yellow bacon vodka.

Decant into decorative bottles and enjoy.

10 Great Dates

Check out this new list of 10 Great Dates in Charlotte from Charlotte Magazine.
The Winestore is especially one of my favorite local haunts!

http://www.charlottemagazine.com/Charlotte-Magazine/February-2010/10-Great-Dates/

This new journal is a must have!

I just saw this amazing journal on Rare Bird Finds today and have to have it. Get your ornery on without having to worry about getting caught by the coppers!

Here's the description from amazon:


A blank city wall with a fresh coat of paint—is there anything more appealing to doodlers, dreams, and graffiti artists? Walls Notebook invites you to indulge your inner vandal without the risk of jail time. Here are 160 pages of wall photographs for notes, sketches, drawings, and defacement, all packaged in a delightful lay-flat flexi-bind paperback.

New Spaghetti Scarves have arrived in my etsy shop!

All new Spaghetti Scarves have been added to my etsy shop. Keep checking back for even more colors coming soon.
New items include:
Spaghetti Scarf alla Tomato and Basil
Spaghetti Scarf alla Yellow and Green Bell Peppers and Wild Mushrooms
Spaghetti Scarf alla Eggplant and Heirloom Tomatoes




















































Check out these and other items at www.jessicasjacket.etsy.com !

My new favorite accessory

I just purchased this beautiful hair clip from my friend and fellow Crown Town Handmade crafter, Sarah Terry at Stitch Machine. I just love it to bits and it is the perfect size for me to wear for casual or more dressy occasions!

















Be sure to check out her shop at www.stitchmachine.etsy.com !