Wooden Spoon Giveaway! *Closed*

*Giveaway is now closed*

I have this thing for wooden spoons. I LOVE them. In fact, I've grown to somewhat despise the ugly black plastic kitchen utensils in my drawer; they seem to melt and attract stuck on food pieces each time I use them. There is just something about stirring a big pot of soup or a salted caramel sauce with a wooden spoon that feels really satisfying and homey.

Wooden spoons range from commercially produced to lovingly handmade. *Some* are downright works of art, and folks get ready to see these! While browsing etsy (my favorite place to shop) one day, I came across these fabulous wooden spoons in a shop called Tigerlily Studio and I immediately  asked Carrie if she wanted to do a feature here! 

 

I love to see wooden spoons appreciated not just for their functionality but their aesthetic value as well. These would look great in any kitchen and make a perfect gift for the "foodie" in your life.

*Feature*
1.) How on earth did you get started woodburning wooden spoons! What a GREAT idea!

My mother had seen some work done with a wood burning tool when she was in Russia, wooden spoons in particular, so she thought she would try it out for valentines day one year. That was about 10 years ago. I recieved a large woodburned spoon from her that year with my name, the year and a big heart on it. I still use it constantly- it looks pretty for serving and is also functional for stirring pots of chili, chop suey or stew. Whenever I have used it over the years, I think about what a great gift it was! It's personal, functional, and decorative all in one!

Every year I make handmade gifts for my family members for Christmas; it not only saves money to give handmade gifts, but I think the gifts are so much more personal and special. This year as I was making a list of possibilities I spotted my mother's spoon...a few weeks later, I had not only made gifts for family and friends, but also added them to my Etsy shop for sale.

2.) Do you do custom designs? I'm thinking His & Hers spoons if I can ever get my sweetie to pop the question!

I would be happy to do custom designs. I have many ideas, several pages in my sketchbook in fact, for themed spoons. One of those ideas is a custom wedding spoon or salad set. I plan to offer several different designs to choose from along with the bride and grooms names and wedding date. I would also like to make spoons for anniversaries and other special occasions.

Another theme I plan to expand on is the Twilight series. I currently sell a Foods Of Twilight spoon with many of the food related quotes from the movie such as "Let's not play with our food", "I'm on a 'special diet' ", and "what do we eat?". I would love to do some of my favorite romantic quotes from the book and movie as well as create sets including the other three books from the series. Now I just need to figure out how to get more hours in a day, lol!

3.) Tell us a little about yourself and your Etsy shops

I live in Central NH with my wonderful husband of 11 years (we've been together for nearly 20 years now) and our two amazing children. My daughter is 8 on Valentine's Day, and my son is 5. We homeschool and stay very busy between working at home and going to various outside activities including Audobon classes, gymnastics, and music.

I love to read (maybe a little to much), treasure hunt at local thrift shops and estate sales, and enjoy all kinds of fun activities with my kids such as letterboxing around NH, baking, crafts such as valentine making, and our great weekly theme days with another homeschooling family- we learn about a different topic each week such as castles, colors, nutrition, or math games.

I have a BFA degree in fine art and photography from Montserrat College Of Art in Beverly, MA. Though I am very busy with the kids, the house, and my vintage shop on Etsy, I do try to fit in days of creating whether by myself or with my kids to keep me sane and happy!

I have 3 shops on Etsy, two of which are collaborations with my mother Annie of Petticoat Annie Designs. Tigerlily Studio ( http://tigerlilystudio.etsy.com ) includes our creations such as fun themed pillowcases, cards and tags, and woodburned spoons. Tigerlily Studio is where I can play, I never want to lose that inner child!

Violets And Grace ( http://violetsandgrace.etsy.com ) is also a joint endeavor with my mother. With Annie in San Diego, and me in NH, it allows us to stay in touch daily and also to keep up our love of treasure hunting and collecting while making a fairly nice part-time income. We love to Skype each other to share our latest finds!

I also have a third shop, Paper Lantern Patterns ( http://paperlanternpatterns.etsy.com ) in which I sell vintage sewing patterns.

4.) What is your all time favorite recipe?

Hmm, that's tough! I grew up baking with my grandmother and inherited her recipe box which is one of my most prized possesions.

In February of 2008, I was thrilled to find one of my recipes, Maple Oatmeal With Dried Fruit, featured in Simple & Delicious magazine (and then in the 2009 Taste Of Home Quick Cooking Annual Recipes cookbook). They still have the recipe on their website, here is the link: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Maple-Oatmeal-with-Dried-Fruit

I LOVE corn chowder. I don't follow a recipe when I make it, but here are the basics, you can adjust the ingredients to your own taste if you like.

2 15 ounce cans or 1 larger container of chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian soup)
1 small to medium onion finely diced
2 pieces of raw bacon (optional)
2 cloves of garlic pressed or diced finely
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 medium potatoes diced
2 15 ounce cans corn or 1 bag frozen corn
2 15 ounce cans cream of corn
1 pint light cream
2 cups (or more) milk

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium to medium high heat. Add onion, garlic, and bacon and saute stirring frequently. When onions are translucent. Add in chicken or vegetable broth, potatoes, and corn. At this point I usually add a cup or two of water as well. Simmer on medium low for 30 minutes or so until potatoes are soft. Stir in milk and cream, heat and serve.

*Carrie's Blog: http://www.tigerlilystudio.blogspot.com/

  *Giveaway*
Carrie is giving away a beautiful wooden spoon of your choice from her shop (up to a $16 value) to one of you lucky people! To enter (and please make sure to put your email in each comment):
1.) Become a follower of this blog and leave a comment letting me know you did; this one is *Mandatory* and must be done for all others to count! One entry
2.) Go to Tigerlily Studio or Violets and Grace, find your favorite item and come back and tell me about it! One entry
3.) Tweet about this giveaway and leave the link here! One entry
4.) Blog about this giveaway and leave the link here! Two entries (leave two comments please)
5.) Follow me on Facebook and let me know! One entry

Winner will be randomly chosen on February 22nd, good luck!