BAO-IOTW 01/05/09

Have you checked out the beautiful Items of the Week from the Bead Art Originals Team? Be sure to at our blog: http://beadartoriginals.blogspot.com. Be sure to click on all the artists on the team...talk about gorgeous art!

December Top Droppers

Thank you to my top droppers for December! May the new year brings us all happiness and prosperity...

Dropper # of drops Alteredevents 30 Entrecard SEO 30 My gypsygoods 30 Unique You 29 livelife365.com 27 Three Fates Design - Beaded Jewelry 27 Wonderful Pic Colection 27 New Orleans Food & Fun 26 Juliana's Lair 26 time2cre8 25

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays to one and all!
May you have happiness and prosperity now and in the New Year!

BAO - Items of the Week for 12/22

See these items "up close" at the Bead Art Originals Blog and see all the gorgeous Bead Art Original pieces by entering "BAO Team" in the Etsy search!

Thursday Thirteen #9 - COOKIES!

13 Favorite Cookies for Christmas...so, cookies are among my many diet downfalls! Give me warm, homemade cookies and a big glass of milk and I'm one happy camper!

1. Kissmas Cookies: This is an almond flavored dough with maraschino cherry pieces and rolled in nuts and then just before they are done baking, a chocolate kiss is placed in the middle! It's like an cherry almond cordial!

2. "Terminator" Cookies: This is a peanut butter cookie dough that is wrapped around a miniature Dove chocolate piece and then baked. When you bite into it, there is a chocolate center!

3. Almond Press Cookies: These are a family tradition. An almond flavored dough that is used in my grandmother's cookie press and squeezed out into Christmas tree or wreath shapes and decorated with sprinkles.

4. Snickerdoodles: A sugar cookie dough with cinnamon and sugar coating. Perfect with coffee or hot chocolate!

5. Peanut Blossoms: The normal peanut butter dough with a chocolate kiss placed in the middle just before they're done baking!

6. Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies: These cookies can also be frosted for an added jolt of sugar!

7. Nestle Toll House Pan Cookie: This is the traditional chocolate chip cookie recipe on the back of the Nestle bag, but you press all the dough into a jelly-roll pan, bake for 20-25 minutes then cut into 2" squares.

8. Bonbon Cookies: A sugar cookie dough that is formed into a ball that is wrapped around nuts, dates, dried cranberries or other fruit.

9. Peanut Butter/Chocolate Chip Cookies: Yes, I have a thing for chocolate and peanut butter and cookies work for me! You can also just put a Reese's Peanut butter cup in the middle of the Bonbon cookies and get a similar result!

10. Lemon-frosted Sugar Cookies: These work well for summer, too. Lemon is just a great flavor, even in the winter!

11. Spiced Vanilla Cookies: This isn't one I've tried yet, but it's in my Cooking Light cookbook and it looks really good with it's cinnamon and nutmeg spices!

12. Pecan Blondies: Technically not a cookie, but always a good Christmas treat!

13. Buckeyes: Also not a cookie, but since we make these peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate when we make our Christmas cookies, I thought I would add it in!

If anyone's interested in any of these recipes, just leave a comment and I'll email the recipe to you!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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New Piece!

This one is called "Decadence" because it has the beautiful shimmering gold and the rich chocolate brown. I thought it also looked like s'mores, which despite it's fireside and camping reputation is a really rich dessert!

And the Winner Is...

Queen of the Frozen Tundra necklace by Karin of Gypsy Eyes Jewelry! Congratulations to Karin and all the entries!

I've Been Featured!

Lydia of Being Particular has featured me on her blog! She picked a couple of her favorites and asked me several questions about my art and jewelry! Check it out! She was also gracious enough to mention the Etsy Beadweavers Challenge and voting! Thanks so much Lydia!