Planet Nice Crafts

Looking back at the blog’s archives, I discovered that a January post has occurred EVERY year since Planet Nice Crafts' inception in 2018 and now 2025 with the 8 th is no different. The holiday season is wrapping up with Lunar New Year in a couple weeks and of course Valentine’s Day next month. We have had a wonderfully cold winter here in the Chicago area. I am completely serious, I much more prefer 20 degrees than 45 but I do have limits, single and negative digits are pushing it. It just feels right to be a little chilly and hopefully with experience and wisdom, I know how to handle it better and better. The sunlight has been spectacular and even now, the longer days are noticeable. On the other end of the emotional spectrum, the pictures of the wildfires in the Los Angeles area give a feeling of horror – thinking a lot about the people who have been affected. In January posts of the past, baking is a major topic and is no different in 2025. There were six fruitcakes, three t...

Hello Friends! How are you? Can you believe it is December – where did 2024 go? I finally had enough material and emotional bandwidth to put together a post. There have been several miracles and changes this year and one of them is finishing the medallion and posting on Odyssey@Etsy . Here is the finished piece: Final Medallion Wall Art It was finished in July and required help for the mounting and faux frame. I posted it on Etsy and even entered the Etsy Design Awards but alas we did not receive notice. We did exceed the goal of completion in October. Soon after it was finished, travel was amped up with two weeks overseas in August and three trips in November. Overall, travel was smooth and weather was kind providing nonturbulent skies and dry roads. Today, I just posted on Odyssey@Etsy and @planetnicecrafts on Instagram some photos from a pit stop in Columbus Indiana just south of Indianapolis. A pretty awesome town with a mixture of architecture. I have not posted the photos here ...

Hello Everyone! I hope 2021 has treated you well thus far – even with the remaining challenges. It has been pretty good here at Planet Nice Crafts. The weather has been mild up to about a week ago and then normal, wintry weather kicked in but still very nice. As much time as possible has been devoted to crafts and experimental baking. Baking and cooking are somewhat unique because they provide adventure and immediate benefit, something to eat. So if there was a choice between baking or cooking and crafting when the fridge and freezer are quite bare, you can guess which one wins. Food brings community across the animal kingdom. With the addition of safflower seed to the birdbath, winter visitors have been numerous and all are welcome. The cardinals have been daily visitors. They provide entertainment and are not demanding so I would put them in the preferred category. I think it is interesting to watch the interaction between the females and males. I have never seen them eat at the ...