Reflections on January and a Seasonal Mandala

January has been a very healing month for me! After months and months of bedrest after my health crisis and hospitalization in October, I am finally getting to the point where I can move around again, at least a little bit. My friends and family have stepped up to help me do what I love: create bits of wonder to share with all of you!

This month is all about deep winter magic. I love turning to the evergreens this time of year, both for inspiration and for flavor! A great way to introduce yourself to the wide variety of flavors the forest provides is to go tree tasting! Don’t forget to look at the wildlife either; they make the perfect inspiration for this delicious plant-based centerpiece savory pie.

Another one of my favorite themes this time of year are the bright white colors of winter’s ice and snow! After a day in the woods, this white truffle soup is a wonderful treat to warm up with. If you’ve been out ice fishing, maybe you’d be more interested in these snowy white crepes filled with smoked trout! Whatever you serve, definitely accompany it with this very special sugar crystal conifer tea - it looks just like a branch covered in sparkling ice crystals. If the Queen of Winter herself was coming, perhaps she’d bring a magical treat to share… like this incredible Turkish Delight Mousse Cake complete with an edible icicle crown!

That gorgeous cake was my response to feeling a bit underwhelmed by real Turkish Delight after picturing it to be the most amazing confection ever as it is presented in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. This cake fills that void in my childhood expectations perfectly. It’s not the first time I’ve baked something inspired by nostalgic treats, though. If you really want to dive into the fantasy, don’t miss this beautiful Sugarplum Tear and Share Bread! If you’d like to tap into a different form of ancient magic, these alchemical spruce and blueberry edible artworks should fit the bill ;)

With much of the landscape covered in snow, I start thinking about the marvelous world of minerals and how I can transform that inspiration into something unique and lovely… like quartz crystal soap or vegan cheesecakes that look like malachite.

I’ve also been working on other projects too, like the poppy seed-head inspired cups I’m currently working on, or the Messengers series that I’m about to load into their second firing. If you want to follow the progression of these creative projects, the best way to do so is to follow me on Facebook or Instagram. I’m also working on updating my Patreon rewards, including a seasonal collectable poster and access to secret recipes. My hope is to get to a point where I can start giving my artwork away for free!!

I am BURSTING with excitement to finally be able to create lots of great new recipes to share. Heading into February, you can expect a focus on roots and trees, bright pink colors, and plenty of beautiful new food creations to enjoy. Plus maybe some fun new surprises too. ;)

To all of my patrons: thank you SO much for making all of this possible! I wouldn’t be able to share all of these recipes, meaningful events, and other bits of wonder without your financial support. If you are currently a patron, head on over to your membership page to find a download-able image of the mandala above! If you’re new to my work, you might not know about my patreon. It’s an easy-to-use platform where you can pledge a set financial contribution every month to allow me to create my artwork. Even just $5 a month helps tremendously! You also get rewards from Secret Recipes to downloadable photos to collectable posters and other surprises! Head to Patreon.com/thewondersmith to learn more about what I’m up to. :)

Finally, if you’d like to get this design printed on everything from greeting cards to throw pillows, take a look at my Society6 Shop! This design looks so cute as some miniature artwork!

I hope you have had a wonderful January and are ready to dive into some February Magic with me!
Magic Always,
Miss Wondersmith

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