Happy Thanksgiving from the NCTriangle Team!

It's Thanksgiving Day again. The time of year where we eat too much of foods we wouldn't eat in any other circumstance. I am preparing an Etsy style menu for you, in the tradition of that great Thanksgiving party planner....Snoopy

Pull up a lawn chair to the ping pong table and tie on a napkin. Here's your menu:

Popcorn
I love the popcorn scene. This year my 6 year old watched it and seemed thoroughly confused that Snoopy wasn't using a microwave to pop the corn. snicker snicker
I know this isn't popcorn, but it looks so much like popcorn. I couldn't resist it.

Yellow Jade Chips Bracelet from JemmDeesCreations

Jellybeans

What would a kid give to trade the Green Bean Casserole or the 3 Bean salad for a handful of jellybeans? Doesn't the pattern remind you of a bowl full of jelly beans? Cute Bright Circle Dots Boutique Style Flannel Bib from The Brooks Boutique

Pretzels

You can keep your Corn Bread Dressing. I want a pile of pretzels tangled together on my plate. (a squirt of mustard wouldn't hurt either). This cute pretzel looks delicious. Felt Pretzel from Missiezze

Toast

Charlie Brown tells Linus that all he can make is toast. Snoopy and Woodstock get busy toasting dozens of slices of bread. Woodstock is so focused on the task that he mistakenly toasts Snoopy's ear and then spreads it with butter. Before it is toast, it is fresh baked bread. Fresh Baked Bread Toast from Karen's Soap

Ice Cream Sundae

Look carefully and you will see a sundae glass filled with something pink and what looks like whipped cream, topped with a cherry of course. I think it's an ice cream sundae. My little guy thinks it's a yogurt and fruit parfait. What kind of child do I have?

Ice Cream Coozie from Threadbare Memories by mclifter

Whatever your meal you eat, I hope it includes family, great food, traditions, and gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving!

Local Featured Seller: Missie Zee

Who are you?
Melissa and my Etsy shop is Missie Zee.

Where are you located?
Raleigh, NC

What do you create?
I mostly make crocheted and felt treats for children's play tea parties. I also make crocheted accessories, plush toys, and other fun items.

What is your favorite place to visit in the "triangle"?
I love Jordon Lake. I am fortunate that I get to drive by Jordan Lake every day on my way to work. I especially love it in the fall when the leaves are changing colors.

When did you start creating?
I've been crafting ever since I was a little girl. What started out as playtime with Shrinky Dinks, Fashion Plates, and Lite-Brite has led to my own Etsy business full of hand sewn felt sweets, crocheted scarves, and fun plush toys.

I started crocheting a little over three years ago. My first crocheted projects were really terrible, but after a lot of practice I finally started to get better. I am now making my own patterns and really enjoying myself.

I've been making felt food now for about two years. Felt food is my absolute favorite item to make. I really enjoy coming up with new patterns and trying to make my felt goodies look as real as possible.

Why did you choose your medium?
I like to work with felt because it is really easy to sew and it is really cheap to buy. In the past, I've used the craft store felt, but recently I've been buying the Eco-Fi felt. It is a little more expensive, but is approved for the new regulations from the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). If I want to keep selling my felt items, this is the felt I have to use. I've also been dabbling with some wool felt. It's a lot of fun to see how each type of felt works with my various items.

What inspires you?
Tea parties, Alice in Wonderland, children's stories, pop culture, pastel colors, desserts & sweets, Halloween, poetry, shabby chic, and feminine fabrics.

What is your most cherished handmade item?
Wow, I think my favorite item that I have made, thus far, is my Mome Rath. It is not available in my Etsy shop since it was fashioned after Disney's Alice in Wonderland, but I'm proud of it because it was my very first pattern that I designed. Plus, I think he's cute! I have a link to the free pattern on my blog.

What do you do when you are not creating?
I love to listen to music, especially the '80s! I watch a little TV, NCIS and Bones are two of my favorites. Lately, I've been working on a few DIY projects, which are coming along at a very slow pace. I also blog a lot on my craft blog, Crafting with Cat Hair. Everything I do is alongside my two little girls, Drusilla and Daphne, my cats.