this sweet year

So, it was that time of the year again, the time when I let out my crafting and baking enthusiasm out and and attempt to make edible thank you gifts for publishing folk for doing all the things they do that make my books, well, books.

I thought with Chinese New Year as my new deadline, I'd have plenty of time. Unfortunately, it didn't really work out that way. It seems as Rain Dragon gets into toddlerhood she is even more time-consuming than as a baby. In a good way, of course, but it did make time for additional projects slim. In the end, both Sasquatch and his sister had to help out (okay, maybe they made everything and I helped out. sigh).

But, we made yummy things! Over Christmas, we received a fruit basket with an enormous  amount of oranges. Thanks to Martha Stewart, we made those oranges (as well as some lemons and grapefruit) into candied citrus peels:

I thought this was an appropriate gift for the Lunar New Year, as oranges are lucky in Chinese culture.

And just in case candied citrus peels weren't everyone's cup of tea, I we made some lucky red thumbprint cookies to send along:

I'm particularly proud of the packaging. My gingerbread baking was very useful for all the labels:

 as well as  my holiday card, too:

Hope it's sweet year for everyone!