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As Fall settles in and the air gets chilly, one of the first things you want to do is curl up in comfort with a thick bowl of warm soup. You want to just sink into the swirling rich flavors of a hearty chicken broth, filled with chunks of chicken, ham and peppered with peas, carrots, and celery slices.

With a piping hot bowl of soup, you’ll find that you’re brave enough to take in the colder days and longer nights. They’re here to stay for a while, so go ahead, make yourself a big pot of chicken noodle soup. Nothing else will make you feel this good.

Outside Wildcard in PIttsburgh, PA

Oh those crazy Microcrafters. They make the smallest of crafts, but throw the biggest of parties. This week, there are Microcrafts celebrations going down in New York City and Pittsburgh.

The first celebration of tiny crafts takes place this Thursday, October 20th, at Wildcard in Pittsburgh, PA. Alicia Kachmar isn't the only Microcrafter from the Pittsburgh area. Local artists Nadia Marks Wojcik and Tamara Barker are also featured in the book, and will be attending the release party. The folks at Wildcard are also going to be showing off Alicia's first Quirk title, Witch Craft.

Over the course of the party (which also doubles as Wildcard's Second Anniversary bash), Tamara and Co. will be selling tickets for their Steeltown Etsy raffle to help Alicia with some recent medical bills.

The first 25 families to show up will score a goodie bag, so get there on time! For more information, visit Wildcard's official website, or scope out the Facebook event page for the party. 

Wildcard 2nd Anniversary Spectacular: In 3D
Thursday, October 20th, 2011

Wildcard
4209 Butler Street,  Pittsburgh PA 15201
(412) 224-2651
www.wildcardpgh.com

Inside Pins & Needles in NYC.

The second mini craft party goes down at Pins & Needles in New York City, this Saturday, October 22nd. Co-authors Alicia Kachmar and Katie Hatz will be in attendance, as well as contributor Sarah Goldschadt, helping folks with their crafts. You can look forward to making Sarah's fabulous owls and bows, as well as super cute bunting.

Everything kicks off at 3pm and runs til 5. Come hungry, because there will be some micro drinks and snacks! For more information on the party, visit Pins & Needles' official website.

Microcrafts Party @ Pins & Needles
Saturday, October 22nd, 2011

Pins & Needles
1045 Lexington Avenue 74th & 75th, 2nd Fl.
New York, NY 10021
www.pinsandneedlesnyc.com

Quirk Goes to New York Comic Con 2011 from Quirk Books on Vimeo.

So as always, New York Comic Con was an absolute blast.

We had a great time this year, meeting Quirk fans, marveling over the costumed cosplayers and trying to nab as much swag as we possibly could. Best sellers at the convention included Geek Wisdom, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Pride & Prejudice & Zombies, and… Crafting with Cat Hair. People just couldn’t believe it was for real. Crafting with Cat Hair flew off our table and come Sunday, we were sold out.

We also quickly ran out of our Taft 2012 pins. People are clearly eager to support the movement. DRAFT TAFT!

You can check out some of our favorite costumes in the video above, and in our Flickr gallery.

See you next year, con goers.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Inside the Brooklyn Kitchen

In New York City? Love cookies? While the answer to the first question might vary, the second question had better come back with a resounding YES. Because cookies are awesome, and so is Cookiepedia author Stacy Adimando.

To celebrate Stacy’s awesomeness and the release of her first cookbook, The Cookiepedia, the Brooklyn Kitchen is hosting a special cookie tasting demo on October 22nd. And if sampling delicious cookies wasn’t enough, the Brooklyn Brewery will be supplying beer for the afternoon. Beer and cookies? Best. Pairing. Ever.

The event is free, but you have to RSVP to attend. Guests will also have a chance to win a copy of the book. For more information, visit the Brooklyn Kitchen’s official website.

Cookie Tasting Demo @ the Brooklyn Kitchen
October 22nd, 2011: 2pm – 4pm, FREE

The Brooklyn Kitchen
100 Frost St, Brooklyn NY 11211
(718) 389-2982
www.thebrooklynkitchen.com

Happy Vodka Day! It is time to toast our Russian comrades for discovering a way to turn potatoes into booze. To celebrate this delightfully drunken occasion, here are two of our favorite recipes from Duane Swierczynski’s The Perfect Drink for Every Occasion.

And since this is October, I thought it appropriate that we pay a little homage to the dead. The Antichrist is a drink that will damn your soul, liver and memory.

The Antichrist:

½ oz. Everclear
½ oz. Bacardi Rum (light or gold)
½ oz. Absolute Peppar
3 dashes Tabasco sauce

Mix all liquors in a shot glass, then add the Tabasco on top.

“Specializing in sweets and snacks, Mei Park has been crafting customizable food jewelry since 2006.” So reads Mei Pak's bio in the back of Microcrafts, which features tutorials on how to make her famous mini cupcakes, tiny lollipops, and itty-bitty chocolates, each of which are made using multicolored polymer clay.

If you swing by her store, Tiny Hands Online, you can browse through a number of her bestselling charms, rings, earrings and necklaces, many of which actually smell like the food they are inspired by. That maple syrup drizzled waffle necklace, pumpkin pie ring, and donut charm bracelet actually smell just as good as they look.

So go check out her website. Not only can browse by the kind of jewelry, but you can browse by the flavor. IE: Chocolate, strawberry, vanilla… even low sugar. Sweet.

Tiny Hands Online
www.tinyhandsonline.com

PS: Oh, and scope out this fabulous video of Mei via RAW: Natural Born Artists. I've pasted it after the break.