easy fall dinners and a mishmash frock finds its true owner!

warm greetings, dearies!

looking for some easy and delicious dinner recipes to make this fall? check out these winners that are in regular rotation at the dearie cottage: pumpkin risotto, sweet potato curry, and an indian red pepper sauce. bon appetite!

sometimes, art takes an unconventional journey to arrive at its rightful destination. exactly two years ago, i sent out my november newsletter chronicling the unusual journey one of my frocks took in finding it's proper owner.

on halloween 2018 morning, i received this email:

"i recently found one of your works of art one lucky day at the portland goodwill bins. it appeared unworn, with your cards in the pocket. i am wearing it today and wanted to learn more about it. i have learned through this website, that you might be based in portland, would love to know more about your work and business..."

a second email arrived quickly thereafter:

"well i have learned more, it is a very, very special mishmash dress. do you think it might have ended up in the bins by mistake? i would love to know if it could be returned to the special lady it was made for."

my reply:

"thank you for reaching out to me!  yes, i made that dress for someone locally whom i followed on instagram. i didn't know her personally, but i made it and sent it to her letting her know how much i admired her drive and spirit in building her own business within the local beauty industry. i had a feeling, only after i sent it, that it probably wasn't her cup of tea in the style department. it's always a gamble when you send a frock to a stranger but i looked at it this way: i've done a random act of kindness and no matter the outcome, in the end, it's a win for all involved. hopefully, they know someone admires what they are doing and, if they choose not to keep my dress, i just have to hope it ends up in the hands of someone who does love it, appreciates it, and of course, wears it! funny, i had a test dress i gave to someone i did know well when i first started three years ago. her dress ended up at the goodwill, too. i only learned about it's fate because the person who bought it reached out to me to share how she'd found it and how much she loved it. i am convinced my dresses find their rightful owner in the end and that you were destined to have this dress! i'm also tickled that my mini-cards were left in the pocket by goodwill. brilliant! how serendipitous is that?! again, i'm so happy my dress has found you! thank you again for letting me know."

i'm thrilled to report that my newest dearie not only was the bees knees in her dress on halloween ("...i wore it with black leggings so i could lift the back skirt and reveal the message..."), but she also wore it to a popular local dio de los muertos celebration several days later. doesn't she just glow in the photo she sent me of her in her frock? that my dress is being worn and loved makes me very happy and content at the end of the day!

if you're not wanting to troll the goodwill bins waiting for a castoff original darling dearie frock to present itself, please visit my etsy annex here for a reprise refashioned frock or snap up one of my gateway, mash-up or super mash-up dresses from my website, here. no matter how you come by your darling dearie dress, it's guaranteed to be a one-of-a-kind, quality garment that will last you for years so you can love it to threads!

finally, wishing you and yours a happy thanksgiving. may the bounty of the season fill your heart and home!

until my next missive...

xoxo

darling