I didn't get great pictures in my paper-making class because my hands were basically wet all week, but here are some pictures of the process including the machine that beats the fiber into pulp, a classmate pulling a sheet of paper, the studio, and six sheets of paper drying.

Someone is excited for bahn mi!

I never make it into the Folk School history center when I am teaching, but as a student I was able to check it out and it's lovely!

I am happy to see the hellebore again!

They're free on Chrome, but at the Folk School, they're cross-stitched!

Some of my favorite comp titles for The Magic Seeker—if these romantasies made you smile, download an ARC of my upcoming book at BookSirens: booksirens.com/book/E6AI9KI...

We had a slow day snowed in here at the Folk School. I spotted a yellow-bellied sapsucker on my walk to breakfast. (Apparently I stopped for too many photos because I arrived too late and missed the food/coffee.)

My project is done!

Stained glass truck is coming along!

Don't tell Darcy but I am making him a stained glass T100

What I now know about stained glass: you score and break your pieces of glass, wrap the edges in foil, and solder them together. First piece is done!

Until last night, I legit thought this was how stained glass was made 😂😂 I now know you start with glass, cut it into shapes, and solder it together.

Always excited to have an excuse to buy multiple pastries!

If you need a cozy fantasy to curl up with this January, BookSirens has a bundle of free ARCs (including mine!): booksirens.com/bundle/cozy-...

The Magic Seeker releases on March 17! ARCs are available at BookSirens: booksirens.com/book/E6AI9KI...

It's been a while, but the Graham Cinema is still going strong and they still have balcony seating. And $4 tickets. (Tim Bob's Joke Line, unfortunately, is no more.)

Today's #fridayfling for *fortune* from my upcoming novel, The Magic Seeker...

Some of my favorite comp titles for The Magic Seeker—if these romantasies made you smile, download an ARC of my upcoming book at BookSirens: booksirens.com/book/E6AI9KI...

My newest ARCs are available at BookSirens: booksirens.com/book/E6AI9KI... – in The Magic Seeker, Snowdrop struggles to learn to use her fairy magic as an adult while on a journey with an annoyingly flirty human #romantasy #cozyfantasy

My newest ARCs are available at BookSirens: booksirens.com/book/E6AI9KI... – in The Magic Seeker, Snowdrop struggles to learn to use her fairy magic as an adult while on a journey with an annoyingly flirty human #romantasy #cozyfantasy

Balmy day for taking down my lights. I'm glad I caught them on one last time before the timer shut them off.

I felt (somewhat?) hopeful after reading this post about writers and AI, from one of my favorite podcasters: realravigupta.substack.com/p/the-windsh... (I especially like the Ira Glass quote)

After Darcy's New Year's Day pileated woodpecker sighting, I kept hoping for my own unusual bird. And I just saw what I think was a leucistic female cardinal. White upper body / head, gray spots on the back, and gray wings/tail. (I didn't wanna scare it by trying to get a better picture.)

Darcy scored at the thrift store...

Frosty leaves on today's early morning #stetwalk

My December writing tally. I had a lot of days with only 15 minutes, but I was able to keep progressing and I finished the first draft on Dec. 30! Now regrouping with plans for 2026.

Happy 2026 everyone! Darcy has kicked off the year with a pileated woodpecker sighting at his job site. That seems like a good omen. Meanwhile my feeder is completely still so far...

I'm at a sports ball thing. I will be attempting to pay attention and have not brought a book. Only 1.5 hours till tee off. Kick off? Starting buzzer? Woman in heels dropping a flag?

The Carrboro PTA (formerly) thrift store got a large donation of stamps. If you don't mind doing some math when you mail a letter, they are a deal at a dollar a sheet! But also just fun to look through.

***Other guests*** have talked about how much they loved this episode. it's really, really good.

My fantasy world apparently has very few sofas... but somehow the word appears 4 times in this paragraph (from my upcoming cozy romantasy The Magic Seeker, out in March) #fridayfling

The @smartbitches.bsky.social list of most-listened-to podcast episodes of 2025 is out, and my interview is on it! 🤯 The complete list is here: smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/12/smar...

I got better photos of the "Gentlebread's Club" entry in the Hillsborough gingerbread contest. I still can't believe someone created this! Note the bikini-clad gingerbread people pole dancing on candy canes and drinking gummy beer 😂

Someone made a gingerbread strip club in the Hillsborough holiday gingerbread contest 😂😂😂

I have a sparkly new cover to share that's bringing me joy in the winter darkness! The Magic Seeker is a #cozyfantasy and #romantasy that's coming in March 2026. Description on my website here: janebuehler.com/books/#Magic...

I am running late this morning... but at least I am running

I have a sparkly new cover to share that's bringing me joy in the winter darkness! The Magic Seeker is a #cozyfantasy and #romantasy that's coming in March 2026. Description on my website here: janebuehler.com/books/#Magic...

My #fridayfling for "guest" from my WIP, a cozy romantasy between a human bread baker with imposter syndrome and the fairy cheesemaker who just moved in across the village square...

Adding a sprinkle of dill is a too easy way to make salad look fancy

My colleague Joy has a "Tell us about your romance novel" post on her Substack, here, if anyone would like to add one: joyeheld.substack.com/p/tell-us-ab...

Coco is also very helpful with journaling #caturday

Coco analyzes my weekend plans #caturday

Where did this week go?! A reminder that I'm participating in a FREE online event tomorrow with @swsworlds.bsky.social —fun author readings and digital swag bags. All the details are here, w/registration link at the bottom: strongwomenstrangeworlds.weebly.com/party-2025.h...

It was Coco's turn to write the holiday letter. I tried to get him to pose beside it and this is what I ended up with.

This event is going to be so much fun! I am reading in the 1 o'clock hour.

My favorite entry in the Hillsborough Holiday Parade: @whuppassthehat.bsky.social community radio station

Somehow the local hardware store in Chapel Hill (Timberlyne) has more selection than Home Depot. Yesterday I got a long socket-cap bolt to replace a broken shelf bracket, and recently I found half inch, #2 screws I needed to hang some homemade bathroom hooks.

#fridayfling from The Magic Seeker: She did it and the two horses started *forward*. They started forward! She was driving a team of horses! They clopped across the square heading toward the bakery. Straight toward the big window display of loaves of bread. Oh no. Where was the road?

Favorite reads and 2026 wishes... and one of the guests is me!

I stupidly wore a sweater to do fall gardening. Will now spend the next hour picking hitchhikers out...