Happy Spring from Kristin Nicholas Designs
Hello Colorful Friends!
It has been a good long time since I have written you. Lots has happened here at our farm. The sheep moved out to pasture in early May. Here is a photo of some of them that hang out next to the sheep corral just behind my pottery studio.
I have been vending at the Amherst Farmers Market since its opening in April. I really enjoy seeing customers and meeting new folks. It is a busy market right on the Amherst Common and close to Amherst College. In addition to our farm-raised lamb, I have been bringing my textile designs and handmade pottery vases. I figure if I have to stand there, I might as well cover all the bases with my art as well as our lamb.
My husband Mark (aka The Farmer) had his second hip replaced in June. He has done remarkably well this time around. He still has a bit of an "old man limp" as he calls it but is able to walk a few miles, drive his tractor and get back to what he loves - his sheep and farm. Julia and I are so happy to see him feeling better and out of pain. Hip replacement surgery is truly a miracle. He has started doing the Amherst Farmers Market again so now we are a team of two. It works good because we each can take a break if we need one.
Here are a couple photos of our stand where we sell our farm-raised lamb, my tea towels and pottery.
I have been accepted to have a booth at The North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival in Orange, MA on September 28 + 29. This festival is in its 21st year and from what I hear - it is a whole lot of fun for everyone. Art, farm-raised food, music and all kinds of family friendly activities bring people from all over to visit. I will be selling my tea towels, books and ceramics. Check out more about The North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival here.
I have been very busy making lots of new ceramics to have at the Garlic and Arts Festival. My little pottery shed is a hive of activity with mud flying, vases growing, mug handles being applied and more. Outside my studio window, the sheep nap and graze. I call it sheep tv. When the sun starts setting, off they go into the orchards to munch on grass all night long.
Just last week, I started a 100 Day Project. Mine is called 100 Days of Vases. I have thought about joining in on one of these internet based projects but the timing has never been quite right for me. This August 1st - which would have been my Dad's 91st birthday, I decided to go for it. If Daddy were around, he would follow along and watch what I was making and cheer me on. He always loved my art and making - as my Mom does. So far so good - I haven't missed a day but I am only just beginning.
You can follow my 100 Days of Vases project on Instagram here or on my Kristin Nicholas Designs Facebook page here.
The idea behind these 100 Day Projects is that you experience some personal growth and develop a habit during the the project that you undertake. I do not know where my 100 Days of Vases Project will lead but I do know that I love a deadline. I am really trying to increase my ceramic production so hopefully the 100 Days of Vases will keep me focused and I will learn something new along the way. You can learn more about starting your own personal 100 Day Project here. Follow my 100 Days of Vases project here. Here is one of my early posts showing some vases with underglaze designs before firing.
For all of you who live far from western Massachusetts, I will be selling my ceramics on-line this fall. Right now I am concentrating on production but don't worry - they will be available if you are interested.
If you are looking for a quick knitting project for the end of summer, check out my Swirly Twirly PDF download. I use Swirly Twirly Coasters every morning under my coffee cup. Available on Ravelry here or on my website here.
Maybe you have a new little person in your life that will be needing a Christmas Stocking. Yes, it is time to start thinking about that! Here is my favorite very versatile Christmas stocking pattern available on Ravelry here or on my website here.
Here are some good links I have been saving up for you all.
• Did you know that it is a new trend to wear old clothes? I guess we at our farm have been ahead of the times.
• My garden is overflowing with zucchini. I am going to try this recipe.
• Min Hogg, the founding editor of my favorite magazine The World of Interiors, passed away. Here is her interesting obituary.
• Nice article about quilting superstar Nancy Crow here.
• My book The Amazing Stitching Handbook for Kids was glowingly reviewed here on the Needle 'n Thread website. Thanks Mary. I have signed copies here in my shop.
* Check out what this 97 year old man did to save his village. Clue - it involves paint.
Podcasts to listen to:
• Julia Cameron (author of The Artist's Way - a book on creativity that has sold several million copies and been translated into many languages) on The Good Life Project here.
• On my way to the Farmers Market I listen to a show called Living on Earth. I enjoyed this episode which featured 3 segments on Monarch Butterflies. My garden is aflight with so many monarchs and other butterflies this year - but I admit to not remembering much of my butterfly biology. This episode made me look for more info which I found here.
• An interview with the founders of All Birds shoes - the shoe that has a merino wool upper! On How I Built This here.
I hope your summer is going well and you have done some of the things you planned to do. Only a little left and life gets back to "normal". Gotta fit it in!
Yours in color and creativity,
Kristin Nicholas
p.s. Visit my Instagram here. Or see me once in a while on Facebook here.
Here is a video of my Talk at Google. I went to Cambridge, Massachusetts and spoke at their offices there in late June.
A fun video of our farm, our farmhouse, and my family. Our farm is located 2 hours from Boston and 3 1/2 hours from NYC. We are at the northern most part of western Massachusetts bordering Vermont. Our farm is 15 minutes off of Route 91, the north/south highway connecting Montreal to NYC.