Happy Spring from Kristin Nicholas Designs

Hello Colorful Friends!

I sat down to write this email three Fridays ago but the e-mail program would not cooperate. I'm not sure why I never finished it but I guess a lot has happened in those three weeks -- but you know that. I hope you are adjusting to the new social distancing norm. I hope you are finding ways to spend your days if you have lost a job. If you are still working but from home, good for you. I've been WFH for over 20 years and I know the challenges. So far, my family and I are healthy. I hope you and yours are too. We are keeping up with our chores and projects. The rhythm of life on a farm is helpful. The sheep and chickens, dogs and cats all need to be fed every day.

We had a gorgeous Spring Snow two Mondays ago. It snowed all day and looked so pretty. By Thursday it was all gone. The early daffodils are blooming now. The grass is beginning to green up. These are things I look forward to every spring.

Today I sat down and ordered my sunflowers for this summer's garden. I heard on Margaret Roach's podcast that seed companies were experiencing an increase in orders and didn't want to do what I usually do - order too late. I get my sunflower seeds from SunflowerSelections. They have a minimum of $15 order and packs are 100 seeds/variety. They also have introduced some mixed packs if you have a small space. I'm looking forward to this in a few months.

Lambs are still coming. The yearling ewes are lambing now. As with people, some are better mamas than others. Here are some of the older lambs climbing on the manure pile. There is a video just past my signature of the Lamb Races this week. Lamb Races happen almost every late afternoon in flocks all over the world. It's not often I can catch them on video but I got lucky the other night.

Here is another video of the sheep and lambs in the barns that you can watch on Instagram.



I've finished knitting The Farm from my Ethnic Gift Collection Pattern. Here's my Farmer, Cow, Sheep, and Pig and the Farmwoman. If you are looking for something kooky to knit - this may be your project. Info below for how to purchase. Here is a short video with project close-ups that I took in the barns.



I've heard from a few knitters who have finished projects from the World Knits Collection. Here's a Moroccan Fedora that Paul knit his granddaughter. What a cutie. Thanks for the photo Paul. Good job.



Here is a Moroccan Fedora that Judy knit for herself. She had her dog Sadie model it! Thanks for the photo Judy.



Our latest litter of kittens flew the coop. You can read about that here on my blog. Here's a photo of one of the happy families with their kittens and Julia and our cats Daisy and Charlotte. Cats, kittens, dogs and animals are a perfect distraction to the news these days, aren't they?



In art and making news, I've been gearing up my pottery studio again. Last week I started painting pieces that have been sitting around for a while. I purchased 750 pounds of clay which should keep me going for a while. Here is a photo of some of my in process pots.

Here are some good links I have discovered.
• You can't go wrong with a chocolate chip cookie recipe from David Lebovitz HERE. I made them using 4 ounces of butter and they were a cross between a cookie and granola bar.
• Who knew bread could be this beautiful?
• Artist Wolf Kahn passed away recently. His work with color is so inspirational. To see his gorgeous oil paintings, click on each image and the next one will pop up.
• A dog named Pluto gives fun advice. If you haven't already watched, do. He will make you smile.
• A Best Picks interview with Kaffe from the Financial Times here. Worth a look for the bathroom tiles alone.
• I have followed Trend Forecaster Li Edelkoort for decades. Here is her take on the Covid-19 afterlife.
• This article about contemporary Kashmir shawls. The photos are beautiful.
• This podcast with Margaret Roach about the power of seeds and sunflowers.
• This article about artist Lucy Auge and where she lives and works in the British countryside.

Stay safe everyone. Keep your family close. I am thinking of you all.
Yours in color and creativity,

Kristin Nicholas

Lamb Races every evening at Leyden Glen Farm. You can watch a video with better quality and sound on Instagram here.

Ethnic Gift Collection Blog Post HERE
Purchase from my website here
or on Ravelry here

Moroccan Fedoras blog post here
Order from my website here
or from Ravelry here

Inspired Interiors Blog Post Here
Purchase from my website here
or on Ravelry here

Wild Wooly Headgear blog post here
Purchase on my website here
or on Ravelry here

Brilliant Bags blog post here
Order on my website here
or on Ravelry here

Warm Wooly Wraps blog post here
Order on my website here
or on Ravelry here

Vivaciously Vibrant Vests
Order on my website here
or on Ravelry here

Whimsical Tea Cozies
Order on my website here
or on Ravelry here

Magnificent Mittens Blog Post here

Purchase from my website here
or from Ravelry here

Magical Mocassins blog post here
Order on my website here
or on Ravely here

Marvelous Mukluks blog post here
Purchase on my website here
or on Ravelry here

Outlandishly Happy Gloves blog post
Purchase from my website here
or from Ravelry here

Ferociously Funny Socks blog post
Purchase from my website here
or on Ravelry here

Peruvian Ch'ulla blog post
Order from my website here
or from Ravelry here

Andean Inspired Dolls blog post here
Order on my website here
or on Ravelry 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.