Happy Spring from Kristin Nicholas Designs
Hello Colorful Friends!
How are you doing? I hope you and yours are healthy and safe and perhaps finding some good in this uncertain time and break from your normal whirlwind life. Here at the farm, our lives have not changed too much --- The Farmer and I have home/farm-based occupations. We have been busy and are trying to navigate the changing times. The Amherst Farmer's Market where we vend every Saturday has not yet opened and we do not know when it will. We have had a huge increase in lamb buyers coming to our farm to purchase our farm-raised meat. I say huge because it was pretty much non-existent before.
It has been a chilly spring with snow last week and the pastures still slowly growing. We have moved many of the ewes and lambs out from the barns onto pasture. Here is a short video of that.
The reason behind this newsletter today is - beyond catching up - I'm happy to announce that I have finally added some new pottery to my on-line website. Check out all the new pots HERE tomorrow at NOON EST. I will send you a second newsletter to remind you when the shop is LIVE tomorrow at NOON.
About a month ago, I started a new #100DayChallenge on Instagram. This one is #100DaysOfPottery. You can follow HERE.
It's been a while since I have written. The Pandemic has taken up our lives and although we here at the farm are healthy, it has touched us and our friends and family members in many different ways. I'm sure you too have been affected. Let's hope we all get through this and come out the other side healthy and changed for the better.
Here is an abundance of Fun Links in all different categories for you to poke through.
* Over on The Bible of British Taste, Ruth has been hosting Guest Posts from homeowners writing about their very own houses. Lovely photos and stories. There are several now.
* Chinese take-out not available? Try this Chicken Lo-Mein recipe. I did. As good as a restaurant and no driving, no human contact.
• I saved some olive juice from a black olive jar and then used it to brine some chicken. It was delicious. Here's an easy recipe using the brine and making a tasty looking sandwich.
• Eight joyful television shows/series to stream now that you have more home time.
• It is ramp season here in western Massachusetts. Ramp pizza anyone? Want to forage to harvest your own? Read this.
• I recently discovered Cabana Magazine on Instagram. They have been doing IG Live interviews with interesting people like Earl Charles Spencer and Ina Garten. Follow them here. The first five issues of their magazine are compiled in this amazing book.
• I've dabbled in block printing over the years. It is featured in my two most recent books and I frequently use it as a base for crewel embroidery designs. Here is a nice video on how to block print with potatoes. Beautiful.
• There is a new series coming to Netflix called The Big Flower Fight. Looks fun.
• Sad news. TNNA has shut down. TNNA was the needlework association that ran trade shows for the needlework industry. I attended their shows for over 20 years. Read about that here. So many changes in that industry.
• More sad news. Vogue Knitting and Knit Simple are no longer being published. The VK Live events will continue in some form.
• I love this creative use of pine cones.
That's it from here. Hope you all are healthy and safe and finding some good bits in the uncertainty of the times. Check out my website for new pottery tomorrow.
Yours in color and creativity,
Kristin Nicholas
Inspired Interiors 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
Ethnic Gift Collection 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
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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.