Creative Retreats at Our Farm + Good Links
Good Afternoon Friends!
I hope you are enjoying your day which is known as The Ides of March. Here at the farm we are between seasons. It's not winter anymore although it sure does still look like it. We still have lots of snow - I can't imagine how long it will take to melt. There are promises of spring though as the maple farmers have started collecting sap and sugarhouses are active again with steam escaping through their chimneys. I need to get to a few of them so I can show you all some photos.
On Friday I announced the upcoming Getting Stitched on the Farm Creative Retreats for 2015. If you didn't get a chance to look at the schedule yet, here is what I have planned:
May 2 - Fabric Printing with Optional Sunday Add-On Day May 3 SOLD-OUT! That was quick!
June 13 - Lampshade Painting with Optional Sunday Add-On Day June 14
August 8 - Creative Crewel Embroidery with Optional Sunday Add-On Day August 9
September 26 - Color for Knitters and Embroidery on Knitting with Optional Sunday Add-On Day September 27
I am also available for private retreats if you want to get together a group of your own and come to the farm. Cost is the same and I need a minimum of 4 students. Both one and two day retreats are available. Email me to arrange a phone call. I can teach any number of subjects - just ask. They include the subjects above along with any number of knitting techniques including Fair Isle and Steeking.
Can't get to the farm for a class? You can take my Crewel Embroidery Class on-line on the Craftsy Website. It is called Stitch It With Wool. Through Monday 3/16, Craftsy is having an "Up To 50% Off sale." Use this code to receive the discount: http://www.craftsy.com/ext/KristinNicholas_holiday
It's been a busy week here, getting my new classes organized and ready to announce. I must say I feel it is all such a crap-shoot - plucking days out the air and hoping some of you might be interested in what I decide to teach and if the dates are free in people's lives. Time will tell.
Here are some interesting things I found on the web this week.
•I love this clever chicken sculpture made of eggshells.
•I subscribe to a blog from Fair Isle in the UK. Tommy and his family transplanted themselves to Fair Isle from Saratoga, NY. His photos of nature, the sea, and birds always put a smile on my face. Check it out, including photos of the Northern Lights. Amazing.
•Here is a lovely story about love, caring, a house and a farm.
•My friend Laura shared with me the most beautiful village in Poland. I might say the world! Gives me some more ideas!
•This is a fantastic website that gives you a virtual tour of the Skokloster Castle and its art collection. Amazing. How do they do that?
Still sharing the Sneak Peeks from my new book Crafting a Colorful Home. Check them out below.
I am still taking orders and shipping copies of Crafting a Colorful Home. I have extended the FREE Shipping and am continuing to include the Kristin Illustrated Bookplate and the set of Kristin Postcards. Hop on over to my website to order here. If you don't do Paypal which I know many people still are not comfortable with, you can still order. Here's how:
Send a check for $27.95 written to Kristin Nicholas to PO Box 212, Bernardston, MA 01337 along with your address. I will send you the book.
Thank you for reading and supporting my work in craft and color. Have a great week and I hope to see some of you at our farm this year.
With best wishes,
Kristin Nicholas
A lot of my new book Crafting A Colorful Home revolves around projects involving paint. This sign that hangs on my Studio Door was made from a cabinet door I found in my neighbor Sid's "burn pile."
I love this photo of bright colors of paint in mini-pots. In Crafting A Colorful Home, I share what I have learned about paint - including paint for furniture, signs, fabrics, and more. There are so many different kinds of paint that it can be overwhelming. I am happy that I had a space to share what I have learned through trial and error in our farmhouse.
When we bought our farmhouse, this archway was not there. It was a feature in our old house which was built in Victorian times and the favorite thing about that house. I was able to build that feature into a small hallway. I share how you can do it too including the relief flowers that I made and attached to the wall in Crafting a Colorful Home.