Pom Pom Ideas + Thinking About Thanksgiving!
Hello Colorful Friends:
I hope you all have had a great weekend. Maybe you have been working on holiday gifts or maybe you have been planning the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday. Late autumn is such a busy time of year for everyone and so I thank you for having the time to read this Sunday night letter.
Here at the farm we will be celebrating Thanksgiving with my extended family. We have hosted Thanksgiving every year since we have owned our farmhouse. It is the absolute perfect house for this most American of holidays. One year I made all the girls felted flower pins from my Zinnia and Sunflowers To Knit and Felt PDF Pattern. (Pattern available on my website here or on Ravelry here.) They were a hit. I'm starting to think about this year's tabletop decorations and need to pull something out of the air soon!
My friends and neighbors fine artist Alicia Hunsicker and ethnographic textile collector Deborah Garner and I had a planning session for the Open House/Open Farm weekend on December 5/6th. We aren't really sure what to expect since this is our first time doing anything like this. I know many of you live too far away to come but I've also heard from many of you who are planning on coming to Leyden. FYI - we are only 2 hours from Boston and 1 1/4 hours north of Hartford - just off of Rt. 91. Open House/Open Farm
December 5 -- 10 to 4 p.m.
December 6 -- 11 to 3 p.m.
If you are driving in from perhaps Boston or out of town, know that we will have our farm raised lamb for holiday meals or for everyday. Bring a cooler with you as all the lamb is frozen and can travel easily.
This week I have been busy working on pottery for the upcoming Open House. I have lots more to make and as things get done, I will be sure to share them on the blog, Instagram and FB. My plan for my pottery is to list all the things that don't sell at the Open House in my Etsy site after the Open House weekend. That way there will still be time for me to ship them out in time for the holidays.
There are still a few hours left in the latest Craftsy flash sale for on-line learning. Here is a link for you to use to receive a discount of up to 50% off on a new class you might want to take.
http://www.craftsy.com/ext/KristinNicholas_holiday
I was so excited to see that Craftsy launched a brand new class on Stumpwork Raised Embroidery this week by teacher Celeste Chalasani. It looks great and I am looking forward to learning Stumpwork from Celeste.
And because it wouldn't be a newsletter without a good link or two....
• This pottery available on Etsy would be a fun gift for a knitting friend.
• If you are interested in making The Pom Pom Toran shown in my header above from my book Crafting a Colorful Home, it calls for bells. I found these on Amazon. They are from India and similar to those photographed above.
• Pom poms and tassels are all the rage. Here is an on-line tutorial on making a pom pom/tassel for a totebag. Super cute and selling on-line for lots of $. Another great holiday gift idea.
• Polly Leonard, editor of Selvedge Magazine, writes an interesting piece about "Craft." Check it out here.
• I really wish I could see the new exhibit on Indian Textiles at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Read a little about it here.
With colorful best wishes for a creative week,
Kristin Nicholas
P.S. Below I've added photos of some of my knitting patterns you might want to work up as Christmas gifts. Don't forget about your 4 footed friends.
Does your 4 footed friend need a sweater for the upcoming winter? My "Dog in Sheep's Clothing" Pattern features a simple garter stitch sweater in 8 sizes. Available on my website here or on Ravelry here for $6.
As featured in Yankee Magazine, my Heart To Heart Mitten Pattern features two versions to knit. A simple one heart mitten (sized in 4 sizes from toddler to adult) and the more complicated multi-heart mittens shown on right. Order on my website here or on Ravelry here. $6.00 instant PDF download.
Christmas Stockings + Heart Mittens Featured in Yankee Magazine.
Kristin's Colorful Christmas Stockings features 5 different designs that use only one color per row. If you are a newish knitter and frightened of stranded colorwork, I highly suggest this design. ORDER PDF FOR $12 HERE. Or order on Ravelry here.
Kristin's Creative Christmas Stockings is a bit more traditional in design, it features stranded colorwork in many different motifs. There are even extra charts for you to use to design your own version. Each of the styles is given in 4 different sizes. ORDER PDF FOR $12 HERE. Or on Ravelry here.
On the Left is Julia wearing the Farmgirls Stocking Cap. (She was about 9!). That fun to knit in the round pattern is available for $6.00 on my website here. Or on Ravelry here. Instant PDF Download
On the right is our little friend Emme wearing my Easy Aran Pullover for Toddlers and Kids. The pattern is available for $6.00 on my website here. Or on Ravelry here. Instant PDF Download
One of my favorite designs for quick knitting projects for the whole family. I call it The Quarters Cap and the pattern is available for $5.00 on my website here. Or on Ravelry here.
Learn how I make colorful pom poms. Use up your odds and ends and make beautiful garlands for holiday decorations and gifting.
Watch my newest DIY video produced by Houzz.com. In 3 minutes, learn how I printed the stairwell in our antique home.
Here is the link to watch it now.
This is the first video of our farm and farmhouse produced by Houzz.com. In it, you will see our sheep, our dogs - including Winston, chickens, family, and colorful home.