Thinking About Thanksgiving + Weekly Newsletter
Hello Colorful Friends:
This week, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving here at the farm with an old-fashioned meal like most Americans will. We are going totally traditional with turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, squash, green beans, and pie. We have found that when we try anything non-traditional, there is a revolt - especially from the kids! Each of my family members brings something to eat and I roast the two turkeys.
The highlight for me of our Thanksgiving Holiday is usually the day after. We call it Nicholas Girls Craft Friday. It is our solution to boycotting Black Friday. My Mom, sisters and the cousins gather around my sister Nancy's large dining room table and make something. Over the years, the crafts have changed. My all-time favorite was the Birch Houses. There is a tutorial on my blog for them here. It's a fun craft to do with kids and adults and the houses always turn out so sweet. We've also done needle felting, wreath making, garlands, and more. And we eat turkey sandwiches. I can't wait! It is a less stressful day and I will be done with my cooking chores. I love catching up with everyone and hearing what they are doing.
Maybe you too will have a Craft Friday at your home this year?
I'm a day late with my sometimes weekly newsletter. Did you realize I had a schedule? So why am I sending this on Monday? This weekend, I spent the better part of it painting the pottery I made earlier in week. Time gets away with me when I am doing creative work - as it probably does you. I couldn't stop my progress to sit at the computer.
Here are some of the Little Mitten Dishes I made and painted. It was a lot of fun morphing my favorite Fair Isle geometric patterns into loosely styled ceramic plates that folks might use for a spoon rest, jewelry, paper clips or tea bag. This photo is before firing them the first time. The second firing will make them shiny and even brighter in color.
For all of you who have been asking, I will be putting all my leftover pottery onto my Etsy shop AFTER the Open House Sale here at our farm. Info about OPEN HOUSE below.
This week I wrote a post on my blog questioning the current economy and where I fit into the picture. Would love to hear your thoughts if you have time to read and comment.
OPEN HOUSE INFORMATION:
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.
Here are the directions to our farm.
And because it wouldn't be a newsletter without a good link or two....
• Selvedge Magazine is one of my favorite publications. Although I sometimes don't get a chance to pick each issue up since I live far from a place I can buy it, I am enjoying their weekly newsletter. YOU TOO can get their FREE newsletter. Go to their HOMEPAGE and sign up on the bottom of the screen. Always something interesting and beautiful, I promise.
• British embroiderer Louise Gardiner has just made quite the piece of modern embroidery for an upcoming show. Neon thread never looked so good. She also did a big time advertising campaign for Kettle Chips. Check that out here and watch the video. Bravo Louise!
• Love this article on Ben Pentreath's newsletter about Molly Mahon - a block print textile designer from the UK. Her website is a rabbit hole of beauty.
• This photographer make flowers out of photos he takes of wings of butterflies. Exquisite.
• Shutterfly now lets you make things for your home. Check out what Victoria had made with her photos from her iPhone.
• DMC, maker of high quality embroidery threads for centuries has a new thing going on. They now sell kits by Indie artists. This cross-stitch calendar kit is sweet.
• For the entire month of November, the bloggers at Wovember have been putting up 2 to 3 posts a day all about wool. Lots of gorgeous photos and worth a look! Check it out here.
As we head into the holiday season, I want to thank you all for reading what I write, supporting my creative work, authoring, and designing and my family's farm. Your support over the years keeps me going. Little notes from you help my creativity continue. I cannot thank you all enough.
With love and colorful best wishes for a lovely Thanksgiving holiday, wherever you live,
Kristin Nicholas
P.S. If you are looking for fun holiday cards, check out my lambs in sweaters and Santa Lamb. They are available on my website here. There will (obviously) be no copyright on the card image.
P.P.S. Below I'm revisiting some of my knitting patterns you might want to work up as Christmas gifts.
Swirly Twirly Coasters
When I have visitors to our farm, we often sit down to a cup of tea or a glass of seltzer on the porch. You can't believe how many positive comments I get on these little Swirly Twirly Coasters. Knit out of feltable wool, they are a great stashbuster. And they really work - they catch sweaty drips from condensation and protect my table from hot mugs.
The Swirly Twirly Pattern also features many different sizes felted circles to be used for chair pads, pillows, trivets, and more. Check out the PDF Pattern on my website here or on Ravelry here.
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.
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!
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.