Early Bird Rates Extended til May 31st.

Hello Colorful Friends!

It's lilac season here in western Massachusetts. They bloom for only a short time each year but are something I look forward to each year. We have two bushes at our farm - an ancient dark double variety and the good old standard pale lilac shown above.

I want to let you all know I have extended the EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION for the Creative Retreats at our Leyden Glen Farm until May 31st. Folks are signing up and I can't wait to meet everyone this summer and fall. Info here.

Here's the schedule:
• July 16-17 - Color, Fabric Printing + Lampshade Painting for Your Home - only 2 spaces available
• July 30-31 - Color, Fabric Printing + Embroidery
• September 24-25 - Color + Embroidery for Knitters + Crocheters

I provide morning snacks, lunch and beverages but dinner and lodging are on your own. Here's info for that:
"Where To Stay" "Where To Eat"

I have 2 students coming back for more! So fun to see old students again and meet new. You can read a testimonial on another former student's blog here. Come to the farm and experience my studio, colorful home, and art. You will leave inspired to build your creative life - I promise. There is also a ONE DAY OPTION for each of the Retreats. Read about it on my website here.

Here are some things that have been going on at the farm this week:
• Our sheep were featured in an article about long time 70 year old sheep shearer Kevin Ford in the Greenfield Recorder. You can read it here. I'm embedding a short video shot by Paul Franz at the bottom of this email.
• I went to the Brimfield Flea Market last week and took a alot of colorful photos. Check them out here. Pattern galore.
• Last year at this time, a film crew from California was here to make a short film about our colorful home and farm. I wrote a little bit about thinking back on it here. You can see the film below.

Here are some inspiring things I have found on the www this week.
• I so enjoy the blog by artist Barbara Chu called Pink Pagoda Studio. You can sign up for a daily email on her sidebar. Little snippets of beautiful art from around the world every day.
• The reclusive poet Emily Dickinson lived not far from us in Amherst. She was quite a gardener and they are now doing excavation at her Homestead and plan on re-building her greenhouses. Read about it here. It is an interesting place to visit. Find out more here.
• If I were doing a kitchen these days, I think I might do faucets similar to these. Rugged and beautiful in their basic, unfrilly look.
• I met a woman at Webs last week and she had on the coolest embroidered belt which she said came from Peru. I came home and found something similar on this Etsy shop.

My best for a colorful and creative weekend,

Kristin Nicholas

Sheep shearing at our farm this year. Video by Paul Franz of The Greenfield Recorder

A fun video of our farm, our farmhouse, and my family. A good preview for sure if you are thinking of coming to one of my Creative Retreats this July or September.