Fabulous Zinnias
Hello Colorful Friends!
Autumn is officially here. Although the days are still extremely warm, the light is changing and turning everything that golden hue that I so love in the fall. Here is western Massachusetts it seems like there are at least 5 weekend events that sound fun to go to. I guess everyone is thinking about the encroaching winter and not being able to spend as much time outdoors.
My zinnias are putting on quite a show. The sunflowers in my garden are pretty much finished for the season. I shared some more photos on my blog here. I've had a great harvest of tomatoes (first in 4 years - no blight this year). The drought has brought new challenges to farming and gardening though. I heard today that over 20% of New England's water wells have gone dry. We have a well for our source of water and we are always very careful.
In a couple weeks, I'll be having my first photo shoot for my upcoming book. Rikki Snyder and I will be putting in some long days. I've got to buckle down and finish a whole pile of projects this week. Here is a little sneak peek of a project I have been working on.
I teach my last Creative Retreat of 2016 at our farm this weekend. It's on knitting and color. I am looking forward to meeting the new students. I am trying to plan some new classes for 2017 as I have students who want to return. Any ideas? I would love to hear what you would like to learn - even if you are too far away to come to class.
Craftsy is having a Flash Sale this weekend. Check it out through my affiliate link: http://www.craftsy.com/ext/KristinNicholas_holiday Every class offered is below $20. I will receive a small commission if you click on the link and purchase a class. (Thank you!)
It's not too early to think about knitting some Christmas Stockings. Check out my colorful patterns here and here.
Here are some interesting things that I have found this week:
•Check out this video of my friend Kimberly of Kim's Upholstery. She is making a slipcover for a wing chair out of linen/cotton canvas fabric I designed and had printed at Spoonflower. I can't wait to see the finished chair. Kim has an on-line teaching website called Kim's Upholstery for learning upholstery. Check it out here.
•Speaking of Spoonflower, they have just launched a new website called "Roostery." The concept is that you can order finished products of any fabric that is for sale on their Spoonflower website. Pretty cool. It is in its infancy and I can't wait to see where it goes.
•Do you know the work of Pierre Bonnard? I am crazy about his sense of color. Incredibly beautiful.
•This is a lovely flat in London.
• Have you ever wanted to embroider a portrait of your cat or dog? Nicole of Follow The White Bunny has an eBook on how to immortalize your feline or canine in stitches. Cool.
• I listened to this podcast with my editor Jenn of Roost Books on the While She Naps Podcast. Interesting to hear more about the inception and philosophy behind Roost Books.
Take some time to make something this weekend.
Yours in color and creativity,
Kristin Nicholas
A fun video of our farm, our farmhouse, and my family. A good preview for sure if you are thinking of coming to my Creative Knitting Retreat this September.