October News from Kristin Nicholas
Hello Colorful Friends!
It's Sunflower Season here at Leyden Glen Farm. My garden just south of our farmhouse is abuzz with bees collecting pollen from the blooming sunflowers. It has been an extraordinary show this year and I will be sharing photos on my blog Getting Stitched on the Farm this coming week. There's a sneak peek on the banner above. Here is one of my favorite varieties of sunflowers called Starburst Panache. I purchase my seeds from Sunflower Selections here.
Watch a short video of the blooming sunflowers at the end of this email.
The sunflowers were putting on their show just in time for the last Creative Retreat of 2017. I hosted 8 knitters for two days. What a fun and talented group. I taught them about how I use color, how to embroider on knits, how to sew and cut a steek and how to make a Crazy Quilt Swatch Blanket - among many other things. Here they are discussing the swatches they brought. There was tons of knitting and stitching done.
You can see more photos of all the creative retreats I held this summer here.
I'll be announcing the 2018 classes in March of next year. Make sure you stay tuned to this newsletter and the blog for further information.
Now for the BIG NEWS! On October 14 and 15th, I will be opening my Little Pottery Studio to the public. My Little Studio will be part of a nationwide and world wide clay celebration called National Clay Week. I will be demonstrating how I make and decorate my ceramics on both days. I will also have some of my handmade ceramics for sale along with my books and our farm raised lamb. Plan now to take a drive to Leyden. It will be the peak of leaf-peeping season. We are the last town in Massachusetts and you can combine a scenic ride, a trip to our farm along with perhaps a trip to my favorite fabric store in the world - Delectable Mountain in Brattleboro or perhaps Webs down in Northampton. Here's the details:
WHAT: KRISTIN NICHOLAS POTTERY OPEN STUDIO
WHEN: SATURDAY/SUNDAY -- OCTOBER 14/15
HOURS: 11-4
PLACE: Kristin Nicholas's Little Pottery Studio
WHERE: In Leyden, at 31 Glen Road, Beyond the farmhouse, Just down past the Sunflowers, Next to the sheep, In the Middle of Nowhere
BRING: Curiosity for clay. Pottery will be available for sale. Optional: A cooler for our grass fed lamb.
Directions to our farm are on our Leyden Glen Lamb website here.
NOTE: This is not a house tour but a tour of my Little Pottery Studio. There will be no toilet facilities except for the Great Outdoors so please plan accordingly.
Here are a couple of small Sunflower platters that will be for sale during the Open Studio. Follow my Instagram feed to see more previews over the next couple weeks as I am producing lots of work now.
Here are some fun links for you to explore today.....
• Colin Millington is a retired seaman from the UK who has stitched an amazing collection of sea related embroidered pictures. Check out his work here.
• The clothing company Eileen Fisher is recycling clothing that customers return to them and making some gorgeous home goods. Check it out here. They must be taking inspiration from Crispina Ffrench.
• I love to follow artists that do 30 day projects. Although I would love to do one of them myself, I never quite take the leap. Sally Dean is just completing a 30 day project painting a Tree A Day. Check it out here.
Autumn color is beginning. Take a trip to our farm for the Open Studio October 14 + 15 and enjoy the beautiful color. If you have any questions, reply to this email and I will get back to you.
Yours in color and creativity,
Kristin Nicholas
www.kristinnicholas.com
getting-stitched-on-the-farm.blogspot.com/
www.leydenglenlamb.com
p.s. If you know anyone who might enjoy my newsletter, please forward it to them.
A walk through the sunflowers in September 2017
A fun video of our farm, our farmhouse, and my family.