Mid October News from Kristin Nicholas Designs

Hello Colorful Friends!

Another holiday season has come and gone and we are almost two weeks into 2019. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. I would like to thank all of you for your support in 2018. It was a busy, productive and challenging year here at our farm but we made it through. I trust you did too. Thank you to all of you who came to the farm to take a class or who made the trek to one of our Open House events. It was so much fun to meet everyone in person. That said - I love having this connection with you all via this newsletter, my blog Getting Stitched on the Farm, and on social media.

I had all intentions of writing this letter a couple weeks ago but life and the holidays got in the way. I meant to wish you a Happy Christmas. I meant to wish you a Happy 2019. But then I didn't. What I did do was take some time away from my computer, from my shipping and packaging room, from my sewing machine and my pottery studio and kiln. It feels good to be starting fresh again - if I can just get rid of the flu bug that seems to be hanging on.

As happens every year at our farm, we have had a few lambs born already - the first just before Christmas. We won't have as many lambs as we usually do because I/we downsized our flock because of Mark's summer hip surgery and subsequent complicated health events. He will hopefully have his second hip done this year and then he will (hopefully) be in better shape to continue with his farming. The challenges of farming are numerous but it is what keeps him learning and researching and fascinated with all that there is to do when raising animals.



I have a lot of plans in store this year - my to-do list is growing. Since I am a one-woman business, we will see how much I can accomplish myself. One decision I have made is that I will not be running any retreats here at the farm this year. I'm not writing them off altogether forever but will take this year to think about how and if I want to continue them. I hosted them for ten years and that is a good long run. I love teaching and sharing and meeting all the students but with Mark's surgery coming again this summer, I have decided to just let it go for now. My plan it to continue with my on-line business of making ceramics, doing textile design and selling crewel wool and linen embroidery supplies. No guess as to whether it will pan out but that is my plan at the moment.



This week, I picked up the pieces - literally - of crochet hexagons that I had leftover from last winter's crochet project. I'm using them to make Julia her very own afghan. I will need to make more hexies but at least I have a start. You can find the free pattern here on my blog.

I am extending my two for one special offer on two of my books over on my Etsy Shop. Buy one, get a second for free to give to a friend or donate to your local library. Check it out here. Winter is a fabulous time to stitch, cocoon, create, and decorate and both of these two recent books will get you inspired.



I've got lots of interesting links to share today. These should keep you busy clicking and reading.
• Grace Bonny of Design*Sponge announced that she will be closing her blog in August of this year. You can read her announcement here. Grace has added so much to the creative community on-line and it will be sad to see her site go but nothing lasts forever.
• Grace shared a blog post by Tavi Gevinson, the founder of the Teen blog Rookie. In the post, Tavi explains why she decided to give up her extremely successful blog. It is a very interesting read if you are interested in blogging and on-line businesses. Check it out here.
• I loved this post on SFGirl called Living with Texture. Beautiful photos of interiors all with interesting handmade textiles being the real star.
• These portraits in oil. Exceptional.
• I am a fan of coffee made in a French Press. Here is a review by Epicurious of many different brands of presses. I have used a Bodum French press for years. I like the way the French Press makes coffee simply with hot water and coffee grounds. I like that the press is non-electric and small and can be easily washed and put away leaving nothing extra on the counter. (Truth be told it is always on my counter though waiting for the next pot.)
• Craftsy, the on-line teaching website where I teach a Crewel Embroidery Class, is now called Bluprint. Read about the changes here.
• Overnight Prints is having a great sale on 4 x 6 postcards. Check it out here. Not sure how long the sale goes for.
• I found this podcast interview with Erin Dollar on Abby's podcast very interesting.
• These dog portraits are incredible.
• When you have 7 minutes, you must watch this short film - especially if you knit or crochet.

Thank you for reading. My family and I appreciate the support we have been shown in this challenging year for our farm. Enjoy the weekend. I love to hear from you all. If you want to send me a note, just hit reply.

Yours in color and creativity,

Kristin Nicholas
email: kristinnicholas@gmail.com
www.kristinnicholas.com
getting-stitched-on-the-farm.blogspot.com/

Farmgirls Stocking Cap for Kids and Adults (2 sizes)
On Ravelry Here
On My Website Here

Swirly Twirlies - A Quick Felted Project
I use these felted coasters every morning under my coffee cup - clearly one of the most useful items I have ever designed.
Available on Ravelry Here
On My Website Here

Here is a video of my Talk at Google. I went to Cambridge, Massachusetts and spoke at their offices there in late June.

A fun video of our farm, our farmhouse, and my family. Our farm is located 2 hours from Boston and 3 1/2 hours from NYC. We are at the northern most part of western Massachusetts bordering Vermont. Our farm is 15 minutes off of Route 91, the north/south highway connecting Montreal to NYC.