Pots, Maine Inspiration + More

AND Knitting Season Begins

Hello Colorful Friends:

Thanks to so many of you for reading my last newsletter and for the lovely comments. As with each newsletter I write, I’m fearful that no one will open, nor read it. You guys came through and so I will carry on. Thank you.

Many of you know me through my past history as a knitwear designer, television knitting teacher on PBS and author of many books. Perhaps you used to follow me during the blog heydays on my “Getting Stitched on the Farm” blog that I began in 2006. This - my Substack Newsletter Kristin Nicholas’ Colorful Newsletter from the Farm - is my current iteration of newsletter/blog format. You can read all the past issues here.

Currently, I’m finding my creative inspirations in the world of ceramics and living on our working sheep farm in western Massachusetts with my husband Mark and daughter Julia, our five dogs, many cats, chickens and many sheep. Thank you for reading and welcome to many new readers.

I make my clay pots in this little shed using my pottery wheel and a portable slab roller. The shed isn’t heated and since clay freezes I can only use the space for making when the temps are above freezing. Over the past few weeks, I’ve made a lot of mugs, vases, and small platters that I’m hoping to have ready for the holidays and to work on over the winter.

The Pottery Studio was a chapter for my last book - Crafting a Patterned Home. Prior, the shed was a total mess full of things we didn’t know we had nor needed anymore. I cleaned it out and our friend Kevin put in the wallboard, ceiling and re-purposed old kitchen window. I laid the lino floor and did the painting and sponging of patterns. I moved the wheel, table, and shelving in and painted the stools that I found at a junk store. You can do a lot with little money, some help and creativity.

Here are some photos of the studio in its initial days before the mud really started to be slung. I love this space out next to my little garden in the quiet watching the sheep and birds as I make. It really is my happy place.

Photos by Rikki Snyder from Kristin Nicholas' Crafting A Patterned Home

Here are some the of the pieces, I have been selling this season at the Amherst Farmers Market in western Massachusetts. It runs for four more weeks every Saturday from 8 to 1:30. It’s been a decent season, if a bit slower than the past few years. I hope to have some pottery available on my website along with tea towels once the market closes.

Some of the pottery and tea towels that have gone to new homes

This past June, I was lucky (again) to be invited to Maine to stay with my friend Sally at her lovely home on Swan’s Island. It’s a long drive for me to get there and involves staying overnight in Ellsworth before getting on the ferry to land in another world. I’ve done it many, many times but this was my first solo trip and it was so nice to be alone with my thoughts, listening to podcasts and music, and not worrying about anyone else’s needs. Selfish you might say but after being married for 41 years and a Mom to a kid with a disability for 27 years, it was amazing.

Once on the island, reuniting with Sally and friends Yola, George, Sandy, and Wesley, we did the things we always do. Eat, drink, walk, go to the teeny tiny store, chat, watch movies, and paint. This home that Sally has made (along with her family before her) has a very special place in my heart. I am so thankful to have been invited so many times.

Panorama of lobster dinner

This year, one of the highlights of my trip was our visit to the “island mall.” Our island friend Iver Lofving and his wife Maili have been selling antiques and odds and ends for several years out of a small shed situated on some beautiful lumbering rocks beside the road on Swan’s Island. Over the years, Iver has built a studio in the woods above the antique store where he paints, carves, prints, pots, sculpts and more. He is a true Renaissance man. I hadn’t visited in several years. I was so wowed by the new sculptures, sheds, and little gardens he and Maili have added. You can see his art on his website here. As Iver says on his website — “My life is my art.” What a great artist statement. I’ve made a short video of the photos I took.

This fall, I have been working on cleaning out the small barn at our farmhouse. It has been filled with stuff that we moved here 27 years ago along with junk that has been dumped on top of all that stuff. It isn’t empty yet but I’m gaining. Ever since I visited Iver’s “mall”, I’ve been thinking about doing something with that barn. It’s not going to get done this year - I’m still in the percolating phase. Iver inspired me. Maybe I can do something creative with the little barn BEFORE it turns into a giant junk receptacle again. Time will tell and I will keep you apprised.

Little barn getting there

Last weekend here in the Northeast, many, many, many folks headed to “Rhinebeck” for the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival. If you went, hope you had a great time. Coming up next weekend on November 1 + 2, the New England Fiber Festival is happening in West Springfield, MA. It’s a smaller show and easy to get to off the MASS PIKE.

The leaves are continuing to turn. After a slow start, the colors are getting brighter. Honestly though, because of the drought, it’s been a bit lackluster. I do love to take sheep photos against the colorful leaves.

This week’s links……

• “For the sake of something beautiful to look at, once in a while.” Explore Leighton House when you have 9 minutes. Much better on a larger screen than a teensy phone.

• This is a fabulous YouTube Channel by Documentary FilmMaker and Photographer Joshua Charow. Grab your knitting needles and start watching. So much colorful inspiration from people who have lived very interesting lives. Who needs tv when there is YouTube and so much to discover.

• These are gorgeous! They are scrap fabric still lifes depicting abundant meals portrayed in a pictorial manner made from textile fragments by Andrew Pierce Scott (on IG here). They have a kind of Matisse-ish vibe to them but so different. Kerry Louise Bennett is another artist I follow on Instagram who does beautiful colorful still lifes. (And yes, the plural of still life is still lifes.)

• My friend Linda Roghaar reminded me about how good my Harvest Apple Cake recipe is. Tis apple season so give it a try.

• A good essay about learning to love antiques.

• Interesting interview with Bruce Springsteen and Jeremy Allen White about making the new movie Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere. I’m a Jersey Girl and Springsteen was the playlist to my college days.

I wish you a colorful and creative week ahead.

PS. Below are some PDF patterns and more which might be of interest. You can find everything on my website HERE.

Follow me on Instagram HERE.

I love to hear from you so leave a comment or send me an email at kristinnicholas@gmail.com

Tis knitting season. If you are looking for an excellent pattern for Christmas Stockings - I’ve got two! They are available on my website as PDF’s HERE and HERE or on Ravelry HERE. Note: My website only works for sales within the US. If you are an international customer, order patterns on Ravelry HERE.

You can purchase my book Crafting A Patterned Home on my website HERE. I’m having a Buy One/Get One Free Offer which you can give to a creative friend.