teaching at Purl!

I'm beyond thrilled to be teaching embroidery classes at Purl Soho!! When I moved to NY  I remember visiting the old shops, and being so smitten. It felt very NY and inspiring. I could spend hours creepin about. 

The first session of this class is tomorrow and we'll be learning lots of stitches to create a little embroidery sampler. The last I heard there was only one seat left in the class, so contact Purl to try and snag that spot!! 

Can't make this session, but itching to try a new craft?  The next session is Monday July 11th & 18th 6 - 8 pm. Be in touch with Purl to sign up. Call M- F 12 - 7; Sat. & Sun 12 - 6 at 212.420.8796 

NY represent!! Stitchhhes. 

p.s I have a new "classes & events" page up there under the page banner. Check it out from time to time. And let me know if you'd like to be on my email list for class updates!

lately (best weekend ever)

last, last sunday I had the best weekend ever: waffle brunch, vegan sweets, bike rides to the park, and general layin' about. I didn't work one bit....


It seemed like even our bikes were happy, laying back, kissing in the grass...

We ate vegan chocolate truffles we got from super foxy sweets who was vending at Vegan Shop-Up.

Seems so nice to read in the park, but the ground was so lumpy and I liked just people watching more...


I want more time and more weekends like this!

road trips and creative business ...

Last night I attended an Etsy Success Workshop lead by Becky of Sweetie Pie Press.  She's inspiring– since 2005 she road trips every year from her home in Toronto, Canada across the US vending at craft fairs, staying with friends, visiting independent retail shops, and connecting with other makers.

photo:Stacey Bode via 

Someone asked how she balances the business decisions she makes and Becky's response hit me hard....
For her, it was more important to see the Grand Canyon than to be home where she could be making more money. One side effect of all of us living online so much is that we've created this "cult of success". We see one side of everyone's story and we compare ourselves, our businesses, our accomplishments. Instead, invest in people and your community.  I've been trying so hard to connect with people through craft, especially since I work from home by myself. It's the reason I attended this event in the first place - to learn, to support Becky, to be with other makers, and I always come away inspired, even if it's only one little thing.

It was also refreshing to hear her say, "failure is important." I think it's just part of the creative process.  Ironically, I just saw this Ted video, The Fringe Benefits of Failure, by JK Rowling.
                   
I'm aching for a road trip now and feeling a positive mental attitude...

a place something like this...

I've been embroidering a lot lately.  Sitting for hours working on one piece sounds romantic, but it's hard to completely fall into it.  I wish my surroundings matched the mood I feel while stitching - contemplative, a little nostalgic, longing for a slower world.  Ever since I saw Bright Star I'll think about the embroidery scenes, really every scene, and wish for a place something like this....

via gtrends

via canweleavenow

via collider

via collider

via collider

via hila-lumiere

You should definitely check out the movie if you haven't yet – It's beautiful.
There's more bright star inspiration here...

three tools

speaking of SAW (see my last post), I also was lucky enough to squeeze in a class called Three Tools. We made these folk tool boxes....



I say folk, because mine is real rustic– the seams don't meet up, you can see my pencil marks and some of the nails push out into the bed of the box. These just make me love my tool box more! Next, I want to stain the wood dark.



It was fun to make this from start to finish. The teacher, Terri Dautcher, guided us in designing our boxes, showed us the tools and then let us help each other. I designed, picked out the wood, cut, sanded, and constructed the box. I even got to cut the tree branch handle from a fallen tree– that's where I spotted that little frog.

Terri showed us how easy it can be to use simple power tools (jigsaw, sander, drill, hammer). It was empowering to construct something that will last a very long time, be so useful, and handmade!

connecting to your craft at SAW...

At the beginning of the month I spent a few days in the woods of New Hampshire for a creative retreat called Squam Art Workshops or SAW. I had heard great things about it and was so excited to spend a few days teaching embroidery at a beautiful, lakeside camp surrounded by makers....

This was my cabin that I shared with about 12 other ladies, who knitted (& embroidered) every night while a fire was burning. We also had our own little private dock....







SAW is all about connecting with people and yourself through making! Everyday, all the time I was surrounded by people knitting. They would also be wearing lovely hand-knit shawls, socks and sweaters. I was so impressed by their creative passion.  Being vegan, I think a lot about the disconnect between the food we eat and where it comes from. Seeing so many people knitting also reminded me of the disconnect between the labor of our hands and the products we buy, like clothes. (It can take up to 16 hours to knit a sock!) It makes me so proud to be a maker! It's also a challenge– I want to learn how to sew some of my own clothes now!



I taught two sessions of my Pictures & Stitches class in an old cabin, called The Sugar House, that used to be a nature center and had such a blast! People are so creative & it was totally energizing to see the works in progress by these first time embroiderers...

Learn more about Squam in this interview of Elizabeth MacCrellish, the brainchild of SAW. A big thanks to Elizabeth for the opportunity to teach, to all the lovely ladies who took my class, and to everyone I met there...

(click the pictures for more on Flickr!)

stay creative....

Had to share this list!

via Today and Tomorrow   

Renegade Brooklyn

the best part about Renegade was my boothmate, Virginia!...

 

... we be goofy! Virginia made our booth awesome, kept the energy positive and is such a pro. She basically has a craft store in her purse. Anything I needed, she had! Even though Saturday was wet & rainy we had a steady stream of lovely, friendly people stopping by.  

I was really happy to be around so many friends. I was in a row of NewNew teammates and right next to Peg & Awl, who had an amazing booth. I got to meet Chrisi of The Oak Leaves, Ashley of Secret Holiday, Leanne of Vaute Couture and lots and lots of friendly supporters.

Thanks to everyone who visited the fair, stopped by our booth and said hello!!

 

We had rain all day, but Virgina was so smart and brought lots of thick plastic. I was sad not to be able to to my Letter Service...

 

Kimm's pb&j lunch was too cute. 

thank you Design Sponge!

It's a wonderful feeling to wake up to a feature of my Zodiac Kits one of my favoritest blogs,  Design Sponge!  Thanks so much for this pick-me-up Grace!

Grace mentions that she's a bit of an astrology cynic, but that her friend Amy has a pension for astrological musings, which are rubbing off.  I'm somewhere in between. I really like reading my horoscope and love looking at the stars, but I'm more into the mythology rather than astrology.  I think it's just fun to talk about signs and who you're supposed to get along with more, or stay away from, and to guess peoples signs. Plus the constellations are just beautiful....

So what's your sign? Do you follow astrology?

wish i was a moon beaver...

...but really, who doesn't?

via: Tilleke Schwarz

I shared Tilleke Schwarz's embroidery work in my Squam classes, which went so well (thank you to those who took my class & were so enthusiastic!).  So grateful for the experience, for some time in the woods surrounded by creative people, and for a break from the city.  I got back yesterday from my New Hampshire retreat, but I'm still processing everything and will have lots of photographs to share by next week for sure. 

I'm jumping right into Renegade Brooklyn prep now, which is fast approaching this weekend, June 11 & 12th.  You must check out the inspiring insanity that is renegade!  All this week while I prepare I'll be day dreaming of NH trees and sitting by the lake as I crank out the craftiness in my studio.... 

Heidi Braids....

Heidi braids are my new summer time favorite hair did. You know I've never worn my hair like this before. For about 4 years now I haven't cut it and it's so long now I can cross the braids in back and still have them cross in the front. I think it makes the braids look nicer in the back.

I hardly ever show my face around here, cause I'm always behind the camera where I feel much more comfortable.  The light was so nice and the day to good not to have Jeremy take a snap of me working a bit.

Still at Squam and probably also, still stitching....

ashes...

Jeremy's solo show opens tomorrow (June 2 6 -9) at the radest little art space on the lower east side, Occulter.  There will be a sound performance by iapetus, one of jeremy's friends. I've also heard that there will be a shaved ice guy making fancy drinks to help you cool down...

I'm super bummed that I can't go, because I'll be at Squam. You should go and tell me all about it! I really wish I could be there, but I'll be wearing the bee hive necklace Jeremy got me from Occulter for christmas and thinking of him.

The show will be up until July 3, so I'll definitely be able to check it out later. I'm just super pouty about missing the opening.

Good luck boo!

Squam Art Workshops

I'm so looking forward to this....

Photo: Lucie Wicker

Photo: girlhula

Photo: girlhula

photo: lavendarandlime

Today is my first full day at Squam Art Workshops. I'm teaching an embroidery class, Pictures & Stitches, which are two of my favorite things.  I don't even know where to start with how excited I am to get out of the city, be by the lake and sleep in a little cabin.  Nervous like a little kid though....

Found these pics from the Squam flickr group if you want to see more.

Can't wait to share my own pics when I get back, but I'll try to post some quick pics to my twitter too...