Crafts in the Park

Last weekend, I vended at Crafts in the Park in nearby Lititz, showing my new summertime hair things and pins made from British Wensleydale wool. It was the largest show I've done, with so many vendors set up amongst the trees. I borrowed a tent from my friend Jody, and my family helped me set up, and even took me to breakfast (sit down restaurant- how luxurious!) after getting my booth ready.

I just had to create a new sign for summer, reflective of the color of things cooking up in my kitchen studio. Using the rest of the felt, I made the banner. It's put together with glue! and it lasted! couldn't believe it. I reused my store display for the Lancaster Yarn Shop - the shutter with little torquise shutters on the sides, the top of my pot rack table (seen in the book, "1000 Ideas for Creative ReUse" published 2009) became my upper tabletop display, and the little magnet house I created for the Square One Coffee Indie Arts show turned into a brooch holder. I loved how everything came together and reunited at least a little of my old painting with my new accessories.

Here's my little famous hair clips, bigger now and all dolled up with felty balls in the centers, some with beads.

As my tradition now before shows, I went around the park looking for my favorite vendors- selling the things I think are coolest. I easily spotted the booth of Michelle McGinn from across the way, and fell in love with her wood paintings, all hung on a vintage door. Everything was in similar colors to my work...it would have been fun to be set up closer together.

I ended up taking home a precious painting of hers, a mother bird feeding her two babies.

Happy Christmas to You and Yours....

A very happy Christmas to everyone...

What a busy month this has been. Shortly after I was hospitalized in early November, I realized I really "should" do City Arts Market...so until December 5, I worked to make it happen...and then after that, Christmas took over, with all it's busyness.

This was the first year since having Max that I have worked regularly outside the home, and since now that I'm in "retail"...this means kind of odd hours, and a schedule that changes week to week and day to day.

The nice thing about working however, is that you can afford nicer presents...so I actually shopped a few times this year...saving the mall for just a few days ago. How good have I been, I thought? I've worked in a store since August yet I've barely barely barely shopped myself and haven't been to the mall in months. Oops, I wanted everything I saw! A new black winter hat, a faux fur stole (bought that for my mom instead, it's gorgeous), new shoes, new pants, lovely sweaters, and what great deals. Hopefully I'll get back there in the next couple weeks. I felt like I was wondering around the store in rags! but not for long...I'll get myself fitted out soon.

I'm giving heart felt gifts this year. Namely, the book "Out of Your Tree 2" by Dominic Lee, of Priory Studios, which benefits cancer. Dominic took our honeymoon photos for us on the streets of Dublin, Ireland in 2001, and photographed us a few years later in Northern Ireland on the Giant's Causeway. He is a dear friend and a fabulous photographer. I am grateful for my sister Julie surviving her second cancer scare this year, and so I'm giving this book to her. Read my review here on the Stillorgan Chamber of Commerce website.
I am the official United States distributor of this book in America, so if you would like your own copy or copies let me know. If you are a Maeve Binchy fan, like me, you'll enjoy her and her husbands chess photo, and her introduction to the book. (among many many other extraordinary photos that were taken around the world.)



My other gift is Garth Johnson's "1000 Ideas for Creative ReUse." in which my pot rack table was given a full page. This gift is for my Dad who helped me put the table together, and for my brother who is an architect in Boston. Thank you Garth for choosing this image for your book.




I also recently was given a dozen photos of my property and the neighborhood from the early 50's. And so I was able to reprint them all for my fantastic new neighbors Misty and Joe and give them to them in an album and framed too...apparently the little girl that lived in their house was best friends with the little girl who lived in my house...and so these photos are so poignant to me and to them. Our enormous trees are just sticks in the photos and the children are gorgeous.

Over the last week, we've had a snowy blizzard, and lots of running here and there, making up for time lost due to the snow storm. We're off to share more presents soon...so have a wonderful day and chat soon!