sewing camp

Live in the area and have a kid who would like to learn to sew on a machine?  I have a few spots open still. Ava lettered and harry did the machine drawing.  Good help.

perfect

Last week I was in California! Beautiful California.  I was there with Debra (my co-author pal) promoting Improv Sewing and I actually can't believe how busy our days were. A city of culinary delights-like tacos.  I could cry thinking that I did not have one, though I set out with the idea that I would have them for either lunch or dinner daily.  Do you understand?  I sort of became the woman I am in SF- fed by taquerias. I was so busy.  But! But, I did have a little time on the first morning, as I was waiting for the Larkspur ferry to take me across the bay to my sister who was going to drive me up to an event in Santa Rosa.  Am I boring you with too many details about the minutiae of travel?  Then look at what I indulged in before the ferry came.  Perfect eggs on a bed of creamy Bellweather farm goat cheese with delicate butter lettuce.  I also had a pot of Stumptown coffee that was as good as coffee at home (which is good). I had this at the most lovely place in the ferry building called Boullette's Larder, sitting at the communal table, talking to the most awesome waitress and looking out to the Bay Bridge.  It was the most expensive plate of eggs I have ever purchased, but I watched the egg farmer walk in with her eggs and they really were sort of a magical experience.  I think I must cook eggs more gently in the future.

Busiest time of year/life!

It is Spring! Oh, Spring!  The sun is stronger and the buds have opened.  In New England we have leaves opening a good 3 weeks earlier than normal- which is really something!  "We" are planting 500 new trees on the orchard this week
                                                  
                                     
and "we" are also busy prepping for a big trip and a new book!

A week from today will find me in Colorado on day 2 of Improv Sewing's book tour!  I will be on set at Sew It All TV with Debra after a night doing demos and partying down at Denver's super cool crafty shop Fancy Tiger.  Actually, instead of listing all of our event dates here, please head over to our facebook page here for all of the current listings and plans.  "Like" us too- all the cool kids are doing it!

Needless to say, there is a lot to do to get ready and I hope if you live in Denver or environs, or if you live in SF, Santa Rosa, or Sacramento (or a driveable distance from one of those spots) that you will come to one of our fun events.  I really do want to emphasize the fun, because as Debra will tell you, this stuff is FUN!

This is also fun:

                                 
I had to pull him a bit, but he got a nice run down the orchard road, and then ended up overturned in a sizable patch of poison ivy. Now I have to decide if the steroids are necessary for my swollen eye!  Ugh!  Vanity is tricky, especially if you are heading in front of an HD TV camera.

Come see me!  Let me know that you came because I asked!  Check out our book.  We are really proud of it and think it is for EVERYBODY- for real!

xo, n

Burdock baskets

Despite the havoc the wreak on my curly dog's coat (scissors required), burdock creates burrs that are nature's brillo blocks and in no time at all you can smoosh them together to create baskets, bowls, and vases like the one pictured above. We collected these on a walk last week and J and Ava made this together in a few minutes. They just pressed them together.  So beautiful. 

Don't forget to head over to Improv Diary for a dose of actual tutorials and updates on The Great Improv Sewing Tour Stops.  Our book comes out may 1st and we are hitting the road- Colorado, California, Washington DC, NYC, and others.  If you live in any of those places, I hope you'll come to an event.  Like I said, they will be posted on Improv Diary. 

xo, n

Skating without winter

I sorta feel like my other blog, Improv Diary, is like, my BFF and this blog is being snubbed.  Now I feel bad.  I don't mean to be such a fair weather friend. However, having said that, if you like this blog and want more tutorials and things, do head over to Improv Diary because it is all happening over there on a pretty regular basis.  We have several Valentine craft tutorials, to start, and news about our forthcoming book.  Debra is fun to read and because there is two of us, there is just more on offer.
                      

But One Golden Apple.  I do have something to write about today and it happened up in the apple orchard, where the golden apples grow.  If you are a New Englander, you are well aware of the very oddball winter we are having.  My plans to ski a lot haven't been realized, but I have been running much more (skiing is WAY more fun). We only got one gorgeous skating day on the pond out back before it turned 50 degrees and melted the ice- sad.  BUT, my friend Jill was walking up on the orchard the other day and informed us that the pond at the very top was solid as can be, so yesterday we hiked up there and had a blast until it got too dark.  Glorious!

Ollie the dog has a weird "chase Jonathan" need that is very funny and a little annoying, what with all the barking and snorting.

It really felt like winter.

You would never know how tired and grumpy this little boy was.  He alternated between crying and flopping on the ice, to laughing and chasing his sister around.  Kids can be so strange.  

It was a blast!

Sparkling Hard Cider Sale

I am so very happy to announce that our hard cidermaking business is up and running.  We are now selling in a few local places and are gearing up for more.  If you live in out area of Western Mass (specifically the Northampton/Hadley/Amherst area) then come on by this coming thursday for our very first barn sale.  Here are the details:

When: Thursday, December 22, 2011 from 4-8pm
Where: Our Fermentation Barn
          295 River Drive (that's route 47)
          Hadley, MA


We are 4.1 miles north of route 9, on the right.


What: We are selling bottles of our delicious sparkling hard cider and having a wee tasting too.


1 bottle (750ml.) for $12
2 bottles for $22
3 bottles for $30
and a full case (12 bottles) for $108


Come and taste what we have pressed and fermented.  We would love to see you and anyone you know.  Spread the word.


For more information go to our website:
carr's ciderhouse

Crafting for The Today Show

This week has been filled with intensive crafting for a Family Fun segment on The Today Show that is coming up (next week, I think).  One of the Top Editors is heading down to New York to show off the different things you can make with your kids for the holidays and I am making those things.  I have to say, it has been a great week of crafty fun.  I became practically addicted to making these Tree Placecard  Holders.  It was a good thing, because I had to personalize them for the host's children and various other children that will be on the show. Harry ended up making one yesterday as an ornament gift for a pal of his.

I don't know if I have ever linked to Family Fun for crafts.  I love working for them and I think it is a great magazine for families.  If you haven't seen it before, you should pick one up sometime.  And, it only costs about $10 a year to boot!

Despite my work as a crafter, I don't craft with my kids as much as I would like.  I am embarrassed to think about all of the times I have said (possibly sharply) not to touch what i am in the middle of styling for the magazine.  But now it is the holiday season and all of that changes.  We have things to make!  I set my kids up and we craft a ton and I couldn't be happier. I'm not sure why we don't make gifts for people we love all year long. It feels so good at so many levels.

Gift Idea!!!
If you need a good holiday gift that kids can make, head over to my other blog Improv Diary for a decorative wooden spoon idea.  And it involves a wood burner, so your kids will love it!