squam- with her!

What a special weekend with my sweet girl! Seeing Squam through the eyes of a 10 year old was awesome! She's a phenomenal traveling partner and quite the little social butterfly! Oh my, did she LOVE being surrounded by doting creatives by the lake. We spent the day walking my favorite paths, docking hopping alone and with friends, and exploring favorite classrooms.

Then it was time to set up… and get ready for the wonderful women waiting in the woods. Apparently, they were excited for rope baskets (among other things!).

Lots and lots of baskets went to new homes! The fair was fast and fun and filled with some of my favorite people!  Only had time for a few shots… but these three are golden.

em falconbridge

cal patch

cinnamon

And now… guess what I'm doing? Sewing more baskets! So many requests- the best kind of problem ever! They should start appearing in my shop today and tomorrow… I'll just keep listing them as they come off the machine.

the color of bliss

 I am not usually drawn to working with a lot of colors. Although my palette has consisted of white and neutral for so long, there has always been a place for blue. In dabbling with indigo dye, I've discovered how touching, rinsing, hanging, winding, folding, stitching with blue is extremely soothing. There is a sense of serenity and bliss while working each day with the color of the sky and water in my hands. Yes. The color of sky and water in my hands. I wonder if that feeling can be felt through this screen, because I want to offer it everyone… not keep it for myself.

 I will be bringing these blue bliss bowls to the Squam Art Fair, but will be making more for my shop this summer. I can't stop making them. I love the striping- the color blocking surprises that happen along the way. It makes each one feel like magic… as if they have a spirit of their own, and I am just guiding the rope through the machine. Isn't that so cool?!

 Look at how captivating the interiors are! I know I sound a bit crazy in love with my own making. I kind of am! And how can that not be a wonderful thing?!

 Below is a bowl containing the rope that I double dyed this week for a richer blue. It's subtly different, and I love both shades equally. Luckily, I made sure to double dye hundreds and hundreds of feet in this shade, just in case it was a good one..

  And while I was at it, I wound and folded, twisted and rubber banded all of my white linen to throw into my dye vat. I've got plans!

may making

Oh May! What a beautiful month filled with the electric energy of so much coming to life outside. As much as I want to lie under these magnolia blossoms or dance in the fresh green grass… it's my sewing machine that tends to be my dance partner these days. So, I'm throwing open my studio windows and smelling the spring air as I work. There is just so much to do every May as I get ready for the Squam Art Fair (my 8th- or is it 9th?) on the first Saturday of June. It's time to get serious about buckets, pouches and bags. 

On top of that, I can't stop sewing with rope! In fact, not only will I be teaching how locally in a few weeks (note to self- must make samples that I don't give to friends), I am also going to be selling baskets and bowls at a few local venues.

 Busy times for sure, but it's all fabulous! When I think of what is keeping me running around and literally stitching in circles- I have nothing to complain about. It's all joy!

And let me tell you, I do NOT take bliss for granted. Never will again. I savor every bit of it and then channel it into something new...

printing and stitching at squam day 2 & 3

When I created the Printed Pouch workshop, I hoped to create a class that would invite hand-sewing out on the docks or on back porches of cabins. The pristine setting of this retreat beckons you outside. Over the years most of my classes have focused on machine sewing. The sound of 15 engines is exciting... but I wanted to offer a slower, quieter opportunity for folks. 

 Weather was our friend for the last two days, and I got my wish! Sure, we spent a bit of time in our beautiful classroom with windows looking out onto the lake... carving and printing.

But there was lots of stitching lakeside!

 And more gorgeous pouches were created! Here are just some of them!

Look at these lovely women! Their printing and stitching were pretty spectacular too!

printing and stitching at squam day 1

It was fabulous day... with an amazing group of women! We drew, carved, printed and stitched. Two kinds of bags were worked on... a coin purse and a zippered pouch.

   It was an honor to spend such focused and lovely time with these talented folks! 

re-entry

It's never easy to adjust to the crazy end of the year schedule that awaits me when I return home from Squam each June. This year, feels smoother. Although I just spent many days perched above a stunning lake and nestled in woods, there is often little down time for me. Very much like being home. Surrounded by beauty, but often rushing about. I made a practice of waking up early and going to the dock every morning. I returned in the evening. These moments of quiet and stillness bookended my days and created a sense of peace that I am planning on replicating now that I'm home.  

I've certainly been known to slip outside at the crack of dawn or take a beautiful sunset shot, but I've never made it a conscious act. I'd like to make this an intentional practice, at least while the weather beckons me out in bare feet.

 Stay tuned for posts this week about the workshops I taught and the amazing folks who graced my days...