delish news

What a fun felting class!

2010-10-25T17:10:00.002-04:00

a felted pumpkin bead

thanks so much for a fun class this past weekend- there is a link to the Green Mountain Academy for Lifelong Learning's facebook page, that has a bunch of great shots from our day in the soapy water... I hope you each keep on playing!

helping out a student drum carding a wool batt

wet felting class October 23!

2010-10-11T16:44:00.000-04:00

wet felted beads and fabric

You still have time to sign up for my wet felting class, being offered from 1-4pm Saturday, October 23!
Learn how to make your very own felt objects! You will begin with learning the basics of fiber and the wet felting process, and quickly move on to make felted beads, felt fabric, create your own hand felted soap and a mini felted pumpkin! Learn how to revive old sweaters into felt fabric; also develop new ideas on how to use felt to create accessories, bags and more.

*You will get wet! Please feel free to bring gloves if you have sensitivities to wool or soap.*

Visit Green Mountain Academy for Lifelong Learning to register!

recycled sweater, felted, then blanket stitched

illustration friday - dessert

2010-09-03T15:15:00.001-04:00

"Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first." ~ Ernestine Ulmer
This digital illustration is in honor of Mrs B- who lives up to this quote to the fullest- I think her idea of heaven would look something like this- a gigantic ice cream cone hot air balloon! lots of love your way, Mrs B!

illustration friday - atmosphere

2010-08-20T16:58:00.001-04:00

this topic reminds me of my thoughts on having a good atmosphere for creating and learning art- you have to be willing to put fears at the wayside, put forth a lot of energy and be willing to create tons of mistakes... to get that one glimpse of true creative brilliance! I designed this bookmark ten years ago, it still rings true to me, I keep them in my art books!

honey jar labels for you!

2010-08-19T14:03:00.000-04:00

got yourself a hive or two? then you are probably getting that last big flow of the summer - goldenrod! soon you'll be up to your ears in jars of honey, so I've designed a couple labels for you to use.... just click on this link to download the pdf. wishing you lots of happy bees & honey galore!

Hildene Craft Show artist links

2010-08-08T11:57:00.000-04:00

Visited the Fine art & Craft show in the Hildene meadow yesterday- some of my favorite people and artists were on hand, and with wonderful new work! if you are in the Manchester VT area- today is the last day of the show, it runs until 5pm- if not, check out a few of my favored artists, or visit Craft Producers site to see when there might be a show near you!

Michael Wolski - painter

John DeAmicis - illustrator

Marsya - jeweler, visit her newest works on Facebook!

Yellow Dog Farm - fiber artist - angora goat mohair fibers, handspun yarns

Canning label designs for you!

2010-08-04T11:04:00.000-04:00

Here is a whole page of fun black and white canning labels I've illustrated and designed for you to use this canning season - please visit this link to download a printable pdf of labels - four designs to pick from, each design includes a side label as well as a round lid label. let me know how you like them, take pics and send them my way, I'd love to see what you do with them.

illustration friday - diary

2010-07-10T09:29:00.001-04:00

my feeling on diaries....

paisley - illustration friday

2010-06-18T15:22:00.000-04:00

handmade flower garlands

2010-05-28T13:46:00.000-04:00

handmade paper flower garlands for a flower themed bridal shower - each flower made from a circle of doubled sided printed paper & hole punched. Each paper flower is threaded one at a time onto a beautiful vintage french cotton bouclé- a pretty butter yellow yarn. they look great hanging, swaying in the breeze, or tossed on the table for a simple display.

felted flowers

2010-04-24T15:03:00.001-04:00

all the flowers have been crocheted from wool yarn, then wet felted- don't they look cute in the furry baskets? I'm working on sewing the pin backs and magnets to them- just 50 left to go!

its only time

2010-04-22T14:30:00.001-04:00

Give me a wildness whose glance
only time can withstand.

Happy Earth Day!

2010-04-22T10:38:00.001-04:00

showing my love and appreciation for the earth today in many ways- going to the recycling plant, composting, planting seeds, going for a walk in the woods. Hope you have a great day ahead of you!

Summer 2010 Fine Arts Courses with Trish

2010-04-21T13:43:00.002-04:00

Click the links for more details on each course.... timelines, locations & topics vary on each class- feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions about any of my Summer classes!

Intro to Fine Craft - Tuesdays 1-4:30pm - CCV Rutland Campus

Digital Photography - Wednesdays 1-4:30pm - CCV Rutland Campus

Graphic Design 1 - Wednesdays 5:30-9pm - CCV Bennington Campus

Illustration Friday- Dip

2010-04-02T12:44:00.000-04:00

nothing makes me happier than when I dip into my creativity to draw for others.
JOY illustrated letters for a bridal shower invitation, pen and ink.

April desktop calendar

2010-04-02T12:16:00.000-04:00

Visit the little treasures page to pick your April desktop calendar design- Happy Spring!

the briar patch basket

2010-03-20T18:45:00.000-04:00

feeling a bit like sleeping beauty- the briars and thorny brambles are taking over the meadow! i have not trimmed the acre and a half of wild berries in five years! luckily we have had a few warm days here in sunny southern vermont - i've been taking my pruning shears to the legendary sized thorn forest, and started clipping- just enough so i can wander and gather berries a bit more freely this summer...the double bonus is that i'm drying all the bramble i took down, and will weave them into a basket!

first i stripped each bramble of its thorns- no blood from me, but my gloves sure got a beating. thinking canvas material next go-round.

these should be dry enough in another day or so to weave with. can't wait, the colors are really bright and beautiful.

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2010-03-12T17:20:00.001-05:00

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February Desktop calendar is now available!

2010-02-01T11:11:00.001-05:00

Two designs to choose from for this month- hope you enjoy!
visit the little treasures page to download your desktop calendar for the month of February.

Illustration Friday - focused

2010-01-29T15:54:00.000-05:00

happiness, and for me, focus....is in the little things. like micro pens. the detail you can create in a sketch is intense, and captures my idea that much more accurately. like this piece- the original is about 3"w x 5"h or so. micro pen on watercolor.

hand drawn note cards

2010-01-23T13:34:00.000-05:00

there is something that makes me very happy when I get an actual handwritten note - and nothing more gratifying when I get the chance to write out a few of my own to send to friends. These are simple little paneled note cards with little hand drawn sprouts along the bottom edge, with matching envelopes that I've sprouted along the flap edge.

take out a black pen or marker and make your own note cards from blank paper and envelopes - they make a perfect last minute gift.

Illustration Friday - wilderness

2010-01-15T10:10:00.000-05:00

the wilderness in my imagination comes up with stuff like this.... underwater wildness!

Deer Run Farm book

2010-01-09T15:41:00.001-05:00

sneak peek! hot off the presses. Deer Run Farm is a 20 page saddle-stitched soft cover book I just completed design on.

Highlighting the beautiful deer of the Deer Run Farm, this book is a limited edition run of 100 - all copies are in private collection.

A photo of the cover is above, and a page from the interior is below.

Illustration Friday - Confined

2010-01-08T19:35:00.001-05:00

this week's word for illustration friday is confined- wouldn't you know it, I've been drawing up corsets lately- maybe I'll create a paper doll series! micro pen & ink on watercolor. the original drawings are about 1"h.

an old watercolor

2010-01-06T12:11:00.000-05:00

Lately, I have been digging through my older artwork- finding mostly paintings and drawings from high school, and scanning them in, to preserve them all digitally, just in case. Today, I came across this watercolor landscape I did in Mr Hammond's class- one of only two watercolors I've ever done- and kept. I'm thinking it was the third independent study class I had with him...poor guy tried to teach me all his amazing skills in watercolor every class, but I was already tainted with the texture and boldness of oil painting - all I cared about was expression, and used half tubes of watercolor paint to achieve my aims.

Mr Hammond, I've nominated you for sainthood of teenage artists, and I promise, I listen & paint better now, too, thanks to you.

Illustration Friday - Renewal

2010-01-01T12:38:00.001-05:00

what better to start the year out with than a renewal of love!

I'm very lucky to be able to say I'm Matron of Honor for my sister's upcoming nuptials this summer! This excitement of sharing in my sister's wedding planning combined with a few bridal shower invites to do.... has me making bridal shower illustrations galore. i love sharing the love!

this piece is ink and marker- affectionately titled, "the love jungle"

Wishing you all good things this New Year!

calligram love

2009-12-30T13:53:00.000-05:00

i have always been a fan of the calligram- (words creating an illustration/image) having made several of my own, I know how how much time and skill can go into them- check out this link which has an incredible blog roll of calligram designers.

Promo poster - 2D class

2009-12-15T08:47:00.000-05:00

the promo poster for Spring 2010 Two-Dimensional Design class at CCV Rutland. So excited to teach this one!

Illustration Friday - Fast

2009-10-24T12:27:00.004-04:00

I still can't believe how fast time flies that the holidays are nearly here!
this is one of my entries for the Community College of Vermont's holiday card-

Illustration Friday - Frozen

2009-10-16T18:07:00.003-04:00

even in a frozen wasteland, warmth will show its face...

great article about my shop!

2009-09-26T13:28:00.002-04:00

Illustration Friday - Pattern

2009-09-25T10:31:00.002-04:00

I may draw patterns more than I draw anything else- something very pleasing about the repetition of form. the pieces and parts are hand drawn pen and ink, then digitally colored.

Illustration Friday - Infinite

2009-09-18T10:55:00.002-04:00

hand drawn in pen & ink.

The power of imagination makes us infinite.

John Muir (1838 - 1914)

food heaven for today

2009-09-16T14:18:00.002-04:00

toasted sesame semolina bread, melty Camembert cheese, and smoked salmon.

depot fest logo

2009-08-19T19:34:00.004-04:00

just finished this one up - its come so far from the original idea, reminds me how much i love the creative process...that i can go from a railroad concept to the final incarnation of a neighborhood fencepost!

this year Depot Fest is September 12th, noon-5pm on Elm Street in Manchester - hope to see you there!

Graphic Design 1 class this Fall!

2009-08-18T00:27:00.004-04:00

I'm so very excited to be teaching this Fall semester at Community College of Vermont in Rutland - if you want to learn more, visit CCV's website - classes start September 8th!

grow love t-shirts

2009-08-08T17:01:00.004-04:00

my first batch of grow love t-shirts are here!

as you can see, lots of colors to choose from,
they are $15 each, and first come, first serve basis -
sizes I have in stock range from kids small to adult xl
Stop in to delishdesign to pick them up locally-
Want to order online? Email me with your order and I'll send you a paypal link for payment.
Glad to custom order any color or size, just drop me a note!

Illustration Friday - modify

2009-07-31T09:15:00.005-04:00

this card has been modified so many times - artwork added, then taken away, then new artwork added and refined...i like this current incarnation, but i'm sure i'll modify it again...its my nature!

idle - illustration friday

2009-07-24T11:26:00.004-04:00

illustration friday's word of the week is "idle"
this is one of my sister's favorite sayings...

what is it they say about idle hands?

double cocoa sugar scrub - nibs to tags

2009-07-22T17:13:00.003-04:00

Handmade, from the sugar scrub to the packaging! it feels so good to be able to do it all, nibs to tags. i'm doing a new monthly sugar scrub at the shop - first out is double cocoa...this sugar scrub batch is rich in powdered Dominican Republic cocoa blended with sugar and organic ground raw cocoa nibs- add in a bit of sweet almond oil, and frankly, I'd rather eat it- but it really does a fantastic job of lightly exfoliating your skin without too much oil left over for the steamy midsummer nights.

Each tag is hand drawn, the labels too!

contact or visit delishdesign to order
{quarter pints $10, half pints $20, +shipping}

first public reading of grow love!

2009-07-15T09:22:00.003-04:00

Family Story Time @ Mark Skinner Library Features
Local Author/Illustrator Trish Weill

The Mark Skinner Library: Manchester's Public Library, presents a very special Family Story Time featuring local author/illustrator Trish Weill. On Thursday, July 30, 2009, at 10:30 AM, Trish will share her new picture book, "Grow Love," a book that is sure to warm the hearts and spark the imaginations of kids of all ages! Enjoy meeting Trish, experiencing her book, and making art yourself! This program is free and open to the public. Children must be accompanied and supervised by adult caregivers. For more information, visit the library's website at www.markskinnerlibrary.org or call the library at 362-2607.

Can't make the reading? Learn more here, or stop in to delishdesign to pick up your own copy, or have one hand colored by trish!

hope, wish, dream greeting card

2009-07-07T13:42:00.002-04:00

an oversized custom greeting card and print - he is such a sweetie pie.

combining photography and illustration always makes me smile!

new card designs

2009-06-24T18:27:00.005-04:00

strawberry heaven & farm baby......two new over-sized custom greeting card designs from a photo shoot i did a few weeks ago...

balsamic broccoli & mushroom pasta salad

2009-06-22T07:40:00.004-04:00

simple & delicious hot or cold!
start a pot of salted water to boil, cook the pasta. i used three different pasta shapes - including one whole wheat pasta.
grab a pan, saute a drizzle of olive oil with chopped broccoli until coated, then add in some Italian seasonings (half an Italian dressing packet works too) & balsamic vinegar, this stuff goes a long way, so go a dash at a time.
when the broccoli is almost to your liking, add in the mushrooms and cook till the mushrooms are done. salt & pepper. medium to low heat, or just keep your eye on it.

then toss all together and eat. or cool and then eat.
As far as measuring goes, I probably used just one head of broccoli chopped, and perhaps two cups of roughly chopped mushrooms. the proportion to the pasta salad was very small -but you can certainly beef this up...I keep thinking how great it would be to make this same salad, but add in roasted red peppers, garlic, or perhaps some grilled cherry tomatoes....

hand binding grow love

2009-06-10T15:29:00.004-04:00

hand binding the book is taking much longer than expected-
but they are looking really great!
i like knowing that each one of these i have spent some serious time with.
They will be for sale soon, promise.
Do you want to know exactly when? where?
Subscribe to my newsletter, you will be the first to know!!

little farmer boy

2009-06-09T16:20:00.000-04:00

what a gorgeous day it was, and what a fantastic little man I got to spend the morning with- thanks Jen for such fun!!

Illustration Friday - craving

2009-06-05T10:00:00.004-04:00

craving my woodlands hammock...

poppy garden

2009-05-31T09:03:00.004-04:00

Illustration Friday - Adapt

2009-05-29T17:10:00.003-04:00

sweet magic my word got picked for Illustration Friday!

handknit baby hats

2009-05-20T07:48:00.006-04:00

nothing makes me happier than making something from hand, and giving it away. when my dear mother in law told me she was knitting for a charity shop, i asked to help. these baby hats were all a quick knit or crochet, a days work for the set of four - they will be going to some very sweet and special babies out there come winter time, i'm certain!

knit with hand spun super bulky three-ply merino wool yarn- i'm in love with million colored plied yarns right now, spinning it takes eons on my mazurka wheel- and i completely don't mind when it ends up looking like this.

double stranded white acrylic and a pastel blend acrylic with a simple 2x2 rib border; hand knit.

this one is chunky bouclé acrylic filled with soft cool blues and purples knit with a lace rib border; hand knit.

double stranded yellow wool blend and a hand-dyed wool skein; hand crocheted party hat design

Illustration Friday - Contagious

2009-05-15T09:53:00.004-04:00

i find paisleys are really contagious - i draw one, and then that one, through some strange form of fusion, or osmosis, spawns another...and another, and another- till the whole page is teeming with them...development of a periodic chart of paisley anyone?

flowering...

2009-05-09T13:01:00.005-04:00

My walk went well, I found the small grove of native White Wild Bleeding Heart- also found the painted trillium growing like mad as well. the wild strawberries are flowering too - how i love spring.

also I found this sweet red spotted newt. three newts came round in one day!

Illustration Friday - parade

2009-05-08T09:07:00.003-04:00

the cheesiest parade in town...

20th anniversary magnet design

2009-05-07T11:44:00.005-04:00

Sweet friends let me play with their 20th anniversary magnet design,
I really enjoyed incorporating some of my illustration with it.

shadowbox spring day

2009-05-05T11:37:00.006-04:00

the work days always seem most fulfilling to me - waiting for the weather to warm sufficiently, patience i have not.

the manure is raked thoroughly through the garden, waiting for the veggies to be transplanted...the beds are watered...the lavender is coming back of its own accord. the native strawberries are flowering - so much life and growing going on everywhere.

you know it is spring in vermont when the violets and trilliums have popped.

i love making violet sugar and sugared violets this time of year. we have many violet species, purple, white, yellow, and combinations thereof. the baby violet leaves are great salad greens.

Trillium erectum are pictured here, a native VT purple varietal. sad to not see any of the white Trillium grandiflorum, or the painted trilliums on the land so far, but i'll be happy with what i have. it is so exciting to see everything coming to life once again.

i'll be taking a walk to a favorite hiding spot of native white bleeding hearts and jack in the pulpits today or tomorrow....pictures to come if they are around!

Illustration Friday - Impossibility

2009-04-17T11:06:00.006-04:00

i like to think impossibilities only exist until you make them possible...if only by drawing them.
like castles in the air.

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost;
that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.
- henry david thoreau

homemade sourdough rounds

2009-04-15T19:11:00.002-04:00

hoping to make myself another batch tomorrow - so much fun to make. i really love to clip the tops to be able to yank off bits to dip into something delicious like artichoke dip.

Earth Day glass magnet board illustrations

2009-04-15T14:23:00.002-04:00

here is my main prototype for the Earth Day Manchester Hot Glass magnet board illustrations - cute right? like lollipop heads growing from the ground. i plan to illustrate each one by hand..so they are literally one of a kind.

i have oodles of these glass hand cut magnets, they are like big permanent candies on my fridge.
and even better, they are from recycled bits of glass from Andrew's work!
check them out here - there is an Earth Day special for a set of 5 through April 26- which is basically a free magnet either way you slice it- you can get a heads-up on these deals and more by signing up for his newsletter.

Talisman - Illustration Friday

2009-04-03T11:37:00.005-04:00

most things in nature are talismans for me - i do love the little stuff. especially fiddleheads.
drawn with ink and markers.

sourdough french toast

2009-03-28T07:53:00.004-04:00

i love french toast. anyone who knows me well, knows that i must try every french toast i come across. oh, and then re-try it. because i love it.

my favorite way of making french toast is very simple, and often you get to use up the last couple pieces of bread that otherwise might get thrown away...in my case, I used the sourdough bread I make several times a week.

eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon & nutmeg
all wisked up in a low bowl - dip or soak your bread in it.

the longer you soak, the tastier the french toast will be, but your bread may fall apart if it is too full of mixture, and might take a long time to fully cook through. try it out, you will find the right amount for you. i set them in for a few minutes on each side, then they hop in to a preheated pan or griddle for cooking. i like medium heat for french toast because i don't like burnt outsides.

i like cutting my french toast up into bite size pieces, toss in some powdered sugar and my bramble berry preserves that i made last fall from my berry bushes.

since it is sugaring season, its only fair to use boatloads of fresh maple syrup if you can get it!
i'm lucky to have some very sweet neighbors in the business for many generations - if you have not hit a sugaring house, you are missing out.

now again this french toast recipe could be changed to kahlua, or chocolate chip & coconut - or apples & cinnamon....you get the drift. mix it up, i do all the time, i love french toast. especially on sunday mornings.

reupholstering vanity - chair that is.

2009-03-27T11:50:00.003-04:00

my dear gram gave me this chair years ago - and as you can see, the seat & fabric have seen better days. It was a part of her vanity set as a girl, so it is quite important to me, and took me a while (years) to find a fabric worthy of replacing it.

i found this fabric on my last trip to NYC. Mostly because i can't visit NYC and NOT shop the garment district, luckily. this bit of pretty was in a remnant bin right at the entrance, under a pile of crazy fabrics i had positively no interest in. i scoured that whole store, and as i was getting ready to leave, caught it out of the corner of my eye. i knew what it was for the instant i laid eyes on it.

i'm so pleased with how it came out. if you have never re-upholstered, do not be afraid, it is easy! google it as a how-to, you will find a million ways to do it. i was able to salvage the seat padding and tiny little tacks the original furniture maker used, which made me quite happy. One day i will re-finish the wood as well, but until i get one of my woodworking friends to assess the inlay on the back rest, i won't touch it.

now i'm thinking a gorgeous little purse with the leftover fabric scraps....

POISE - Illlustration Friday

2009-03-27T06:50:00.004-04:00

This week's Illustration Friday theme is Poise - I can think of no better creatures than owls that reflect this theme best, on so very many levels.
This owl was originally drawn in ink, then scanned and digitally colored.
Happy, Happy Friday.

puddle ducks for spring!

2009-03-25T20:14:00.011-04:00

Mud, rain, ducks, sprouting plants all about. I'm in love with Spring. To commemorate my happiness during this most hopeful of seasons and in tribute to one of my favorite authors, Beatrix Potter, I've designed & created a very cute leetle French puddle duck hand knit toy.

This particular series of ducks are very special! This yarn is a pure 100% cotton bouclé yarn from France - in the softest sweetest spring colors. Each puddle duck averages 12" wingspan, and also 12" from head to webbed toe. I use multiple strands of yarn to knit each duck, then stuff them with more of the same matching yarn... 100% cotton toys make me happy! These techniques allow for each duck to feel like soft terrycloth.

Each duck is a very limited edition, one-of-a-kind hand knit toy with vintage yarns- once each yarn(color) is gone, it is gone. If I cannot meet your first color choice, I will be in touch for a second choice. Every single toy is handmade by me here in Vermont.

So far I've made one color puddle ducks and two-color puddle ducks.
The colors currently available are butter yellow & mint green, or all butter yellow, or all mint green. Contact me if you would like a custom color/size.

My leetle French Puddle Ducks can be bought for $50 each, with shipping included to anywhere in the US. Need yours in time for Easter Basket delivery? Please be sure to order by April 1st so I can whip it up for you in plenty of time.

Illustration Friday - Subtract

2009-03-21T12:21:00.004-04:00

I often subtract faces from the dolls and drawings I make - I like for others to be able to color, draw or imagine exactly what they wish from my drawings too.

the dollies print

fiddlehead soup recipe

2009-03-18T08:16:00.008-04:00

I'm a seasonal food person for sure, and have a serious penchant for fiddleheads in spring.
fiddlehead soup. it is still too cold here for the fiddleheads, but I keep one serving frozen from last season just for this recipe, when I need a serious dose of spring memories. like last week.

this is a simple recipe, I make it to taste, not by measurements, so try it out and have fun!
fiddleheads frozen, thawed (fresh works too, be sure to boil to soft consistency)
milk, cream or substitute
romano cheese
garlic, chopped/diced - if you dont care for chunks, garlic powder does the trick too.
pinch of salt

Directions: cook it all up, dont get it boiling, there is milk in there :) then eat it.

this is also an amazing sauce to put over pasta - the ferns uncoil to make little green noodles.
I'm sure you could also puree this whole mix to make baby food or insanely awesome bread dip.

fiddleheads are the delicious edible fern coils that have a short spring season. I'm very lucky to know a couple folks here in southern Vermont who hook me up so I'm not foraging high and low for them, all I need to do is grab a bag and start prepping. Lots of prepping. but these little green guys are fresh only a few weeks out of the year, so enjoy it! Trim off the ends of each fern, pluck /rinse away any debris. It is easiest to think of fiddleheads in terms of pasta - in order to get them to edible state, you need to soften, at the very least par boil them to freeze for later. Oh, and salt the hell out of them. Boiling takes the bitterness and the extra brown stuff off. The water looks um, well, gross when you're getting close to done - I like my fiddleheads "al dente" in pasta terms....others like mushy and soft - I get you! my favorite recipe with fiddleheads include sliced oyster mushrooms, garlic, some good butter, white wine and a saute pan. thats it.

PS - if you want to go foraging for your own, that is awesome! keep check on how many you forage on any one plant, 3 heads max on a plant or you may do damage to the future health of the ferns.

NEW TOY: handknit mermaid art doll

2009-03-17T09:50:00.006-04:00

Madame Mermaid is 100% hand knit and felted wool -
Her hair has been hand dyed and hand spun by me on my spinning wheel.
This doll has a lots of hair - I like being sure every doll I make has tons!

This Mermaid art doll comes with a 100% wool, free form crocheted mermaid tail, a 100% wool skirt to match her hair, glass bead bathing top, and a little seaweed boa.

She also has a hand decorated box she travels in - you can check her out in person at Manchester Hot Glass studio & Gallery starting this weekend - or feel free to email me for more details on the Mermaid, or how to get a doll made of your very own!

Vase Sale at Manchester Hot Glass

2009-03-15T11:32:00.004-04:00

Large or small, all in-stock flower vases 25% off!
In honor of winter fading slowly away, from now through April 12th 2009,
mention this post at Manchester Hot Glass Studio & Gallery,
and SAVE 25% off all flower vases in stock in the shop!
From Marbled to Flat bud vases for a few stems or web vases for huge bouquets,
to the luminous cylinder vases or striking etherial ones,
he has the right color, size and shape in stock for you and for gifts!

my old but new new to me rocking chair

2009-03-13T13:10:00.002-04:00

perfect height for my spinning wheel too!

rigged up snap peas

2009-03-13T12:15:00.002-04:00

well, they are nicely on their way to the ceiling of my kitchen island...wish them luck!

Illustration Friday - legendary

2009-03-13T08:43:00.004-04:00

i positively LOVE this week's theme, legendary! mostly because i love to read folk tales, legends, and stories passed down to us from well beyond our years.... much of my personal illustration reflects little worlds i've built up in my mind from every sweet and scary tale i've read. this particular illustration i call mountain village - a sleepy little place full of adventure potential for a folk character to run a muck, or save the day!

amish friendship bread

2009-03-11T09:31:00.003-04:00

today was my first baking day of amish friendship bread - there is a 10-day cycle it goes through - see the recipe cards I made for you to download & print out if you wish...

I really enjoy recipes that give latitude - keep the basic bones of this, but flair it up as you wish. our friends joe & luci who passed us our first amish friendship bread starter add gorgeous fruits and spice or nut blends that will drop your jaw. vanilla pudding mix makes a nice addition too! with all the care you give to your bread, you will find the best part is the comradeship you feel. it is nice to know that 10 days from now, each friend I passed a starter of this bread, will be making theirs as I am making mine... and luci & joe will be too!

the time and work going into your amish friendship bread is positively worth it, and of course, you get to connect with a couple friends a week in so many ways - which, can't we all use a little more of?

PS - everyone remind drew that he needs to make me some big ole glass bowls! lets just say my glass blender was involved in this recipe, as there is only one non metal bowl in my house - and taking up residence is our sourdough bread starter! I happily liken this to another case of the glassmaker's wife, similar to the shoemaker's children... :)

NEW designs on cafepress!

2009-03-09T16:39:00.003-04:00

I've been working on these designs for a month or so now - starting with my dear sister's request of a gardening tshirt. Most are combinations of my illustration and text - Take a gander over at my place on cafepress, I'd love to know your thoughts!

sunderland sourdough

2009-03-07T08:00:00.005-05:00

water, flour, glass jar and a little bit of patience. add some commercial yeast to make life easier.
the key to successful sourdough is the care of your starter! like anything else, needs to be fed and cared for. our current starter is a month or so old, and we have made a few great sourdoughs, and plan to keep up our starter for many more!

absolutely everyone who makes sourdough does something different in one way or another - my advice is to google a bit on sourdough starters, but really, just try it out - trial and error sometimes brings out better results than following someone else's directions to a T - every sourdough starter is one of a kind.

intricate - illustration friday

2009-03-07T07:38:00.002-05:00

verbal teardrops...for illustration friday's theme intricate! hand drawn in ink, then digitally colored. i love illustrating quotes.

NEW recycled hand knit rag toys!

2009-03-02T18:10:00.000-05:00

They are made up of recycled cotton flannel strips, ripped and tied into yarn, then knit by hand and stuffed with more recycled cotton flannel. Every toy is one of a kind, particularly because I do not use patterns (but I am working on making them up for a knitting pattern book one day!)

I like to think my place is like a garden for the toys, starting out as something entirely new from older times- a place to come to germinate, grow and get ready to go on their next adventure!
These creatures are the bunny rabbit, the birdy duck, and the giraffe.
I'm certain to try out a butterfly next. Also planning to make other scrap fabric yarn toys....
how about 100% recycled silk, or funky upholstery?? yummy.

hit up my shop for more details and lots of photos!

illustration sneek peek

2009-03-02T14:06:00.003-05:00

just a taste of a few new original ink illustrations, coming soon!

springing forth!

2009-02-28T13:23:00.002-05:00

amazing what a few days can do...

snap peas going wild!!

Illustration Friday - Breezy

2009-02-27T09:47:00.005-05:00

This is my first ever Illustration Friday post!
This Friday's theme is Breezy - which it sure is today in southern Vermont!

Here is my interpretation of Breezy - an original digital illustration with all the pieces and parts vectorized from a couple of my pen & ink paisley drawings.... Happy FRIDAY!

Cranberry Chocolate Chip cookie recipe

2009-02-27T07:07:00.005-05:00

This recipe makes a crisp, crunchy cookie with a slightly softer inside. These just so happen to be the ingredients I'm using today... I like replacing pretty much everything in my baking at any point in time, so switch it up! Add in coconut and flax seeds vs cranberry and hemp seeds, use eggs instead of egg substitute, other sweeteners instead of cane sugar..try it out, believe me, they will still taste amazing, I am sure of it!

pre-heat oven: 375*

2 sticks butter, unsalted or similar (soften to room temp, try not to microwave if you can avoid it)
1 tsp vanilla extract (I make my own, it is very easy to do!)
1 1/2 cups sugar (I keep a vanilla bean in this too)
2 eggs or egg substitute

*Beat the ingredients above until creamy. like below.

now take another smaller bowl, add 2 1/4 cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, stir or hand whisk up a bit, and add slowly to your main batter. should look something like the image below, once all the flour is incorporated.

Now, my favorite part! add ins. With this particular recipe I added a bag (or half) of chocolate chips, 1/4 cup of hemp seeds, 1/4 cup of dried cranberries. hand stir these into your batter. now you are ready to bake!!

Teaspoon batter onto cookie sheets, bake from 13-15 minutes, depending on how you like your cookies done....keep on cookie sheet to cool for a couple minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack, then on to the cookie jar...Voila!

Vacation poster - custom design

2009-02-24T16:27:00.007-05:00

A very sweet friend of mine saw the Fox Hollow Farm poster I designed and shot last year - and asked if I would be willing to perhaps take her pictures from her European vacation and make a similar large poster out of her favorites. What fun it was getting to design a permanent poster memory of her vacation for her.

seedlings!

2009-02-23T11:08:00.005-05:00

In the midst of the very snowy past few days, I took it upon myself to start up some seedlings. Just a little wheatgrass and some snap peas(thanks to Jenna on the snap pea idea!) to give me something to tend until I can go whole hog in another month or so with the cold frame and garden sowing...or maybe it is just to spite the seemingly infinite winter we're having up here.

The snap peas are soaked and planted, but will take a while to see them pop.
I started & kept the wheatgrass on paper towel under cloches for a few days until they started getting a bit too big for their britches - they have been in these little pots for two days, isnt it amazing how fast they grow up? I can't wait to see a full bed of it soon enough.

Lavender is up next ...what a finicky seed they are, but the flowers soon make me forget all the trials!

my favorite Handmade dress Makers

2009-02-18T07:47:00.008-05:00

All courtesy of etsy! This handful of artists are just a sample of the amazingly talented independent clothing designers out there that I love, particularly for dresses. These are all handcrafted clothing shops, perhaps offering new product with your custom measurements, or inventively re- and up-cycled from vintage pieces galore! Many of these products are very eco and environmentally friendly too!

gaiaconceptions.etsy.com
ArmoursansAnguish.etsy.com
CrowsCloth.etsy.com
econica.etsy.com
kimenna.etsy.com
hollystalder.etsy.com
malphi.etsy.com
trapperjane.etsy.com
missbrache.etsy.com

find designers who's taste and style you love, but also keep in mind your body type. We all have our own unique figures - show it off the best way you know how! Dresses are so much more forgiving than pants - you will never have the dreaded muffin top with a dress, I assure you. Also, ask yourself if the frock you pick out can be used in more than one season- whether it is seasonless, or through layering! I like trends as much as the next girl, but when it comes to clothes, I like to keep 'em simple, stylish and modular. I find working trends with layers or accessories tends to be a little less painful on the wallet.

Bees ordered!

2009-02-16T22:00:00.001-05:00

2009's bees are ordered!

Two hives in this case equals six pounds of bees - 25,000 honeybees and two Italian Queen Bees.
One hive for me, one for my Dad - bees are a great christmas gift, what can I say.
my Dad really is very excited for his first hive ever - on the farm there are tons of berry brambles, hay fields to preside over, along with the orchard of pears, apples and grapes - oh and the vegetable garden too! We can't pick the bees up until May, it needs to be warm enough and have stable weather over a period of time for the bees to travel this far North from Georgia.

Fun with digital illustration

2009-02-14T09:20:00.004-05:00

The repetition of shapes is very appealing to me, and of course with illustrator or photoshop, you can basically repeat the most complex of images into the millions(like fractals) if you felt like it. I'm playing more with the concept of repeating shapes to build larger more recognizable images and creating patterns than actually creating fractals - in fact the butterfly is looking more like a Rorshach inkblot!

Friday Fun Links

2009-02-13T08:08:00.003-05:00

Friday not going fast enough for ya? spend some time on one of these links - a few of my favorite places to visit for inspiration right now!

Coraline the movie - the site is just a taste of how amazing the detail and craftsmanship is in this movie - stop motion, everything handmade. How inspiring this movie will be for artists and hand crafters alike!

Design*Sponge is a daily website dedicated to home and product. Grace has some of the best taste around, I don't offer that lightly. Her growing compendium of ideas, contacts, design, textiles, DIY's...you name it, they will drop your jaw, and expand your mind into new, more gorgeous design levels... or whoever is looking over your shoulder. I bet you will forward Design*Sponge to a friend.

Josh Spear I have been following for years it seems. Keeps me on the cutting edge, Josh IS the very meaning of trendspotter. Very modern design, amazing technology - great ideas on sustainability particularly with furniture, clothing and accessories. Always makes me feel good visiting the site, and offers so many fantastic designers and points of view around the world. Again, I bet you forward one of JoshSpear's posts to someone else you know MUST find out the Awesome too....and they will appreciate it!

Etsy. Be forewarned, this place will take up your life with all its creativity and amazing shopping potential. You will hear this name in both Design*Sponge and Josh Spear for good reason - some insanely awesome artists and crafters reside at Etsy, selling their wares! Truly one of those places you will get lost in for hours searching for the perfect robins egg blue jacket, recycled from tupperware containers, or start selling your handmade knit dog sweaters and homemade macaroons.

Next Friday's links will be all Etsy crafters to check out!

Enjoy your weekend!

a new day!

2009-02-12T09:49:00.007-05:00

I've been in a "designer cage" the past few weeks with my trusty laptop not able to handle all the design I've been throwing its way. Love my powerbook, but it is just not enough power for my needs. As any designer or artist knows, nothing is more frustrating than having ideas, but not being able to flesh them out to your desires! SO I bit the bullet last week and ordered a new laptop - the macbook pro - which is better able to handle the processing needed for photoshop, illustrator and indesign.
It arrived late Tuesday - the computer switch took a few days. A few more glitches than expected in the transfer and cloning(isnt it always?), but I am now fully back up and running - at a whole new level of speed. Indesign flies!
I can design again at my own speed again,
I'm a very happy camper, dear friends.

Happy Thursday - I hope you Enjoy Your Day!

leftover spinach salad omelet

2009-02-09T10:01:00.000-05:00

Any day I can make an omelet for breakfast is a good day. Any day I can recycle last night's salad into a omelet is even better!

This only works if you don't put dressing on your main salad, dressed salad gets icky too fast to reuse in the morning. The greens really need to be spinach, kale, collard- any green bit of goodness that is good cooked.

My salad leftovers were whole baby spinach leaves, chopped broccoli, slivered almonds, hemp and flax seeds. Tons of vitamins, minerals and protein for a busy day ahead.

I threw all that into a pan with a bit of olive oil on medium heat and got it all nice and wilty (i'm sure that is not a cooking term)

In the meantime, take two eggs, scramble with salt and pepper in a bowl with a whisk.
I use one yolk, two whites, you should use however much you need for your family, or for the amount of leftover salad you want to use.

Pour in the egg mixture once your salad is "wilty". Scrape your omelet into the center until it starts creating a solid mass - cook it up on both sides, toss on a bit of shredded Parmesan or Romano cheese if you wish, then fold up and let melt for a minute or so. flip it once more for good measure, and voila!

It always makes me happy to make the most of my food, waste not, want not!
What could you throw in to your omelet this morning?

the sunflower handspun beret

2009-02-06T14:43:00.000-05:00

From the top down it resembles one, doesn't it? Some in part to the colors, but mainly got its name from the textural pattern of the staggered fishnet lace.

the top part of the hat is fine commercial wool, beautiful heathery browns, flecks of reds - the funky thick and thin green/amber/blue is hand dyed, hand spun yarn. the second it came off my wheel i started knitting with it...this yarn knew exactly what it wanted to be when it grew up...part of a gorgeous little beret!

thick and thin handspun yarn looks amazing used in simple lace patterns with big needles. cozy, funky, but also delicate and pretty. it begs to show off, so i let it!

Want to know more? Email me or visit my online shop, where you can view details sizing, see more pics, buy this exact hat, or custom order one of your own!

writing patterns - giraffe

2009-02-05T13:25:00.005-05:00

I have finally begun my pursuit of writing down the knitting patterns for each of my different toys and creatures. So many to write- the task is certainly daunting. I want to be sure to create patterns that allow for the most creative leeway for each knitter, but still give specific details and guidance on the process of making a creature precisely like mine.

First up, my giraffe twiglet. the giraffe is super cute, I have knit it in a variety of sizes, shapes, yarns... each have been successful and unique!
I really thought it would be a simple writeup.

A few realizations:
Writing a giraffe pattern takes WAY longer than knitting one. WAY LONGER.
I was shocked how much I wrote. {4 pages- on a little KNIT creature?}

After dictating it back to myself twice, I updated and fixed the first draft for test knitters. And off it went. Only a few small fixes to start, and the knitters were knitting!

Another realization: It is SO cool to have someone else knit your pattern! Even better is to SEE someone's interpretation of your pattern! I was pretty awestruck, to be honest. Another knitter totally understood and followed how I create! odd concept I know, but so very cool for me.

I have a couple more patterns in progress, nearly set to try out - anybody want to be a knitting guinea pig?
If you have a real confidence in DPN's, you will love these!

Fairy angels

bunny rabbits

spring fever

2009-02-03T15:05:00.004-05:00

i've got a fevah - for spring.

ticket design - 87 racing team dinner

2009-02-03T14:50:00.004-05:00

this was a fun little project. the car's colors are black, blue and orange, so wanted to be sure to use them in a nice contrast...i liked the idea of using barcode lines, reflecting speed...kachow!

spun up unplanned goodness

2009-02-02T12:45:00.006-05:00

a little over a week ago, I did a big fiber dyeing day....lots of boiling water, vinegar, colors blending and mixing away...me running from my stove, to kitchen sink, to drying rack - rinse and repeat. fiber dye day is hectic, hot, fast-paced and fun...like kickboxing...fun.

next up, make yarn.
if coloring the fiber is like kickboxing, then spinning yarn is like yoga or meditation. More hands on prepping of fiber - carding, blending and rolling, or pre-drafting to perfect little pencil rovings, ready to be spun up. Every step counts towards the end result. Pedal ready to go...the wheel starts a whirring, and we're off. the methodical sounds and pace really chill me out...focusing on the fiber flowing through both my hands, an attention span is lengthened to new degrees!

i often have ideas as to how the yarns will turn out - i have, after all, picked out the fibers, planned their colorways, drafted and carded the stuff to exactly my desires, and spun to exactly the right tension... but the fiber tells my fingers what to do with it. Thick becomes thin - smooth wants to be funky - the laughable attempt of planning my art births a totally different, more amazing product in the end, every time.

now what to knit?

Toys win...We Have been Heard...for Now.

2009-02-01T23:12:00.004-05:00

check out the full press release here, but suffice it to say, the CPSIA law has been granted a stay of testing! Wonderful news that we are being heard, but make no doubts about it, we will still need to keep a close watch on what regulations and testings they assert upon those of us who make toys from scratch.

press release link

hat from scratch - from the fiber to your head

2009-02-01T11:43:00.005-05:00

This custom handspun lace rib hat was so much fun to make- and it was completely from scratch! Sweet, soft, snug and supercool! So much goes in to making a hand spun hat - I love every single part of the process, each offers me different ways to express my creativity.

Planning a hat from scratch:
I started with three wools - I hand dyed some white wool to teal, raw local unprocessed wool locks dyed to olive- the grey I left natural. I took the three and ran them through my drum carder to blend them up - sort of like making a paint color - the more you blend, the more even your color becomes. I carded(brushed) this batch at least 8 times - I wanted the grey and teal to be very combined, and did not add in the olive locks until the 6th carding or so - to offer some standout between the primary teal grey heathered blend. Once I got that where I wanted it - on to the wheel!

Most fibers that I run through my drum carder are formed into rolags(rolls of fiber) - fun to spin from directly, no other special prepping, which I love. I spun this up quick, I knew I wanted it to be funky - some super thick spots, super thin ones - some nips and noils from the olive wool locks - it needs to have character like its owner :)

Once I had it spun up, I set the yarn's twist in a bath of warm water and lavender, hang out the yarn and let it dry. Time to figure out what I'm knitting with this!

I knew the pattern I wanted to use for the detail edging - a sweet lace rib pattern - practically speaking, it offers give on the head, and if worn as a beret, it holds on. This pattern also offers a feminine detail of a lace pattern between the ribs.
Oh, and double bonus, that hat is completely reversible!

I used big needles to let the yarn show off - each part of the hat has interesting detail, lacy, delicate, but super soft and warm. I wasn't expecting the soft delicate edging that came about, but it is a very pleasant addition, something I plan to recreate very soon for my shop!

NEW snail toy design!

2009-01-30T13:50:00.006-05:00

brand spankin new design and pattern! i've been wanting to knit more insect/bug toys, and I'm loving knitting up little worlds for my creatures(see mushroom post, coming soon!) so on that note, take a gander at my brand new knit toy snail!

shes a sweet little slimy one(not REALLY slimy, just softy) super fun, and her hand dyed pink shell can slide right off. There is a leetle hiding spot in her shell for all your treasures!

I'm hoping to create a few more shells, so then every snail can change depending on their mood - there we go, mood shells!

this sweet snaily is natural handspun grey wool, handknit and felted - her shell is hand dyed peruvian wool, handknit and felted.

Currently she is a one of a kind, but if you love her and want a snail of your own, or any toy of mine, email me!

blt

2009-01-30T13:43:00.003-05:00

how lucky am I to be handed this for lunch? prepared from scratch, including the bread! had to take pictures. best husband, EVER. yes, I know I am biased on that :)

hope your Friday is full of fun and frippery!

spinning and snow

2009-01-28T12:59:00.002-05:00

it is a lovely snowy day here in southern Vermont - spinning some green yarns to remind me of what is under that sweet white wonderland out there.

come to think of it, i think i'm going to spin up some winter white and sparkles in honor of the white magic.

in the meantime, enjoy the greens!

Save Handmade Toys - UNITE!

2009-01-28T10:38:00.002-05:00

BLOGGERS UNITE - WEDNESDAY 28 JANUARY - CPSIA BLOG-IN

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.
Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper:
Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur:
Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.

If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react, I sure am.

a photo with no camera

2009-01-27T12:08:00.005-05:00

I've been mired in gorgeous spun up yarns from the fiber dye day last week - with no camera to show you! so instead of fuming, I made a few more knit toys! I can't wait to show you. There are fairies, a giraffe, a flower(planning for it to be a jeweled brooch!), a mushroom, a butterfly, and a snail with a removable shell(and a special hiding spot too).

Can't wait to show you. Once i get my camera back :)

In the meantime, this is my first fairy design that I worked on last year - it is the model for my new ones!

PS: I'm also working on a cotton/synthetic toy set, for my sweet friends that can't play with my regular dollies and toys....stay tuned.

a note to Punxsutawney Phil

2009-01-25T13:12:00.006-05:00

Hey Phil - If I wish hard enough, will you please bring spring now? - Love trish