advent calendar giveaway

The community that I’ve connected with through markets, Etsy and my blog, has been the greatest gift in starting my own business. All you wonderful people have brought a ton of joy into my life. Made me smile, laugh a lot, inspired me and even made me cry from the complete sincerity you’ve expressed in your desire to see me succeed. You’ve proven that by supporting and acknowledging the life potential of another person, your own potential swells. It’s a ridiculously wonderful feeling to know that someone has your back. Everyone should be so lucky.

One of the loving souls I’m speaking of is Vibeke. She is owner and designer of the beautiful blog, A butterfly in my hair. I’m really honored to be included in her Advent calendar giveaway this month. Today you can enter to win one of my Unearth towels, which is very appropriate given the story behind its creation.

Be sure to take some time and meet the other artists featured throughout the month and  let them know how amazing they are. You’ll not only make them smile but you might win some gorgeous treasures too!

small business saturday

Celebrating small businesses and handmade. 

Visit my Etsy shop for 20% off everything all weekend.

new york school for the deaf

I recently embarked on something new. I started taking sign language classes. My interest in sign language began at around 8 or 9 years old when I learned a few signs from my Grandmother’s copy of The Joy of Signing. She was taking an American Sign Language class to communicate with my deaf cousin who visited every couple of years. When my Grandmother passed away, I inherited her book and it re-sparked my interest. I started studying a little bit through Life Print, a free, self-study, ASL website which is a wealth of information. Then in September, I began my first official class at the local community college. It’s just the beginning of what I hope will be a life-long path because over the past few months my appreciation for the language has deepened and I’m more eager to learn than ever. When I walked out of class the first night I had an email from a really kind woman who works at New York School for the Deaf. She asked if I’d be interested in setting up an Untold Imprint booth at their school Holiday Fair. What truly strange and incredible timing! I’m not necessarily someone who believes in fate but several little coincidences like this have cropped up and they've made me feel extra happy about the path of my life.

New York School for the Deaf Holiday Fair is Saturday Dec 1^st in White Plains, NY. Please join us! 

letting go

Six weeks ago I finally got to see the inside of a cottage that I’ve been in love with for what seems like forever. It’s down the road from my family’s home and in the 17 years that we’ve been here, no one has ever seen anyone come or go from this tiny place. I’ve imagined what the inside looked like and what I could do if I ever got my hands on it. My vision was of squirrels and birds making their home inside (not far-fetched as I’ve learned) and me gladly covered in plaster and working my fingers to the bone trying to restore it. So, in August when I got a call from a friend on the lake saying, “your little cottage with the moss roof is for sale!”, I called the realtor immediately. 

Let me warn you now that this tale doesn’t have a fairytale ending but I wanted to share because I don't want this cottage to fade away without people knowing it.  An old house has a spirit and this one has a really wonderful spirit. Stepping through the front door was like stepping back in time. There are linens hanging on the drying rack in the bathroom, newspapers piled on the coffee table, a stack of old board games on a cot waiting to be played again, there's even a party line phone number hanging on the kitchen wall next to the rotary phone. Nothing has been touched in decades, as if the people who lived there vanished one day. As the story goes, it was a summer cottage and the couple who owned it, passed away long ago. Their daughters never returned and let it sit uninhabited all these years, until there were holes in the roof and flowers growing out of the rain gutters. I felt like I had been there before, you know that feeling you get when you have a connection with a person or place. I could see myself living there, gardening and washing dishes and being happy. And now this is where things take a turn. I was convinced, not without a fight, by the many contractors and masons who came to the cottage over the past month and a half, that every wall, floorboard, piece of framing, and stitch of furniture would need to be removed because of the extensive mold and the crumbling ash foundation. Unwilling to accept defeat, I then seriously considered the idea of having the house demolished and rebuilt exactly as it was, board for board. Tried to convince myself that this would be a good trade-off but I knew in my heart that it would never fill the space left. I really don’t want a likeness of the house I fell in love with, the walls wouldn’t have memories and my hands wouldn’t get dirty enough for my taste. 

The first time I visited the cottage, I immediately felt the family that spent their summers there. You couldn't help but feel their presence, surviving in all the objects that they lived with. I’m heartbroken to walk away from it but even more so knowing that someone will buy it and tear it down and that feeling that took a lifetime to bring into being will be gone forever. I had a long and sleepless night last night knowing that I would make the last call to the realtor today. I’m finding gratitude in the glimpse I had of this sweet house and comfort that no stone was left unturned in the hope of salvaging it. I guess the lesson here is in letting go…not entirely though, I am asking if I could buy the front door. Something from this little cottage is coming with me!

change of season

New Fall/Winter hemp jersey scarves and linen wrap skirts will be in my shop next week. 

Until then, you can visit me and the entire collection in Ardmore, PA this weekend 

at Clover Market. Sunday from 10-5. Hope to see you there!

lake life

arrival of the geese

morning water lilies

baby Heron

maybe a new textile pattern

fairy garden I made with my niece (this is the al fresco dining area)

possibly my favorite creature on the lake

It’s been a quiet summer on my blog. There’s been a lot going on and a great deal of contemplation as well. Most of you know that I left my New York apartment in the spring without a new home to move into. I wanted my next step to unfold in its own time and I can’t tell you how glad I am that I didn’t rush things. I’ve been staying with my family for the past six months, mostly at my parents' lake house in Pennsylvania where I have my make-shift studio set up. I always knew that I loved visiting the lake but this was my first extended stay here. I’ve been going for kayak rides every day and watching the family of Great Blue Herons that live here. I’m becoming quite a bird enthusiast which has really surprised me. These blessings, being connected to nature and living more simply, is now a way of life that I can’t see myself giving up. I’m looking for a place of my own at the lake and I have just the little cottage in mind. Hopefully, I’ll have some news and photos to share soon. In the mean time, Autumn is on the horizon and it’s time for a friend’s wedding, a few concerts, starting a new class and holiday market season! Embrace change, indeed.

christmas in july

I'm eagerly anticipating cooler weather for one reason and one reason only - my new cashmere mitts. They're from the beautiful collection of Gris Handknits by beautiful creator Nicole Dupuis. I love her subtle colors and elegantly simple designs. 

Lose yourself in the photos and stories on her wonderful blog coco knits, I bet it will make you wish for cooler days too.

renegade

It's finally here! Renegade Craft Fair Brooklyn is this weekend and I'm giving a little sneak peek at a few new hand dyed and hand printed items that will be in Untold Imprint's booth. 

From top: cotton gauze scarves, hemp napkins, hemp canvas and leather satchels, cotton wrist wraps with african brass beads. 

Stop by to see me, I'll be in booth 71 all day Saturday & Sunday.

bundling

I finally had a chance to do some bundle dyeing this weekend. It's so satisfying creating pattern and color from all natural materials. It was my first attempt and I'm completely hooked. Would love any tips or suggestions from more experienced natural dyers. 

Below are the simple steps that I took in order to create the fabric you see above.

Step 1: collect flower petals, leaves, berries, moss

Step 2: wet fabric and lay flat

Step 3: sprinkle or arrange your natural findings on the fabric.

Step 4: roll fabric tightly and wrap with twine

Step 5: let sit in a warm sunny spot for several days or steam in a pot for 1 - 1.5 hours (I steamed because I was eager to see the results)

Step 6: let stand and cool as long as possible (as long as possible for me was approximately 45 minutes)

Step 6: unroll, rinse and let fabric dry 

* You may also mordant the fabric prior to these steps in order to set the color and increase lightfastness.

old souls

Amara necklace

Akha necklaces

Esha necklace

 Dessa necklace

While naming my latest jewelry this week, I came across the name Amara, which means immortal in Sanskrit and eternal in Greek. I loved this. Since I had been thinking of one of the necklaces as being an 'old soul', I knew the name Amara would definitely be used. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I actually think of much of my work in this way. Old souls have an understanding of the world around them, they are intuitive, mindful, wise and gentle.

The necklaces above and many more are in my shop now...

may

 Gossypium Natural Towel

 Mai Natural Towel

 Kamma Natural Towel

Dew Natural Towel

New Spring / Summer collection is unfolding in the shop, just in time for my favorite month.

ludid ryu

Little happy house art print. Ludid Ryu

Life of threads wrap. Ludid Ryu

Hand painted card. Ludid Ryu

Hand painted bookmark. Ludid Ryu

A few weeks ago I learned of a Craft It Forward Project from artist Ludid Ryu’s inspiring blog. I immediately added my comment to her post and was thrilled when I received an email saying that I’d be one of the five to continue the project and receive something handmade from Ludid. A package of thoughtful creations arrived in my mailbox shortly thereafter– I’d been admiring Ludid’s Little happy house print since we met on Etsy last year and am now searching for a frame worthy to display it. Her Life of Threads wrap is already around a small vase on my desk and her handpainted cards and bookmark are tucked in several books by my bedside table. Her work is sincere and heartfelt, beautifully recognizing the inherent comfort that lives in handmade and at the same time her layers of paper, paint and thread are boldly raw and fearless. She is an artist who is truly authentic and she generously allows us to share in her discovery of self. Thank you, Ludid.

. . . . . 

So, now it's my turn to Craft It Forward! I will send something handmade to the first five

people who leave a comment below. Once you receive my package, you will write a blog

post about what you received and continue the project by sending something handmade to the first five who comment on your blog post. You may send anything at all as long as it is handmade by you and sent before the end of 2012.

what a difference a day makes

Settling into life outside of the city. A day of gardening, nature walks, sun printing, bike rides, badminton and a (feet) dip in the freezing lake definitely helps to ease the transition. I’m realizing what I think I’ve known all along- I’m a country girl at heart.

i ♥ ny

On Wednesday, I leave New York City, my home of almost seventeen years. It's still difficult to believe, even a day away. When I moved here for school in 1995, I swore I would never live anywhere else. As amazing as New York is, and is it ever amazing, it can take its toll. Over the past few years I've found myself yearning for a quieter and simpler life. The craziest part of this scenario is not my move, it’s that I don’t yet know where I’m moving to. I’ll be staying with family and friends for the next month or two while I search for a new place to call home.

This week as I marked my last visit to the market, and my last walk through Central Park (to leave my apple), I shed quite a few tears as I thought about what I’ll miss most. Here are a few big ones...

* The subway & subway musicians – most especially guitarist Desmond Ivey who plays Columbus Circle Uptown 1 platform quite a bit. He makes me cry every time I hear him.

* Salaam Café on 13^th Street. Coziest and most welcoming little tucked away place with my favorite dolmades & vegetable ouzi.

* Walking through Washington Square Park in the evening - esp in the rain or snow.

* Friday meditation with Raven.

* Metropolitan Opera House – regardless of whether I’m inside or outside.

* The endless and inspiring energy.

* Knowing that whenever my heart desires, I can hop on the train or walk across town and be standing in front of some of the greatest works of art in the world.

* Sunday Greenflea at 77th & Columbus. Vintage city treasures and the best pickles and jalapeno stuffed olives.

* Lastly and mostly, I’ll miss the people. Friends - new and old, teachers, acquaintances, fellow yogis, the receptionists at my gym, fruit sellers on my corner… I could write this list forever. Despite our reputation, New Yorkers are pretty awesome. My sister and niece top that list and leaving them will be the hardest of all.

Every once in a while I have a flash of panic and think that I’m making a terrible mistake and then my intuition seeps in, I see the life I want ahead of me, and that life is somewhere else. So, I’m following my intuition and trusting in myself. On to the next chapter. Thank you so much, New York! I really do love you.

life, real and imagined

Figures and Construction with Blue Border c. 1941 : Bill Traylor

Man with a Plow c.1939-42: Bill Traylor

I visited the American Folk Art Museum today for the first time. They’re celebrating their 50^th year and a new location. It’s a beautiful little museum, only three galleries, on Columbus Ave & 66^th St in Manhattan. Seems a fitting size to intimately view the deeply personal art displayed. The museum honors artists who were and are creating outside of the traditional art school or accepted mainstream art world. The current exhibit is Jubilation|Rumination: Life, Real and Imagined. 

My favorite works were by Bill Traylor. He was born into slavery in 1852 and spent most of his life on a plantation in Benton, Alabama, where he remained even after emancipation. At the age of eighty-four he moved to Montgomery and started creating drawings with found materials. In the course of three years he produced almost 1,500 works reflecting his life experiences. 

la churreria

A beautiful new café opened in the Nolita neighborhood of New York City this month. It’s called La Churreria and it serves mouth-watering golden churros with chocolate for dipping and delicious pressed Spanish sandwiches. I had the privilege of making aprons for the staff and when I visited yesterday to drop off a new batch, I was so excited to see how amazing the aprons looked in action. It’s exactly the kind of place where I would want my linens to find a home so I’m very grateful to Livia, La Churreria’s extraordinary manager, for finding me and supporting my work. If you’re in NYC, anywhere at all in NYC, make a point to stop in and relax at one of the cozy tables. 284 Mulberry Street bet Houston & Prince.

wish list

The funny thing about wishes is that sometimes you don’t even realize what they are until they come true. Every year we pick names for Christmas in my family. The plan is that everyone will buy one "big" gift for one person and little stocking gifts for everyone else. That’s how it should go down, but it rarely does. What actually happens is that everyone is much too extravagant and nothing is small enough to fit into any stocking. This year was no exception. Thought I’d share a few of my wonderful new belongings, all of which I absolutely had to have, I just didn’t know it until they were mine.

Clockwise from top left: One-of-a-kind handmade snowflake (medium: paper, crayon, glitter & pipe cleaner), Handmade Amethyst bracelet with found Vintage clasp, Vintage Kantha embroidery quilt, Barbara Eigen Metropolitan Opera mug, Red Vintage tool box, Obama 2012 tee, Luke Lamp Co. Industrial light wood lamp, P.D. James novel.