Crispina ffrench

Switchin' It Up

2009-08-07T21:36:00.005-04:00

Hi Friends and Followers,

This is a picture of me and Violet on a recent (and infrequent - thank goodness) asphalt jungle shopping spree.

Kinda gives me the feeling of having one foot out the door. Appropriate here because with the help of my friend Jay Elling of Umbrella I have been able to reconfigure my web presence and make travel between my blog, shop and regular site a little more seamless.

What this means to you is that my blog is relocating to www.crispina.com. This is the last post you will see here at Blogspot. The most difficult thing about making the switch for me was the risk of losing my trusty followers. Jay and I are working on making it possible to follow me at my new blog location. In the meantime I hope you come see and check back often.

Thanks for all your input here and I look forward to showing you around a bit more at my new digs. www.crispina.com

Book Release Party!

2009-08-02T22:28:00.006-04:00

Hard to believe that my book is actually complete and soon to be out in bookstores nationwide! We will be hosting a Book Release Party in the studio on August 27th from 6-9pm. There will be snacks and drinks, a crafting table and live music.
At 7:30 all the items featured in the book will be auctioned off with a live auction with our local celebrity auctioneer, Cheryl Hutto.
Auction items will be posted online for off-site bidders who want to participate.

The evening promises high-jinx for all!

Visual Notes from the Last Ten Days

2009-07-26T22:57:00.008-04:00

Between raindrops, during this very rainy summer in the Berkshires, are a collection of images from my last 10 days. Starting at the top left corner:

Lucy's first installation work - post-it prayer flags
Ben behind the wheel - that is his car, next to the one he is driving. I have confidence!
Bridget's Alchemy Initiative Chamomile harvest
On the drive home from Sam Bittman's garden tour and planning session
Valerie and Jade weaving a rug at my Potholder Rug Making Studio Workshop
Lucy doesn't like having her picture taken
Violet loves it!
Today's misty morning at Pittsfield State Forest
Poured concrete sculptures in recognizable containers at Storefront Artist's with Filis

My Book!

2009-07-16T07:57:00.006-04:00

As the days pass my excitement builds! I spent a year working on the words and technical illustrations and in a month all that work will be available to everyone!

Email your pre-orders to me crispinaffrench@gmail.com and I will send you a signed copy by mid August. $20 includes shipping!

YAY!

A Couple Things

2009-07-14T22:11:00.007-04:00

1.
Since my hubby and I own a church - AND have considered structuring our business entity housed in it as a church to reap exemptions - I found my new water bottle exactly what I needed!
My friends at BlueQ come up with the funniest stuff!

2.
From where I was standing when turning to grab the days diaper bag and head upstairs ~ that birthday hat on the shelf was on my head! Gave me a good 'out loud' chuckle.

3.
Soft opening of my Atelier at Alchemy Initiative on Thursday evening during the screening of Meryl Joseph's City Farmers. Movie starts at 8pm shop from 7 til 8
40 Melville Street in the heart of Pittsfield, MA 012o1

Sisters with Haircuts

2009-07-14T00:37:00.002-04:00

Atelier Series

2009-07-11T23:26:00.007-04:00

Working on a custom king sized blanket for some friends. What a treat! Left me lots of room for creativity with simple parameters of color and size.

The first of my Atelier Series ~ The former production studio is morphing into an Atelier. Come shop or visit on Wednesdays from 9-5 or by arrangement.

The soft opening is scheduled for Thursday evening - coinciding with Alchemy Iniative's screening City Farmers - a documentary made by Meryl Joseph about community gardens in NYC.

Happy Birthday Brittany!

2009-07-11T21:26:00.002-04:00

This summer I am fortunate to share my studio with a creative, self disciplined, smart RISD intern.

Brittany took off for a long birthday weekend in Maine. Her sister is visiting from Iowa and she just turned 20!

Fun to celebrate a day she'll probably remember for a good long while!

Diane, Okemo, and I surprised her with a slice of very delicious vegan Chocolate Cake!

(Can you tell in the picture we were faking? We couldn't find any matches! hahaha!)

Gardening, Drawing, Working in the studio

2009-07-08T23:31:00.005-04:00

Working on the 2010 Dolphin Studio Calendar. Making color separations and learning ALOT

Eating salads from the garden most nights.

4th of July Weekend in the Berkshires

2009-07-04T22:14:00.008-04:00

Traditionally the 4th of July is the start of our tourist season here in the rolling hills of western MA. As a kid it meant inhanced possibilities for high-jinx. As an adult there is still that sort of magic that comes with jumping into the height of 'the season' as well as other more mundane concerns like timing errands, grocery shopping, and trans-county travel.
This year the weather has been pretty unusual - lots of rain. Rain that sort of sneaks up on you and then leaves as abruptly as it arrived with a drenching soak in its wake. The garden is GREEN - and my laundry on the SLOW cycle!

On account of the un-summer-like weather I sort of forgot what Great Barrington is like during this season. None- the less, Berkshire Arts Festival at Ski Butternut in Great Barrington was a lot of fun on Friday – the girls had a great time while I was able to browse the great quality crafts –
always with one eye on the bouncing kids.

Notable was the stained glass mosaic work done by a guy from Maplewood, NJ named Michael Solomon.

A family from Maine who made super cool spinklers - the girls got soaked - and LOVED it! When I find their card I will post a link.

Friends and I had gone to seek out a dear friend and future Alchemy Initiative workshop teacher, Janice Shields - of Cut It Out. When the daily drench surprised us we headed for the
car without finding our friend. It was great to soak up some D for a while anyway.

The girls were most impressed with the homemade small farm icecream and the chairlifts. They would like to get one.

Friday night I got a couple hours in the studio – finished a trio of baby blankets. My heart is content when making – edging blankets with just the right touch of color and texture sensation that magical stripe around
the outside, completing things. Ohmmmmm

This morning I wound up posting the three in my shop. You can see them on the left hand side bar – if you click it you can see all the things for sale there.

Hung the laundry in the fleeting sunshine then off the the parade with the girlies while Chris was working on some plumbing next steps at the Farmhouse.

Funny to think that we were all sporting windbreakers and sweatshirts on this normally HOT day in the Berkshires!

The Baltimore Police Association Marching Band was our favorite! They had go-go girls in swishy beaded skirts and tassled boots, a man who filled the space in the circle of a tuba belting out the low notes and a jumpin'jivey beat.

Alot of the participants are very serious - there are banners from sponsors that go by without any accompanyment - droopy kids on either end of the banner shuffling along wishing the parade was shorter.

The multi cultural dancers were bright and cheery as were the Dalton Firemen who cartwheel on demand!
I think I saw Richie Rich in giant balloon form. There is a funny memory associated with that character that will have to be saved for another time.
Every year I think how much a little added creativity would enhance the festivities. One year I will think of it in time to do something about it! Bread and Puppet-esque figures, art cars, crazy handmade bikes. This year I have a lot of creativity swelling up in and around me. It is fun and demanding of my time in the best way.

Pittsfield Hosts a Green Panel Discussion

2009-06-16T19:35:00.004-04:00

Come see what we have in store! My hubby Chris, of Cesco Plumbing and Heating - the Biodiesel Specialist, myself and a couple of other Berkshire Greenies have been invited by Pittsfield's Green Committee to be panelists on Thursday afternoon at the Berkshire Museum. I am excited to have an opportunity to talk about what we are doing at Alchemy Initiative and spread the message of scaling back our consumption. Once I have my talk finished I will post my notes here.

If you are local come by and participate! After the discussion Pittsfield's Third Thursday festivities will be in full swing. I will have a table in front of Dotties where you can stop by and buy my latest wares or just have a chat.

Also we are having a Summer Solstice Garden Party on Friday evening. There will be live, old thyme, bluegrassy music and dancing beginning at 7:30pm. Bring a picnic to enjoy on the lawn of our urban farmhouse! $10 donation will pay the bands.

Jiggety Jig

2009-06-14T07:58:00.005-04:00

Our trip home began at 3am when Chris and I woke, packed up the girls, and gave middle-of-the-night good-bye kisses to John and Primm as they slept. We could see city lights of Galway twinkling across the bay as we closed the garden gate for the last time.

So the plan was:
Shannon, Dublin, JFK, shuttle to GCS, Metro North to Wassaic, to Warren picking us up in Chris' truck. Then home - for a garden harvest dinner with the Alchemy Initiative peeps - and bed hhuuuuh!

We were due to arrive at JFK at 1pm local time, but arrived an hour early.
We caught the Grand Central shuttle just as we arrived on the sidewalk.
We got to Grand Central where there was a train leaving in 15 minutes - rather than the two hours we were planning.
We took the train to Wassaic with two, still well behaved, easily engaged little girls - without a plan on our next step or a cell phone to make one.

Ben lives with his dad 10 minutes from the station so we thought we
could go visit him and meet Warren as scheduled - BUT as we were pumping the last of our $7 worth of change into the payphone, trying to get a live person on Ben's end, Warren pulled into the station - 2 hours ahead of schedule! I was just starting to loose my cool and was SO happy it all continued to work so smoothly.
As we were leaving the station, Charlie, Ben's dad arrived having gotten all my messages.
We stopped for icecream on the way home.
Dinner was a loving re-entry. The food was superb, Scott made polenta with home tomato sauce, Jess Conzo made goat cheese and mushroom quesadillas, and a huge lovely salad from the garden, Diane brought a dish of sauteed carrots, chard, and quinoa.
Reconnecting girls flitted into the evening dancing around bountiful beds, shoes off, on the ground and happy.
Violet mastered the slide with coaching from Ella - all by herself!

Morning came after a deep and comfortable sleep - Okemo and I went for a run.
Chris went to work. The girls and I went to Dotties to catch up with Jess Rufo.
Dinner was at Dream Away Lodge to catch up with Daniel and others we had been missing. The car belongs to Rip - the herd of kids I was hangin' with loved it!
Fheeeuw! It was a long couple days. Good to be home with the space needed to see the magic.

Galway Playground

2009-06-08T18:39:00.004-04:00

Since we arrived here in Ireland we have been searching for playgrounds. My friend who lives here gave me directions to a few. Playgrounds in Ireland are not located in every town or at every elementary school like w are used to in the states. Yesterday we finally made it to a playground - the girls were in HEAVEN!
We started the day by meeting Nicholas - my Dublin cousin at the Galway train station. We wandered down shop street and around the canal to the main cathedral and came upon this truly magical place.
There was a play yard for little ones my kids' age, a climbing gym for older kids where Lucy took a try adn a skate park for teenagers who were out in droves. Even the public outside bathroom was memorable. It cost 20 cents and was fully automated. The money went in a slot the door opened with an automated voice notifying the user of this happening. The door then closed. The lock button was like an elevator button on the inside. Everything about the washroom was spotless, clean, and automatic. After
each use there is a cleaning cycle - sounded like a dishwasher!
We spent a couple of hours playing in the sunny weather with a herd of shorties. Everyone had a lot of fun. The girls slept all the way back to Kinvara.

Smoothing Out My Web Presence

2009-06-06T18:44:00.006-04:00

I've got Facebook for myself and Facebook for by biz. There is this Blog, and the Alchemy Initiative Blog, my website, Twitter, Flickr, Etsy, Gmail, and Constant Contact. So many places to go and people to virtually meet! Now that I have some familiarity with it all I am working to smooth it out, to make it consistent and easy to navigate. As I dabble in the technology I keep running across other post ideas and friends online with super interesting/intriguing sites of their own - adding hours to the learning process but keeping me inspired and learning. Check out Spoonflower. The image here tells you a little about what they have to offer. HOW COOL! I haven't used their services yet but am jazzed about the possibilities!

Naked Lights

2009-06-04T21:26:00.004-04:00

The station attendant said it meant exposed flames. Cost 55 Euro to fill the tank. Good thing we are getting 43 miles to the gallon!

Recycling Trash in Ireland

2009-06-02T19:38:00.010-04:00

Since our arrival I have been carefully separating our trash in the same way we do at home. Plastic, cans, glass and paper, then compost, and finally household trash. As the stuff was accumulating I was working to learn the Irish standards for this part of our consumption. So far I have found this. A bank of receptacles, found in every community, for all different colored glass (must be separated by color), and beverage cans (must be crushed). There was no place for any sort of plastics, paper, or other sorts of cans. My work to figure it out continues.
While grocery stores charge for shopping bags in an effort to reduce litter, I have noticed that there is a lot of trash on the beaches and roadsides. People are shameless about tossing stuff out their car windows as they hurtle along on the very narrow and windy Irish roads.

As far as the compost goes, we fed it to the cows across the street.

Irish Inspiration

2009-05-30T19:11:00.009-04:00

This post is to inspire you - my readers to check out these pictures taken on my Irish travels, and join in the flower making fun on June 26-28 at my flower making workshop. I still have room on all three days -

This post if also for my friend Diane who takes AMAZING pictures of flowers, morphs them into art and helps me at the workshops.

The details on the workshops are:

They are held in my studio in Pittsfield, MA.
10-4 each day
$150 per day
Come one, two or all three days
One and two day students can come on any day/s that work/s.

Scroll down to see what the flowers I have made look like and email me at www.crispinaffrench@gmail.com if you have any questions or want to register.

Green, Family, and Fairy Portals

2009-05-28T20:04:00.005-04:00

Today's Aside:
I got a really helpful tip on arranging images on my blog page to correlate with the text. I have not allowed myself the time to use the tip tonight. Please bear with the haphazard flow of this post and know that tomorrow will be a learning day on my computer - in the blogosphere - as long as it is raining.

Yesterday was spent at the cottage - the place that the girls now call Ireland. When they get tired when we are out roaming around they say they want to go home to Ireland.

We did go to see Auntie Ellie who is not feeling so well. I foolishly did not get a picture but promise to capture her beauty before our stay is up. She is beautiful, fit, tiny, agile, smiley, full of life with truly the most amazing garden I have ever seen. She is 90. Lives by herself (I am sure she shares her home with an extended family of
fairies.) Her not feeling so well has to do with her heart beating too fast leaving her short of breath - a lot. She is not used to asking for help or even wanting it that much. It is frightening her. Damn thing seems to be wearing out - she says. These pictures were taken enroute to her magical abode. We didn't stay too long as we arrived unexpectedly and Lucy was sleeping in the car. We will go back as much as we can while we are here.

Note to readers:
We do spend time each day seeking a decent
cup of coffee. We have been spoiled by our neighborhood haunt back in Shire City, and so far have not found anything that compares!

The sailboat at low tide in Kinvara harbor was the view from yesterday's coffee stop. The coffee was decent but not great.

The cement gate post is at the entryway to a house built like the newer barns here with lots of glass and a visible staircase - making me think that it is a residence - and the veiw was notable too. Part of what seemed to me to be an organic farm not far from where we are staying on the edge of Co. Clare

Third from the top is the road to Cregmore, Ellie's home.

Next is the road I walked down to see friends nearby - a two way road on a blustery moist afternoon. Got acupuncture for my sore hand and a hot cuppa tea.

A purple bloom among lush green roadside texture.

Family, Flowers, Food - Ireland

2009-05-26T20:46:00.012-04:00

Who needs a welcome mat when this is the entry of your home? At the cottage where we stay in Nogra, one first has to travel through a notable low walled flower garden full of blooming poppies, daisies, fuchsia bushes, calendula, asters, clematis and countless other unusual colorful, odd shaped gloriousness.

Intermittent rain is keeping the lush greens soft and everywhere. Sun warms the ground and the wind has been keeping us in layers, wool socks and all.

We went to Galway in search of a healthy food grocery shop today. We got turned around (and around) in traffic due to the Volvo World Sea Race that happened to be in town today too. We just parked the car and walked around the waterfront to check it all out.
Chris was in his glory when we found the big diggers and trucks!
I was really happy to find descent cup of black coffee to put an end to the throbbing headache I was toting around this morning!
Healthy food was available there too - a booth called Good Food Ireland - which is sort of like our Berkshire Grown back home. We had lunch there - really yummy organic meat sausages served like hot dogs. Veggies were not offered but I did sample the smoked salmon - Yummmm. The woman who waited on us gave me lots of info on the organization including a touring map with their members locations all over the country. No word of a whole, healthy food grocery market though.

We ended up shopping for basics back in Kinvara at the new, giant, not very good Londis. They did have organic milk and some organic fruit and vegetables. The potatoes we had for dinner were very tastey (rightly so!)

On the way home from a walk to the beach Lucy fell asleep in the stroller with a handful of wildflowers for 'Daddy'. A red clover, buttercup, purple vetch, and a couple others, he put them in water, short stems and all - a reminder of the love I have for my family!

Then there was the tea party. Violet and Lucy seem so easily entertained. Mostly it is the fact that they have each other but they are pretty creative thinkers. Every piece of silverware was searched out and on display for their festivities. They must have been expecting quite a crowd!

this is an aside:
I wish I could figure out how to format and post pictures better with this software. It would be great if the text that pertained to the pictures on my posts could correlate a little better~ Maybe someone out there can help me? I have tried to get help through blogger but that is quite a maze and requires patience

Ireland, Playgrounds, Thrift Shops, Organic Farms, and Family

2009-05-25T15:32:00.004-04:00

Chris, Lucy, Violet and myself, just arrived here in Nogra, near Kinvara this morning. We flew from JFK to Shannon without a hitch. The girls were so excited about the thought of flying on a plane I was worried about the amount of sleep any of us would get on our overnight flight. I was also worried about Violet having one of her unexplained night time coughing attacks that sounds like everything is coming up, on the plane or in the airport and being summoned off the plane in the latest media panic for Swine Flu. Yikes!
We all slept as well as undrugged people can sleep on planes, and there was not so much as a throat clearing from the youngest of our possee. I would like to plan our two week stay around Playgrounds, Thrift Shops, Organic Farms and Family - not necessarily in that order. Delving into a little research has been pretty friutless so far. Am I going to have to write a book mapping out and reviewing these things? I have thought about the Thrift Shop Guide before. Not sure how playgrounds partner for the average reader - there maybe the beginnings of two volumes here. For now, stay tuned here and I will let you know what I learn.

Co-op Retreat, Fairy Houses

2009-05-20T06:36:00.005-04:00

Last weekend I participated in the board retreat for The Berkshire Food Coop. It was a lovely stay at 9 Mountain Retreat and Workshop Center with true remote quiet, tastey whole food, and lots of wilderness to 'get lost' in. Once we got our work accomplished, we carpooled back to culture. I got home and CRASHED before the girls were in bed! All the serious, deep, collaborative thinking had seeped into my energy reserve and wiped me out.
Now that I have had a chance to recover, I am more intrigued than ever with the coop business model. Which enters into other aspects of my thought - Alchemy Initiative is in deep discussion around business structure with all our forward motion set aside until we can decide and pursue the structure that makes the best sense to us all.

It is imperative to do deep collaborative thinking in a Fairy House!

Flower Making Workshop - June 26, 27 & 28

2009-05-12T06:23:00.010-04:00

Learn to make colorful surreal flowers from scraps of fabric, recovered buttons and wire. Simple techniques are easily learned quickly and time is allowed for delving into the creative progression of development and design. Use these unusual, fun and 'ever-lasting' beauties for wedding arrangements, table settings, wreaths and garlands adding color and whimsy any time of year. No sewing or other experience is necessary. Classes are limited to ten people each day and cost $150 per day, which includes the use of all tools and materials for the workshop, as well as a healthy lunch. At the end of the day you will have a bouquet to go home with and the knowledge to make more with simple tools. Students can attend for one, two, or all three days of the workshop. More time in the studio allows for deeper development of skills and making style. One and two day students can come any of the three days. Pre-Registration is required. Ask about nearby accommodations.

To register:
Send an email to Crispinaffrench@gmail.com letting me know which day you would like to attend. Then send a check for 50% deposit to hold your space to Crispina ffrench 40 Melville St., Pittsfield (Shire City), Ma 01201

Crafting A Business

2009-05-05T23:52:00.004-04:00

Kathie Fitzgerald put this really interesting book
together initially released in 2008. Now she is
adding a chapter discussing with the featured entrepreneurs, their tactics, for weathering the changes in our financial systems. I just got off the phone with her and was really pleased with her interesting questions and committment to sharing inspiration. We are beginning to discuss an Event around the re-release due around Mothers' Day 2010. Stay tuned for that.

Also compiling a schedule of workshops for the remainder of 2009 to be posted on my calendar later today.

Hope to grow that audience cause the peeps who have been here to a workshop are nothing but proud and happy on the way out at the end.

Wow - My head is spinning!

2009-04-28T21:18:00.004-04:00

This is a picture of me and my sister Sofia. Good for grounding my current state of an extra full life!

Not a lot of time to post right now but did want to pop online to let you know I am still out here breathing air!

We are heading to Ireland for nearly three weeks in nearly three weeks. Biggie, the girls and I will be flying from JFK to Shannon with my parents' luggage. We will get there a week ahead of them and spend time getting their summer digs in order.

We have a 2 bedroom or 3 bedroom apartment available for rent in our Urban Farmhouse. Alchemy Initiative will be graced with new contributors which is exciting. Space available June 1st. (We will be out of the country.)

I am working on a new line of Sweatshirts! No, they are not wool! I am wearing the first of them in the picture above which was shot at Alchemy Initiative's Earthday kickoff event.

Looks like we are buying the convent across the street. It is a visual shambles on the outside ~ the inside is structurely sound. A boutique hostel is in the works for this property.

An internship program will get underway here this summer. Applicants should send their resume and letter of interest to me at crispinaffrench@gmail.com.

Chickens and Bees are coming soon! First week in May.

The girls are growing and so much fun to be with. Ben is a fine and healthy young man of 16.5 years. He just got his driver's permit and needs to practice driving.

Chris and I are good. Ireland will give us some time to share and relax.

The rest of the year's worth of workshops will be posted online soon! Stay tuned!

thanks for contributing to the general good of this planet! Seems to be commonly accepted as the way to behave these days. A refreshing new paradigm is unfolding.

Potholder Rug Making Workshop

2009-04-23T22:49:00.003-04:00

A three day Potholder Rug making workshop began last Sunday in the studio. A great group people turned up, some from far away places (like Michigan, Missouri, and Arkansas!) with all sorts of backgrounds. While most people stayed for more than just one day there were single day visitors everyday adding new input and fun to the core group.

My friend Eric made some Potholder Rug looms for me to sell - and they sold! He was able to join in on Sunday to learn the process. He was my first ever male workshop student!

Everyone left with beautiful rugs, a clear desire to continue creating and and a few sore fingers!

My workshop schedule for the rest of the year will be posted on my calendar soon.

The next workshop is a one day event on May 16 - Recycled wool felt flower making. 11-5:30 $150 includes all tools, materials, and lunch

Every Wednesday the studio is open for my Sewing Lounge and shopping.
Come by anytime from 11-5 and see the newest recycled creations from my studio. Bring a project to work on or just pop in.

Making

2009-04-16T07:40:00.007-04:00

This is what I have been working on in the studio. The blanket on the table came back for a repair. It was a little hard to find what the customer was concerned about. The experience reminded me how cool that collection was. Makes me want to make more!

The top image is of the sign I am making for the Alchemy Initiative. In case you haven't heard, we are having an Earthday celebration - the WE of Alchemy Initiative is a group for four, myself, Jess Rufo, Jess Conzo, and Bridget Conry. Alchemy Initiative is bound to grow but for now we are the team making it happen. Join us 4/22 here at the Church from 6-10 pm. See Alchemy Initiative.org for all the deets.

This Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday I am holding my Potholder Rug Making Workshop. There are a couple spaces open if you are interested.

New Stuff

2009-04-15T00:23:00.002-04:00

Finally got in the studio for some creative time. Here are a couple of baby blankets ready for the shop - actually the one on the left sold in minutes after it was posted this evening!

Been at the studio for the last few hours working on new blanket structures - more individual and one of a kind. Will post images of that process tomorrow.

Sure do love to make things!

Easter Sunday

2009-04-13T23:00:00.005-04:00

Not sure where this bunny image came from but I found it online somewhere and have been saving it to post commem-orating the best part of the Easter Holiday in my memory.

The hunt was held at my sister's house this year. She always manages to pull off the magic of whatever season or holiday is about. Easter, this past Sunday was no acception! The kids all had a great time dashing around the yard on a chilly afternoon filling baskets with wonder and brightly colored eggs. What fun! It was Violet's first year of on her own hunting. She was not in such a hurry - genuinely awestruck by the idea that the bunny had left all these eggs for her! Wow!

Three jelly beans this morning sent her into a rare sugar induced tantrum before we got out the door. Short lived for both she and her sister - Oh Thank Goodness!~

Potholder Rugs

2009-04-12T23:04:00.003-04:00

This week is going to be busy. Getting ready for my three day Potholder Rug making workshop and Alchemy Initiative's introduction to the community.
Workshop preparations are familiar and clear. I am excited to meet a nice group of women, some traveling from far away places to join in the learning and making scheduled to begin at 10am, Sunday April 19.
Every time I have a workshop I try to add something to the experience, my learning process. Looms to sell are the addition to this Potholder Rug making workshop. My friend Eric has made a couple of lovely samples for students to try and order if they are excited enough about the process to want to continue at home. Looms that make 2.5x3.5 ft rugs are available for $275 and smaller looms - that make rugs that measure 1.75x2.5ft are priced at $175. You can buy them at the studio or from my online shop, www.crispinaffrench.etsy.com

Alchemy Initiative is unfamiliar as it is so new and really exciting. We, the founding members are a group of 4 women all committed to urban farming, art making, urban center, community housing development and community in general. Our first event is planned for Wednesday April 22 - Earthday. There suddenly seems like there is so much to do! Yikes! Gotta get to bed so I can get up early and work before the girls are up.

Taupe, Shadows, and Sunshine

2009-04-02T22:41:00.007-04:00

Spring is here and yard clean up is underway. Here are some images from a recent sunny and cool day. I dig the coloration similarities.

First is my favorite piece of lawn furniture an antique double chaise.

A weathered picnic table topped with votives in a sundry Goodwill glass containers for summer night entertaining

A blanket I recently made of recycled wool sweaters on its way to Lynda Kuznetz in NYC. One of a kind. There will be a similar one on my Etsy shop soon!

Recycled Play Sink

2009-04-02T12:39:00.003-04:00

Wow! I love this play sink. Too bad this company does not have their amazing play kitchens available in this country. Learn all about them here

Contemporary Folk Art

2009-04-01T21:47:00.003-04:00

As seen in Elm Street parking lot Pittsfield, Ma on April Fool's Day

Kennedy Park with Jen and Henry

2009-04-01T21:33:00.004-04:00

The other day my friend Jen and her son Henry, the girls, and I went for a drizzly cold walk in the woods. We brought the dog and not enough warm clothes. Violet didn't mind and Henry shared his mittens. Lucy slept most of the way in the stroller.
Jen is the editor of Orion Magazine and sits on the board of our local currency Berkshares. She is wonderful! I love her eloquence, parenting style, groundedness, and brilliance.
In addition to all that her dad is a pediatric cardiologist and has had many a helpful conversation with me around Ben's heart condition.

We were chatting and thinking there might be a way to have Berkshares be better represented in Pittsfield if they had an office here. Maybe that could be a facet of Alchemy Initiative??? Just ideas for now but exciting to think of all the possibilities!

Good Morning from Violet

2009-04-01T10:47:00.005-04:00

Just a sunshiney smile from one the warmest hearts I know on this cold spring morning. No Joke!

Happpy Birthday Vivian!

2009-03-27T23:38:00.004-04:00

This is my friend Vivian Kie. She is a former student of my parents' public high school art teaching legacy. And she has a way with showing up out of the blue. When I was a kid it was usually at Christmas, like on Christmas Day, and she would stay and chat for hours. I remember one year she had on Dr. Scholls.
Today as the girls and I were heading out to daycare she met us in front of the house. We were already in the car so she hopped in with us and went for the ride. Violet was terrified while Lucy had a long and informative conversation.
We spent the day working around the house and studio getting things in order for the work party we have happening tomorrow. Here she is sampling our soon to be installed commode. It was her birthday today, she thought she might have good luck finding me on account of the occassion and she was right. I had good luck too to have her around laughing and bustin' it out with me all day! She is a fine craftswoman and strong as an ox. Her shirt says it all.

Sweaters Sweaters Sweaters

2009-03-25T23:24:00.003-04:00

I love making sweaters and people seem to love to buy them. It works great in person but it is hard to do it online. How do you want to see them? Showing them on a person seems to categorize them. Would it be helpful to see specific measurements? I could measure the distance, straight across under arm holes, sleeve length, sweater length, and anything else that seems pertenant. Seems to me that if I had a couple of images like the ones shown here depicting front and back shown with specific measurements that would sell them well.
If you have ideas let me know!

Today was really Spring-like. I took all sorts of pictures on my morning run with Okemo but my iPhone is
having a problem. Now that I have become dependent on it I will likely have to run over to Albany in the next day or two to have it looked at at the Apple store in the dreaded mall. There is no where else to take it around these remote-ish parts.

Yard Work

2009-03-21T21:08:00.003-04:00

It has been hard to find time for creative work these last weeks. The kids were sick sick sick. Fevers, coughs, respiratory congestion. Then Chris got it and finally after thinking I survived the bout I ended up with a ear infection that resulted in a ruptured eardrum. It is really a bummer. My hearing is still muffled.

Got a line full of diapers done today in the cool sunshine. The yard got raked and the girls each scored mini rakes from the hardware store.

Tonight I am deep in the throes of second pages editing for The Sweater Chop Shop. It is fun but tedious.

Coming Soon ~ SPRING

2009-03-15T22:57:00.003-04:00

The snow still hides in shady spots but for the most part it was a rapid retreat. Lucy got down on all fours to 'smell the flowers' when I pointed out the crocuses coming up in the yard.

other stuff happening:

Was in ER at 2am this morning with what felt like a screwdriver in my head. Diagnosed with a middle ear infection. YIKES! Feeling MUCH better
Dad is home from ten days in Peru. He feels great and looks great too but the cancer is rockin' it more than ever.
Chris, the girls, and I will be making a three week trek to Ireland in May/June to help get John and Primm settled for their summer over there.
Ben is s t i l l sick! Been hacking and sputtering for a month and a half! Nothing terrible just a long bout of the flu - he even had a flu shot this year on account of his heart condition.
Alchemy Initiative is captivating a lot of my attention. Exciting collaborating with a quickly developing tribe here is Shire City. Stay up to date with that whole thing here
Garden planning happening now - chickens and bees on their way!
We are heading The Dream Away Lodge for Saint Patrick's Day FREE Boiled Dinner. Chris and I got married there and Daniel (the FREAK who owns the place) is one of our best friends.
Working on resting more and kicking this sickness that has taken up residence in my ear!

After School Program

2009-03-13T23:44:00.005-04:00

Here are some of my favorite kids in Pittsfield! They are students at Reid Middle School right here in the city center and they are talented sewers making blankets from my production scrap.
I teach once a week to any Reid Middle School student interested in taking the class for free. It is held in the school cafeteria (I am trying to figure out a way to have the kids come to the studio which is by). At first I was really disheartened by the size of the group. There are usually only 5 or 6 kids. Now I have resolved to starting somewhere in the hope we can garner some interest and excitement in our local press and dignitaries. We are working on family tree blankets where the kids will have to learn about their family history and incorporate that into the blanket with imagery and names.
This came to me when one of the kids told me in all seriousness that she knew someone who’s grandparents were younger than her.
Hummmmm. . . . . . . . . . . . . well lets learn how that couldn't really ever be!

Primm Turner ffrench

2009-03-13T16:49:00.003-04:00

This is my Mom. She celebrated her 80th birthday on March 9,2009. Born in Richmond VA to Doris Bryant Turner and Albert Turner. She moved 16 times growing up, graduated high school at the age of 16 and began teaching art in public school at the age of 20.
Last May a delightful grandmotherly woman named Abby Cutter, showed up at the house in Stockbridge. I was there and answered the door. She asked if she could just come in and say hello to Primm. Mom had been her art teacher the first year she was teaching. Abby made the trip from Virginia, in part to tell Primm how much she had influenced her life. There ought to be more teachers like her out there!

She and my dad still share the house we all grew up in on Main Street in Stockbridge, MA. While they are both blessed with relative good health, there are things that mom needs help doing. For the last year we have been working on filing a claim and actually receiving financial help from TransAmerica Long Term Care Insurance Co. No luck yet. What a debacle! Just wanted to shout out to Mom and say thanks for being a strong female role model and for trying your best to leave your kids without the financial burden of aging parents. Too bad the insurance industry is such a farce!

Melting/Healing/Spring

2009-03-11T23:17:00.003-04:00

Spring is in the air after a long snow cover. This winter we had white all around straight through. Not sure if all that cold contributed to the nastiness of our flu season but I sure am glad we are coming out of that! Literally from February 7 until March 3 someone in the house had a fever. Violet is still coughing alot at night and Ben has been missing A LOT of school! Send him healing prayers. He is a little more fragile than most of us with a really serious heart condition. His spirits are good and he is eating homemade chicken soup from his dad's kitchen.

As March 1st arrived with yet another nice thick blanket of the white stuff I was reminded by my friend Peter that 'it goes out like a lamb'. Thanks Pete! that really helped me through those first few days of the month. The girls are back at daycare and I am back to a works schedule that feels productive. Lots of construction on the property happening. New tenants downstairs the first of the month. Good friends with great kids! YAY for that.

Coming Soon

2009-03-07T23:15:00.004-05:00

Thawing was happening at an astounding rate today. Just what I needed after being cooped up with sick kids for three weeks!
Our chickens will be here next month and bees coming along in early May~

Return to Relative Normalcy

2009-03-06T00:04:00.004-05:00

Finally after what seems like it really couldn't be an accurate timeframe, of nearly a MONTH! my two girls and hubby are back in their saddles so I can think about getting back in mine!

Someone in my house had a fever beginning February 9 and ending two days ago, March 3!
Until now I have been known to poo-poo the whole bird flu/holy-shit! there-is-going-to-be-a-flu-epidemic panic that hits my news radar every once in a while. This past month has turned me into a Purel wielding, cough on your shoulder, don't come over if you are sick mom.
It has also been really nice to spend so much time with my girls and have a chance to settle down and not rush. That is the good part. We set up an impromptu kids painting studio in the hall, practiced morning yoga (2 toddlers make THAT creative and interesting and sometimes rather short lived!) and made lots of homemade food.

While going over it all in my head, there has been a lot of progress in many areas of my work/life even with all the sickness we had around here.

Alchemy Initiative, the development of our former church, rectory, and convent is rolling along. You can read all about that on a blog devoted to that project. Check that out at www.alchemyinitiative.blogspot.com It is pretty hard to separate my doings and the doings that go on that blog as my life is entwined throughout.
Part of that project is an urban farm/garden - we have ordered 18 chicks and 3lbs of bees. Chris kept bees for years up in his Hobit house in Becket before we were married. He is excited about getting that going on again. It is a first time endeavor for me! I wonder how many bees there are in three pounds? I envision some hobit magic softening our urban harshness with the introduction of honey bees here.
Chickens shared my garden for many years before we left Great Barrington. I am really excited to bring that aspect of home to this place. Someone once told me that chickens signify prosperity in China. They eat harmful grubs, ticks, and compost, fertilize hungry soil, and give warm, healthy eggs. We plan some sort of a greenhouse/coop that is still in design stages. Better get on that cause the chicks will be here soon.
A fieldtrip is planned for bee pick-up on May 9th.

Plague-Like Flu

2009-03-03T18:13:00.004-05:00

Really since the first week of February someone in our house has had a fever. Actually the fevers all seem to have broken for the last 24 hours. Maybe this time we are on the mend. I never got it but all three kids and Chris did. I am really tired of playing nurse and being in the house. Haven't gotten much done in the studio either. Toward the end of today the Lucy and Violet were playing Ring Around The Rosie. Sure beats the excessive neediness, hair-pulling, pushing, grabbing and general naughtiness that seeped in prior!
Maybe we will all be back in our routine by the end of the week!

Inspiration

2009-02-24T23:19:00.002-05:00

Workshop Schedule Change

2009-02-23T00:15:00.005-05:00

Greetings from EXTRA snowy Shire City (also known as Pittsfield, MA).
After a bunch of requests came in for more weekend time offered for workshops I have decided to try it out for my March plan. I am teaching Button Vests and Jackets - now offered on Saturday the 14 through Monday the 16. Come for all three days or just one. The cost is $150 per day. You will have a finished piece and a head full of knowledge and inspiration to continue when the day is done. If you plan to stay for more than one day the learning never ends!

I took a bunch of pictures today in the snow storm that continues to dump quiet softness all around. In front is a Button Vest. Restyled overcoat with recycled sweater trim - the style is from the vault but continues to be super popular! You can make a longer one or even a jacket like the one pictured behind the vest!

Pre-Registration is a must. Please call or email for more information. Crispinaffrench@gmail.com or 413-236-9600

Alchemy Initiative

2009-02-22T15:38:00.006-05:00

So my husband and I bought the buildings shown in the top two pictures here in 2006. Shown first is the rectory to the church shown second. The rectory is 7000 sq ft, built 1905, it has a huge yard and is morphing into 6 separate living spaces.
We live on the top floor in the biggest unit, about 1400 sq ft with three bedrooms. On April 1 a third unit will be occupied so we are nearly half way there!

The church is truly exquisite. a nearly 6000 sq ft footprint. Full of amazing stained glass and details of 1895 craftsmanship not normally seen in today's construction. There are two floors now. The lower level where 400 patrons were seated at the weekly Bingo events for the church. We have been using this space since we made the purchase, most recently for workshops.

The upper level is still full of pews and the remnants of an altar etc. We envision a third level dividing the upper level space to make it possible to heat and accommodate our plan.

The third, photo is of the convent, built in the early 1900s for the Notre Dame property. It is unoccupied, has fallen into disrepair and is on the market for CHEAP. Chris put an extra low bid in for it yesterday. If we get it, it will not be torn down to give us a clear shot view of our 24 hr Stop and Rob across the way. It will become an integral part of the plan we are conjuring.

Alchemy Initiative is the name we are using and for our intention, there is a multi faceted business plan is coming together now. It includes, an urban farm garden, workshop space, a public reading room, commercial kitchen, music venue, coffee/tea house, and hotel/hostel all done with green renovations and systems. Rainwater catchment, alternative energy, native species plants, filter plants, organic food plants, and a seed bank are in the plans. My dream is to power the whole thing with a wind turbine on the steeple!

An intensive internship program is in development stages.

There is a blog devoted to the process depicting the journey of the project's development. There is not a lot to see right now but you can get more information about our plans at www.alchemyinitiative.blogspot.com. Check back in a week or two when there will be more to it. Events are coming together for April and June already!

Inspiration

2009-02-20T22:43:00.005-05:00

We took a ride to North Adams, the home of Mass MoCA yesterday. I think it is the biggest Museum of Contemporary Art in the country?? Huge galleries filled with interesting spectacles are around every corner. Funny, my friend Daniel, of Dream Away Lodge ilk, and I decided on the way up that we were good for about an hour in a museum of any kind, and that was all it took. The show we were chasing was the Sol LeWitt wall drawings exhibition. It will be there for 25 years so don’t rush but do see. I recommend the audio tour (you can download it free from here). The science behind the artist’s intention adds immeasurably to the experience. The lovely Jody Joseph, Mass MoCA Retail Manager was an eloquent and thoroughly entertaining guide.

Afterward we enjoyed the best cuppa Joe North County has to offer at the new and truly enchanting Elf Parlor on Ashland Street. Just open for a few weeks, this place wreaks eye sweets from entry til exit. The staff is cute and friendly and man can they make a great hot drink. Affordable and yummy, they even offer Hot Vanilla Creams for the wee ones – ingredients: warm milk, honey, vanilla, fluffed up just enough to feel fancy, served in a kid sized to go cup for a buck! How nice is that! An affordable kids drink without sugar, relatively healthy too! They have tasty baked goods. We shared a handful of yummy homemade cookies including molasses, the traditional chocolate chip and something called Butternut which was a buttery, chewy cookie laces with nuts and praline to beat the band! All in all a great way to spend a day and be inspired. There might just be some new blankets coming out of this!

Learn All About It

2009-02-18T22:55:00.005-05:00

Rough of latest cover idea for my first book due out in August from Storey Publishing.

Inspiration

2009-02-18T06:44:00.004-05:00

Every once in a while I am blown away by something. Could be an artist, piece of artwork, or experience. That strong inspiration makes me happy or excited, builds desire in me to reach out and connect that feeling to others. Here, let me share with you the artwork of fellow vintage collager extraordinaire: Lisa Whatmough and her production company, Squint Limited based in London England.

What do you think a room filled with her furnishings and my soft goods would be like? Dreamy I say!

Sweater Making

2009-02-15T22:40:00.004-05:00

Today began my February Workshop. The focus this month is on sweater making. Here is my friend Diane wearing a truly amazing rendition of a workshop inspired cardigan. She made the buttons with Fimo. Diane was a workshop attendee at the first one I offered back in June 2008. She got hooked on the process and has made several LOVELY pieces.
Monday and Tuesday round out this month's workshop. The Third Sunday in March I start a new workshop on button vests, incoporating used wool overcoats that are woven and wool knits like sweaters. We will learn combination techniques and general structural know-how pointers will be discussed.

Making

2009-02-13T23:54:00.004-05:00

I recently made a batch of New Flag Blankets. You can see one if you scroll down a way. Designed in my company's prior incarnation and we sold a BUNCH of them wholesale. I loved the design, especially in light of the times. Now is the first time I can remember not being ashamed by our flag. Barack Obama's election has allowed me pride in our national emblem.
While cutting material for the blankets the correlation Barack made in his inaugural speech to the country being a patchworked quilt was right in my hands. In the material I use there are many handknit sweaters from all sorts of places. Traditions tell tales of place and people. Hesitation struck me as I came upon this sweater. Certianly handknit on fine needles of experience and skill probably in Irealand. The country of my birth and heritage. I wanted to save it to look at and honor - for a second - until I realized that incorporating it into the mix would allow many that honor.

I hope Barack and Michelle like the blanket they inspired. They have inspired global HOPE, so with great gratitude I send them a humble gift of one of the batch - with bits of the Irish heritage sewn in.

New Regime Flag Coming Soon!

2009-02-09T08:39:00.003-05:00

There are a batch of 10 New Regime Flags coming together in the studio. One of them is on the way to 200 Pennsylvania Avenue, a bunch of the others are for orders and there will be a few posted in my shop. Stay tuned!

Pittsfield, West Stockbridge, Hudson NY

2009-02-07T23:27:00.004-05:00

Today was spent traveling near and wide to collect things needed for finishing touches of our nearly complete second floor unit in the rectory. First stop was The Floor Store in West Stockbridge where we ordered Marmoleum for both bathroom floors, subway tile for the bath and amazing ceramic tile to be used for the kitchen counters.
Then on to Reggie's magical wonderland of all things funky old and totally useful right in the heart of Hudson NY. Now that little city sparkles with it's fairly tale architecture and diversity.
By the time we got there the rascals were having high jinx! We had a late lunch enroute of pretzels, orange juice, clementines and strawberry Brown Cow yogurt! Both girls were in a great mood all day and really dug Reggie and his place. It was fun to have the weather to be warm enough to do some harmless puddle splashing which is Lucy's first choice activity! Here they are in all their glory: Lucy on the left and Violet. Violet will be two on the 10th. We are having a hot chocolate sliding party tomorrow in her honor!

Cyber Magic

2009-02-05T11:43:00.003-05:00

I am learning so much every day about the internet and how to use it best as a tool for marketing and general communication.
The latest is a calendar I am working on developing in google that will be searchable for all the events and happenings around here (and there are sooo many exciting things it is hard to stay focused on anything else!). So the learning and the excitement are culminating! So cool.

In the future there will be some sort of cool looking link to the calendar page but for right now today you can just search my measly beginning of a calendar there by going to google calendar and looking for crispinaffrench.

It will be filled with lots more soon so check back whenever you can.

It has been a challenge to make myself take time for cardio vascular challenges. I love to be outdoors and not that enthusiastic about treadmills or gyms.
I did get a good three mile trail run in yesterday. This morning Okemo and I found ourselves at the dog park but it was really really cold!

Workshop Schedule for 2009

2009-01-29T22:36:00.006-05:00

here it is - the thing people have been asking about. The full year of workshops I am offering in the studio. If you have difficulty reading the tiny type (which looked perfectly legible before I uploaded it!) let me know and I can email you an attachment that is bigger.

Soon my site at www.crispina.com will changed up to reflect what I am up to these days. Until then here is the calendar of events.
More to come . . like my book will be out in August! It is coming together and looking great!

Potholder Rugs

2009-01-26T09:12:00.003-05:00

This is Juan and he is a master rug maker. Here he is working on a 5x7 tenango Potholder rug for some folks out in the Bay Area for their newest family member's bedroom. Nice way to start life!
The rugs are all handwoven just like you see here. They are made with recycled wool sweaters or t shirts. There are no dyes or harsh chemicals used in the process. We machine wash and dry all the raw material in 185 degree water with a biodegradable soap.
If you are interested in ordering one you can visit the my online shop by clicking on the items for sale at the right of this post. If you are interested in learning how to make your own potholder rug you can register for my three day workshop in April - the 19-21. Post a comment here to do that and I will give you all the details.

Did I hear a GLOBAL Sigh?

2009-01-23T07:10:00.003-05:00

I thought I was the only one with tears filling my eyes and then shamelessly streaming down my cheeks as our new president took office. Seems like that state was W I D E spread. Tears carrying away feeling responsible for the torture, hate, fear, and deceit promoted by our outgoing administration.
Maybe Love is the operative word now - as suggested by the poet at the podium just after Obama's eloquent speech. Let's help and hope and spread the love.

I am working on a batch of New Flag blankets - patchwork, of course, like our country. One of the batch is heading right down there to the first Family and the rest will fill orders and be available on my etsy shop. Stay tuned!

Monday in the studio

2009-01-22T00:17:00.003-05:00

This blanket came out really well. I love the color and weight of it! The Champagne colored velvet frames the circumference with lush yummy.

Lots of hand knits and soft lofty neutrals here. It is a 5x5ft throw and you can see it here for sale:
www.crispinaffrench.etsy.com

Blanket/Scarf Workshop

2009-01-19T22:06:00.003-05:00

Every time a workshop happens in the studio I seem to learn as much as I teach! This past Sunday a great group of all ladies indulged in scarf and blanket learning and construction. Lovely things were conjured up with sweater alchemy techniques developed over the last 20 years in my work.
Super tasty lunch of braised chicken, mesculin salad, and blue cheese, toasted walnut, and sage biscuits was catered by my great friends David Rizzardi and Judy Merritt. We had home made biscotti and coffee for a afternoon break.

The next workshop is scheduled to begin on the third Sunday in February, the 15th and carry on for the 16th and 17th. The focus next month is on sweater construction. The cost is $150 per day with Wednesday the 18th being free for three day workshop attendees. People are free to register for one, two, or all three days and can begin on any one of the three days. Lunch, as well as tools and materials used in the studio are included in the price of the workshop beginning at 10am and finishing at 5pm daily.

Call or email your questions or to sign-up.
413-236-9600 or crispinaffrench@gmail.com

Thanks!

Website Work

2009-01-13T22:54:00.006-05:00

Well I finally actually MET Dean from Modino Media Design. He and I have been working together to simplify my main site. He designed the full monty just as Nancy was deciding to shut Fuchsia's doors. So 'my' current site was actually designed at the Fuchsia, Inc. site. Soon 'my' site will actually be 'my' site. Much simplier and more functional. It was so fun to work with him and see what goes into working on/designing websites. No pictures of Dean but some of the neighborhood - East Village. I love NYC!

Memorable Weekend!

2009-01-12T06:52:00.007-05:00

Ben was with us this weekend. I met him in Stockbridge, at The Dolphin Studio, late Friday afternoon. We had a great chatty ride home. Nice to have one on one time with him.

Before Ben’s arrival, I had spoken to Deborah from Storey Publishing - the first sample pages of the book, I am finishing up with them, are ready for my review! We arranged to have them dropped off for me to have for the weekend. The book is called Chop Shop - due out in August - all how to make things using the process I have developed over the last 21 years. It was a TON of work. I did the writing and illustrations and loved the process!

Oh MAN! The sample pages are great! The people at Storey sure know what they are doing! They look better than I could have imagined. It is astonishing to see all that rough work come together in smooth, professional, book-like form! My next task is to read through it and make finishing touches making the illustrations match the copy.

I had to wait til I got home from chaperoning a high school dance sponsored by Youth Alive here in downtown Pittsfield to take a look. I had the pages in my hands for about 47 seconds before I had to dash out the door.

There were a whole lotta kids at the dance held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Every different walk of life and all three high schools in Pittsfield were represented without a hitch. I had a blast meeting some community minded fellow chaperones, getting educated to youth culture, and seeing all those beautiful kids. The chaperones were invited into the ballroom for the Youth Alive performance. The crowd was mighty enthusiastic and exuberant! Youth Alive performers were A M A Z I N G – AND they organized the whole event, selling tickets, keeping lines moving, and being generally responsible.
One kid from Dalton was puking in the bathroom less than an hour into it. He was pretty green. We called 911.

At 8:30 Saturday morning I was in Brattleboro VT for a workshop on being an educated, proficient and productive Food Coop Board Member. CBL101 was the title of the day-long seminar. It was super fun! The presenters were engaging, fun and very informative. I met 19 mostly new, board members from neighboring coops. The day got me jazzed about my recent commitment with the Berkshire Coop Market Board of Directors. I have to add here that Policy Governance is an idea that seems to fit well with the changes we are experiencing in many aspects of culture today.

By 7:30 Saturday night, my sweet hubby and I, were at his company “Christmas Party”. It was held at The Old Forge in Lanesboro where they have over 100 choices in the beer department and great food to go with. We had fun. My brother-in-law works for Chris so my sister Sofie was there and she is always up for some fun. We laughed a lot while maintaining as much composure as expected. Chris employs over thirty people at CESCO plumbing and heating so there was a nice crowd there. We were home in bed shortly after midnight. All the kids were sound asleep and peaceful.

Ben, our dear friend Jayme Hummer, and I went skiing at Jiminy Peak Sunday afternoon. It was a BEAUTIFUL day - a truly fabulous way to end a pretty special weekend. The conditions were superb after a late Saturday night snow of musta been 7 or 8 inches. It was cold and sunny with big puffy clouds streaking across the bright blue sky. Jiminy Peak generates about a third of the power they use with a huge beautiful wind turbine that seems to float above the trees near the summit gracefully gliding through time in silence. Just gorgeous. Made my lungs fill with clear cold mountain air with a sense of comfort sometimes consumed with environmental guilt when alpine skiing. Season passes next year?

Tea Party

2009-01-09T12:02:00.003-05:00

Wait staff at my Tea House on Melville Street

January 7, oops its the 8 2009

2009-01-08T07:13:00.007-05:00

This is the view out my early morning window today. It is so pretty - peaceful and the din of the city just revving up for the day.

Couple things:
1.
I have been getting tons of requests for product from all sorts of nice people all across the land. It feels really good to have the demand but a little overwhelming too.
Just so you know, production went from a 40 person crew until April 2008 . . . to me.
And Juan weaving rugs as fast as he can.
Sarah, the RISD intern turned amazing assistant just left for ENGLAND! Would you believe! She is moving there with her new, british hubby - off to seek their fortune. I will miss her spirit and amazing capacity around the house and studio! The adventures were many and mostly FUN.
2.
Since I have had a little time to spend with the development of my web presence, all manner of friendly tree hugging recyclers have been dropping by to check in. Thanks you guys! I feel like my circle of friends is back. It was really strange to go from attending major INTERNATIONAL tradeshows where I met and saw most of my oldest friends a couple times a year to being a semi-home based Pittsfield Girl. I mean I love the pace change - fo sho but I miss the rest of it.

Back to the subject of that LOVELY looking fresh snow.
Yesterday the view was the heavily drenched slush look. All gray, drippy, wet.

I got an appointment with the Dr. to check out little miss Violet's diaper rash and got not much else done. Took a L O N G time to get places in the weather and I was so glad they could take her right away. She had been commenting on how her bummy hurrt mommy.
Seems better already.

Back to the 'Couple Things':
Be patient peeps! New stuff will go up on Etsy soon! Sometimes bummies take presedence over pretty much all else.

Special Offer

2009-01-06T07:49:00.004-05:00

My new years resolution is to be on time. So far I have been doing pretty well with physically showing up promptly but the deadline issue is yet to be tackled. The reason I bring this to your attention is because I have left marketing my fast approaching January workshop late. I need to have at least 5 students to run the class for any given day. I am offering a buy one and get one for half price special. To take advantage of this offer you must sign up by January 10. If you can find the time in your days from January 18-20 to take a class in my studio I promise to engage you in a wholly satisfying experience that will leave you inspired. Everyone will finish the day with a finished blanket or scarf. The process is done by hand. There is no experience necessary. All tools, materials and lunch is provided for they day. Classes begin at 10 and run until 5pm and the charge is $150 per day. (Bring a friend for $75!)

Wow it is 2009

2009-01-02T00:56:00.003-05:00

Last night we were in NYC at my cousin's annual house party. It was fun! The kids (3 female toddlers) ruled the roost. Wa HOoooo! A new year. My goal is to be on time this year. To allow enough time to do the things I select. Focus on the selection process is key.

OOOOoo00oPpppS - Wrong Dates!

2008-12-31T10:05:00.002-05:00

so the calendar AND January flier I posted for the upcoming workshops have the WRONG dates! Workshops start on the third SUNDAY of each month. Once I have a chance to correct the error I will post a corrected version that you can print out and post ALL OVER!

Sorry!

Studio Workshops

2008-12-29T00:37:00.005-05:00

The first round of studio workshops offered sporadically in 2008 were such a great success that I will be offering monthly 3-day workshops in my Pittsfield studio throughout 2009. Beginning the third Sunday of each month, I will teach a class in a specific subject. January's lessons on scarf and blanket making begin on the 19 and will carry over to the 20, and 21. Students can join in any day - or two or all three. Single day students will certainly finish a scarf and/or baby or lap blanket. People who stay for more than one day will have the opportunity to complete a larger, more intricate project and learn more involved techniques.
All materials and tools are included in the daily price of $150. If students are interested in staying for three days the fourth day (a Wednesday) is a free finish-up day.
Those with paid registration for the first workshop of 2009, by January 10th can bring a friend for half price.

There is no prior experience necessary although a strong desire to learn is a must.

Classes are limited to 10 people and run from 10-4pm. Barter, sliding scale fees and tuition assistance are available

Tools and materials are available for purchase if students are interested in continuing on with the technique after the class.

Feel free to contact me with any further questions or just leave a comment that I can respond to here so everyone can see.

Crispina and Friends Studio Sale

2008-12-27T07:53:00.007-05:00

It was a huge success! I am talking about our recent studio sale.
23 of the Berkshire's finest - and funnest, gathered on the weekend of the 13 and 14 of December and sold lots of super cool stuff.
Enticing scents from the hot food and amazing baked goods from Judy Merrit and David Rizardi's Tutti Baking Co. filled the air. Music wafted through too from Steve Elling and his friend Christopher who played traditional Italian mandolin and acordian tunes as we opened on Saturday.
My new friend Shirley Edgerton and her AMAZING, eloquent, engaging, fine young group of steppers and drummers added their magic to festivities. They were raising money for competition uniforms and subsidizing a trip to the inauguration for a few of the group. In exchange for donations they were wrapping gifts in paper they had made and performing a few times each day.

This is certainly the tip of the iceberg but at the moment I have a little stenographer here helping me making this post one to be continued.

I hope I can get mention in here of my dear old friends Heather Cupo and Sean Kimball who came by with Louisa age 6. It was super fun to meet her for the first time and Heather had on a vest I had made prolly 10 years ago - and so did another customer I didn't know. They got to meet and I took their picture!

Sorry for the lack of well designed layout. I am a novice blogger and need help. Does anyone know how to move pictures around?

Cheers for now - check back soon!

Fresh

2008-12-25T23:27:00.003-05:00

It has been entirely too long since I have posted. Many cool and exciting things are happening that seem to rocket into the past at breakneck velocity. Today is Christmas and we had a great chill and enjoyable family day.
I will be posting on a daily basis for the next week so please do check back and see what's up.

December Studio Sale

2008-11-29T23:37:00.004-05:00

After making several unsuccessful trouble shooting attempts to correct the problemo of VERY WEIRD color translation of the accompanying image, let me just say that:
On December 13 and 14 I will be hosting a brand new kind of studio sale! 23 of the Berkshires and surrounding area's finest makers will gather at my studio to sell their wares from 10-5 both days. Affordable gourmet lunch will be available on site as well as Holiday greenery, pottery, jewelry, mobiles, and more. Gift wrapping will be provided by donation by Melville Street's very own Youth Alive. There will be music and hooping and all manner of high jinx to be had as well as a lot of great gift ideas inclucing Dolphin Studio Calendars and John ffrench ceramics.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ben!

2008-11-25T07:47:00.005-05:00

Chris Mangiardi, Ben, Filis, and I went shopping in Boston/Cambridge for the day so celebrate Ben's 16th birthday. First stop was The Garment District which was the first company I ever bought my raw materials at wholesale. That was back in 1989! The company is virtually the same from retail shoppers eye. Behind the scenes is different. Bruce sold the company a few years back to Chris and they are not wholesaling any more. There are lots of interesting stories of my shopping there - maybe better for different post.
We met up with Filis, my favorite college roommate, there and proceeded to Whole Foods for lunch. We were all quiet while savoring the taste treats there! I had Apple Pumpkin soup which was AMAZING!
Newberry Street was our final shopping destination for the day. Ben is all about the buzz of busy urban shopping neighborhoods. Filis and I drove around for 30 minutes and finally parked in a garage. Ben and Chris were off to the Guess Store, Johnny Cupcake, Hugo Boss and my favorite Newbury Comics.
Filis and I found a coffee shop with ceramic cups (as opposed to the customary paper). We sat and enjoyed large caffinated beverages and poked around the Anthropologie shop on Boylston Street. I am inspired by their in store display creativity. Paper chains, ornament shaped paper cut-outs hung on long lines of orange nylon, coat hanger jumbles stretching across the third floor ceiling, and ropes made of fabric strips dyed and strung throughout the shop. I wished I had my camera!

Calendar Time

2008-11-13T06:37:00.004-05:00

The ffrench family business, called The Dolphin Studio started 38 years ago by John and Primm, (my Mom and Dad) is in the throes of another busy calendar shipping season. We produce a hand silkscreened calendar every year and have since the beginning. When I was a kid printing was one of the daily chores that each kid was required to carry out. It was our task to register the paper on the table and then carry the fresh, wet prints from the print table to a clothesline to hang to dry. Since then things have gotten a lot more organized and fluid.
Primm cuts all the stencils, John did do all the printing single handedly for many years. This year he had help from his friend and master screen printer John Ahlen.
Sofie, my sister, and I have been heading up the mailing and shipping departments. It has been really great to have time to add this to my day.
Just last year Primm hand wrote each mailing label and 'thank-you for your order' enclosure. She swore off it after literally doubling sales due to features in the NY Times Magazine and DailyCandy.com. Sofie and I hold onto her personal touch as much as we can while adding computer printed labels and UPS pick-up to the mix.

We normally sell out by mid December and they are going fast so if you want to get one, don't wait. They cost $50 and can be ordered right from here: The Dolphin Studio.

Laundry at My House

2008-11-07T14:21:00.002-05:00

Finally got Chris to put up a clothesline for me. Sure beats burning fossil fuel on a dryer! Saves the three storey trip to the clothes yard too.

Update

2008-11-02T00:59:00.006-04:00

A few weeks back my camera and wallet were stolen from my friend, Jayme Hummer's car. It was a real drag. She drove to a truly lovely banquet celebration of 25 years of Storey Publishing at Jae's Inn in North Adams, MA. Storey will be publishing my first book soon - but that is another day's story.
At any rate. Without a real camera it has been hard to keep up with blog entries and the rest of what has become standard almost everyday needs for digital documentation. Long stor(e)y, but I did end up being reimbursed the value of the stolen items by Storey Publishing. (Ummm who has ever heard of THAT?!? - not my insurance company, not the establishment's insurance company and not even Storey's insurance company, but the host organization of the most lovely banquet ever, out of their kindness and high moral standing, sent me a check for the total value of the contents of my wallet and the camera taken.

Shortly there after I found JUST the camera I was looking for on CLEARANCE at Target - thanks to Chapin, my friend and frequent Target shopper!
So now I have really good quality imagery and a Canon Rebel camera to beat the band!

I am learning to use the camera. These are some of the first shots I took with it. There will be more to come.

That is Violet the little bathtub fairy, with Okemo keeping her company. Lily's leading the way to magic at Kennedy Park and the amazing color we were blessed with this fall. Oh my, it was the most amazing display of nature's magic I can remember.

Gone now, moving into cozy darkness.

November Workshops

2008-10-28T21:04:00.006-04:00

I am not sure why there is an underline on my text here and honestly I am too tired to figure it out at the moment. Sorry it must be a little difficult to read!

Wanted to let you know that there are a flurry of workshops coming up in November. There are open slots each day but not many so sign up soon!

Attached is a cute color poster for anyone who wants to print it out and hang it in a high crafter-traffic area that would be GREAT! For the rest of you, here is the information that is most useful...

There are a flurry of workshops being offered in the studio this month. I am holding them all back to back to acomadate some out of town guests coming all the way from Texas.

Sooo
As the weather gets colder and we begin to think about the traditional gift giving time of year, consider taking a class in making things that are wonderful to give as gifts.

Here is the Schedule
Sunday, November 16 – learn to make Crispina style sweaters collaged from used sweaters in a shape and color of your desire
Monday, November 17 – choose between Rug weaving and Ornament Workshop including our notable wreathes and bobbles
Tuesday, November 18 – Scarves, Blankets, and Pillows or Ragamuffins - your choice.

Each day is $150. Sign up for all three days and have a free workday in the studio on November 19 to finish nearly completed projects.
The class fee covers all tools and materials as well as lunch. Sweater making workshop students should bring a garment to use for a pattern.
Open studio hours available every Wednesday to prior workshop students at $10 hourly or $45 for the day. Materials are available to take home at $5 a pound.

Feel free to leave a comment with any questions. To sign-up I just need you to send a check with a note in the memo line telling me which day you would like to join. Hope to see some of you soon!

Pittsfields Third Thursdays

2008-10-14T23:49:00.009-04:00

This is my firend Megan, she is the Cultural Director for the City of Pittsfield. Not sure if they had anyone in that post before her. Her contribution to our city is truly amazing. To see what I am talking about come to our last 2008 Third Thursday this week. Megan came up with the idea and made it happen with help from community members and a LOT of hard work and organizing. In the top image she is taking a well deserved break on my porch before last months festivities. In the bottom image, she is, twittering while riding in one of the hot air balloons that were here on our Common as part of Third Thursdays on September 18, 2008. This month promises to be a great seasonal kick-off with street performers, music, and magic tricks planned to take place all up and down North Street. WaHOOOOooo Megan! Thanks for bringing our community together!

Workshop Coming Up!

2008-10-11T22:29:00.005-04:00

Violet says, the mornings are chilly, heating fuel is expensive. Come to my mom's sweater making workshop on October 19 in her studio in Pittsfield and learn how to stay warm this winter!

Details:
Sunday Oct 19, 2008 10-4pm, $150 everything included, sign up now before it is too late!
To sign up, call the studio at 413-236-9600 and leave a message. I'll call you back to cofirm.

Zinnias and Hue Test

2008-10-09T20:32:00.005-04:00

Zinnias are one of my favorite cutting flowers. They are pretty long lasting in water and the hue and texture of their colors are just so rich and yummy. I had a bumper crop in my first year cutting garden on Melville Street. They are still coming too!

Are you a color lover? I sure am. The richness of color next to color is one of my earliest childhood memories - in the art supply store. Truly better than candy. Here is a fun test to take. Click here and see how you do.

Tech Help and Tidbits - GO OBAMA

2008-10-09T11:04:00.006-04:00

Hi There,

Sorry for the long silence. I have been in edit mode DEEP. Working on the teaching book I have in the works. This week I am illustrating which is fun and time consuming so not alot of time to catch up here. I am wondering if anyone can help me figure out how to put my google account on my blogger account? It is sometimes very hard to update my blog because I set it up ages ago using a different email address than the gmail address I now have. Every time I go into blogger it tells me that I need to update my account with a google account. When I try to do that, it tells me that it is not possible to use a gmail account as the primary email address for the blog. - I thought that is what blogger was asking me for - my google account - which I think - is my gmail account. Blogger help is a bit of misnomer in this situation. Does anyone have advice for me? Sorry to be so needy in the tech dept but this has me confused.
I would love to stay in better touch and I think help in this area would be a great first step.

Tidbits for the last 2 weeks:
We went to Sarah Humphrey and Gary Rowe's wedding on a super RAINY day at the end of September. It was in Norwell, MA in a LOVELY spot! We stayed with my dear friend Filis Warren in Stoneham. The girls were all dressed up in their best dresses and new shoes. We all had a BLAST dancing and playing and giving all our best love vibes to the newly weds.

Sweater Making workshop coming up on October 19. Need to fill a few more spots for the all day 10-4 event. All materials and tools are included for $150 - which includes lunch too. Join in the fun and spread the word!

I postponed my fall Studio Sale and Giant Studio Tag Sale until November - still need to pick a date so stay tuned on that.

If you live in Massachusetts, the deadline to register to vote is October 15. Please vote for change and fair representation. GO OBAMA!

Thanks!

Workshops

2008-09-19T11:28:00.001-04:00

Due to popular demand the October workshop has been changed to a Sweater Making lesson. Details are:
October 19 10-4 at my studio in the former Notre Dame church (40 Melville Street) right in the heart of Pittsfield. Come join the fun and learn how to make Crispina style sweaters from 100% recycled wool sweaters.
The class costs $150 and includes the use of all tools and materials as well as lunch.
Please contact me via email to confirm your place as class size is limited to 10. Thanks, crispinaffrench@gmail.com

Fall Workshop Schedule

2008-09-12T10:26:00.001-04:00

Here is a list of my upcoming workshops. Hope you find one that works for you.

I do have one spot left for this Saturday's sweater making workshop, held at my studio at 40 Melville Street from 10-4. Cost is $150 for the day, it includes all tools and materials and a healthy lunch. Interested people can contact me at 413-441-9766 or at crispinaffrench@gmail.com

October 19 - Mittens and Scarves
November 16 - Sweater Making
December 7 - Holiday Wreaths and Ornaments

They are held at my studio located at 40 Melville Street in the former Notre Dame Church from 10-4 for a cost of $150.
Class size is limited to 10 people and there is a five person minimum.

I am planning a three day intensive for November 16-18. $450 for all three days. Curriculum includes sweater, scarf, mitten and blanket making. Accommodations are available for an additional charge. Tuition assistance is available.

please do contact me if you have any further questions.

Harvest

2008-09-09T10:31:00.006-04:00

This past weekend was a welcomed introduction to a circle of surreal magic that seemed to be on every corner. Route 9 from Pittsfield to Twist Fair in Northampton is not to be missed. Check out the eyecandy! This is just a sample!

Twist Fair

2008-09-07T11:39:00.002-04:00

I participated in a brand new indie craft sale at the Northampton Center for the Arts. It was really well attended and well run by Lexie and Cory Barnes.
Sold a bunch of stuff and got a lot of interest in the workshops I have been offering in my studio. Speaking of which, I have one spot left for this Saturday's Sweater Making session. It runs from 10-4 on September 13th. All materials are included as well as a nice lunch. The cost is $125 and you will leave with a finished, or nearly finished sweater.

There are others coming up - once a month. I will post the schedule later today.

Physicality - Getting Back into running

2008-08-29T15:15:00.004-04:00

Ever since I got married and had two BEAUTIFUL kids in quick succession I have lost the sense of physical confidence I carried with me before these truly lovely blessings fell upon me.

In the spirit of wanting it all, I have committed to myself to make that happen.
In a way that I hope is not construed as vain, there is a certain power one holds when they feel like they look good. For me it seems to have most to do in spending the time it takes to keep my body healthy, pushing hard to run further a little bit quicker.

So there, this subject is one that consumes a lot of my headspace.
It is clear that I need the self commitment to run daily.
Just ordered new running shoes - Check them out

Yesterday I ran through a brook and was reminded how having wet feet does not make the rest of your run miserable. I had on Thorlo's.
It will be nice to supplement the running shoes I have had since before Lucy was born with an alternate.
Back in the saddle.
For some reason it is really hard for me to kick my own ass into gear. Actually I think it is more about finding time, a place, and a schedule that works.

Late Summer Weekend

2008-08-28T11:45:00.003-04:00

On Sunday Chris and the girls and I found our way to the 140th annual Cummington Fair. It was a magical experience of family and animals, food, rides, great friends, and history. We met up with our dear friends Beth-Marie and Digger and their little girl Cleome. They were there with Stewey, another amazing person from the Berkshires.
We ran into Chris' friend Pat Cachet who has worked at the fair for 30 years in the "pull pit". The draft horses were competing and were amazing to see. Drivers ranged in age from teens to old-timers. What a nice life to lead in these times of break-neck speed and too much technology!

The girls loved it all.

More fun on the weekend!

2008-08-28T11:18:00.008-04:00

Last Saturday, August 23, I participated in the 25th anniversary Country Fair for Storey Publishing at their North Adams digs. It was a lovely day, contra dancing, a petting zoo, and lots of super cool demonstrations and lectures by a gamut of inspired and inspiring authors. I wish I had taken pictures! We made flowers. Later I was graciously invited to join the festivities at Jae's Inn, also in North Adams, for the most lovely - on all levels - banquet I have seen. (This is coming to you from a former Banquet waitress.) The crowd was friendly and connected to each other, interested and interesting and welcoming. The food was impeccable, the drinks flowed, gifts were lavishly gifted, speeches were personal and informative. The evening was a hit. I got to attend as an AUTHOR - as I am finishing up my very first manuscript on a book of teaching my craft using recycled sweaters to create clothing, stuffed toys, blankets and more. It is due out in Fall 2009.
I am open to suggestion on names for the upcoming book. . . .
Let me know if you have ideas!

Giant Tag Sale this weekend

2008-08-13T21:56:00.002-04:00

We are having a GIANT tag sale this weekend. Lots of furniture, kids stuff, and studio fixtures as well as a treasure trove of weird stuff including some Crispina product found hiding around the studio.
We are cleaning house/studio and so are our friends Chapin, Eric and Sofie so there are lots of cool things no matter who you are. Come by and shop from 9-3 both Saturday and Sunday. The address is 40 Melville Street in the heart of Pittsfield, right next door to the Boys and Girls Club.

Just back from the beach - stay tuned for timely updates

2008-08-09T22:51:00.001-04:00

It is a good day

2008-07-24T06:55:00.006-04:00

Most days I go for a walk. I used to run in the mornings before getting married and having two babies in two and a half years. It is hard now to find a rhythm that supports running but most days I do get in a good walk.
Good thing I have a dog. Okemo is chill as long as she is allowed time to run around in nature unleashed if possible. I feel the same way.
Changes in my morning routine with the school year change where we go. Living in the heart of this small city doesn’t really provide a walkable destination desired for my walks. I need to be off pavement, soaked in oxygen, immersed in nature and that cacophony.
In the mornings after the girls are dropped off at their slice of nirvana, Okemo and I make a loop over to Kirvin Park off Williams St where this solace is found these last few weeks. We walk along the paved way through a large sloping meadow of Queen Anne’s Lace in full bloom and shoulder high Golden Rod working toward its bloom in late summer. Views of our rolling Berkshire Hills grace our way. This place is pure dog heaven. People come from all over Pittsfield with their companions who run freely sniffing and playing and kicking up their heels. After a healthy dose of that, Okemo and I wade through cool clean babbling water skirting the ball field, into my nirvana of quiet meditation, muddy trails, dragonflies, twitters and shrills. Lungs filled with life and calm. Shoulders back, heart open, deep nourishing breath, connecting me to the earth and my dog.
Ohm
Shanti
It is a good day.

Put Me Behind a Sewing Machine!

2008-07-18T23:39:00.003-04:00

It feels really great to have a more hands on daily routine. I have been working on some really cool one-of-a-kind blankets in the studio. Rugs are forth coming as well. The website will be up with all the changes in place in the next few weeks. You will be able to shop online www.crispina.com and from my atelier on Melville Street in Pittsfield - retail only - only select FEW old friend wholesale customers to be served on a fill in the blanks basis. Right now I am booked through the middle of August so if you are thinking of any gift giving for later this year allow plenty of time. Order soon - and don't be disappointed! You don't have to wait for the site to be finished. If you know what you want just call or email for pricing and delivery dates.
You can reach the workroom at 413-236-9600 or email me. crispinaff@crispina.com
thanks for your support and business!

Good Green Living

2008-07-17T22:44:00.005-04:00

this past weekend I did a hands-on workshop at The Green and Healthy Living Expo that was held at Butternut Ski Area in Great Barrington. Eugenie Sills, of The Women's Times reknown, invited me to participate in there giant SPONSOR booth.
It was really very cool!
Foot traffic was quite light but when you are not trying to sell product that seems a whole lot less important! The exhibitor roster was impressive! Amazing things to learn and network opportunities abounded.
I had a really tight weekend FULL of activities that were not going to allow me any free time at the Expo. The magic of the weekend culminated when my Sweat Lodge sisters decided that the heat of the summer and lack of ability to gather opened my Sunday afternoon to freedom to explore the Expo. It was really lovely. Chris and the girls were there too. We were able to bask in the afternoon sun with all sorts of interesting and smart like-minded people. I hope to help market the event better next year. I felt that it wouldn't take much more work to get a lot more people to know about it.
While I wait for pics from the event to arrive to my inbox, I couldn't wait another day to tell you about it!
The workshop I did was on Flowers. We made a ton of them! There were kids and grannies and everyone in between. Friends and folks I had never met. It was fun and easy to learn, empowering and a great way to meet lots of people. Thanks for the opportunity Eugenie!

This Week's Favorite Artist

2008-07-15T23:17:00.007-04:00

In addition to my recently established list of goals for my blog, I would like to add a weekly column showcasing a favorite artist. This is my first pick for that column. Let me know what you think.

I have been noticing these amazing portraits donning our local bridge tressels, dormant train cars and over passes. Got pictures of most of them but missed the biggest work done on the Rt 41 underpass in Great Barrington in my old neighborhood. I love them!
I just heard about a store in GreenpointBrooklyn called Alphabeta that sells supplies to graffiti artists. They have a couple of walls to showcase their clients work that change all the time. This work, and the genre in general, is free, transient art to appreciate before it disappears. There was an interesting blurb on NPR about graffiti yesterday.

Gardening with my girls on Melville Street

2008-07-14T12:34:00.002-04:00

My goal is to turn our yard on the corner of Melville and First streets into a small urban farm. This year the first bed went in with cutting flowers, (some edible) tomatoes, beans, lettuce, herbs and some decorative native species. People are beginning to notice. Cami, a neighbor who works with kids in our hood, stopped to introduce herself and ask if we could work together with the kids. Yesssserie!

Fuchsia No More

2008-07-14T11:50:00.009-04:00

Hi Peeps,
Many have been wondering what is up with my biz – Crispina Design Workshop/ Fuchsia, Inc. So now that the transition is clear and finished I can speak freely about it.
To begin, Fuchsia, Inc., was owned solely by Nancy Fitzpatrick. Nancy is an old friend and long time supporter. She purchased the company I started in 1987, in 2003. The company, at that point, Crispina Designs, Inc. was having a hard time and she agreed to purchase it to help me out.
Five years into it, Nancy decided she wanted out and, with very little notice, let us, in the studio, know of her plans. My very first response was a huge sense of relief!!! As digestion of the changes Nancy’s decision prompted set in, I traveled a roller coaster of unknowns including the possibility of her passing the company on to another set of investors without any discussion with me. I waited and listened and found calm.
The decision was made on March 28 to stop production. I was asked not to communicate with the company’s customers based on not knowing whether or not production would begin again under new ownership. While that possibility is open for discussion, on the first of July 2008 Fuchsia, Inc. officially closed its doors. Nancy returned to me my name, the company database, and all the contents of the production studio here in our church on Melville Street in Pittsfield. With these changes, the wholesale part of the company was curtailed.

My next steps are:
• To have a more empowering voice in the environmental stewardship arena
• To make more money - never made that much before
• To work at most 40 hours weekly
• To maintain my online store, www.crispina.com and have an atelier, here, in our fine city of Pittsfield, MA, on North Street – our main street, where I would be open to the public for tours and workshops and have one of a kind work for sale.
• To continue the work I have done with large textile producing companies helping them develop products with their scrap that they can manufacture and market.

In the meantime I have been having the best summer – maybe ever – with free time to garden and think and spend time with my two little girls and my amazing 15-year-old son! Please know that I so appreciate all the support and well wishes that all of you out there, have sent my way. Stay in touch and keep the peace and harmony flowing.

Settling In

2008-06-18T11:54:00.009-04:00

My life has been a magical whirlwind of crazy activities for the last three and a half years. I got married after being a single mom for 11 years. My husband is a kind and wonderful friend, mentor, dancer, joker, lover, and plumber. We have had two girls and bought a church and rectory since our wedding day in October of 2004. Our household also includes my son, Ben, age 15, and our dog Okemo, a lab/pitbull cross. We live on the third floor of the rectory we are renovating into 6 separate living spaces that we intend to sell as condos but would rent in the meantime, or even do a rent to own deal to the right people.
I am an avid recycler and have run a business manufacturing soft home goods from recycled wool sweaters for more than 20 years.
We moved into our new home on May 15 after more than two years of floating from one squatting quarters to another. Unpacking boxes, moving in furniture, landscaping our grounds, and generally organizing our family and life is where I have focused my energy since the beginning of a summer long hiatus taken from my job.
Here I plan to share in depth stories of my everyday, my family, friends, business thoughts, lifestyle goals and challenges.
Check back often to learn of the community we are working to build, full of our amazing supportive friends, neighbors, and yet to be known mysteries waiting to unfold. Let me know what you are doing and thinking about and how your days are filled.

Best Stroller Ever

2008-06-18T11:08:00.004-04:00

We have the best stroller around. I go everywhere with it and the comments and curious questions abound. While it was quite expensive, we have used it literally everyday since our youngest has been old enough to ride in a stroller. Design ingenuity, quality, and comfort are exceptional but most important to me is the remarkable ease of use. It is a breeze to maneuver through doorways, crowded sidewalks, and over hiking trails, which is where we use it nearly every day. The stroller opens and closes easily, comfortably holds cargo in addition to the children and has all sorts of useful accessories. We use the sun/insect guard and the snow/rain cover. It was made in New Zealand by a cute company called Phil and Ted's. We bought ours online.

Violet - One Happy Little Girl

2008-06-16T21:38:00.001-04:00

Blogged with the Flock Browser

2008-06-16T15:03:00.003-04:00

It is not too late to join in the learning on Saturday June 21 for Crispina’s first ever Ragamuffin making workshop. The class is to be held at the 40 Melville Street cool basement studio and will run from 10-4 at a cost of $125. All materials, written instruction and a healthy lunch is inculded. Students need no prior experience but should have a solid interest in hand work. They will finish the day with a completed stuffed ‘animal’ and inspiration to make many different types and sizes.
All work is done by hand with scissors, a needle and thread making the transition to working at home on other similar projects easy. Call 413-441-9766 or email crispinaffrench@gmail.com for sign-up or to ask questions.

Hands-On In-Studio Workshops!

2008-06-02T23:12:00.002-04:00

Here is a press release about some workshops I will be teaching in the next few weeks. I have JUST gotten it together to get the word out about these so there is still plenty of room for people to sign up. You can email me if you want to learn more or to sign-up. My email is www.crispinaffrench@gmail.com.

ACCLAIMED RECYCLING ENTREPRENEUR/FIBER ARTIST
CRISPINA FFRENCH OFFERS HANDS-ON STUDIO WORKSHOPS

Press Contact:
Crispina ffrench, 413-441-9766 crispinaffrench@gmail.com

High resolution digital photos available upon request.

(Pittsfield, MA) Known internationally for her innovative textile recycling designs, artist/entrepreneur Crispina ffrench is offering Saturday studio workshops beginning June 14. Founder of Crispina, a twenty year old recycling/manufacturing creative economy company with environmentalism at the root of its mission, ffrench will open her Pittsfield studio in the former Notre Dame Church to small groups of students interested in learning her signature hand-constructed techniques. Each session focuses on a different type of project, completely hand made from 100% post consumer recycled clothing (mostly wool sweaters). All tools, materials and a healthy lunch will be provided at $125/day. No experience necessary, and attendees will have their own finished project to take home along with written instructions and a head full of inspiration.

Crispina has been featured in many national and international publications including, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Baltimore Sun, Country Living Magazine, Country Home, Home Companion, Elle Décor, among others. Her work has been featured in several books on interiors and is in the private collections of celebrities including Carly Simon, Julia Roberts, Dave Matthews, Jerry Seinfeld, Ben Cohen, Ben Harper, and Ralph Lauren.

Saturday, June 14
Beginning Sweaters
Students will learn beginning techniques, stitches, and fabric placement to complete a sweater made completely by hand of 100% recycled wool sweaters. Simple construction will be demonstrated. Students should bring a favorite garment to use for a pattern. Plan to end the day with a complete (or nearly complete) garment, written instructions, supplier list and a day full of ideas to pursue.

Saturday, June 21
Beginning Stuffed Toys
Basic stitches, techniques, and construction details of stuffed toys/soft sculpture in the style of Crispina's original Ragamuffins will be demonstrated. Ragamuffins are stuffed toys completely hand sewn from 100% recycled wool sweaters. All tools and materials as well as a healthy lunch and written instructions will be provided. Students need to have strong hands for this workshop. At the end of the day each student should have finished a project and have had the opportunity to experiment with many ideas/techniques.

Saturday, June 28
Beginning Seasonal Decorations
This session will introduce students to simple techniques for making Wreaths, Holiday-Tree Baubles, and Wool Felt Flowers using 100% recycled wool sweater scrap. All tools and materials as well as a healthy lunch and written instructions will be provided. No sewing experience is necessary for this workshop. Students will end the day with samples of wreath, baubles, and flowers in addition to written directions, supplier list and ideas for everyone on their gift-giving list.

Workshops offered on June 14, 21, and 28, 2008 are to be held at Crispina's Sanctuary Studio in the former Notre Dame Church at 40 Melville Street in Pittsfield, MA. They cost $125 per session, which includes all materials and a healthy lunch. Early registration is encouraged as space is limited. Please call Crispina at 413-441-9766 or email crispinaffrench@gmail.com with any questions or to register. Examples of Crispina ffrench’s work can be seen at www.crispina.com.

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Calendar Listings:

June 14, 2008 – Beginning Sweater Workshop – 10-5pm
Crispina's Sanctuary Studio – 40 Melville Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201
Register at 413—441-9766 or crispinaffrench@gmail.com

June 21, 2008 – Beginning Stuffed Toy Workshop – 10-5pm
Crispina's Sanctuary Studio – 40 Melville Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201
Register at 413—441-9766 or crispinaffrench@gmail.com

June 28, 2008 – Beginning Seasonal Decorations Workshop – 10-5pm
Crispina's Sanctuary Studio – 40 Melville Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201
Register at 413—441-9766 or crispinaffrench@gmail.com