Easter Sunday

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

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

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

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

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

Kennedy Park with Jen and Henry

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

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