Workshop Schedule for 2009

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

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?

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

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

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

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!

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?