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.

Studio Order

A handful of us have spent the last two days getting the studio organized, merchandised, and polished-up for our EARTH DAY studio sale. We are selling a huge amount of goods that are from our current season and ones gone by as well as amazing one of a kind treasures from the vault. Pricing has never been better!

This studio sale comes at a time when we need to clear out the shelves and make way for a new paradigm. Part of that paradigm is getting me back into the creative end of things.

It is funny how so many blessings are the direct fruit of the things that we fear most or feel we are least prepared for handling. Are you familiar with Pronoia? It is How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings - Learn more about that and get yourself a good hardy laugh with the horoscopes here too.

The images that accompany this post, picture some one-of-a-kind NAME blankets I, personally, made for a new account in Italy. It has seemed crazy how infrequently I have had the opportunity to be a maker in the last couple of years. That process is wonderfully rewarding and refreshing and something I need to be sure to build into my next chapter!

Blankets like these are available upon request, made to order, but not shipping until late summer or early fall. Let us know the name and general color ideas. The best way is if you also give us a fair amount of freedom to make a real treasure for you

Studio Sale to beat them ALL!

This weekend we are hosting our annual EARTH DAY studio sale in our fabulous Melville Street Studio, in the lower level of the Notre Dame church, right in the heart of Pittsfield. Click here for directions
We have been manufacturing amazing blankets, our famous Pot Holder Rugs, Ragamuffins, and a fashion line of sweaters all made from used wool sweaters since 1987.

The thing that is different about this particular sale is that it is the end of an era. Crispina Design Workshop, which has been comfortably humming along under the umbrella corporation called Fuchsia, Inc. is about to come to a close. A solid restructuring of the company in response to a less than flourishing economic outlook is in the works. This means that there will be lots of great deals like we have never given all available - first come first served. Our hours are 10-5 both Saturday and Sunday the 19th and 20th. If you would like to be an early bird, stop by on Friday evening after 5 when we have a soft opening scheduled until 8pm.

The changes coming up are exciting. I am looking forward to seeing what the next chapter has in store. Many creative, community-oriented ideas are bubbling up and will be put to text in the coming weeks. Stop back to learn more! Stop by the studio sale get a great deal on any of our wares. Be sure to get one of the most amazing rugs on the planet - and see Juan in action making them!

Opportunity to Evaluate

Crispina, a studio production company, has been creating wonderful heirloom home furnishings from recycled textiles for 20 years, ranging from the famous Pot Holder Rugs™ to throws, pillows, Ragamuffins™ and a fashion line of sweaters.

We are restructuring the company ahead of the fall and winter season.

I, Crispina, the person, will be taking a long overdue break this Spring/Summer to work on the new vision for the studio.

We will have our annual EARTH DAY studio sale as scheduled - April 19 & 20.

The studio and retail store are chock full of amazing examples of our product all at the best prices ever!
Come see!

If shopping online works better for you, you can see what I am talking about at: our website and www.crispinastudio.etsy.com. Wholesale customers should call us for pricing at 413-236-9600.

Thank you each for your support and friendship. I look forward to the next chapter and will keep you all up to date as the next chapter unfolds.