Potholder Rug Making Workshop

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

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.

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.

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.

Crispina and Friends Studio Sale

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!

December Studio Sale

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.

November Workshops

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!

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!