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hey hey I’m back from Boston — what a fun time! We really enjoyed Design Hive (Kari and Sarah joined me for the day, and Jaclyn, Vanessa and some other great friends stopped by!) — thanks everyone for buying my goodies and all the smiles and great feedback. It’s so fun to see people’s reactions to my work. And I’m happy to say that two of my new needle-felted birdies found a good home, which really makes it all worth while. 
Also a few of my Peace Cranes made it to the Design Hive blog — thanks Val!
We also had a fantastic time shopping the Bazaar Bizarre, which was so inspiring to me. I brought home a few handmade holiday gifts as well as maybe a few things for myself (I only have so much willpower, really). There were some wonderful vendors there, including some of my favorites:
Ranunculae silkscreen cards and fabric goodies
Swallowfield Intricate art and fantastic-ness
1Girl1Boy Hand block-printed fabric goodness
Argyle Whale little illustrations of hedgehogs and goats and things
Campfire Goods T-shirts a-plenty for the type/geography/pop culture nerd in all of us
Egg-a-go-go Illustrationy crafty goodness {we all love the Button Collecting Bird!!!]
Family Dinner for One super star cliparty T’s
Fern Animals tiny soft sculptures
Mean & Wroughten welded art pieces (he was set up across from me at Design Hive, too!)
Miaow wonderful whimsical softies, so huggable!
Sewing Stars adorable plushies
Soto Softies more adorable plushies (sensing a theme?)
Traveling Rhinos Yarn and fiber goodies
Twigs and Heather gorgeous silver jewelry — my favorites are the maple seeds, I don’t think I’d ever take off a necklace so beautiful!
I also got some gorgeous earrings and a necklace at Design Hive from Erica Walker at Walker Silverworks, who was set up right near me — I’m wishing I had picked up a few of her star ornaments, since we’re about to decorate our tree tonight or tomorrow — they’d be so fantastically sparkly with the lights reflecting on them!
As usual, my To-Do list is approximately 100 items long, but despite that fact, I have decided to take a few moments to reflect on the goodness in my life, as there is a just-as-long list of things I am thankful for. I am writing this more as a journal-entry, so bear with me or just skip it and know I am one Thankful girl this holiday season. Yes indeedy. ’specially for you, dear readers. Thankful for your interest in my work and your patience with my on-and-off-again posting schedule. Love ya!
Laurie’s Thankful List 2008, in no particular order, and certainly not all-inclusive:
1. My darlin’ husband, John.
2. Our fantastico furry and feathery menagerie, HappyDog, JaneCat, Lulu Belle and Pepper the Goats and Chickens 1-4
3. A gorgeous old slanty, drafty, character-filled century-surviving farmhouse of our very own.
4. Forests
5. Wild creatures
6. My mom, dad, three brothers, and John and my big, gregarious, funny Italian families (both of my Grandmothers are Italian, and one of John’s was! Did you know?)
7. Holiday traditions.
8. Decorating the Christmas tree, then lying under it and looking up through the twinkly lights.
9. New fallen snow.
10. First buds of spring.
11. Green grass and fresh air in summer.
12. Fancy vibrant fall colors.
13. Watching dogs play.
14. Art. Buying art, admiring art, watching people make art.
15. Making art.
16. Having the opportunity to sell my crafty goodness at fairs and on Etsy.com! So thankful for Etsy.com!
17. My friends.
18. Being friends with the same people for almost 14 years.
19. Reconnecting with old friends.
20. Artist retreats and the idea of Squam #2 in 2009!
21. New England lakes, streams and rivers.
22. Camping.
23. Not camping.
24. Cozy blankets, and conversely, my parents’ pool in the summer!
25. The option of “tofurky” and a cruelty-free holiday.
26. Digging in the ground and growing my own food from tiny seeds.
27. CSA’s and the people who grew our food at Farm Girl Farm.
28. Museums, ’specially Mass MoCA, the Berkshire Museum and The Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco.
29. San Francisco. I <3 you.
30. Theatre Degrees.
31. Seattle and Tacoma and Mt. Ranier and the gorgeousity of the Northwest.
32. Road-trips and Train-rides.
33. Popcorn, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Water, Cranberry Juice, Granola Bars and other life-giving foods.
34. My body’s ability to work for me and heal in astounding ways.
35. The Harvest Festival, The Sheep and Wool Festival, the Stationery Show and other places where I can be a big geek about things like squash soup, wool roving and greeting cards.
36. The Berkshires, in all its splendid natural glory.
37. The Berkshires, for cultivating one of the most creative communities on earth.
38. The in-the-works “Berkshire Made” Etsy Street Team! …and the possibility of many new connections with people working in this awesome place.
39. Knitting.
40. Hosting our friends for an evening of fun and food in our warm house.
41. Living close enough to my mom to help with Thanksgiving preparations….
and on that note, I’m off to lend a hand. The holidays are hosted by my parents in their wonderful house that my dad built (maybe that’s #42) back in the early 80s. They’ve added to it a few times, taking walls down to accommodate our growing extended family on days like Thanksgiving. They host anywhere from 20-40 people; it’s the least I can do to pitch in! The smell of Lemon Pledge always brings me back to days getting ready for the holidays with my brothers and my mom, listening to her favorite records, tapes and then cds, including the always-good-for-a-laugh Kenny Rogers. :> He’ll always have a place in my heart, oh that Kenny and Dolly Christmas record is a classic!
Hey, what’s your favorite holiday music? Anything new to share that you’ve found recently? My latest faves are the Home Alone Soundtrack and The Peanuts Christmas. I better bring them over to my mom, she’ll love ‘em!
Yay! New stuff! The needle felted acorns above are available in my Etsy shop (www.lauriecoyledesigns.etsy.com) — I’m happy to take custom color orders.
I hesitated a little bit to post this stuff this week, beacause I’m leaving late tomorrow night on a trip to Arizona for a week. I’m hoping anyone who orders this week will be understanding if I don’t ship their stuff out until next week — I’ll be able to ship on Thursday Nov. 13th. I’m a little overwhelmed with the idea of being gone for a week, and I will certainly need to do some homework while I’m gone, but of course I’m also super excited to see my far-flung family members and have a sunny vacation in a warm place — looks like it’ll be in the high 70s and low 80s while we’re there, which is perfect for me and maybe even warm enough for some swimming (unheated pool? eek!)!
Thank You gocco cards availble here and here.
Prints from my goatie watercolors, available here and here.
Holiday Peace gocco cards, set of 8 available here.
Good Fortune gocco cards, set of 8 available here.
I’m also happily taking orders for custom holiday cards — either digital illustrations, hand illustrations or silkscreened — your choice! E-mail me for more info and prices — maylaurie@gmail.com.
And last, but not least, the 2009 calendar — chock full of hand-drawn illustrations with a theme loosely based on your kitchen and food, including things like delicious treats, pretty potted herbs, a kitchen-aid mixer and a set of cooking utensils.
This is where I’ve been all week. Hoping to get it cleaned up next week before I take off for a week in Arizona, visiting my Grandparents, my aunt and my cousin who had a baby recently!
To Do list before the trip:
• Sell much Crafty Goodness at the Richmond School Craft Fair tomorrow! (Nov 1, 10am to 3pm)
• Do much homework to hopefully be able to slack off while on “vacation”
•Clean up studio
•VOTE
• Help start a Berkshire Etsy Street Team — We’re meeting Tuesday at 4pm, at the Elm Street (Pittsfield) Juice and Java; all interested in being involved are welcome!
Here’s a peek at my makeshift craft fair setup in the kitchen:
These little stuffed budgies are now named after characters from “The Office” and some old friends — they make me smile! “Hello, I’m Jim and I like Tuna Sandwiches.” “Hello, I’m Andy and I love flannel shirts.”
And, lastly… it’s Halloween! Not one of my favorite holidays, and we just hung out and handed out candy (I tried a tactic of buying candy I don’t like, and I have to say I only tried one piece so I think it worked… ) and HappyDog wore her first ever semi-outfit, and I think she looks adorably festive. We actually got this bandana to keep her safe from bow hunters out in the state forest we walk in by our house, but I think it might have to become a regular fashion statement — isn’t she the cutest?
“You are a dork. I can’t believe you’re making me wear this.”
Happy Halloween! Hopefully I’ll see you tomorrow if you’re around the Berkshires!
I am getting so busy! It sounds maybe a bit crazy, but I gave in and have started listening to Christmas music, to get me in the mood for crafting up a storm for the upcoming craft fairs I’m taking part in. Yes, that’s right! Little ol’ me will be selling my wares at some upcoming crafty venues!! This is exciting, and also a little scary. I have sold my work (in places that are not the internet) before, but it’s been a very long time (probably since I was a kid at my mom’s craft store, actually) that I was standing there watching people shop my stuff. I know they won’t all like it, that’s the point — but I’m still a little terrified. But also very excited to hopefully bring some joy to somebody’s holiday shopping experience! (sale/fari advice/suggestions are welcome and appreciated!)
The first fair is THIS WEEKEND, and therefore you can probably imagine I am quite busy making making making — I didn’t know about it/sign up ’till last week, so I will probably not be posting again until after it’s over. The Richmond School Craft Fair is Saturday November 1, from 10am to 3pm. It’s on Rte. 41 in Richmond MA (click the link above for map/directions), in case you want to visit me there (please visit me there!). It’s a super cute fair and I think only a dollar to get in, which gets you a ticket to the Chinese auction, which ever vendor donates to. This is the school I went to for Kindergarten through 8th grade, and also where I was a theatre teacher for a very short time and where I directed the school musical in 2004. Crazy. It will be fun. I’m sure I’ll see some kids I know, their parents, and also a few of my old teachers and classmates, which is always crazy and odd but fun, too.
The other event I am seling at is the Design Hive market in Cambridge, MA. I’ll be there December 6 from10am to 5pm. The next day is the Bazaar Bizarre in Boston, which I had been planning to shop at anyway, so the timing worked out perfectly. Design Hive is happening every weekend through the holidays starting Nov. 1. But of course I suggest that the best time to come is Dec. 6, as that’s the one and only weekend I’ll be there.
There are also plans in the works for a small one-night fair at Mass MoCA in early December, and perhaps a mulit-weekend event at Crispina’s Church/Workshop on Mellville St. in Pittsfield, MA. I’ll let you know when I hear more about those!
In the mean time, my dinner break is about up and I best be getting back to work. Did I mention that I have to do homework, too? UGH. Oh well. I signed up for it, right? I better put some Carpenter’s X-mas on if I’m going to get thru this!
OH! I’m getting my 2009 Calendar printed this week — So if you’re on the hunt for a calendar be sure to check back next week (unless I am really fancy and get it posted this week — fat chance!) to my etsy shop and see ‘er. It’s a long vertical design this year, 11″x4.25″, with a fabulous (if I do say so myself — thanks, Kari!) food/kitchen theme, perfect for hanging in the kitchen (or anywhere else, for that matter)! They’ll be $20 each.
In the mean time, here’s a sneak peak of what I’ve been crafting up today:
My mom, Kari and I made the treck to the NY Sheep & Wool Festival out in Rhinebeck, NY this past weekend.
My aunt, Theresa May-O’Brien was there selling her fantastic felt rugs, bags, wall hangings, felt art, natural dye wool, yarn and cashmere, felting mats and soap, Turkish knotted rugs and warm Tulu sleeping rugs (I want one!) AND my cousin Haley’s adorable baby angora bunnies. I got to take a super bag home with me — the fibers are colored with only natural dyes and has a pomegranate on it!
There was so much fun eye candy there; seemingly miles and miles of fiber-focused crafty vendors, people who sell their own yarn and wool roving, as well as beautiful (ok, and some not so beautiful. srsly.) knitted and felted goodies, and some major inspiration for a girl who’s just getting into fiber arts. Oh yeah, did I mention that? I think the details are for another day, but let’s just say needle felting is fun. ’specially when you don’t stab yourself in the finger too many times. 
I think we need to get some sheep! Aren’t those tiny ones so cute? They were less than 2 feet tall. Yowza! That last one is an Alpaca, I think, with a very stylish haircut. CUTE!
Oh and I wanted to show you this majorly adorable bottle of wine Kari found for us for our anniversary — it’s so goaty! “Love My Goat!” (Thanks, Kari and Eric!)
just thought you’d like to know.
bah, humbug. It is still October, right?
It’s fall, and it’s beautiful. This time of year definitely reminds me why I came back here. It’s gorgeous! Ok, it’s raining today but this fall has been one of the best I can remember.
Sometime last week (or maybe two weeks ago?) I went to a local farm-stand here in South Lee, and was pleased to find some cornstalks to bedeck my front porch! Woven Roots Farm is just up Fairview street, and I have to say it is such a great find, they are part of Berkshire Grown and take Berkshares! This summer I’ve supplemented the bounty from Farm Girl Farm with their beets, yellow beans, squash and cherry tomatoes. Yum!
Right next door is Consolati Farm, with their adorable sheep and horses, as well as some hefty looking pumpkins!
This is the view from, ahem, Fairview street. Get it? yeah… it took me a minute, too.
Here’s some of the gorgeousness of my little Willow St./Pine St. neighborhood, and those cornstalks at home by our door. Too cute, eh?
I didn’t get too many good shots, but North Adams the other day was also gorgeous; these are words I never thought I’d every write or say, because poor little North Adams was honestly quite ugly when I was growing up in the Berkshires, but also honestly, it is coming along and getting better and we had a lovely meal and a fun meeting and some good time hanging out enjoying the hills which almost looked to be on fire with fall color. Breathtaking!
I have to admit that as much as I love so many of the things for sale on Etsy.com, I am not the best customer. I have been trying to make most of the gifts I have given in the past year or so, and therefore have not had the chance to buy much since my great Etsy shopping spree of holiday 2007.
But recently I decided to buy myself a little, um, we’ll say it was an anniversary present? I found Cary and her shop Little Love Blue when one of her darling pumpkins was featured on the front page of Etsy a while back. One night I decided that I couldn’t live without owning one, and naturally that pumpkin needed a companion hand-sewn mushroom. Well, maybe you didn’t know, but my darling John is really into mushrooms. Of any kind. For eating, for looking at an looking up in books and general adoration. So, I made the purchase from Cary and just a few days ago received this lovely little package, including a sweet note, a moo card of one of her darling birdies, and a cute-as-a-button hand-stamped tag.
Aren’t they adorable?
Here the mushroom completes our little shrine to mushrooms. That red one is a clip (from now-defunct Fuchsia Home. tear.) and the fat gray one is cement, from the Pine Cone Hill store in Lenox. That print is by my exceedingly talented brother Thom, who isn’t currently selling them, but I’m working on him. That one is called “Bedtime, Bitches.” Of course it is.
…and here’s the little pumpkin on the other side of the shelf, jazzing up a Snow & Graham calendar, perched atop a stack of Alyssa Ettinger coasters, which I also nabbed from the lovely late Fuchsia Home. She sells them in her Etsy shop tho, so you too can have some of your own!
I honestly don’t have anything against the orange variety (stay tuned for some nice shots of a local pumpkin cart, actually), but this time of year I’m a sucker for the different kinds of pumpkins (er, Cucurbit?) available. We got these beauties from Taft Farms, local favorite for all things seasonal, yummy and did I mention local?
Happy likes them, too.
Have I mentioned that my plants won’t quit? Well, some of them have taken the shortening daylight and cold nights as a cue, but others are still flowering away. I think my two hanging Fuchsia benefitted from a healthy does of whey (aka cheese water, leftover from our cheesemaking day) that John gave them (warning: not (NOT) for house plants! smelly, milky, possibly moldy and bug-attracting, at least for a few days. UGH.) — they will not stop flowering! I did cover them one cold night, but they made it through another without such attention and are still happy as ever. Crazy. The veggie garden is done, herbs were dried and are now in the freezer, and everything else defintely needs some attention.
But not today.
Today I am doing homework, being crafty, and tonight I’m off to a workshop in North Adams (at MCLA, where my darling hubby goes to school) through Berkshire Creative and The Berkshire Cultural Resource Center, the Tricks of the Trade professional development seminar series for artists, artisans and creatives held throughout Berkshire County. Tonight is number 1, and it features Etsy Etsy Etsy! Tomorrow’s seminar is on pricing your work, which I am very excited about, that one is at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts in Pittsfield. They are all free, you just have to call to sign up, so sign up and we’ll see you there!
