B and Blogging

Benj is happily napping on me after nursing...and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Boy, have my days changed since becoming a mother. What's one thing that I will forever be impressed by now? Single parents! I couldn't give B the attention he deserves without all the work that James does for us. I am a very lucky woman. I am also proud to still be breastfeeding. It's a truly wonderful feeling.

Next step? I've been amassing design / crafts / art ideas that I really want to accomplish (and blog about)...so I need to work on more B naps in his crib and more me time in the studio. When I get something done for my personal future on top of being a stay-at-home-mom, I feel like Superwoman! We just went to England and Lake Sunapee, NH to visit family and friends and I actually got some art time in! So I'll be posting those photos today, hopefully. (I've also learned that plans may change and often...and that is okay! I am loving my more spontaneous and giggle-filled days.) My other current goal is to meet other parents with children B's age in my area. I'm doing a "Boot Camp" workout on an upcoming Tuesday at one Mama's house and I recently bought a pass for "Mommy and Me" Yoga on Wednesdays in Montclair, NJ. I'd also love to get back in to horseback riding, book a few appointments (hair for a much-needed cut, dermatologist for a suspect mole, eye Doctor for my blurry left eye as of late, and maybe lactation consultant to check B's latch before teething starts...which I'm a little nervous for, OH!, and paddle-boarding and surfing lessons), and start swimming lessons with B! He absolutely loved "swimming" in Lake Sunapee and I loved paddle boarding again...new inspiration, that's for sure.

 (I painted this tortoise-shell onesie for Benji in NH this past week. I was totally inspired whilst wandering the annual League of N.H. Craftsmen's Fair...)

Life should be filled with the things you love. B has certainly helped me realize my priorities: family, friends, art (sewing and sketching), outdoor activities, slow food, and globetrotting.

Cheers to laughter, love, and splashing in the lake.

(Camp Carter Porch View, Great Island, Lake Sunapee, NH, USA)

<3 alex

Dock Dreams

Ciao Nomads!

I am taking a class on Color Theory at Parsons this Fall and I just had to write a description about a color memory.  I wanted to share it with you, so here it is:

One of my favorite places in the world is Lake Sunapee, NH. I have gone there every summer since I was about five years old and have only missed two years! It means a lot to me because my "Framily" spends one whole week together there every year. (Friends that feel like chosen Family = framily.)

One week every year I get to lie on the dock and watch the sun rise and set. I watch Framily come and go via boat (the house is on an island) with Philippino bayongs filled with food and drinks that have traveled from CT, MA, NH, NJ, NY, VT, and Toronto. We hug, we kiss, and we catch-up with each others lives for the past year. We practice Slow Food around a large round table with a massive lazy susan, no TV, no Computers (unless it's for homework), kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, swimming, art and more. We learn new things or re-learn things we have forgotten and we tell terrible jokes when we've had too much to drink. I guess it's clear that I could go on and on, and I apologize if I have done. For me, this place is only part of the sum of my experiences. But it is nearly the first I think of whenever I'm asked and I can see it creeping in to my design life.  When I dream, I tend to use worn leathers, natural neutrals (think Camel, Sand, and Sky Blue), and pops of sunset and sunrise colors in all of my designs.  I'm excited to see what happens

Yours Truly,
Alex

77th Annual League of NH Craftsmen's Fair

Here's the loot I picked-up at the 77th Annual League of NH Craftsmen's Fair at Mount Sunapee Resort in Newbury, NH.  I don't remember ever having gone to this fair before, but I will never miss a year now if I can help it.  Had I not just taken out all those school loans for my year at Parsons, I would have brought as much cash as I could have and bought all my birthday and Christmas gifts for family and friends for the next year.  But as it was, I had to extremely limit myself to three vendors that I just couldn't walk away without something in hand (and which I could actually afford!)!

My first purchase was from the Cheryl Kumiski Glass Studio in Booth 307 - 13 hand-made buttons!  (I might make a bib-like necklace which I am seeing everywhere now!!!)

(I love the circuit board, square button!)  Cheryl was unbelievably nice and super-talented.  My mother also purchased a few things from her - namely a new necklace that she wore for the rest of the day (and we stayed for 6 or more hours!)  [Please note: I tried to link to her website, which you can try to google, but I got a malware warning, so I can't recommend it to you.  However, she will be at the Newport Arts Festival on August 28 & 29, 2010 with her glorious stained glass and ephemera.]

Just a few tents away, I found Bar Harbor Classics in Booth 107 and purchased this amazing embossed, calf-skin bag:

I love the unusual shape (plus, it folds flat!) and John Milligan was so kind to me.  I truly hope I get to work with him in the future, he seems like a genius!  Check out these two photos I took in his booth:

I loved the yellow stingray leather in the middle - what a great eye for color!  And my last purchase of the day was the photo cards from Seacoast Impressions by Neil Troost in Booth 208:

They have unbelievable depth and the color is truly wonderful.  I can't wait to either frame these or send them to family in England (wish they could be here to enjoy Lake Sunapee!).  I also got to try out a few techniques since there were wonderful craftsmen (and craftswomen) there to teach!

Here I am learning how to weave a pattern with the NH Weavers Guild in Tent Z (thank you for being so kind to me!):

I love how you can see where people have stopped and started - this piece will certainly tell a story!  I also spoke to Beth Lux in Tent U about pleating, smocking, embroidery and our favorite Fabric Manipulation book (on Amazon HERE):

That second photo is this fantastic, little pleating machine that looks incredibly hard to set-up!  Look at Beth's amazing smocking in the last photo - beautiful!  And lastly, but one that absolutely blew me away, was Faith Fellows fine hand-beaded designs in leather, basketry & fiber in Booth 413:

Here are some closer images:

(Aren't those belts stunning?!)  I unfortunately could not afford any of these items at this time, but she had low prices considering the time and effort in each piece.  I almost imagined little faeries running around helping her pick-out beads for each design.

Whew!  That was a long post, with lots of images that I hope will load quickly and show their work well.  It truly is the most amazing experience and I highly recommend it if you are in the area.

Happy hunting!

Yours Truly,

Alex