Sometimes, a new design or product will capture your attention and imagination to the point of obsession. This is what happened with me and the Nightshift shawl by Andrea Mowry. The combination of colors and the visual texture she created are mesmerizing, and the effect didn’t wear off after...
Blog
26 Pauline Van Gulden: Collaboration is an essential part of sewing creativity
I’ve been working quietly behind the scenes on a new design for a project bag for portable crafts, and couldn’t do it without the expert guidance of a professional seamstress like Pauline Van Gulden. Pauline was kind enough to sit down with me for a chat about her career...
Vanilla Wedding Cake with Mocha Filling: Recreating a favorite from memory
When our friends Joe and Sarah got married a few years ago, and one of the highlights of the celebration was their amazing wedding cake. I wanted to shove a few illicit pieces in a napkin and bring them home, but good manners got the better of me, so...
The Knitting Nook, Portland Maine: This cozy neighborhood café is also a yarn shop.
Sometimes, it takes a life-changing experience to realize what you really want to do with your life. That’s what happened to the owner of The Knitting Nook, Lisa Plourd, when she fell through the ice and ended up in the emergency room. After her recovery, Lisa decided to combine her...
Portland, Maine – Music, Makers, Museums, Meals, and mmm Beer
Aside from lengthy European getaways, our favorite vacations are 2-day trips that we can make within easy distance of the homestead. Last weekend we went back to Portland, Maine, to revisit some favorite sites, hear one of our favorite bands, and of course, sample some great craft beers. We...
Art Yarn Spinning – First Time with Multiple Techniques
In my latest spinning session I decided to try my hand at an art yarn skein. It’s not a style, that I’ve had any experience with, and I would say the end product is also well out of my usual comfort zone. But, inspired by a spinning class I...
The FarmCam: Theme and variations on a multi-year timelapse project
Since 1996, Rick has experimented with long-term photography projects, and just recently completed a video to capture the view from our farm webcam at Noon every day, for a full year. In this week’s video, we chat about Rick’s long-standing interest in documentary photography, specifically time-lapse via webcam. Timelapse...
Chicken Curry: classic flavors combine for a delicious, quick supper
As I’ve mentioned before, we’re often looking for new recipes to make at home, to mix up our menus when we find ourselves stuck in a rut. While I’m not new to cooking curry dishes, many recipes I’ve tried in the past have involved more ingredients, steps, and time...
Sewing a Skirt & Sash – A Project for a Special Night
If you’ve been reading the blog or following on our YouTube channel for a while, you’ll know that I don’t talk about sewing much. That’s because I don’t sew much, or at least haven’t in a long time. This year I’m hoping that will change. I believe everyone should...
Overdye Yarn: How to shift shades for a happier result
A couple of weeks ago, I shared an experiment for dyeing yarn with food coloring. The results were interesting, but I decided the yarn didn’t have a cohesive, finished look. So, it’s back to the dye pot this week. Overdyeing can rescue failed dye experiments if you’re careful about...