Radio Tour of the League’s New Home for NH Crafts

Posted on 26 October 2011

I’ll admit it.

As much as I’m a hockey addict, I’m also a public radio junkie.

This hand-crafted NHPR membership mug from 2007 is right at home in my hat studio.

Today, I found myself in the rink parking lot, having a “driveway moment.” I was enthralled by a story about the new headquarters for the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen in Concord, NH.

There will be a Grand Opening reception tomorrow, October 26, 2011, from 3pm – 8pm, which I’m hoping to attend. See you there?

Thank you, Virginia Prescott (of NHPR’s Word of Mouth) for the “moment”!

Great trip: One Knitter’s View of the Sunapee Fair

Posted on 7 September 2011

I found this glowing review of my hats at Sunapee & wanted to share… Enjoy!

Mr. Aitch and I got home around 12:15 this afternoon. It takes us awhile to get back into the groove of things but I wanted to tell you about the fair my brother and I went to on Saturday. There's still time for you to go…if you're in the area. My brother and I went to the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen's Fair which is held annually in Mt. Sunapee Resort in Newbury, New Hampshire. This is no typical "craft fair". The exhibitors are profe … Read More

via Knitting In Flashes

New Freehand Embroidery: Red-Hot Blues French-Knot Mandala

Posted on 27 July 2011

New Freehand Embroidery: Red-hot Blues French-knot Mandala

The 78th Annual League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair begins in less than two weeks, so I’m in embroidery overdrive.

Icy-hot french-knots (more than 150!) make up the bulk of this freehand embroidery.

I love the nubbly texture of this french-knot mandala design… it feels amazing to the touch! If you come by my booth in Tent 7, you can feel for yourself.

Silk & cotton hand-dyed yarns are doubled then knotted to form this freehand embroidery.

This is my newest design, and I’m planning on stitching a few more before the Fair opens on Saturday, August 6, 2011. It’s very meditative to build up the embroidery, knot by knot.

Each art-to-wear hat is signed, dated and numbered. "Red-hot Blues" is #65 in 2011.

There are so many amazingly talented craftsmen at this fair: from glass-blowers, to raku potters, to printmakers, to rug-braiders, and more. Not only can you meet these artists, you can also enjoy free daily craft demonstrations, and learn their secrets.

I hope you’ll be able to visit!

New Ribbon Embroidery: Jungle Flower

Posted on 8 July 2011

"Jungle Flower," a new hand-knit felt hat with freehand embroidery.

My manic needlework preparations continue for the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Annual Fair, which runs August 6 – 14, 2011.

This latest freehand embroidery, “Jungle Flower,” will join “Sunset Sorbet” in the CraftWear exhibit in the main lodge building, along with the work of nearly 50 other juried artists.

I hope you’ll be able to visit.

New Ribbon Embroidery with Antler Button & Seed Beads

Posted on 2 June 2010

Tiny glass seed beads embellish this freehand ribbon embroidery on felt.

The 77th Annual League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair runs August 7-15, 2010. That means I have 2 more months to embroider the 100+ felt hats I’ve made this winter.

One of my latest designs is this lovely pink flower embroidery, featuring a hand-cut caribou antler button with glass seed beads.

Simple & sweet. I can’t wait to see who scoops up this one…

Canaan Hat Studio Welcomes Visitors of NH Open Doors 2009

Posted on 4 November 2009

Curious to see the mayhem behind the felting magic?

Carrie Cahill Mulligan's felt hat fiber studio.

Felt hats line the walls of my home fiber studio in Canaan, NH

Come visit my home fiber studio at 693 Canaan Street, in beautiful historic Canaan, New Hampshire this weekend!

Hours:

9am – 3pm Saturday, November 7
10am – 5pm Sunday, November 8, 2009.

See how my hats are made, and custom design your own embroidery to match your favorite winter coat.

Custom cherrry cabinets for our 1840's kitchen remodel

Andy's gorgeous shaker-style cherry cabinets for our 1840's kitchen renovation.

I’ll have some warm apple cider on the stove, and we can talk gardens, too, as well as admire the new cherry cabinets Andy made for our kitchen remodel (gorgeous, eh?).

For printable maps & more information about other artists in the Dartmouth area, visit the NH Open Doors website.

I hope you can visit!

Visiting Artist at Sandwich Home Industries Cancelled

Posted on 16 October 2009

Felt Hat Demonstration at Sandwich Home Industries, October 2008.

For the past several years, I’ve had the pleasure of demonstrating how to make embroidered felt hats from oversized hand knits at one of the oldest craft galleries in the country.

Located in bucolic Center Sandwich, New Hampshire, Sandwich Home Industries is a flagship gallery of one of the country’s oldest crafts organizations, the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen.

Peak Fall Colors Along the Middle Sister Trail, Mt. Chocorua, NH, October 2008.

This year, as last, we timed my visit to coincide with the Sandwich Fair, and possibly a nice hike up nearby Mount Chocorua.

Unfortunately, this year I was diagnosed my first-ever case of pneumonia just days before the demonstration.

So, I apologize for the last-minute cancellation.

Embroidery Demonstration on Llama & Wool Felt Hats, Center Sandwich, NH, 2007.

But I hope to see you for a felt hat embroidery demonstration in Center Sandwich next year!

(If you can’t wait that long, consider a visit to my home studio in Canaan, NH during the Veteran’s Day NH Open Doors Event 2009.)

Moments in Glass: Nicholas Kekic of Tsuga Studios

Posted on 4 September 2009

Miniature bud vases by 3rd generation American Glass Artist, Nicholas Kekic of Tsuga Studios

My Blog Triage classmate, Jackie Jacobson recently wrote about glass artists she knows from the Pacific Northwest.

Which got me thinking about some of my favorite League of New Hampshire Craftsmen glass artists:

Hand-blown Spring Tree wine goblets by American glass artist Jordana Korsen.

There’s Jordana Korsen and her fantastic tree goblets. There’s Nathan Macomber’s beautiful sculptural work, Philip Jacobs’ amazing blown glass lampshades, and Harry Bessett’s wonderful stemless wineglasses.

But my latest favorite is Nicholas Kekic, maker of gorgeous, luminous vases, each exquisitely shaped.

Nick Kekik's frosted hand-blown glass vases add so much joy to our 1840's dining room.

Do you have a favorite glass artist? Do tell… I’m always looking for functional fine art to grace our old home.

New Embroidery Design for Felt Hats: Mandala of French Knots

Posted on 26 August 2009

New freehand embroidery, with variegated french knots in wool on felt.

If you didn’t get a chance to visit me at this year’s League of NH Craftsmen’s Fair, you missed seeing my latest design: Mandala of French Knots.

According to Wikipedia:

“Mandala [...] translates as ‘circle-circumference’ or ‘completion’ [...]
a concentric diagram having spiritual and ritual significance in both Buddhism and Hinduism.”

That makes sense to me. I’ve been thinking a lot about Mom. And the circle of one year of grieving was completing just as this design was born.