It’s that time of year again… time for NHPTV’s Spring Auction!
My Felt Hat Donation for NHPTV's 2011 Spring Auction
If you act quickly, you might just steal this felt hat (valued at $140) for $55 (high bid as of this moment is $52)!
(ps–Sorry for the short notice. Become a fan of CCM Felt Hats on Facebook to get my latest news!)
The Balsams Grand Resort is beautiful in winter.
It’s my favorite time of year: I’m returning to The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel as Visiting Artisan for the week of February 21 – 28, 2011.
Felt hat embroidery workshop for guests at The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel.
Beautiful any time of year, The Balsams (located in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire) is especially enchanting in winter.
The scenery is gorgeous:
The skiing (both downhill and cross-country) is fantastic:
Guests at The Balsams enjoy access to fantastic wilderness skiing.
And the hotel architecture is always lovely:
Mismatched balusters of the grand staircase in the John Dix Social Room at The Balsams.
One of the many gilded cornices that grace The Balsams' grand dining room.
Winter is the perfect time to showcase my felt hats & demonstrate their construction to hotel guests. I especially enjoy teaching workshops to students of all ages:
Rachel's diary says: "On Tuesday I sewed my hat"!
But, of course, at The Balsams it always comes back to the food!
Mmmm... The Balsams has a fantastic breakfast buffet...
... with a dazzling array of tasty choices...
And an omelette chef, awaiting your special request!
The Balsams gets all the details just right:
Elegant silver service adds a special touch to an already special dining experience.
So if you’re up for a very special winter vacation, consider a trip to The Balsams. I promise, you’ll be glad you did!
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.)
Fantastic weather combined with fantastic people made this year’s League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair at Mt. Sunapee a real treat!
Julie & Dorothy Model the Hats That Chose Them
So many happy hat folks stopped by to say hello and tell me how much they love their hats…
Thank you! I’m grateful that my art-to-wear hats are out there in the world, making lives warmer and brighter.
(Couldn’t make it this year? The LNHC Fair starts the first Saturday in August every year. Mark your calendars for August 7 – 15, 2010!)
With just 5 days until the start of the 76th Annual League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair at Mt. Sunapee, I’ve been embroidering felt hats as fast as I can.
Hand-cut caribou antler button, seed beads and ribbon embroidery on felt.
I love the over-sized caribou antler buttons on this hat (2008 #124)…
I’ll be in Tent 7, Booth 713 for all nine days of the Fair, with as much new work as I can muster!
The 76th Annual League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair happens August 1-9, 2009 at Mount Sunapee Resort in Newbury, New Hampshire.
Rain or shine, I will be in Tent 7, Booth 713… come say hello!
It’s the most exciting phone call of my year: when the Balsams’ Activities Coordinator, John Kennedy, asks if I am able to return for their Visiting Artist Series this summer.
CCM at Table Rock above the Balsams Grand Resort in Dixville Notch, NH
“Yes! Please!” is my unhesitating reply.
As a Visiting Artist, I have the pleasure of conducting knitting & embroidery demonstrations and workshops with resort guests.
Felt Hat Embroidery Demonstration at the Balsams Grand Resort in Dixville Notch, NH
My first year, I even attempted a felting demonstration, with fascinating results.
The Balsams is a treasure. Luxurious accommodations and to-die-for dining are set in the northern New Hampshire wilds of Dixville Notch (where the first voting in the country happens each election).
Enjoying the bike trails of the Balsams' wilderness in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire
Hiking, mountain biking, swimming, tennis and golf galore can fill up your days, while fantastic food and dancing to Rick Erwin’s Orchestra in the ballroom complete your nights.
If you’re looking for a fabulous getaway this summer, I highly recommend a stay at The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel.
And if you happen to visit between June 29 and July 6, 2009, I will see you there!
Detail of freehand ribbon embroidery with caribou antler buttons on knitted felt hat.
My wet-felting neighbor, Kathleen H. Peters was inspired by the United Nations declaration of 2009 as the International Year of Natural Fibre.
So, in association with the Cardigan Mountain Art Association, she’s gathered together natural fiber artists from the Upper Valley of New Hampshire for a 2-day fiber show and demonstration.
“Twisted: A Celebration of Natural Fiber Crafts and their Modern Turns,” will feature spinning, weaving, dying, basketry, felting, knitting, rug hooking, mill history and more.
Where: Canaan Street Meeting House, Canaan, NH
When: 10am – 4pm, May 2nd and 3rd, 2009
Cost: Free! Refreshments included.
I’ll have 7 knitted felt hats with embroidery in this show, so come out and see what’s new.
Spring asparagus shoots return!
Last spring, Andy & I dug and planted our first-ever asparagus bed.
Initial trench digging after sod removal.
It was several days of hard digging, with lots of attention to building a rich soil bed for our 50 young, mail-order crowns.
Andy spreads the tentacle-like crowns over a hill of rich compost.
Technically, we’re supposed to let this year’s shoots grow, without harvesting any to eat, so they can continue to nourish the roots and develop into healthy, beautiful, fern-like plants.
Late summer asparagus plants (left) little resemble spring spears.
I’m just not sure I can wait another year to taste them!
Mmmmm... to eat or not to eat?
CCM Felt Hats at Concord TV's 5th Annual Arts Telefest.
Now available for your viewing pleasure! My 8 minute interview for the Arts Telefest is online at Concord TV.
This was my first ever television interview… let me know what you think!
