Visiting Artist at Sandwich Home Industries Cancelled

Felt Hat Demonstration at Sandwich Home Industries, October 2008.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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. πŸ˜‰

New Embroidery Design for Felt Hats: Mandala of French Knots

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

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.

Cool tones on black was the first incarnation of the new Mandala embroidery.

Cool tones on black was the first incarnation of the new Mandala embroidery.

Plus, it’s summer, my garden is booming and broccoli reminds me of french knots!