What a great week!

Where to begin?  This past week has been a whirlwind, as holiday weeks usually are :)  On Thursday Jake and I hosted Thanksgiving at our house.  In a mad frenzy we cleaned, shopped for groceries and navigated around five dogs. It turned out beautifully and deliciously.  Remember that most of my family is vegetarian...here was our menu:

Savoy Cabbage Gratin
Roasted carrots and parsnips with sage brown butter
Garlic mashed potatoes with Gruyere
Caramelized cauliflower with red onion and chickpeas (and cumin)
Cream Braised Brussels Sprouts
Stuffing with celery and onions
Wild rice with cranberries and walnuts
Swiss chard with fresh ginger
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie
Crumb cake

I thought that maybe we would have too much food, but there were hardly any leftovers!  Can you tell that Orangette and Smitten Kitchen have been on my mind?

Then we made decorations for my sister's intimate wedding on Friday.  Yes, you read that correctly.  My sister is married now!  To a marine!  And she's moving to North Carolina!  It was a beautiful and touching ceremony and then we all headed to a local restaurant for some delicious food and then back to a friend's house for cake and mingling.  It's odd, I never thought that my sister would get married so quickly, but I can see why - he's an awesome super sweet guy.

After the wedding I headed over to VSW for the panel and screening of Handmade Nation (and old-school bake sale).  Both were fantastic!  We had a huge turnout and filled the auditorium.  I hope that happens again this week :)  Afterward, we transformed the auditorium into a little oasis for crafters.

And the fourth Second Storie Indie Market was Saturday and Sunday.  I can't tell you how super incredibly amazing it was!!!  We doubled the attendance from last year and all of our vendors were just the sweetest most talented bunch of people.  It felt like being at a family reunion, where you can't wait to catch up with everyone and they have sweet stuff for sale - or trade!  I think my favorite part is Sunday brunch with the vendors.  A couple of hours to eat delicious tarts and quiche and really get to know everyone before the shoppers arrive.  Thank you SO much to everyone who stopped by and said hello - it means so much to me!

It's a little fuzzy, but I thought you might like to see how the Second Storie raffle winners were chosen...Jake had a rough job!

This week will also be crazy.  I have a holiday show tomorrow night at a local country club and then two this weekend.  The Holiday Gala at my studio is Friday night and Saturday afternoon.  I won't be able to be there in person, so my sister and my intern are going to take over for me.  I'll be in NYC for the Bust Craftacular on Sunday and a little round of museum hopping and vegetarian soul food.  Whew, my little blog-break is over, it's time to get back to work!

It's almost here!

After months of planing, we're just about ready for Second Storie and the premier of Handmade Nation!  If you're out and about this Thanksgiving weekend, stop by and say hi...and hopefully I won't be too frazzled :)

Second Storie Indie Market
Saturday, November 28, 11-6
Sunday, November, 29, 11-5
Visual Studies Workshop, Rochester

Handmade Nation...the movie
Friday, November 27th, 7pm
Panel discussion at 7pm, screening at 8pm


Encore screening of the film:
Friday, December 4th, 8pm

Carving My Initials

As the new year rapily approaches, I wanted to let you all know about this awesome calendar by my studio mate Jim DeLucia (aka, Carving My Initials).  It's beautifully illustrated with planty of space to write in important birthdays, vet appointments, and family vacations!  Jim's work is impecable and worth every penny.

Focus!

Remember how I was obsessed with owning a cottage a few months ago?  Well, I still am.  I think about it almost every day.  I will surely own these lovely dishes from L'Abitare and use them to entertain the neighbors.  And in return I'm sure they will give us rides in their awesome boat and let their puppies play with ours.

I heart Jackie Bos

Jackie Bos makes seriously awesome art.  This piece is from her Magical Land Series, a series of ongoing works on paper.  I love the vibrancy of color and strong lines in her work.

She also just completed a limited edition book titled I Heart the Arctic, based on Inuit myths and the arctic.  I ordered myself a copy, so get yours while you can, I'm sure these will go fast!

And I couldn't resist posting this picture of Jackie taken in her studio.  Pastel-pink desk, blue chair, heart sweater?  I'm pretty sure we would be friends if we ever met in real life...she even photographed her new book on a pink background, which is perhaps that adorable desk :)

Damn, I need a wall of lockers like these!

I was perusing Viv's beautiful blog Ish & Chi this afternoon when I spotted Carl Bengtsson's photos.  Aren't these stunning?  Happy to have found both Viv and Carl :)

The winners are...

Thank you to everyone who left a comment about the best parts of Fall in my calendar giveaway.  Congratulations to our two winners, Jane and Chantel.

Jane won the 13-page calendar!
"My favourite bit about fall (another autumn-sayer over here, really...) is cycling through big piles of crunchy leaves :)"

Chantel I. won the tear-away calendar!
"Fall is by far my favourite season. I love the colours and the crisp air. I love to hear leaves crunching under my feet and to eat warm stew.  Your calendars are beautiful and I'd be most pleased to win one."

Chantel, can you please send me an email with your mailing address.  Your email address bounced back to me.

Stop back in early December for another giveaway :)

Missed Connections

I love reading Sophie Blackall's Missed Connections Blog.  Her illustrations are perfect for the odd missed connections, almost always hilarious, although sometimes a little sad.  She also has prints for sale!

And, make sure you check out her apartment Sneak Peek, it's equally amazing.  I seriously love how full it is and the quilt is awesome!  It makes me feel good about all of my stuff :)

don't you need another bag?

I just love Pansy Maiden's purses.  All of Laura 's bags are vegan and sustainable and gorgeous.  Every one of them is on my wishlist :)

puppy burger?

My sister sent me a link to the most amazing dog Halloween costume...chihuahua on burger!  I wish we had been able to think of something so genius for our girls this year.  Susie would have loved felt burger paws and Cassie would have loved trying to eat them :)  Maybe next ear we won't be so lame.

Stephen Wiltshire

When I came acrosss Stephen Wiltshire's work on A Cup of Jo I was blown away.  After short ride in a helicopter he was able to recreate the skyline of New York City.  From memory!  Can you imagine it?  The details are just incredible and I don't know that I've ever been able to concentrate so intensely on one thing in my life like he is able to do in these.

November giveaway

In my last giveaway I mentioned that I'd be having more.  Well, October came and went, so now it looks like I'm saying hello to November with a calendar giveaway! 

One winner will receive the full 12-month calendar and a second winner will receive the tear-away calendar.  Both are letterpress printed and the imagery is inspired by vintage china patterns. To enter, please leave a comment telling us all what you your favorite part of fall is (mine is that I have an excuse to make and eat soup!). To double your chances, post about this giveaway on your blog and leave another comment with a link to the post and I'll make sure you're entered into the drawing a second time! The contest will end on Monday, November 9th at midnight (EST) and I'll announce the winner on Tuesday, November 10th.

As an added bonus for reading my blog I’ll send an extra greeting card with any shop order if you enter the code “hello fall” in the checkout section (valid until November 20).

Wow, things are moving so quickly!  Plans are well under way for the next Second Storie Indie Market.  We'll be picking up posters to plaster the town, for both the market and the Western New York screening of Handmade Nation, tickets are still available.  I'm so looking forward to both.  The best part of the entire event is when vendors start arrivig for set up.  Everyone is so excited and chatting about the holidays and their work and busily setting up their tables.  It makes the whole planning process worth it!  I hope some of you in the upstate area might be able to stop by in person and say hi during Thanksgiving weekend :)