Major Knitter

Spring Craft Fair at a Local School

Several of my friends will be selling things in Saturday's craft fair at one of the local elementary schools.  If you're in Westport this Saturday, won't you please stop by and support them?

• Saturday, April 5th, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Spring Market
• Greens Farms Elementary School Auditorium
• 17 Morningside Drive South, Westport, CT 06880

Get a head start on your spring shopping!

There will be great vendors selling jewelry, gifts for the home, handbags, clothing for kids, women, even for dolls.  Some of the crafters include:

• Charlie & Grace – Ladies’ belts & cover-ups, children’s belts & baby gifts
• Smirking Goddess - Suzanne Urban - Paintings and one of a kind felted ornaments
• PonyMom Designs – Handmade, one-of-a-kind belt buckles & interchangeable straps
• For Good Music - Suzanne Propp - Music CDs
• Tiki – Fun girls, women’s & American Girl doll clothing
• PJ Beau – Children & adult belts, headbands & key-chains
• TuTuBella – Tutus, tiaras, hair accessories, girl’s jewelry
• All Tied Up – Fun tie-dyed & heat pressed clothing for girls & young women
• Laura Madrigano – One-of-a-kind fabric handbags & accessories
• Calligraphy Concepts – Fabric Button hair accessories
• Dawn Alice Rogers – Children’s embellished art wear, wooden & cloth dolls
• Gioiella – Fashionable, fun jewelry
• Jewels of Eden – Beaded jewelry
• Millie Rae’s – Vintage & new items for the home & garden
• Minnie Prince – Handbags & cashmere sweaters
• The Brown Bumblebee – Vintage accessories

Every Well-Dressed Laundry Room Needs Art

I worked my six-hour volunteer shift at the Westport Young Woman's League Creative Arts Festival held at Staples High School today.  I haven't spent a day on my feet in awhile.  I had a great time helping out.  Of course I made many wonderful purchases.  My favorite one is this piece of artwork made out of a quilt.

Put on your big girl panties and deal with it.

I can't stop laughing.  It's now hanging in my laundry room.  Very few people will ever see it when they come to my house - but it makes me smile.  Hehehehe.  Do you have art hanging in your laundry room?

The Felted Garden

Yesterday BF and I went to Brookfield, Connecticut where my dear friend Elizabeth Rubidge was at a craft show with her fibre creation -- The Felted Garden.  Elizabeth is so creative.  She knows color.  She knows design.  She knows what's hot.  She spent 20+ years in the fashion industry designing children's clothes, so it's no wonder she's amazing.  I'm just sorry that the light at the craft fair wasn't the best for my photographs (that blue safety mat in the background didn't help either!).  I wasn't able to get a picture to do her booth justice.  But you can see her lovely scarves in dazzling details at her Felted Garden Etsy Shop and find a felted creation that's just right for you.

Here's a close-up of Elizabeth and some of her scarves.

I've been eyeing this Tree of Life Tote Bag at Elizabeth's house for quite some time and was fortunate enough to nab it before anyone else snatched it up.   

I also got this scarf to add to my ensemble

This room is a bit dark, but you can imagine the beautiful burnt sugar reddish-orange with dark chocolate brown accents.  I think I need to buy a new brown outfit to show off my new finds.   Don't you agree? 

 

Calling All Artisans!

As many of you know, I am a member of the Westport Young Woman's League.  We host an amazing craft fair every November and are currently accepting applications for new artisans to apply to our show.  I'd love to see some new blood get into this craft fair - so please read below and tell all your friends. 

The Westport Young Woman's League Creative Arts Festival is wrapping up it's call for all entries for the 32nd Annual Westport Creative Arts Festival

• Date:  November 17-18, 2007
• Where:  Staples High School in Westport, CT
• Click HERE to download an application
• Applications must be postmarked by August 1, 2007

NEW:  Digital images being accepted

NEW:  "Refer a New Artist" Reward Program - Details and Form available HERE

For more information contact the Westport Young Woman's League at          203.222.1388       or email at caf@wywl.com

The Westport Creative Arts Festival is one of the Northeast's premier craft shows with over 150 exhibitors.  The Westport Young Woman's League, a non-profit organization, sponsors the event and all proceeds from the show are donated to charity.

One of a Kind Felted Ornaments

Suzanne of Smirking Goddess Studio works at my son's school.  She is another fiber artist whose path has crossed mine.  Suzanne shared with me her latest creation - Malcolm.  Isn't he adorable?

She's selling her handmade creations on ebay.  Check them out here.  I already bid on Malcolm.  He's so precious.  I hope he'll be hanging on my Christmas tree come December.

A Young Entreprenuer

Remember my friend Elizabeth who has an Etsy site for her hand felted wonders?  Well her creativity doesn't end there.  Her daughter Molly, 11, has decided to follow her own entrepreneurial instincts and has made some creative denim, needle felted, embellished items on her Mom's Etsy site, too.

I bought this clever little cell phone carrier.

I've attached it to the handles of my handbag.  It's going to be such a lifesaver because I can never find my cell phone.  If you've ever tried to call me, you can vouch for that.

Won't you stop by and view some of Molly's work (and her Mom's work, too).  It's a small thing you can do to encourage the next female entrepreneur.  Thanks Molly!

Felted Garden on Etsy

My dear friend Elizabeth Rubidge is so incredibly talented.  She makes the most amazing felted scarves you've ever seen.  Last night, she just listed some for sale on Etsy.  Check them out here.

Here's one of her witty whimsical puppy scarves.  Isn't it fetching?  I wonder if she could make an English Bulldog scarf? 

Please check out Felted Garden for more of Elizabeth's updates for shows and products. 

New York Sheep and Wool Festival 2007

It's only January and I'm already making plans for Rhinebeck.  Are you?  The 2007 site is up and running.  Check it out here.  In the meantime, save the date:

October 20th & 21st, 2007
Saturday 10AM-5PM
Sunday 10AM-4PM

I just invited James and Ian to stay with us.  They're thinking of coming to the U.S. the third week of October for sight seeing and the sheep and wool festival.  Wouldn't that be great if they could stay here?  I hope they'll say yes.

Are you coming to Rhinebeck?  Who are you going to stay with?

2006 Westport Creative Arts Festival

This is where I'll be all weekend.  I'm one of the many volunteers helping to make this happen.  If you're in the area, please come to Wesport and support the Westport Young Woman's League Creative Arts Festival.  All proceeds go to local charities.

Location

• Staples High School
• 70 North Avenue
• Westport, CT 06880
• Tel:  (203) 222-1388
• www.wywl.com

Hours

• Saturday, November 18th - 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• with a Saturday Breakfast Preview - 8:30 to 10:00 a.m.
• Sunday, November 19th - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Ticket Prices

• General Admission: $8.00
• Breakfast Preview $15.00
• Seniors: $6.00
• Children under 12: FREE
• Discounts: $1.00 for shuttle bus voucher
• $1.00 senior citizen discount

Fiber Fusion

Alyson Angus and Ellen Greenberg also had a wonderful booth at the Westport Young Woman's League Creative Arts Festival this weekend.  They make these delicate hand felted scarves with wool and hand painted silk.  They're absolutely breath taking.  Their booth was located directly across the way from Regina Moss, so I spent my days going back and forth between the two booths trying to help out my friends.

Ellen and Alyson in their booth modeling their scarves

The zebra scarf

A shot of the Fiber Fusion booth

It's a wrap!

I'll take one in every color, please.

Another item Alyson and Ellen sold at their booth were these cute little "Soap in a Mitt" for guest bathrooms or children's baths.  The soap is inside the felted fiber fusion.  What an ingenious idea.  If you're interested in learning more about their products, contact Alyson and Ellen via email.

Regina Moss Designs

Regina Moss of SNL makes the most wonderfully exquisite, delicate, romantic jewelry and felted handbags.  Many of us from SNL helped her out at the Creative Arts Festival this weekend.  After you see all her goods you'll probably want to buy something yourself.  Please email Regina for more details.  Look at what was happening at Regina's booth:

Hannah and Regina Moss showing off some of Regina's felted bag designs.

Here are some of Regina's amazing necklaces and earrings in copper and gold tones.

Here's one of Regina's creative display cases with her green toned jewelry.

Here's a close up of the green toned jewelry.

I bought this lovely necklace.  Regina is going to make a set of matching earrings for me.  Don't you just love her designs?   

Working for a Living

Pam Troy-Kopack and I were busy today at the Westport Young Woman's League Creative Arts Festival.  Here we are in the raffle booth.  The donations went to help local charities in Westport.  I'm wearing my blue, blue, blue poncho underneath my volunteer apron.  Lots of people asked me which booth I bought it at or wanted to know if I was going to have a booth next year.  Hmmmm.  Maybe I should think about that.

Westport Creative Arts Festival

What are you doing this weekend?  If you don't have any definitive plans yet, you should plan on coming to the famous Westport Craft Fair otherwise known as the Westport Creative Arts Festival.  That's where I'll be.  Want to come join me?  You can get all your holiday shopping done before Thanksgiving!

Westport Creative Arts Festival

Saturday, November 19th - 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 20th - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 P.M.

Staples High School

70 North Avenue

Westport, CT 06880

Show for a Cause

Regina Moss is participating in a homeshow here in Westport this week.  Here's what the invitation says.

Bring a friend.  Make a friend for life.

Come celebrate the best of fashion, jewelry and accessories with the artists who made them.  Part of the proceeds will benefit the Friends for Life organization as they fund research for neuroblastoma childhood cancer.

When:   Wednesday, September 21, 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. & Thursday, September 22, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Where:  290 Acorn Lane, Southport, CT - 203 256-1382

Regina Moss at the Westport Craft Fair

BF, the boys, and I went to the Westport Craft Fair yesterday.  The boys will tell you that their favorite parts were the scrumptous kettle corn that we purchased as we entered the high school and the wooden life-like snakes they bought. We saw Regina and her beautiful jewelry looking gorgeous.  There's still chance to get to Staples High School today and make a purchase.  Go!  You can make it.  The craft fair is from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. today.

Plus I bought these fun things from other artisans.  Sorry - no picture of the Kettle Korn (because we ate it all!)

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SNAKES - Kids N Crafts - (854) 235-9395

SOAPS - Whisper Hill - (802) 672-SOAP (7627)

WOODEN BOWLS - Clarendon Hardwood Bowls - (802) 558-2901

JAMS - Deborah's Kitchen - (617) 216-9908

POPCORN - Kettle Korn - (888) 349-3293

Westport Craft Fair

Happy Memorial Day weekend!  I hope you have a bright sunny day where you are. In Westport and the NE we're having rain, rain, and more rain.  Which is just perfect.  Why you ask?  Because this weekend is the Westport Craft Fair.

ANNUAL WESTPORT CRAFT SHOW, Staples High School, 70 North Ave., Westport, 227-7844. Sat. May 28th, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sun. May 29th, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., more than 150 artisans, one-of-a-kind works of art, decorative home furnishings, jewelry, gifts, toys and more. Admission $8; $6 for seniors; free for children under 12. Sponsored by the Westport-Weston Cooperative Nursery School.

Regina Moss has a booth at this weekend's craft fair.  Please go check it out and support Regina and other local artists.

Prospect Park Sheep and Wool Festival

 

Tonight was poker night with friends and Judy Wolfe was our hostess.  She gave me permission to share this photo with you of the big sheep and wool festival in NYC's Prospect Park Zoo on May 1st.  She is an avid animal lover and reported this about the sheep shearing event.

"The sheep shearing was terrific to watch. The man who sheared the sheep was gentle, explained the process, answered questions and the crowds (and us) were enthralled."

Since I didn't make it to Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival - at least it's nice to know there was a little S&W fest going on in my own backyard.  Next time I'll know. 

Oh... and Judy was the big winner at poker.  Don't worry boys and girls - we only play for pennies.  We had a great time with our friends, laughing and playing games.  What a great way to spend a Thursday night.

Happy shearing!

Regina Moss' Jewelry and Boutique Show

   

Regina Moss is having a Home Show this Friday.  If you're in the Westport area, please stop by and see all of her wonderful creations. 

Westport Young Woman's League Creative Arts Festival

My good friend (and fellow Cub Scout Den Mother) Alyson Angus called me the other day and asked me if I'd like to contribute some hand-made felted bags to the Westport Young Woman's League booth at the Creative Arts Festival on Saturday November 20-21, 2004. Would I? Would I? Of course I would!

Alyson and her friend Ellen just came over and we had a wonderful show and tell. Ellen brought her gossamer felted scarves with a combination of wool and silk. Let me tell you they are BEAUTIFUL. Unfortunately, I forgot to get a picture.

I did take a few shots of my kitchen all decked out for the display of felted wares. Hehehe. I really did excel at show and tell when I was in elementary school.

What do you think? Want to come to the CAF?

Ellen's puppy "Creme" (as in creme de la creme) wants you to join us...