Shop Local, Buy Handmade

I've been away for a while

2011-12-30T12:50:00.002-05:00

Today someone drew some outdated information to my attention--information that I had placed on this blog. And it became painfully clear that I had been neglecting my blog. Mostly because I now have a day job, and I'm an artist, and I'm homeschooling my growing child. Something had to give!

So I just went through and deleted all the links that I had placed in the sidebar of the blog, because I realize that some of them were no longer in business. Maybe some day when I have time I can start to blog here regularly again. Because shopping local and buying handmade is a really wonderful thing.

Alexis Grace Consignments - Worcester, MA

2009-12-12T18:32:00.003-05:00

I discovered a great consignment shop today, called Alexis Grace Consignment. I never would have found this place because it's located in a convenient but out-of-the-way location. What do I mean by that? Well, it's conveniently located right in Worcester in what I think is the Green Island neighborhood. But it's a street I would never go down otherwise. (7 Harrison Street, not far from Kelley Square) Today I was searching for some products by Worcester soap and candle-maker Melanie Paradise of "A Fragrant Paradise" - I had heard that Alexis Grace carries her line of products.

The minute I walked into Alexis Grace I knew I'd like it. It was attractively designed and, unlike so many other consignment shops, the tables and displays were not smooshed together. The spacious and lovely store made looking at the clothing, jewelry and other products a real pleasure. And the low prices were an even greater pleasure!

The co-owner, Mary, had a mug on her counter from which a wonderful hazelnut coffee smell emanated. When I approached, I did a double-take. "Your coffee's on fire!" I joked. Sure enough, it was a candle made by A Fragrant Paradise. If you can get past the idea of flames in your coffee cup, you will LOVE these candles. They smell so good; the entire room fills with the wonderful gourmet-coffee scents! I picked one up for my mother-in-law for Christmas. It's an attractive mug with a candle that looks like coffee with a pouf of whipped cream on top, and it's only $12.95.

If you like consigment shops you will love this one. There's even a back room where out-of-season bargains can be found. Parking can be found on the street OR in a little parking lot directly across the street from the shop.

The Country Pantry - a Central Mass. cafe

2009-10-05T11:02:00.000-04:00

The other day my son and I were coming home on Rte. 122 from Petersham, passing through Barre as we always do. We were on the lookout for a place to get apple pie, of course. After all, it's fall and that is one of our favorite weekend rituals for this time of year.

Things didn't look too promising because it was Sunday afternoon. Few things in the country seem to be open. Even the Petersham General Store, which had a new sign touting its new hours (open Sunday) wasn't open. The sign boasting of the convenient new hours stood ironically in front of the locked door.

Suddenly, a tiny restaurant loomed into view. Cheerfully decorated in a country style, the Open flag and the "Breakfast All Day" sign caught my eye. We pulled into the parking lot.

What a cute little place! Cheerful and clean, I could tell that it was new. It turns out that they had only opened four days earlier. The shop was decorated in posters of old movies, with a life-sized cutout of the characters from the Wizard of Oz being the most prominent. "Oldies" music played in the background. The restaurant was comprised of tables, with the cashier counter in the center. It had shelves on it with necessities that a person might have to buy in a pinch: things like cat food, crackers, and dish soap.

We ordered slices of homemade pie. I had apple (heated) and my son had pumpkin. Each one was only $2.50, and was made "a la mode" for only an additional fifty cents. The pie was delicious and so was the huge cup of coffee I had.

The owner, Karen Varney, may well be a familiar person to many, as she is owner of Waterwheel Realty. In fact, the Country Cupboard and the adjacent Waterwheel Village are also hers. She was so friendly, spending quite a bit of time listening to my son's many stories, and talking to us about home schooling. She has done some substitute teaching herself and seemed to enjoy children very much.

Karen also explained to us some of the philosophy that guides her little restaurant's hours. They are open Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. (I have lost the flyer/menu that I brought home, which tells the hours. I think it was 10 to 5 pm). Her thoughts were that since so many restaurants are closed on weekend afternoons and on Mondays, she would be open to meet that need.

After eating our delicious dessert, we went over to the adjacent lot where there were two statues of horses placed realistically in a green, grassy yard. A large old-fashioned grader (i.e. construction vehicle) was placed in a landscaped garden as part of the decoration. A large tent was next to the grader, where one could sit and eat at picnic tables. (It was like a wedding tent, so in all honesty I don't expect it to be there beyond the good weather.) My son enjoyed climbing on the grader and playing imaginatively in the yard. We were there for about an hour altogether, having turned a stop for pie into a time for play and closeness. And we enjoyed meeting and talking to a new business owner, the friendly Karen Varney.

I would definitely stop there again, only this time in addition to dessert I would like to try lunch or breakfast. The prices were very reasonable. Like I said, I can't find the menu, so if you want to know more about this restaurant (such as whether they take credit cards) you can call them at (978) 355-6715. The address of The Country Pantry is: 2291 West St, Barre, MA.

stART on the Street - Worcester, MA art fair

2009-09-21T15:06:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I took part in another stART on the Street event. Time is short, so I'll just post my comments here that I said on Facebook earlier today:

"What a perfect day! Every year that I participate in stART on the Street, I get so many friendly people stopping in my booth to talk about the piece that they bought from me the year before, or the time they saw my art at the Bean Counter, or just to chat with me about their cats (one of the major themes of my work). Money is not the only 'payoff' that I get from stART...I get so much feedback, encouragement, friendly conversation and lots of smiles. It's very uplifting. I also appreciate the great local food vendors at stART. It's a great way to try a new place that soon becomes a favorite (like Buddha Hut did for me).

I am grateful that there are so many people who are consistent supporters of local artists like me, who recognize the value of handmade, original work. I see so many of the same faces at stART year after year! (And I am also grateful for the local businesses who support us, too!)

Thanks to all of you who attended stART this year; and don't forget about stART at the Station, a festive art and craft event put on by these very same (awesome) organizers that brought you yesterday's event."

Teeny tiny farmers market - The Flower Cart

2009-08-21T12:47:00.002-04:00

In Worcester, not far from what I call "the airport mountain" is a little flower store called The Flower Cart. Now, I never buy flowers, so I have been driving by this little shop for years. But last night we pulled into the parking lot and went in. Why?? I saw a sign in their window saying "farmers market."

I was very intrigued, as The Flower Cart is a cute little storefront squished in between an insurance company and something else. How can it be a farmers market, I wondered.

When I went inside my question was answered. A flower shop like many others, but made different by the bins of fresh produce at the front. Just like a mini farmers market indeed! It turns out that the owners have their own gardens, and they added some other stuff (corn, I think) from another nearby farm.

What makes this noteworthy for me is that we recently lost our second car, and my husband often needs our car for work. That means getting to farmers' markets is even harder for me now, as they usually take place during the day. Some have later hours, but are too far away given our schedule. But now that I know about The Flower Cart, I know that when my husband brings home the car, I can zip over there (they're open till 5:30 pm) and get nice fresh local veggies! I am thrilled.

Here's the info you will need:
They are located at 1405 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01603. Do you know where the Friendly's is on Route 9 as you're headed out toward Leicester? Well it's kiddy-corner from that. Their phone number is (508) 421-6631. You can even give them a call to see what they're selling ...something you can't do with a regular farmers' market. They are open 10 am to 5:30 pm on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. They'll also be open Sundays later in the year.

According to their business card they also offer "Seasonal Flowers & Gifts - Gift Baskets & More" More, indeed! :-)

Veg Worcester Benefit by Buddha Hut - August 15

2009-08-14T10:27:00.002-04:00

Here's some news I pulled directly from Veg Worcester's web site:

Buddha Hut Hosting Another All-you-can-eat Buffet Fundraiser: Saturday, August 15

Earlier this month, Buddha Hut held the first-ever buffet-fundraiser for VegWorcester. It was such a huge success that they are going to do it again in August. Sweet!

Mark your calendars: the next buffet will take place on Saturday, August 15 from noon – 7pm. It’s only $10 for the all-you-can-eat buffet and 10% of sales benefit VegWorcester programs. Awesome!

Sweet Worcester - decadent desserts and designer cakes

2009-08-08T13:14:00.003-04:00

Last night was date night for my husband & me. After a great casual outdoor meal at Junior's Pizza Grille on Shrewsbury Street, we set out on foot to find a nice shop for coffee and dessert. I had been hoping for a place with some "atmosphere" but my less-than-comfortable footwear ensured that we could not wander far. The only place within our walking range was called Sweet, and to be honest the exterior did not impress. I could see right through the large window into a brightly-lit shop that seemed devoid of decoration. But the sign said coffee and desserts / open late, so we went closer to peer in the window, and I'm glad we did.

The first thing that beckoned to us was a case full of cupcakes and small desserts. Coffee and coffee-machines were at the back. My favorite dessert is tiramisu, and I could see some there in the case, which clinched the deal for us. We went inside.

The walls are white, decorated only with one poster and a few polka dots. The lights were, in my opinion, a bit too bright. A rack held some free local magazines. My eyes scanned the room and stopped on a doorway leading to something in back. It didn't have a door, but instead had elegant-looking, top-to-bottom curtains pulled back with ties. I wondered--what could this be? I stuck my head through the curtain and could not believe my eyes. A room with atmosphere, dark and dreamy, with a bar and comfortable seating all around. It looked like a secret world in there. Very mysterious--but in a good way.

It was explained to us this way by the wonderfully courteous front counter person, Jennifer: the front room is quick and casual desserts, but the back room is "a dessert experience." There is a Prix Fix menu of special desserts for $9, some of which had familiar names like Bananas Foster and Creme Brulee. I was briefly tempted VERY strongly by the special coffees which includes my all-time favorite, the Nutty Irishman. But we had to pass on the dessert experience. We had spent enough money on dinner and a smaller dessert was what we needed. We decided to have a coffee each, and share one of the ample-sized tiramisus. The tiramisu was good, but the coffee was outstanding! I haven't had such a nice, smooth cup of coffee in a long, long time. To paraphrase the old commercial, this coffee was good to the last drop.

It got more interesting as I began to talk to Jennifer, who was turning out to be a good spokesperson for this establishment. No wordless blank stares or attitude from THIS barista! Jennifer cheerfully explained that the owner buys ingredients from local establishments. For example, the milk and cream comes from Cooper's Hilltop Farm in Rochdale, Mass. But what really impressed the socks off me was that the owner (Alina Eisenhauer) grows herbs and spices on the roof of her restaurant! I love that.

So we will definitely be going back. And on our next date night, we may just skimp on dinner so we can take a trip through those velvet curtains and partake of the dessert experience.

Vegetarian Dining Guide - Worcester, Mass.

2009-08-08T10:14:00.005-04:00

I went to a wonderful event at Elm Park (Worcester, Mass.) the other night. It was called Art in the Park and it was the official opening ceremony for the Art in the Park sculpture show, for lack of a better word. There was live music, food, booths from local organizations, a juggling magician, the whole bit. It was so well-attended it and there were so many smiles, it was a thrill to see!

But today's post is about something near and dear to my heart: healthy food and how hard it usually is to find at public events. But at the August 6 art event, I did something I have never been able to do at an outdoor festival: eat healthy. And by that I mean, no horrid high fructose corn syrup or trans fats or meat with carcinogens and hormones. For some reason most outdoor festivals and events present only this awful "food" and never an alternative. BUT last Thursday I was so happy to stop first at the Buddha Hut table and buy (for a mere $1 each) a few of their amazing "chicken drumsticks" which are not chicken but you would NEVER know it to taste it. Just delicious and golden, probably made with some kind of soy or protein that tastes for all the world like chicken, served with sweet & sour sauce for dipping. Yum!! I can't get enough of these things. Then a few tables later, I found myself face-to-face with a tray of espresso cupcakes made by Barely Legal Treats. It was a wonderful delicious cupcake, but there's more!

The table that had the cupcakes was actually the Veg Worcester table. I had never heard of Veg Worcester before, but I walked away from there with a flyer called the Vegetarian Dining Guide to Worcester, Mass. and it contains a listing of vegetarian restaurants, cafes & bakeries, grocery stores and community events which are either vegeterian, vegan or friendly to both. I suggest you get your hands on this extremely helpful and free guide right away, if you like vegetarian food! Not only that, VegWorcester's web site keeps you up to date on local vegetarian news and events, dining guide, helpful links, a blog and more. Why not bookmark it?

And thanks to both Buddha Hut and Barely Legal Treats (both of Worcester) for letting me eat healthy at this festive public event. Keep it coming!

Map of Farmers' Markets in Central Mass.

2009-08-06T11:42:00.003-04:00

Did you know that the Telegram & Gazette online has a map of Central Massachusetts Farmers' Markets? Click HERE for the link. Also, if you should lose the link, they've got a link from the www.telegram.com home page too.

Also, earlier this summer they did an article about the popularity of farmers' markets, and a really helpful list of farmers markets accompanied it. I printed it out and it's become a valuable resource. Click HERE for that article and the list of markets.

Surfing Goat Soap - More from Hames & Axle Farm

2009-07-26T17:25:00.006-04:00

The other day I blogged about Hames & Axle Farm, and how they make the most terrific natural bug repellent. So good that I spent half the afternoon today driving out there to Ashburnham to pick up a few more bottles.

Now that I've visited the farm, I am prepared to rave some more about them! First of all, thanks to Pat and Dave for showing my son & me around their wonderful, happy goat farm. The Nigerian Dwarf Goats were a sheer delight! It seemed that there were a million of them, and each one had its own creative, poetic-sounding name. And each one had a sweet little face and b-a-a-a-a-a-h call to go with it. Anyone who knows me, knows that I paint cats. But today I found a new source of animal inspiration: Nigerian Dwarf Goats! They came in so many different colors and patterns, just like cats. I even saw one that reminded me of my late calico cat, Nellie. And each one has that triangle-shaped head and little dime-slot eyes...I fell in love right away.

The goats weren't the only ones to steal my heart. Happy, free-roaming chickens scratched the rich dark soil looking for goodies or whatever it is that chickens like. Being a child of supermarket-shopping parents (don't eggs come from a carton??), I had never seen this, but apparently it's the way they get exercise and stay happy and healthy--unlike their ill-fated cousins at factory farms everywhere. They were beautiful, clean chickens on this lovely, clean farm.

But lest I forget....I came back here today to say that I neglected to tell you about the Surfing Goat Soaps web site. It was explained to me today that the name comes from the way the little goats like to "surf" atop anything that they can find--tree stumps, rocks, people who kneel down and let them (I speak from experience.) And this web site has more than soap. It has lotions, household stuff and information! Did you know that Pat, breeder of the aforementioned goats, has written a book on Nigerian Dwarf Goats and edits Ruminations; The Nigerian Dwarf and Mini-Dairy Goat magazine? Check out the web site by clicking HERE. I think you'll enjoy it. I can't wait to order some of their goat milk laundry soap.

Local Harvest web site -a great resource

2009-07-24T23:35:00.002-04:00

I just found the Local Harvest web site which is a great resource for finding out about find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and more. I even signed up by clicking on the "Keep Me Posted" link, which will provide me with a weekly email notifying me of new LocalHarvest members, local farm events, seasonal foods, new farmers' markets and other local food-related events.

Sterling, Mass. Farmers Market

2009-07-24T18:01:00.003-04:00

We just got back from the Sterling, Mass. farmers' market. Very nice! There was a young man there with guitar, performing for the crowd. He did mellow, relaxing James Taylor-type tunes; it complemented the farmers' market very well. My son had ice cream from one vendor and a cookie from another. I sampled some marinated goat cheese from Crystal Brook Farm (of Sterling) and wonderful baguettes at another booth. I seriously wanted to buy both of them, but I found out the hard way that there are no ATMs from my bank between my home and this market. (Note to self for next time!) There were wonderfully woolly alpacas in a pen, several booths with vegetables and blueberries, one with fresh coffee, and a face painter too! The atmosphere was warm, busy and friendly. A very enjoyable experience.

I had visited there to help out with the table of the ALOHA homeschoolers' co-op. Located in Central Mass., ALOHA is a secular homeschooling co-op that we belong to, and we were helping to just get the word out about the group in the hopes of getting new families to join.

Sterling Farmers' Market takes place every Friday from June to September, from 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm., right in the center of town.

A useful new product....made by me!

2009-07-11T08:55:00.003-04:00

It seems like all my spare time lately is spent trying new ways to create my newest items....journals! Specifically, wire-bound books. The variety of covers and styles and art I can put on them is vast. Noa Gifts has some of my kitty journals, and I'm working hard to get a larger selection together, not only for Noa and my other stores, but for my local art event that's happening in Worcester on September 20: it's called stART on the Street. I'm so happy to have bought the binding system to begin making journals. I've been selling my cards and magnets and other art-y items for years, but this product has got that high "usefulness factor" that makes me excited to be able to provide it. Maybe it's because I ALWAYS have a big journal in my backpack, a tiny journal in my fanny pack, one for my child (till he's old enough to write his own journal) and one for me. Oh, and one for my gardening notes, and one for my business notes....and so on....and so on..... Come see me and all the other enterprising artists & performers at stART!

Seeking the Good

2009-07-07T10:40:00.007-04:00

I will likely be starting a new blog soon, inspired by some truly angry and bitter rantings by a close family member. My desire in starting the blog is to be able to share (and learn from others) regarding my choice to move TOWARD "The Good." That is to leave behind the petty, the angry, the dysfunctional, the short-sighted, the selfish, and move toward living a life that respects the truth, seeks wisdom and beauty, embraces the positive, and so on.

Obviously I am too busy to have the two blogs that I already have, and one might question the wisdom of starting yet another one. However, these things are important to say and discuss. And today on my Facebook page I saw a perfect example of seeking "The Good." Read this passage by Barbara Scofidio, owner of Noa Gifts (Groton & W. Concord, MA). Here's her quote:

"So, when we were building the addition, we had to cut some trees, including black walnuts. We knew they could be used for furniture so we advertised them on craigslist and the nicest man, Buzz, bought them. Yesterday, two years later, he brought us this amazing bowl he made from our trees as a gift. It has 600 pieces of wood (black walnut, cedar and cherry) from our yard and measures over 16"!

I love it. Thanks, Barbara!

Blushing Bee Naturals - Holden, Mass.

2009-07-05T23:27:00.003-04:00

Driving down Main Street in Holden, Massachusetts, I used to see a tiny storefront shop called Blushing Bee Naturals. I kept meaning to go in there, but there didn't appear to be any parking so I usually kept going.

Good news! They've relocated to 787B Main Street, next door to the Sheep Shack, Pet Barn and The Bagel Inn. Plenty of parking made it easy for me to stop in there the other day, and I'm glad I did. I got to chat with the extremely cheerful and positive owner, Kathy Leal, who helped me pick out an exfoliating facial cleanser that I am thoroughly enjoying. It has natural ingredients, it smells good, it works...who could ask for more?

The store is bright and cheerful and just packed with natural soaps, cleansers, accessories and other gifts. One in particular stuck out in my mind--a very reasonably-priced little group of square scented candles, stacked one above the other, all connected by a single wick. I wish I could remember the price, but with their little square dish I am pretty sure it was around $11 or so (don't quote me!). They had funny greeting cards and jewelry there, too.

My 6-year old son was with me, and after he finished organizing the beeswax soap display and looking all around at the colorful, wonderful-smelling merchandise, he became bored and prevailed upon me to leave. But I will definitely go back again (without him) so I can take my time and really look around.

Kathy says she does not have a web site and that they get their business by word-of-mouth, and since I'm sitting here blogging about the cheerful & helpful customer service and their wide range of yummy products--I can see her point. :-)

Leominster, MA - Main Street still quite alive

2009-05-23T14:44:00.004-04:00

I saw a great story today in the Telegram & Gazette, about the city of Leominster having five new businesses open up this week--three of them right on Main Street! Click here to read the story.

Very encouraging!

I've actually gone to Leominster to shop before. It's not a quick drive for me, but there's a store downtown called Allen's which, the last time I went, carried a pretty decent collection of "Fresh Produce" clothing, which I love. Worth the trip if I can come home with one or two of those amazing, colorful, wearable garments.

Carrick McCullough - 9 year old environmental educator

2009-04-24T11:53:00.005-04:00

Hooray for 9-year old Carrick McCullough and his family! They're fellow homeschoolers who we met through some local homeschooling classes we signed up for. And now they're preparing to hit the road in their veggie-oil powered VW beetle, in an effort to educate folks across the country about more sustainable living. He was in the local paper just yesterday, and the day before that he appeared on ABC's "Bonnie Hunt Show."

To read all about the trip, find links to Carrick's YouTube videos & to donate and support their trip, see their web site called www.ourrenewablenation.org

Chinese drywall poses potential risks

2009-04-11T14:35:00.006-04:00

Here is the story that goes with the above headline:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090411/ap_on_bi_ge/chinese_drywall

I am SO sick of reading headlines about Chinese things being harmful to us. When are people going to realize that CHEAP is not the be-all and end-all of everything! And what must it be like to live in China where so many hazardous ingredients seem to be put into so many products? Are there no health and safety standards?

I used to wonder what it would be like to live in such a place, but then again....here in this country you can also find people who oppose health and safety regulations, and the money that such precautions cost.

As consumers, we can't afford to let our guard down. Not for a minute.

Keeping "Main Street" alive

2009-03-21T14:51:00.004-04:00

I took the pledge over at "10percentshift.org" the other day. It's an organization designed to encourage us to shift 10% of our spending over to businesses in our town or area, to revitalize the local economy. So instead of buying beads at Michaels Crafts, I can get them at Tatnuck Bead. And instead of running to Stop & Shop or Price Chopper for my coffee last night, I went to little Santy's Superette on Chandler Street. (Have you ever tried Goya espresso coffee? Whee!) And for bulk spices, there is no place I'd rather go than Ed Hyder's Meditarranean Market. And why go to Petco for cat food when I can get terrific, healthy cat food at Pet Barn (of Worcester & Holden) !

Thanks to Worcester City Councilor Kate Toomey for bringing this organization to my attention. I know there are other local business groups, like Worcester Local First, which my friend Cliff at Framed in Tatnuck belongs to.

Woo hoo! Buy local!

Stop Recycling....huh?

2009-03-15T20:23:00.006-04:00

You are going to love this! My fellow artist McKenna Hallett (that's her jewelry right there in the photo) has a new blog all about how she makes her very interesting art! But not only that she has a fantastic site all about STOPPING RECYCLING. Yes, she wants us to stop recycling. Heresy, you say? Well, think again. Just a couple of seconds worth of thought will lead you to the very obvious reason for not recycling, but if you've given it a few seconds or minutes and it's still not clear, check out this web page to find out more. http://www.stoprecycling.com/

To see more of McKenna's work and learn about how it is made, check out her blog:
http://4currents.wordpress.com/2009/03/14/aloha-from-maui/

2009-03-14T15:01:00.001-04:00

I was listening to the news the other day and the announcer was reporting on "retail sales" and whether they were up or down. I don't recall exactly what he said, but it's a safe bet he was saying that they were down. And in the same breath he said something about "fewer people going to the malls" as if that were related to the lower retail numbers. Well this got me thinking, and it gets me thinking every time I hear it. When these numbers are cited, it seems like it's always based on the shopping malls or the big chain stores. I always wonder how accurate those numbers are, since I almost never shop at the stores they talk about. I try, whenever possible, to buy local. Is it possible that things are going better here in our own little universe?

The frame shop down the street is doing better than he did last year. And there are other local shops that are doing just fine, too. I don't know exactly where I'm going with this, except to say that maybe we should not listen to those gloomy news stories all the time. They might not be right. We still have to buy things, and when times are tight, very many of us take our precious dollars to the guy we know down the street rather than to a horrid chain store managed by people from very far away, selling things from other people very far away.

As for those of us who are trying to keep our neighborhoods alive by buying local....are they counting us?

Donut Cafe II - Worcester, Mass. - "the real thing"

2009-03-03T09:32:00.001-05:00

I had driven by this place a hundred times--no, maybe a thousand times--before ever stopping in. To me, it looked brown and dingy, like maybe they were out of business or seriously thinking about it. But one day I went inside and discovered how wrong I was. This place is great!! Imagine a long lunch counter, with "regulars" sitting around it, insulting each other good-naturedly and sharing the day's news with the waitstaff. Coats slumped onto tall coat stands in the corner. Newspapers that have been read and re-read, lying around on the counter, waiting for the next customer to pick them up. This is the kind of place where the line between customer and employee is so blurred that the other day when I needed a refill on my coffee, the customer next to me got up and retrieved it for me. (It was clear she was a good friend of the waitress.) The signs are old fashioned; the place hasn't been decorated in decades....and I love it! It reminds me of donut shops of my childhood, smelling of hash browns with onion and cheesy omelets. And donuts to die for.

I had a glazed donut the other day which was quite the experience. I had been having a bad day up until that point, but when the waitress brought a little saucer bearing the fluffy donut, glistening with sugar, and a thick brown ceramic mug of coffee, with cream in a little glass, I could not bring myself to eat it at first. I just looked at it as the little work of art that it was. So simple, so basic. Nothing disposable, no styrofoam, no logos on anything. My donut was on a PLATE for heaven's sakes! Being an artist, I did the only reasonable thing. I drew my breakfast. Thank goodness that did not take long, as the donut and coffee were so good, I felt transported to heaven.

I like Dunkin Donuts for the iced coffee and the drive-thru, but if you want a REAL donut and some real people to go with it, try Donut Cafe II.

414 Chandler St
Worcester, MA 01602
(508) 752-0653

Judy Tonelli-Brown, Worcester, Mass.

2009-02-17T09:41:00.005-05:00

I just wanted to mention a local shop run by a fellow artist, Judy Tonelli Brown. Judy's a talented and versatile artist, who does beautiful watercolors including commissioned house (and people) portraits. Not only that she's a graphic designer. She's one of the many brave souls who's stuck their neck out to have a brick and mortar shop, so let's support her. You will love the beautiful beaded gift items she makes! Here is the web site:

http://www.tonellibrownart.com

Judy Tonelli-Brown
1062 Pleasant Street
Worcester, MA 01602
ph 508-304-1887
jutb@charter.net

No shows for me this year

2009-02-17T09:32:00.002-05:00

Those of you who visit my web site will see that it's not a "commerce site." No buttons to click and buy things. That is because this year, I am focusing on wholesale. I've joined www.wholesalecrafts.com, and am getting my art (mainly my cards) into stores across the country.

I do have an Etsy site which is very small, and I am careful NOT to duplicate what I sell to my stores. What you see on Etsy is, for the time being, not available in stores, and vice versa. I don't want to compete with my retailers on the same items. In this economy, I want as many customers to buy my art through stores as possible, as it would be a terrible loss to Main Streets everywhere if the shops and galleries were to go away. So support your local store! And while you're there, why not ask them to visit WholesaleCrafts.com so they can start to carry my cards.

Etsy's a good spot for me to try out new products and see if people like them. If they become insanely popular, I will offer them wholesale.

So, for 2009, I don't plan on doing any retail art fairs. Maybe just one or two if the mood strikes me, because some shows are too fun to resist. But by & large, I will be focusing on wholesale this year. So if you have a local art shop that you absolutely LOVE and you think would do well with my cards, do let me know! I need eyes & ears all around the country on this one.

stART at the Station - Worcester, MA art fair

2008-11-22T17:57:00.003-05:00

It's that time of year again! Time for the indoor, wintry version of stART on the Street known as stART at the Station (Worcester's Union Station, that is).

As they say on their web site:
A premiere holiday arts event with over 80 artists and crafters, food and more, just in time for all your holiday festivities! Hosted at historical Union Station, Worcester's renovated train station boasting soaring ceilings and marble floors. Click here for their site. Right now, as I write this, there is a minimum of information up about this show, but at some point they will put up artist "thumbnail images" and information about those of us taking part.
I will be there selling my paintings and cards. In fact, it's my last show (until further notice), because as I said in my previous post, I am now concentrating on wholesaling (and some consignment through several wonderful stores that currently carry my work). So if you like Jen Niles Art and you can get to Worcester on December 7th, I hope to see you there!

Heartfelt Designs by Trish - Paxton, MA

2008-11-22T17:46:00.002-05:00

I wanted to let you know about my friend Trish and her business, Heartfelt Designs by Trish. She does great work, with lots of heart (no pun intended); her crafts really have a nice spirit to them. Click here for her web site.

In addition to all the great wool crafts on her web site, I have to put in a "plug" for her tiny wool animals. Trish hasn't photographed any of these yet (or should I say we've tried to photo them and our skills are somewhat lacking), but they are the cutest things! These tiny little fuzzy sheep, dogs, and more are tiny enough to fit in your hand and they're light as air, because they are made from something called "wool roving." Be sure to ask Trish about them. I know she takes custom orders...imagine giving someone a gift of a tiny wool version of their pet. To honor pets who have passed away, Trish can add little wings to the animal.

I've been away too long

2008-11-22T17:37:00.000-05:00

It has happened again! Life has gotten in the way of blogging. So sorry for my prolonged absence. This is the time of year where buying local and handmade is the most important, so I really feel I've dropped the ball!

Some changes: I have had to pare down my Etsy site, which had gotten quite large, actually. That's because I joined www.WholesaleCrafts.com and I am focusing on selling to retailers now. That's not to say I don't sell to individual humans any more, but it just means I have less time to work on getting my work "out there". Wholesaling makes the most sense at this time of my life. And I've found out that retailers don't much care for competing with artists' Etsy sites for retail business! So I removed (from Etsy) all items that I'm selling wholesale through Wholesale Crafts.com.

Any people who would like to buy Jen Niles Art cards (individual or boxed), can do so by emailing me directly. Shopping this way is still easy, because once your order is totaled up, I can send you a PayPal invoice for the total....you can click and pay the total with credit card, even if you are not a PayPal member. Not bad!

Etsy shop

2008-07-21T21:01:00.002-04:00

I now have an Etsy shop! Well actually I started it back in 2006 but closed it because I could not devote sufficient time to maintaining it. It's been reopened (this month) and so far it's looking good. My shop name, should you want to look it up at www.etsy.com is "jennilesart". Or you can click here for the link.

I also made my first Etsy purchase recently and it was very cool! The Etsy shop name is "lulaballou" and she makes the cutest little fabric handbags. Etsy also has a way you can shop locally because they can sort the offerings by location, which is a great way to buy handmade AND shop locally, at the same time.

Urban gardening & Youth employment program

2008-07-21T20:31:00.003-04:00

I heard about this local program here in Worcester, Mass., and am mentioning it here because it sounds very worthwhile. I hope you will read on... (this is a condensed version of the writeup I received):

"Pernet Family Health Services is a neighborhood-based home health and
social service agency with a commitment to supporting families to be
physically, socially, psychologically, and spiritually whole. The
agency has been serving the Green Island region of Worcester, MA since
1968. This summer, Pernet received funding to create part-time
summer jobs for underprivileged youth. Pernet has decided to use its
youth employment program to fund the creation of a community garden
and install container flower beds throughout the area's small business
district.

Why Youth Gardening?

Pernet chose to create The Green Island Garden because...

1. The garden will bring healthy, affordable, organic food to the
people of Green Island, helping to eradicate food insecurity and
malnourishment.
2. Community gardens offer space for citizens to socialize and bond
with one another, fostering a stronger and healthier social fabric.
3. Community gardens localize the food industry, reducing both the
price of people's food and the city's carbon footprint created by
imported products.

The Youth Program

Pernet's youth employment program is one piece of a city-wide
initiative to give underprivileged youth access to part-time summer
jobs. Any youth (ages 14-21) that qualifies for free school lunch or,
for those youth not in school, meets other income-based requirements,
is eligible for the program. Various organizations throughout the city
have been given the responsibility of placing youth into employment
situations.

Pernet seeks to involve the Green Island neighborhood in this project
as much as possible. We will be selling low-cost shares in the
community garden to its neighbors, guaranteeing them a portion of the
harvest throughout the summer. We will also be sponsoring community
events. The first such event will be on Saturday, June 21st from
8am-3pm, during which time we will be raising the garden beds while
enjoying live music from Melo-Deego and free food from local
restaurants."

I've edited the writeup because the information provided to me was quite lengthy. But it sounds terrific and that is why I wanted to put in a good word here. For More Information, call Lizzy Fox at (508) 755-1228 or email her at lfox@pernetfamilyhealth.org

Pajama Gardening and Plastic Bags

2008-04-30T10:09:00.002-04:00

The rising gas prices have really forced some changes around here. When I have to go out in the car, I do multiple tasks on that one trip rather than waste gas going to that neighborhood more than once.

One thing that causes us to do too much driving is searching around for healthy food that won't put us in the poorhouse in the process. We are not strict health food adherents by any stretch, but we're very wary of pesticides on our fruits and veggie. In foods, we avoid high fructose corn syrup and trans fats, and in meat and dairy, we avoid hormones and antibiotics. That right there could tack a lot of miles onto a shopping trip!

We like Whole Foods for some things, but the drive from Worcester to Framingham is just too taxing on our conscience and our wallet these days, so we rarely make a special trip that way. Living Earth in Worcester....well....that's always been cost-prohibitive but now, with gas at $3.60 or so per gallon, I wonder if staying close and shopping there might be cheaper than driving to Trader Joe's. This is awful.

Anyway, I digress. One day recently, as I mused about how little cash my art was generating these days, and how high the cost of fresh organic vegetables (and the gas to drive and get them) is, the proverbial "light bulb" went off over my head. Instead of leaving the gardening to my already overworked husband, I would do it. Heck, I'm here all day homeschooling the little one anyway....what a great educational opportunity! Honestly, when I saw how many hours my work was taking me away from my family and houseworking and other important jobs, and how little profit I was reaping in return, it really made me see the need for this change. By maximizing the capacity of my yard to grow food, I am "earning" in another way. Rather than bringing in money to buy food, I could be bringing in the food itself. After all, my work on Freecycle allows me to bring in many of the items we need or want (and unload them when we're done)...why not bring in food too?

Of course, I have never gardened and don't know a darn thing about it. Thank goodness for the internet! Anyway, my son (age 5) and I have invented a new ritual called Pajama Gardening. Right after breakfast we charge outside in our sleepwear (usually sweats and a t-shirt anyway) and get right to it. I do the work; he's in charge of running around the house waving his rake. In his mind, that's gardening. LOL!! Anyway he sometimes takes loads of yard waste in his little red wagon to dump out back. It's great fun and great exercise. I used to make the mistake of waiting until we got dressed, but by the time THAT was accomplished (those of you with young kids will get this), the sun was too high in the sky and I was, frankly, too exhausted and demoralized to tackle a weedy and unruly yard which sometimes resembles a rain forest!

Anyway, back to work for me. I just wanted to tell you about Pajama Gardening and this cool thing. A nearby town recently voted down a ban on plastic bags at several of the larger offenders...er....I mean stores. That caused quite a debate, or should I say shouting match, on some of the message boards. Don't get me started on what a bunch of babies I think people are when they freak out over a plastic grocery bag ban. For heavens sakes, we're Americans and should be quite resourceful. Bring a cloth bag! Case closed. Anyway, speaking of alternatives, look at this thing I found while Googling the whole plastic bag issue. It's a reusable tote bag that is MADE from old plastic grocery bags! Check it out:

http://www.marloscrochetcorner.com/Plastic%20Bag%20tote.html

So clever!

To h_ _ _ in a handbasket

2008-03-22T21:41:00.002-04:00

Ok, maybe I was just in a bad mood. Maybe I was put off by the price of the gas I burned going to Shaw's in the first place. Or I was secretly mad at myself for thinking I'd actually find organic vegetables there (what was I thinking?). But in any case, the other night I saw the evidence that we are indeed headed to hell in a handbasket.

I picked up a nice red vine tomato and looked at the little label that contains the produce number. You know, the one that helps the cashier know how much to charge (the number which, when it starts in "9" means it's organic, "4" means conventional). Well imagine my horror when the little number of the tomato was there, along with an AD for Disney's movie called Ratatouille!! There it was! Disney * Pixar * Ratatouille. On my TOMATO!

I wrote to Shaw's. I told them that if I see the word "Ratatouille" on my produce it damn well better be part of a recipe.

Wal-Mart and the community-owned store

2008-03-15T11:18:00.002-04:00

Last night on NPR I heard about a community-owned department store in the Adirondacks that was one town's answer to a proposed Wal Mart there. So, I decided to Google it and find out more. In the process I came across this funny quote that I just had to pass along:

Take Wal-Mart, the most famously offensive, town-destroying, junk-purveying, labor-abusing, sweatshop-supporting, American-job-killing, soul-numbing, hope-curdling retailer in the known universe, moving upward of $300 billion in cheap mass-produced slurm every year via more than 5,000 landscape-mauling eyesore stores stretching all the way from Texas to China and Argentina and South Korea and Mexico and your backyard.
--Mark Morford, San Francisco Chronicle

There's nothing I can add to that. :-)

Even if there were, I don't have the time. I am SO busy, making new art, redesigning my web ite (I plan to go "live" this weekend 3/15 or 3/16/08), finding new markets for my cards....the blog suffers.

The Cooperage - a gift shop in Townsend, Mass.

2008-02-26T14:36:00.002-05:00

I discovered the cutest store this weekend! It's the kind of place that makes me fall in love with New England all over again. It is an old mill building right on a rushing waterfall, and it's called The Cooperage. They have an eclectic mix of items and a wonderful, warm atmosphere. If you click here for their web site, you can see a photo gallery of the inside and outside of this lovely old store. The owner, Susan Bates, is the nicest lady who just loves to talk with her customers. When I was there, an adorable little sheep--I mean, a DOG--got down off his cozy spot on the couch and let me pet his soft curly hair. I was enchanted with the sweet little fellow (and that is really saying something since I generally am not considered a "dog person".)

I had a really good time there, and of course my full disclosure would not be complete if I didn't say that Susan also bought a bunch of my cards and magnets. She's got an "animal corner" of her store with animal-themed gifts, both for humans and for the animals (like catnip).

I'd probably say more, but I am being called by my son...he needs help with yet another project involving the Solar System.

Art Workshop by Susan Champeny

2008-02-26T14:29:00.001-05:00

I've been busy discovering (and selling to) new stores! And, of course, keeping up with the creation of new designs and merchandise to sell. Sometimes the blogging takes a break when I get this busy.

First, let me say that my friend Susan Champeny is at it again. She is offering an art workshop on Saturday, March 29 at the Alternatives Unlimited building in Whitinsville. It is called "Paint Beyond the Horizon Line - create landscape greeting cards with artist Susan Champeny". Contact Sue at champeny@attglobal.net for more information. She has a nifty emailed postcard she can send you with more about what she will be teaching and a sample of her technique.

As for my latest news, I will be writing about those adventures in my next blog entry. (I like to keep topics separate.)

Crow Feathers Shop - Blackstone, Mass.

2008-02-14T08:00:00.004-05:00

Last night I found out about a small shop in a barn in Blackstone, Ma. Called "Crow
Feathers". Here's how the owner, homeschooling mom Jeannine Manzola, describes it: " It's a combination of bulk herbs, herbal products I make, and salvaged things I find here and there. It has a bit of everything, including hand crafted furniture my husband makes and walking
sticks from the homeschooling family up the street. I also carry heirloom organic seeds and garden stuff in the spring. The name Crow Feathers came about because I was getting in touch with my Cherokee roots," Jeannine explains. "My Grandfather on my father's side was Cherokee, as was my Great Grandmother on my mother's side.

This lady's pretty amazing. I have not met her yet, but when I found out some of the things she's involved in, I could tell she is someone special. She's got a large house in Maine, a former tavern built in 1804, that she's turning into a retreat called The Bloomin' Lupine. She's also involved with some other local homeschooling moms in helping to establish a farmers market arrangement at a renovated, very "green," mill site in Whitinsville, Mass. to feature local artisans, crafters, and farmers. (Some of these homeschooling mothers are amazing. Where do they--we--find the time? As the old saying goes, "if you want something done, ask a busy person.")

Anyway, The Crow Feathers shop is located at 26 Chestnut Street, Blackstone, MA. They're open by chance or by appointment, and the phone number is (508) 883-1033 or (508) 330-1636.

Lottie Ta Dah (gifts & jewelry) - Hudson, Mass.

2008-02-10T10:37:00.000-05:00

Ok, so after I went to Serendipity (see my latest post, below), I glanced over at the car and sure enough, my son and husband were still happily dozing. Time for one more store! (It’s wonderful, really, as nice art & gift shops had been increasingly hard for me to visit since my little one became mobile. It’s only now that he is nearly five years old, that I’m beginning to be able to trust him in such places--places full of what we call “breakables”. But I digress..)

Right around the corner from Serendipity, located on the rotary in the center of Hudson, is another lovely shop called Lottie Ta Dah. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to stop in there, but I’m usually whizzing around the rotary with a child in the back seat, so I just never have until now. I wish I hadn’t waited so long. It’s a place that is at once fun and elegant, and full of unique items. And you’ve really got to check out their web site (www.lottietadah.com) and read the story about how that name came about. The owner, Kim Gilligan, is yet another one of those fabulous woman/mom entrepreneurs who I admire so much. In the interest of full disclosure, I now have some of my art for sale there at Lottie Ta Dah, so while I am telling you what a great store it is (which it is), you must know that having my art there increases my own level of excitement! If you stop by, tell Kim you heard about her store from me.

Serendipity (gifts & art) Hudson, Mass.

2008-02-10T09:19:00.000-05:00

I am so glad I didn’t let yesterday’s nasty weather keep me from going out. The family piled into the car and we took a drive out to Hudson, Mass. My goal was to investigate a store that I heard about from a fellow artist (Sarah Stallings of www.3catnite.com). Since my husband was with me, there would be someone to watch my little boy while I went in. Well, it turns out I might have had a nice visit even if my husband wasn’t there to watch the little guy, because this store has a play room for children! Let me tell you who this ingenious woman is. Her name is Lori Burton and her store is Serendipity. (Lori knows about the need for a childrens’ area because she’s a mom of a young one herself, but this brilliant feature is something you just never see in high quality gift stores.) You MUST go to this store! It is bright and cheerful and the art is so original and beautiful, your spirits will be lifted merely by walking through the door. Lori was nice enough to talk to me, despite the fact that her store was very busy indeed. Why not take a look at the web site (www.serendipityinhudson.com) and read Lori’s terrific story. And for all you guys out there....Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. (hint, hint)

Stay tuned for my next post, about another great Hudson find...

Creative Toys

2008-01-24T22:00:00.000-05:00

My son has taught me that nothing can stop a child's imagination.

We've probably all heard that toys which do everything for the child are used for a short time and then set aside, because they don't require much imagination. An example is those Lego sets that are designed to create one specific kind of object. To the contrary, open-ended toys that allow the imagination to flourish have stood the test of time--think of Etch-A-Sketch, Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs and plain old wooden blocks, just to name a few.

This is all easy to understand intellectually, but until I had a little boy, I never knew the extent of it! Sometimes I complain about not having enough money for the latest toy, but most of the time, I'm glad of it. You've heard of the expression "necessity is the mother of invention." We're living proof, and it's turned out to be a real blessing. When Thomas the Tank Engine trains proved to be too numerous and too expensive a passion to sustain beyond the initial burst of birthday gifts, we started making our own out of Sculpey clay. I'd make them with little holes in either end for a wire to go in, and after adding a paint job and a face to each one, we'd connect them up and have a great time. At first I was the craftsperson, but soon my son was busy making the most adorable little lumpy, misshapen train cars and having the time of his life playing with them.

When construction vehicles were his favorite thing, we'd often want a toy that just was not being made, such as an old-fashioned steam shovel or an auger driller. Have no fear! There's nothing that a little duct tape, cardboard and wire cannot achieve. We'd just modify our existing vehicles with whatever attachment was deemed necessary, and it would become his new favorite. And it's been like this right along.

Now that he's almost five, the trend shows no signs of abating. He's a homeschooler and I've always stayed home with him, and he's never watched cartoons on TV (even PBS. We prefer video), which means he's been blissfully shielded from the high pressure applied to children by Madison Avenue to buy the latest toy, gadget or character. Our philosophy has always been, if we like a character from a book we've read, then we'll either make the character ourselves or pick it up at a yard sale. There is NO running to Wal Mart or Target for the latest mountain of Dora The Explorer or Bob the Builder merchandise. (We assembled a nice collection of Bob The Builder vehicles through the yard sale method, and I am certainly glad we did it that way...he played with them faithfully for a short period of time, and they now collect dust. Good thing they each cost no more than 50 cents!)

Anyway, all this is just my way of explaining today's photo. What you see is my son with his hand-sewn Giant Clam. Sea creatures are all the rage with him now, and sometimes you just cannot find an octopus, jellyfish or giant clam at the toy store. Nor, at regular store prices, would I want to! I sewed the jellyfish and octopus by hand, but when he asked for a giant clam that's where I drew the line. I dragged out the sewing machine I got for free from Freecycle (www.freecycle.org), figured out how to work it, and using free fabric and rick-rack trim from the Holden Recycling and Resource Center (Holden, MA), I fashioned this lovely stuffed Giant Clam toy for him. Frankly, I don't know which one of us was more thrilled.

Today, he spent the day making little beige mollusk animals (i.e. basically blobs) out of modeling clay to go inside all of his univalve seashells so that they look like live creatures. He's pretty passionate about mollusks right now. At night when we read books, he sits with a blob of clay in his hands and makes creature after creature depending on what animal we're reading about. He's rarely without a clump of modeling clay these days. Last night he made barnacles. Real-looking "goose barnacles."

Who needs Toys R Us?

Coyote's Corner

2008-01-13T21:33:00.000-05:00

I came across a web site today for a business run by a fellow homeschooling mom. Located in Rhode Island, this lady's got an incredible story and tons of spirit and determination! You should check out the products her company sells, especially if you are interested in feminist and environmental issues. Of course that doesn't begin to sum it up, so why not visit the site yourself at www.coyotescorner.com

Worcester, Mass. artist Susan Champeny

2008-01-12T22:21:00.000-05:00

I have an artist friend, Susan Champeny, who is a real inspiration. I really love the way she handles her business so professionally, yet never loses sight of the art itself. She doesn't let the business of selling put a damper on her spirit. (This is something I struggle with, in all honesty.) I asked Sue to write a blurb; here it is:

"Susan Champeny is commuting to the Blackstone Valley to paint on-site for the next two months. She is preparing a series of watercolor paintings for a show at the Alternatives Gallery, housed in a rehabbed mill in Whitinsville. She loves the old mills found in the area, and is enjoying an excuse to get outside and paint them, despite the winter weather. If you know of a site you think would be good for her to paint, please send her an email at champeny6@yahoo.com."

Happy New Year

2008-01-06T16:54:00.000-05:00

Hi all; sorry I've been away for a while. Christmas has that effect on you when making gifts is your business. :-) Not that the new year has brought much of a break--I'm busy making new, fun creatures for the Kids' Expo I am in this February 2nd. I'm using the jigsaw to cut out whimsical animals for kids' rooms. I call them "Mural Shapes" (for lack of a better name) because you can really create a mural-like effect with these--without the hassle of having an artist set up shop in your kid's room and paint directly on the walls. Not to mention that they're removable, for when you move or redecorate.

I photographed this T-Rex on the couch next to an Etch-a-Sketch, for a sense of scale. These Mural Shapes attach to the wall with just a few nails placed through the black areas, which are then practically invisible if you blacken them with a Sharpie marker.

For info on the Kids' Expo, visit my Kids' Art web page and scroll down to the bottom. Here's the link:
http://www.jennilesart.com/artforkids/index.html

You should be able to post comments now

2007-12-17T19:25:00.000-05:00

I had mentioned that this blog was new, right? Well I think I mistakenly failed to set it so that people could comment. I am very sorry about that! Now, I think I fixed it so anybody can comment on posts; it's not necessary to sign in or belong to Blogger or anything.

I hope you comment! Once again, sorry for the mixup.

Snowed in & lovin' it!

2007-12-16T12:31:00.000-05:00

We're snowed in today....yet another storm promising to turn to rain and/or sleet later on. Our beloved New England Patriots are still going to play football today, which is good for us TV spectators! In any case, we're having so much fun! My husband, son and I have spent the late morning cutting up paper Trader Joe's bags and turning the blank side into handmade wrapping paper. We use rubber stamps, marker, stencils, fingertips dipped in paint or flicked on color....it's fun and it's going to make for some cool-looking packages under the tree. Though I know there will be some rolling of the eyes in some sectors of the family (the same folks that object to wearing Birkenstocks with socks), as this will be seen as further evidence that we've gone way too earthy-crunchy-liberal. (is that a bad thing?) But I'm hoping that instead, they join in the fun of it and maybe even get some ideas that they, too, can try next holiday season.

Those brown paper bags will run out eventually, though, since we've finally bought some more permanent Trader Joe's handle bags for our many shopping excursions there. We don't want to continue bringing paper bags home, despite the fun we have crafting them into things.

Lip Gloss Productions

2007-12-15T21:36:00.001-05:00

I came across another creative entrepreneur today, in the most unexpected way. I was in the city helping my friend who is looking for an apartment, and in a rather rough-around-the-edges section of Boston we stumbled upon an open house in a place called Lip Gloss Productions. What could it be, I wondered. Well we walked through the door with the hand-painted sign and grapevine wreath, down some stairs to the basement level, where we found ourselves plunged into a veritable wonderland of colorful fleece! Fleece items hanging from the ceiling, covering the tables, spilling out of bins, hanging from racks and being admired by customers. A sewing machine in the back was surrounded by fabric and thread on every available surface. A room positively overflowing with creativity! Darting around the room with a high energy level that could only mean "I'm the owner of this place," was Suzy Peabody.

Suzy's business card says "Clothing manufacturer, sample, production & consultant services," but the side of her we saw was creator of fun fleece clothing and accessories. Her fleece hats, scarves, mittens and more have her own distinctive style...the most popular theme is--hmm--how do I say it--dots, or flowers. Let me explain! Many items are adorned with little fleece flowers created from a series of cutout dots layered atop each other. And at the center of the flower---a handmade button created by none other than Suzy herself. Other items have dots cut out of them (hmm. Now that I think of it, I see the connection....those flower-dots have to come from somewhere!)

I hope Suzy had a successful open house. I was happy to buy some Christmas-gift scarves there, and a hat for myself in a vivid purple/pink combination. When I get a photo from her I will put it (or them) up here on the blog. She doesn't have a web site...yet. Telephone: (617) 269-0047 or Email: lipglossproductions@comcast.net

A different kind of shopping season

2007-12-15T21:04:00.000-05:00

I never thought I'd say this, but I am having fun shopping for Christmas. Traditionally, I've been a Scrooge. Maybe it comes from my days in retail, or the fact that I am still in the business of making and selling gifts; after all, I am usually too busy right up until the last minute trying to work, then a mad rush to pack and mail all the out of state gifts before my lateness causes the postage to cost more than the gifts themselves. Or maybe it stems from my lack of money or all of the above. But this season has been different.

I had already thought about buying local and buying handmade, but after taking the BuyHandmade.org pledge, I felt a greater sense of obligation to follow through. Every step of the way I have been watching what I am doing. I ask myself, is this from a faraway company or a chain store, and can it be bought closer to home? Can the picture be framed by the local mom & pop rather than the big craft store chain that keeps sending me coupons?

Yesterday I needed to buy something for my family in the midwest. I usually go to the mall, but not this year. I called up a friend who I know makes great, affordable home decor items out of felt and fabric. She hand-sews them and sometimes even uses wool from her very own sheep on some of the details. She said sure, come on over, and I got to shop in the comfort of her dining room and pick out gifts for three people. (Heartfelt Designs by Trish - www.HeartFeltbyTrish.com)

For the kids, I went to my local art supply store, C.C. Lowell (www.cclowell.com) where there is the most amazing selection of not only fine art supplies but creative gifts of all kinds. It's a fantastic place to shop! Not only that, the customer service is top notch. Since we're regular customers, they know our names & have watched my little son grow up, chat and interact with him when he comes in, the whole bit.

Throughout the little shopping trips like this, I've really felt good about what I am doing. It makes the whole shopping experience much more enjoyable. And for me, that's really saying something!

Am I a little late to the table, here?

2007-12-12T10:12:00.000-05:00

I just found out about something called www.worcesterlocalfirst.org - It's being promoted by C.C. Lowell (awesome art supply store in Worcester) and I wrote to find out more. Also, I just took the www.buyhandmade.org pledge the other day. So my idea about promoting local businesses and touting creative folks in the area is really sort of me, riding a wave that's already in progress. But it's a good wave, so --so what? :-)

Tell me about places you love

2007-12-10T18:41:00.000-05:00

OK, enough about me. I'd love to hear about your favorite local artists, crafters, artisans, shops, etc. (Oh, and don't forget to say what city and state you live in!)

Welcome to my blog

2007-12-10T09:28:00.000-05:00

I started this blog because of a growing passion of mine: buying from each other, not from big corporations. The list of reasons not to shop at the mall are growing. I suppose that the one that pushed me over the edge was the growing number of unsafe products coming from overseas, but you can just add that to the over-commercialized, cookie-cutter, generally spirit-sucking mall experience. Also the fact that many entrepreneurs and artists (I count myself among them) create wonderful things and are often struggling to put food on the table or provide a useful or creative service or product that we would probably love to buy if we just could find out about it above the confusing din of mass advertising that permeates every aspect of our lives these days.

This blog is designed to not only discuss ideas surrounding the "buy local" and "buy handmade" movements but also to talk about wonderful businesses or products out there that have caught my eye.

In the old days, even before my own childhood, there was a sense of interconnectedness, of community. Of neighbors supporting neighbors for the things that were needed. Now, it seems we are spread out globally in a hundred different directions, very few of which are healthy for us or the planet. It's time to rediscover that many of the things that we need are right nearby, often in our own towns, produced by our own neighbors.

Let's improve the quality of our lives, starting right now.