Monthly Archives: March 2012

MV Obsessions …

Posted on March 2, 2012 by | Comments Off on MV Obsessions …

MV Obsession is four and a half years old and I’ve never done a post about my obsessive rituals and quirky have-to-dos.   So here it is.

100_0830  I HAVE to wear something Vineyard related every day.  I’ve been wearing this watch since 1995.  But sometimes, like today, I like to wear…

100_0835 … a Vineyard shirt.

100_0857 I’ve had a Vineyard related license plate on my New Jersey car since 1993.

100_0829And since 1988 I’ve been carrying this stone from State Beach in my wallet.

Those are just my quirks when I’m not on the Vineyard.  When I’m on the Vineyard I have other rituals and compulsions, here are a few of them.

100_8259  Espresso Love’s blueberry scones.  I love them so much I bring them home, put them in my freezer and sometimes,  just sometimes offer them to other people.  Espresso Love coffee is of course a must to go with the scones.  (CLICK HERE)

100_8695  The Tabernacle.  I love this place.  No visit is complete without visiting this hallowed place and doing a bit of reflecting… and always taking ‘just one more picture’  because, well, I’m obsessed. (CLICK HERE)

101_3573 The Bandstand in Ocean Park is one of my favorite places to sit and enjoy just being.  I’ve been known to take ‘just one more picture’ here too. (CLICK HERE)

100_0844 The house my godparents owned.  I spent every summer of my childhood here and I always, always drive past it at least twice when I’m on MV.  One time years ago I was fortunate enough to step back into the house and step back in time.

101_3481 Heading Up-Island now.  Almost every trip includes a visit to the Gay Head cliffs.  No matter how many times I see them they always take my breath away. (CLICK HERE)

100_0840100_6307 When our dog Chappy visits the Vineyard he has his own ‘must visit’ places.  The Black Dog for their droolicious biscuits.  Good Dog Good for their goodies as well, and to visit the ladies there who always remember him. (CLICK HERE) and (HERE)

 All my obsessions, quirks and rituals are not necessarily Vineyard related though.  I’ll admit to one that makes my family chuckle every time I do it.  100_0860I have to end up on my right foot going up or down stairs… stepping on or off curbs… putting on shoes and socks.

Now that you know my obsessions let me hear from you about yours.


Comments Off on MV Obsessions …

Tagged , , , ,

Want to help launch a magazine?

Posted on March 2, 2012 by | Comments Off on Want to help launch a magazine?

It’s no secret that I might be am completely and utterly a fangirl for all things Juniper Moon Farm.  There’s a lot about the farm to be fangirlish about, after all.

The biggest reason, though, is the inspiration I get from Susan and the community that has created itself out of everyone else who has found a connection to the farm.  When Susan started hinting a month ago about big giant news on the horizon, I was  wildly curious, wondering what it could be.

She hared the big news this morning, and I was completely blown out of the water.  She’s launching a magazine!  She announced it this morning on her blog, and I’m going to steal some of her words to describe it:

Juniper Moon Farm is starting a magazine called By Hand. By Hand will be a lifestyle magazine for people who make, with departments for cooking, crafting, DIY, gardening, and do-gooding, with a bit of travel and profiles of makers every month.

The idea is to celebrate creating things with our hands, and to explore the motivation to make things in a world where there are cheaper and immediate alternatives. It will be both practical (patterns, DIY projects, etc) and thoughtful, with a lovely and gentle aesthetic.

I cannot wait to get my hands on this magazine.  .cannot. wait.

But before they can launch it, they need a little help getting it off the ground.  And that’s where you come in.  They’re running a Kickstarter campaign from now until March 23rd to raise the money they need to make sure that this project is as amazing as they want it to be.  They’ve got some fantastic rewards for their backers, so, please, go check it out!  I am thrilled to be able to back the project and be a part of its creation.

 

 

Comments Off on Want to help launch a magazine?

Tagged

Let’s Start a Magazine Together!

Posted on March 2, 2012 by | Comments Off on Let’s Start a Magazine Together!

This is the post where I steal an entire bit from Susan’s blog and pass it on here.  She and the crew at JMF are starting  magazine.  A beautiful, lovely, useful magazine centered around all things done by hand.  Cooking, sewing, knitting, building…..you name it.  I’m super excited about it (and having a hard time not boasting that I’ve known about it for quite awhile and have seen some of what’s going to go into it…..it’s too exciting to keep to myself!).  Here it is in Susan’s words. There’s some lovely prizes to be had for those who can help get it off the ground.

Very Big News!

by Susan on March 2, 2012

So for months now I have been alluding to a big secret I’ve been keeping. I am thrilled that today I can finally share the news with all of you.

Juniper Moon Farm is starting a magazine called By Hand. By Hand will be a lifestyle magazine for people who make, with departments for cooking, crafting, DIY, gardening, and do-gooding, with a bit of travel and profiles of makers every month.

The idea is to celebrate creating things with our hands, and to explore the motivation to make things in a world where there are cheaper and immediate alternatives. It will be both practical (patterns, DIY projects, etc) and thoughtful, with a lovely and gentle aesthetic.

We have lots of amazing contributors and editors on board already, and the first issue is well underway. But before we go any further, we need your help!

We are holding a Kickstarter campaign to raise the rest of the money we need to make the magazine everything we want it to be. And as an added inducement, we have commissioned so amazing rewards! Our art director Michelle Lukezic has designed posters and t-shirts that are going to be incredibly popular with people who make things with their hands. Here’s a sample:

There are posters and t-shirts for each of the sections in the magazine!

If you like what you see and want to support us, great! If you can help us get the word out about the Kickstarter and the magazine we will be forever in your debt!


Comments Off on Let’s Start a Magazine Together!

Tagged , , , , , ,

By Hand (updated…..)

Posted on March 2, 2012 by | Comments Off on By Hand (updated…..)
(FANTASTIC NEWS!  The kickstarter campaign was FULLY FUNDED in only 5 days!!  A real testament to Susan Gibbs since everyone who knows her knows any project she starts will be QUALITY.  Don't hesitate to donate still if you are just reading this.  Extra money will go towards more video tutorials, PDFs and increased content!  SO proud of everyone that made this happen so fast!)




I often assume that most of my readers are artists.  Even if you don't call yourself one, I'll bet you do make things.  Whether you are a gardener (painting with flowers), a cook (designing with flavors), a stay at home mom (creating a home) or a potter or a painter or a writer or a knitter or a weaver or.....we are ALL artists, creative beings.  Our hands are our tools.  Which brings me to By Hand.

By Hand is the newest and best to date project created by my artist/shepherd friend Susan Gibbs of Juniper Moon Farm fame.  By Hand is a magazine devoted to all that is hand made!

(Below is borrowed from the Juniper Moon Farm announcement on Susie's blog)


By Hand will be a lifestyle magazine for people who make, with departments for cooking, crafting, DIY, gardening, and do-gooding, with a bit of travel and profiles of makers every month.




The idea is to celebrate creating things with our hands, and to explore the motivation to make things in a world where there are cheaper and immediate alternatives. It will be both practical (patterns, DIY projects, etc) and thoughtful, with a lovely and gentle aesthetic.


This magazine is designed to be a gorgeously produced, photographed and written piece of art.  Something to be savored and saved . Susie has started a kickstarter campaign to get her and her staff started on this awesome venture.  Won't you hop on over to Kickstarter and support her???

Comments Off on By Hand (updated…..)

Tagged , ,

By Hand

Posted on March 2, 2012 by | Comments Off on By Hand
For Christmas in 2010, Husband gave me a share of yarn from Juniper Moon Farm, and it has truly been the best gift that I have ever received. Like ever. Really. I am not exaggerating.

Not only did I receive 6 skeins of the most beautifully dyed, wonderfully soft American-grown Cormo wool, but the through this gift, I came to know Shepherd Susie, owner of the farm, and the Juniper Moon Farm group on Ravelry. In this group, I have found kind hearts, generous spirits, and fellow farm lovers. The women of this group have become my friends, and I am proud and privileged to know them.

So, today is my day to do just a little something to pay them back for welcoming me so warmly and to thank them for kindnesses they have shown me.  I want to tell you about By Hand.

By Hand is the soon-to-be Juniper Moon Farm magazine. To quote Susie, By Hand will:
celebrate creating things with our hands, and explore the motivation to make things in a world where there are cheaper and immediate alternatives. It will be both practical (patterns, DIY projects, etc) and thoughtful, with a lovely and gentle aesthetic.
This very morning, JMF launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the launch of By Hand. Please consider making a small donation to help get By Hand off the ground. There are some fantastic rewards lined up as part of the Kickstarter campaign, and I promise you it will be worth it.

Comments Off on By Hand

Tagged ,

Sharing

Posted on March 2, 2012 by | Comments Off on Sharing

I have some fun internet things to share with you today.

If you have read my blog for any amount of time and still don’t know much about Juniper Moon Farm, now’s the time to get acquainted. They are my favorite non-local farm. It’s a beautiful place that produces so many good things fibery and non. Their newest venture is starting a magazine, the kind of hand-made magazine I always look for but never quite find. They have a bunch of amazing people already involved, and a Kickstarter campaign going to help get the magazine off the ground. (Check it out, if only so you can see the “The Revolution Will be Hand Knit” t-shirt design.) I can’t wait to see the first issue.

Locally, the Potwin Fiber Artisans are planning lots of good stuff for the summer-time. On top of new classes, we have a website now! (http://potwinfiber.org) as well as plans to be out at the Farmer’s Market tempting new folks to the fiber arts with spinning wheels and gorgeous fiber. Check out the website for news and events, as well as local vendors and teachers.

I am so excited for this spring/summer season, especially when I look outside and see snowflakes the size of my face raining down (but not sticking, thankfully). I can’t wait to get in the garden, help out at the goat farm (yes, you read that right), finish the first draft of my novel, create new goods, make some new knitters, and see you all out at the farmers market.

Comments Off on Sharing

Tagged , ,

Lemon Cream Cake …

Posted on March 2, 2012 by | Comments Off on Lemon Cream Cake …

My creation


Comments Off on Lemon Cream Cake …

Tagged

Snow Day

Posted on March 2, 2012 by | Comments Off on Snow Day

snowy day snowy day snowy day snowy day

Comments Off on Snow Day

Tagged , , ,

Very Big News!

Posted on March 2, 2012 by | Comments Off on Very Big News!

So for months now I have been alluding to a big secret I’ve been keeping. I am thrilled that today I can finally share the news with all of you.

Juniper Moon Farm is starting a magazine called By Hand. By Hand will be a lifestyle magazine for people who make, with departments for cooking, crafting, DIY, gardening, and do-gooding, with a bit of travel and profiles of makers every month.

The idea is to celebrate creating things with our hands, and to explore the motivation to make things in a world where there are cheaper and immediate alternatives. It will be both practical (patterns, DIY projects, etc) and thoughtful, with a lovely and gentle aesthetic.

We have lots of amazing contributors and editors on board already, and the first issue is well underway. But before we go any further, we need your help!

We are holding a Kickstarter campaign to raise the rest of the money we need to make the magazine everything we want it to be. And as an added inducement, we have commissioned so amazing rewards! Our art director Michelle Lukezic has designed posters and t-shirts that are going to be incredibly popular with people who make things with their hands. Here’s a sample:

There are posters and t-shirts for each of the sections in the magazine!

If you like what you see and want to support us, great! If you can help us get the word out about the Kickstarter  and the magazine we will be forever in your debt!

Comments Off on Very Big News!

Tagged

Weekend Reading

Posted on March 2, 2012 by | Comments Off on Weekend Reading

I was a Warehouse Wage Slave from Mother Jones. Wow. This is eye-opening.

Study Shows What Men really Think of Women in Red Dresses from the Huffington Post. I guess this is interesting except that I’m not sure why we care what men think of our dress colors.

How Climate Change Causes Earthquakes and Erupting Volcanos from Mother Jones. Scared the socks off me.

The Death Star is a Surprisingly Cost-Effective Weapons System from Mother Jones. Made me laugh.

One-Armed Gunslingers and Germans in Teepees: A Brief Guide to the Euro-Western from The Millions. I loved this because I knew absolutely nothing about it before reading it.

Who Invented the High Five? from ESPN The Magazine. Probably my favorite this week.

Why Breasts are the Key to the Future of Regenerative Medicine from Wired.
What’s the latest thing you read that surprised/engaged/educated you?

Comments Off on Weekend Reading

Tagged ,