How I Spent My Weekend . . .

I feel like I’m back on track again. I’ve been doing quite a bit of weaving and jewelry making these past few days, with a little exploration and lawn-mowing thrown into the mix.

Saturday was my husband, Matt’s birthday so we all went down to Jonathan Edwards Winery in North Stonington for a tasting. It’s also where we were married last September. It was a beautiful day as we sampled wines then went over to Mystic to shop and have dinner.

The back wall at the edge of Jonathan Edwards Winery.

Ryan, Christina, Matt, and Sean at Jonathan Edwards

Christina, me, Matt and Sean at Jonathan Edwards.

On Sunday Matt and I took one of Matt’s assistants, in from China for some work (also his first trip to the US), to Old Sturbridge Village for the day. Lots of fun. I love history and learning about daily life in the past.

The church.

They later took these two oxen out and plowed a field.

A beautiful rooster

This chicken made a shallow hole to roll in the dirt, dusting off bugs and such.

The potter, one of the many crafts and tradesmen demonstrating at the village.

Matt and Zheda walking on stilts. It's one of the games available on the path to play with. You won't see me on the stilts because I was wearing a full, flouncy skirt and I didn't feel like getting all tangled up and breaking a leg. Yeah, I'm sure some daring girls tried it back in 1830 . . .

Matt and Zheda playing the Les Graces or the Flying Circle game. Hold two sticks and throw (and catch) a wooden circle to each other. I did do this and caught a few myself!

Ok, very cool - they were dying yarn, from sheep in the village, right there with materials such as madder, osage, cochineal, and black walnut.

And spinning and weaving demonstrations.

Here are two skeins I bought from the store there, made and dyed with osage and cochineal dyes on site.

Busy, Birthdays, and . . . Beer?

Well, no beer yet. Of course there are festivities on the horizon:

Today is my step-son's birthday! We'll be having a little dinner and cake here and then he will be off continuing his birthday celebrations, I am sure. He's a great, I want to say kid, but he's not! Anyway, he could probably set up a great, stylin' party for you, if you wanted. Happy Birthday, Sean!

And then my husband's birthday is on Saturday. One of his favorite birthday celebrations would be to go on his boat, but it looks like it will rain that day. Plan B has been requested and I am awaiting some suggestions from him.

The boat I like to call Locked and Loaded but it has no name. I took this picture last weekend when we were at Mystic.

On the business front, I had a great day at the Farmers Market last Sunday! Thank you to all who stopped by. I got a couple of custom requests and lots more ideas. Plus, a beautiful, warm, sunny day helps, too!

I put this in Swift Waters last week and it sold already!

And I dropped this off a couple of days ago.

AHHH! Must get to work! I love it!

Etsy :: Your place to buy and sell all things handmade

I cannot believe it. I never thought this would happen. I made the Front Page on Etsy!

Etsy :: Your place to buy and sell all things handmade

Coventry Farmers Market!

I'll be at the Coventry Farmers Market tomorrow. Looks like it will be a nice day.

I have a special for all Friends of the Market: tax on anything you buy from my booth tomorrow will be paid by me!

Stop by, get some fresh fruits and vegetables, sample some delicious blueberry treats and see what your local artisans have to offer.

Drop by and say hello!

Christmas in July at Etsy!

I am running a Christmas in July sale, July 8 - July 22, with free shipping on select items in my store, Coffee Break Designs!

No, I don't want to skip summer and all the other wonderful holidays between now and Christmas. It's just a little sale to say thank you to my customers, old and new, big and small, and beautiful, all!

Loaded

Not me! I've put a bunch of things in my shop this past week. I just got a request for some placemats from my sister-in-law and I'm working at Swift Waters tomorrow and I'm working on another crocheted flower necklace to take over there.

July Handwoven Towels in Stars and Dots

April Handwoven Towel

Handwoven Remnants Note cards in Yellow and Magenta

Silk Stainless Steel Handwoven Bookmark

Little Birds on a Branch Blank Journal

On a Wing and a Prayer Bubble Necklace

Fun in the Quiet Corner

Putnam, CT. It's one of our day trip places, along with Litchfield and Kent, CT in the northwest part of the state. The very northeastern part of Connecticut is also called "The Quiet Corner". I think it may be a nice way of saying there's nothing up there. But it really is nice with big farms, lots of camping, small villages, antiques stores and The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, Paul Newman's camp for children with cancer and other serious illnesses.

Matt and I spent the day in the antique shops, mostly for laughs. Of course, the first place I stopped by was the local yarn store, Woolworks Ltd.

The man sitting ouside was taking a nap, I think. I'll bet his wife was in there shopping.

And now for the goodies:

Thank you, sir, may I have another!

Oops! I mean, can I have another ice cream! And please use the paper cone covers!

From the 40's. I think this was just the way things were with postcards.

Um, ok.

I saw LOTS of these lovely, jeweled fruits. Gotta say, the old waxed fruit is looking pretty good.

Note to sellers. It's good to have lots of stuff but please don't use those flourescent orange price stickers.

I love this but it was $185.

This is disturbing on many levels.

Lots of fiber!

Um. Ok. A box of rice . . .

. . . from the 40's. That's $10.




One way to raise money to pay for all your new Cap & Trade taxes!

And finally we ended our trip at the local coffee shop (really local, not Starbucks, although I do love Starbucks!). This place was so cool! Lots of comfy couches and chairs, little corners to read, tables to play board games with your friends. Sorry. The name eludes me, but you can't miss it in town.

Here is the always photogenic Matt.

And the two of us!