Hancock Shaker Village

A couple of weeks ago, me and my family went to the Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield MA. Oh my gosh it was amazing. It was my first time there.
The place was wonderful. The round barn is wonderful, and well it had the baby animals in it also so that was a big attraction. The whole was place was a wonder. The inside of the barn (second picture down) was beautiful. They also had all of these wonderful workshops. I love the basket shop, it look fabulous, and the kitchen was amazing also, I would love to have a space like that that to cook and bake. I am hoping we can go again when all the garden are in full bloom. I can only imagine how beautiful that will be. The trip was very inspiring. I can not to get to work in my own studio. Hopefully it will warm up here in north east. I am starting to have me doubts about hat though it is nearly May and it is still cold out. Craziness! As always thanks for reading!
Liesl

The flowers are gone and fall is here. The trees are already starting to change colors here in Massachusetts. I am not ready for fall, I feel like summer never happened. Oh well embrace what we have now and that is cooler days that are great to work in the studio on.
When I place my bench in front of the window I had envisioned working and being able to see Quinn playing in yard. And that day has come it was amazing. With the door open he could talk to me and I could keep and eye and an ear on him.

 Here is what I was working on. I an working on another piece related to Alzheimer's. I think that it is a great start. It will be another necklace. I am not sure if these are the elements that will end up in the finial piece though. I have a habit of looking at things and changing them around several times before I am happy with them, or just want to finish it to move on. Sometimes that is something you have to do. Just finish and move on.

 Here is a collection of stones and pearls. Fist who doesn't love a bowl full of pearls. I love pearls and I love to use them in a lot of my work. I think every women should have pearls, I love to make them wearable for any age and any type of person. There are three bags of stones one set is from the beaches in Toronto one is from hiking trips with Quinn at Purgatory Chasm (one of our favorites place to hike and explore) and the third is from a friend who thought that I would enjoy them and be able to use them.

 After a while Quinn came to join me in the studio and work on his own projects. He has been asking for a bigger workbench. He needs for space to work he tells me. Taking after his parents already. I am one proud Mama. I love that he enjoys working and creating with me and does the same with Steve in his studio. He is already saying that our next house he will have his own studio!! Fabulous!!

Thanks for reading have a fabulous and joyful day.
Liesl

quilt update

My quilting is really coming along. I have somewhere around 30 of these small squares. I still haven't made my mind up about a solid color to alternate with them yet. This is for Quinn, and he gets so excited when I finish one and he loves counting them to see how many I have done. He also loves putting all of the little squares together to make the design. He is becoming quite the maker and designer. I am loving this quilt that I am making. The colors, the feel of it and all of he hand work that I am doing (which is all of it). It is great to do as you watch tv or sit outside. I'll keep you posted on the solid color choice I make.
Happy Making,
Liesl