muchacha K is all moved in the Verdigris Artisan studio now, along with Nilaven Jewelry and Sandpiper Beads.
That, of course, means it's time for an OPEN STUDIO RECEPTION! YAAAAAAY! We're opening the studio to the public on the evening of Thursday, March 19th. More details to come! We'll all have work on display and may even have some visiting artists. We will DEFINITELY have tasty, elegant snacks and beverages.
Visit the studio website here: VERDIGRIS ARTISANS!
Big apology to my out of town readers, but this is a local issue that I just gotta plug!
Ever wondered why buses in Concord buzz, empty, round the same clearly over-serviced routes and yet there are whole neighborhoods in Concord where there are no bus routes? Ever think about how nice it would be to NOT have to park downtown? Ever wonder about more ways to get people from different parts of the city to shop downtown? ME TOO!!! In fact, I think about this stuff all the dang time, which is why I am so excited to discover this website: http://concordareatransit.com/
An efficiently run public transportation system would be so good for downtown business, it would give those of us with cars more options for traveling our lovely city, and it would give those without cars better service than they are getting now.
If you love public transportation, or would like to use it if it actually went through your neighborhood, and you like to see money spent well, check this site out and see how you can get involved. The woman behind it is named Marcy and I'm so glad she's doing this.
Wow. I hadn't anticipated how unpopular my decision to cut off custom bridal orders might be! There's been a little feedback on the issue, and trust me, I fully take that as a compliment. So here's the dealio...if you have an event coming up before our official custom order moratorium is over in the Fall, please contact us. We will let you know if we're able to accommodate your order at that time. Really, we want to give you the best service we can, so if that's just not possible right at that moment, we promise to do you the favor of drawing the line :)
PS: we are also doing some renovating in the shop at this time. So, don't be alarmed by the empty shop. It's temporary and will all be back soon!
...I've been able to work in the new studio and...here's a teaser pic! The full unveiling will be in March at our Open House. We'll also have music, treats, good people and good times at the Open House, but that's another post for another day :)
Heading back to the studio right now...I have a PILE of stuff to finish. I have had to cut off additional orders until Fall because things are so busy. The good news is, I know my limits! If I'm turning you down for an order, trust me, it's for the best, because with FINISHING GRAD SCHOOL (can you tell I'm a little excited about it???) and finishing existing orders, our turnaround time has gotten way too long. Yes, individually handmade work takes time, but I still like to offer a certain level of service and we just can't take more orders right now and maintain it. So I guess the other good news in all of this is that when we come back full force in September...? We'll be far more ready to "deliver". If you're local, come by the new studio! We're at 88 N. Main in Concord. Send me a note and I'll send you directions/hours. We've got a selection of items on hand that you can see in person.
I LOVE it when other wedding professionals find me and are interested in helping to promote my work. Not just because I love the extra promotion, but because really...I geek out on wedding doo-dads and goo-gahs too. I love the dresses, the cakes, all the goods. It's fun stuff. Well at the moment I've been featured on the Wedtro.com blog. Wedtro is a site dedicated to wedding planning in the Louisville, KY area.
I found this dress on their blog too...TO-DIE-FOR. By designer Sarah Arnett. This dress is so must-have I can hardly stand it: 
I'm still enjoying the power and the finesse of my JUKI Serger. I can finally make sense of all the piles of knit fabrics I've had stashed for years. It's sculpting with overlock, it's ahhhht! Now that the serger is running I can't believe I never had one before...in short, totally worth the investment.
Well hello...I'm back. Sometimes a blogger needs a break and boy did I ever. When waking up from a long, long sleep/hiatus/break to take care of buziness, you often need to feed your soul. And so...I present to you REPRO DEPOT, home of all things, lovely, fabric-y, hinting at colors from your grandmothers house.
I love revisiting sites that make me happy :)
Hello all, things are so very busy here in muchacha K land, that I have to take a break from blogging. Visit all things muchacha at the website though, as my focus for the next little while will be filling the shop and making some revisions to the site: muchacha K handmade It's all about more sewing, more promotion, and getting moved into the new studio.
I'm also starting the updates and planning for Concord Arts Market, so that site will be hopping too!
I'm staffing the Boston Handmade Downtown Crossing shop today...if you haven't visited, here's a peek:
Photo by Kerry Hawkins Photography.
For yoooour convenience I have updated my selection of jewelry roll fabrics. As always, I'm happy to embark on a search for THE fabric, if what a person wants is not to be seen here...but I did just add some really pretty options...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/muchachak/sets/72157605406861947/
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Enjoy!
These are my favorites from Dawanda.com. Dawanda is a really fun site that I like a lot...it's Europe's answer to Etsy. Basically you can buy really great handmade stuff online. And let's say you have a friend in Germany...and would like to send it to them without having to ship it a billion miles? Find a nice German sellers of handmade delights and have them send it! One of the things I love about Dawanda is that the site is trilingual. You can set the site for English, German or French.
...what? Yes, that's correct. muchacha K is getting a brand new home. More details will come very soon. But isn't that a fantastic, light, airy space? The new place opens in January 2009, and I'll be telling more about my great STUDIO MATES in the near future too!
Tonight is Midnight Merriment night in Concord. Come out to support local business. There are GREAT places to get unique gifts and delicious food on N. Main St. and thereabouts...all you have to do is show up and browse and shop if the spirit moves you, but the cool part is, that all the shops are open until MIDNIGHT. Yes, MIDNIGHT. This is no small excitement in Concord...although I should mention that many Main St. shop ARE staying open later these days anyway and if you haven't noticed, you should look into it, because they'll stay open later if people are out shopping later. The bottom line is this: if you want a healthier local economy, a thriving Main St., and successful local businesses, and an interesting, more happening community...these are the events you need to support! So...go put your wallet and your browsing eyeballs where your mouth is...go out and have a sparkling good time!
Yes gals, it's that time. If you are having a Spring wedding and you haven't started planning, you'd better get yourself in gear :) And muchacha K handmade can help! Have you SEEN our clutches? Have you SEEN our jewelry rolls? It just so happens they make perfect wedding accessories and bridal gifts. Come visit the muchacha K website, and online shop, or just contact me...you can pick your fabrics (it's your wedding) to coordinate with the wedding colors, OR with your bridesmaids' personalities. Lots of fun...send us a note, we're happy to help!
Okay how in the heck did I forget to post this the other day!? I was included in a fantastic article about Concord, NH, in NH Magazine. Here's the ARTICLE, and I'm very happy with it. You never know how people will quote you when you are interviewed and I felt very accurately represented. I am also delighted to see the city of Concord's cool hidden treasures a) being recognized and b) surfacing! Concord is chock full of amazing art and talented artists...and delicious food...and it's all just coming to a wonderful blossoming point.
...this is the shell of a passionfruit, and it's lovely shape and smell have been popping back into my head since it was eaten.
...about the imagery of Catholic worship. For whatever reason, (no, I am not a tortured survivor of Catholic schools) this is a theme that continually inspires me.
A visit to L'Oratoire St. Joseph (St. Joseph Oratory) in Montreal has inspired me in this vein yet again.
You'll notice that my handbag palette is generally comprised of very bright, bold colors, unexpected contrasts of fabrics prints and colors...currently I've also snuck the Virgen of Guadalupe into my shop, a lovely lady in those same bright colors. Central American Catholic imagery tends to be the most boldly colorful and therefore appealing to me...
Here at the Oratoire St. Joseph the rows and rows of lit votives in candy colored glass are flanked by racks of crutches, symbolic of the many sick, injured and dying people who have trudged up Mont Royal to received the blessing of the church and of God himself. That's dedication...because that hill is enormous. And I think it's that kind of faith and dedication, along with the bright colors and flamboyant imagery, that inspire me...there's something very potent about that kind of perserverence, even if you are not a religious person.
I visited Montreal, Quebec this past weekend. What to say about Montreal...it's just so fabulous. One big, bi-lingual, urban adventure, with delicious foods everywhere, fun people...they're so stylish it's ridiculous. Another great things about Montreal...they have a handful of great public markets. You had to know this was heading in that direction, lol...everywhere I go, I visit the nearest market. Ah, my favorite ancient human tradition!
This weekend we went to Marché Jean Talon (Jean Talon Market) a colorful, bustling collection of farm stands, fresh foods, ranging from pastas to meats, people selling soap and knitted hats, cool North African groceries and so much delicious stuff you couldn't possibly eat it all in one visit. We ate everything from wild boar to chocolate covered fruit on a stick...and bought a big tub of olives, and almond and rosewater cookies.
My lackluster setup notwithstanding, my day at Kimball Jenkins selling at "Crafts at the Carriage House" was a very pleasant day. I just didn't have the right "stuff" with me to give my display the levels it needed to be more effective. But enough about that...nice people, tasty food, sold some stuff, all good.
One amusing note: the painting that was behind me! "Mutiny" by Jim Blajda. It evoked speculation all day long about what the story of the painting was, what exactly those stuffed animals were up to...ha...take a look and judge for yourself. Personally, I think they're up to no good!
Thank you to Gigi Laberge for organizing.
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