Computer Meltdown

Oh, my dear, I haven't posted on this blog for over two months! I'm not a faithful blogger but that is ridiculous!!!
A good part of the problem, besides competing demands on my time and attention, was a computer meltdown several weeks ago. My faithful laptop got infected with a virus and after trying first aid on it myself it completely went down.
If you live in the greater Burlington, Vermont area the answer to this kind of problem is Pierre at Recycle North. He is terrific, a magician, in fact, particularly when it comes to older computers such as mine, which was daughter Liz's when she was an undergrad. I have a sentimental attachment to it, and while old it works just fine for me and I don't need anything fancier. Anyway, Pierre took it into intensive care and it lives to fight another day.
In the meantime, however, my email got backed up, and I have lots of photos etc. stored online that need to be downloaded once again, so I've been avoiding the computer as much as possible since it returned...just opening it up reminds me how much work I have to do. Well, I'll try to be more faithful.

Shelburne Farmers' Market & The Weather

David Palmer, the maple syrup man, says it never rains Saturday on the Shelburne Farmers' Market. That is pretty much true. This year, the first market was rainy, and some Saturdays the showers move in slightly behind market's end at 1pm, but so far, so good.
The Shelburne Farmers' Market is a great market. If you live in or visit Northwestern Vermont between now and mid-October, be sure to stop by...fresh veggies, flowers, breads, sweets, meals and snacks of all description, and great crafts. My stand is on the south side between Palmers' Maple and Shelburne Farms vegetables. If you are in Burlington on a Saturday and don't get south to Shelburne, get your veggies at Digger's Mirth's stand at the Burlington Farmer's Market.
On occasion when there is a vacancy you can find me, my aprons and things at the Richmond Farmers' Market Friday afternoons; and I'm trying to vend on Wednesday morning at the mid-week market in Middlebury at the Marbleworks, but so far the weather hasn't been too co-operative.
The weather...ugh! I can't remember a recent summer when it has rained this much...it even rains when the sun is shining! Sitting outside I've never seen as many slimy, snail and slug like critters as I've seen this summer. My cairn terrier is taking a lot of coaxing to get out the door, he doesn't like the rain and he isn't fond of getting his paws wet.
Anyway, the Shelburne Farmers' Market is Saturday on the parade grounds, right off of Route 7 just south of the light in Shelburne Village. 9AM to 1PM.

A Morning at the Farmers' Market

Saturday mornings find me at the Shelburne Farmers' Market in Shelburne, Vermont. This is my second year there, and I love this market (I'll post some pics later). What surprises me each week is what sells or doesn't sell, and I have to say my sales pattern seems a little odd. The market starts at 9AM, and I seldom sell anything before 10AM, sometimes 11AM. Busy time for me is 11:30 to 12:30 or closing at 1pm.
Here are some pics of what sold this week:

Also some headbands, which I never bother to photograph. The yo yo block was sold as a quilt for a doll bed!

So, more on life at the farmers' market another time.

The Bobbin, Burlington Vermont

Do you want to learn to sew (even just for one project) or need use of a sewing machine? If you live in the Greater Burlington area, The Bobbin is the place it's at. Here you can rent time at the sew bar or take classes or private instruction, or come in for group time with like minded crafters. Upcoming classes include sewing basics, t-shirt transformation, and a wonderful class by my wonderful daughter, designer Rebecca Mack, in how to alter clothing, particularly thrift shop finds.
The Bobbin is located in the Old North end, and you can visit them online at www.thebobbin.com

Easy Hummingbird Nectar

Few things lift my heart the way the sound of the hummingbirds coming to my feeder does. The feeder is located about 8 feet from the back door, and when I sit out on the stoop with my coffee the visit of a few hummingbirds is practically a sure thing.

I once suffered under the illusion that many people do that to attract hummingbirds one needed to purchase nectar mix. Not so! Mix 1 part sugar to 4 parts water...I usually do 1/2 cup sugar to 2 cups water. Heat on the stove until the sugar totally disolves, which will happen before the boiling point. Cool. Fill your feeder and store any leftover nectar in the refrigerator.

No, it isn't necessary to add food coloring, it is a myth that hummingbirds are attracted to the red in premade nectar mixes.

Easy Yo Yo Tutorial

As anyone visiting my blog can quickly see, I am not a faithful blogger...However, here is something I have been meaning to post for a while...

I started making yo yos a couple of years ago to give me some hand sewing while doing craft fairs and farmers' markets. When I went online to learn how to make them, I found many of the instructions quite complicated and overly complex. So would-be yo yo makers, forget looking for a compass left over from high school geometry, forget cutting a die from cardboard, finding a water soluble marker...all of that - go with the flow!

A typical yo yo begins with a circle of fabric 4" in diameter. You can make them smaller or larger, but a 4" circle gives you a yo yo approx. 2" in diameter, a traditional size and good for piecing or embellishment. I use fabric scraps from my abundant source, but in the depression it was popular to make yo yos from pieces of worn out clothing, which is a nice way to recycle. I recommend a cotton which is not too loosely woven, like quilting cotton. Home decor weight fabric is a little difficult to manage making yo yos, and very loosely woven fabrics tend to fall apart. Silk would also be nice to embellish with.
The plastic lid to a coffee can is 4", so I use those as my template. I mark the wrong side of the fabric with whatever is going to be easily visible for me...chalk on dark fabrics, but pencil or ball point pen on lighter color fabric. Even felt tip pens are fine, if your marking leaves a good deal of ink simply cut just inside the mark and you won't run the risk of ink later staining your yo yo.
Hold the circle of fabric toward you with the wrong side facing you, and turn over approx. 1/4 inch as you sew the edges with double thread. I find it easiest to draw up the yo yo if I begin with the knot on the inside and tie it off on the outside. The 1/4 inch hem needn't be too precise, just fold as you go and if it reaches 1/3 inch sometimes remember a yo yo is very forgiving.
When you have completed your long running stitch around the yo yo, stitch just past where you began and bring the needle and thread to the right side (I find a slightly long needle works well). At this point gather up your yo yo and flatten it with your fingers. Tie it off with a double knot as tightly as you can pull it.
If I am doing a block, I make up a small bag full of yo yos and then begin stitching them together...my habit is to sew four together, then two strips of four to make a strip of eight, then stitch two strips together, etc., until I have a block the size I want. Do what works for you. I also use single yo yos as embellishment on aprons and other work, or sew them onto hair bands as pigtail holders, or sew three onto a barrette or pin back. Larger yo yos, using a saucer as a template, make a nice size to embellish hats.
See some yo yos in action in my Etsy shop at http://afterall.etsy.com

A Visit to Shelburne Farms

I admit it, I've been waiting since my twin grandsons were born 15 months ago to take them for a visit to the Childen's Farmyard at nearby Shelburne Farms...We have been practicing "Old MacDonald" and animal sounds for weeks!
The day was glorious, the weather perfect, and no place is lovelier than Frederick Law Olmstead designed Shelburne Farms.
The Children's Farmyard was delightful, full of kids, school groups, parent, teachers, grandparents...and chickens! Chickens of every stripe and color...plus sheep, goats, pigs, cows, bunnies, donkeys, well, you name it.
Forget what you know about petting zoos, Shelburne Farms is perfect - clean, educational, environmentally sensitive, and so beautiful it can take your breath away! If you live in or travel to Vermont and have young children, it is a must. If you live in the Chittenden County area, check with your local library as they may have a day pass you can borrow for the day.