DIY Brick & Mortar.. meet Sally & Mud Season sale!!

I recently took a trip to Maine to play music. First stop was the Dogfish Bar and Grille. One thing that made me fall in love with New England when first coming to Vermont was how hospitable and open the community members seemed to be to people traveling through. We had two great shows, the second was at She Doesn't Like Guthrie's in Lewiston. I can't wait to make another trip again. While I was in Maine, I was up to my multi-tasking ways, trying to find local boutiques to carry Nicole's Threads. To the left is Sally of Eli-phant. Eli-phant is a super unique boutique which carries lots of handmade designer goods. I also dropped some things off at Material Objects. Both are located in Portland, ME but I am looking to get some things to Kennebunkport as well. Check out my etsy shop for tons of spring tops and jewelry all 20% off until May 1st.

organic fabric or remnants that would have been thrown away?

First off.. I'd like to introduce the first item that I'll be making in small batches.. the Vermont Skirt.

A versatile skirt, similar to my one of a kind patchworks. I have been debating for a while whether it's better to use fabrics that are remnants, factory blips, and vintage (making pockets out of old lady nightgowns, etc.... or to start a line using all environmentally sound materials organic cotton, hemp, etc. with soy based, plant based, low impact dyes... The process would be much longer, but definitely rewarding, and I've even found a Vermont based company that supplies organic cotton jersey material. The cost of my items would double if not triple, as the cost of organic cotton and hemp per yard could easily be 10x the amount of my fabric cost now. What I mostly charge for now with clothing is labor. I'd love thoughts and/or comments. I also thought this would be a good post to clear up any fogginess reguarding where my materials come from.. it takes lots and lots of energy to create new fabric, 99% of this fabric would have been trashed if it weren't for scavengers picking apart to look for the quality parts and making do with what you have to work with. Another option for me is to have a small organic line and keep making things with the end of the bolt/blip fabrics that I create things with now. Please notice that I do not use materials that have anything wrong with them, I cut around those parts to create a quality piece. I hope you enjoy the Vermont skirt as much as I do! I'll be doing custom orders for this skirt in different colors and sizes. It's super comfy and versatile!

pottery co-op

I love that Vermont is full of opportunities for communal trade.. I have been looking into joining a ceramic studio since June.. I recently joined UVM's Pottery Co-OP. Expect to see lots of new pieces in the pottery lottery store. I just added some pieces that I had done at Wilkes in Pennsylvania...This one of a kind necklace is available in my pottery lottery shop right now.. hope you enjoy.

button rings!

I just added a bunch of button rings to the etsy store.

spring!

Vermont's spring tease has been reminding me to start making spring tops! I can't believe how mild this winter has been... although I think I've been withstanding the very cold days with help of lots and lots of layers and down coats.. the snow hasn't been falling much.. infact I have heard a record has been set here for the least amount of snow and in Philadelphia for the most amount of snow. so HA to all of you who said I wasn't going to be able to take it...have fun snowshoeing down broad st. ;) Anyway, check out my etsy site here for tons of new tops and jewelry

I also joined a pottery co-op, so as soon as the first glaze firing happens, I'll be adding lots of jewelry to the pottery lottery etsy site.

P.S. I live in this pink house in the background! I think Burlington is the only neighborhood where you'd need to ask "Which hot pink house do you live in? The one with red trim, bright orange trim, or lime green trim?"

featured in a treasury

I just found out that my red porcelain earrings were featured in an etsy treasury: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=98567

winter project

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a pack rat when it comes to just about everything. I moved 7 1/2 hours north of where I used to live in June and have somehow managed to make my room/studio look like I've been living here for 10 years. One of my favorite projects is making things with all of my scrap fabrics. This winter I've committed to making a quilt.. I'm usually so busy making things for stores or to sell that I don't have anything to show.. here is the quilt I am working on.. I hung the piece in our kitchen until I make more to add!