Monday, June 30, 2008

Clearing Out the Underbrush

Change is good.

And there's a lot of it happening around here. I've spent so much time lately thinking about my goals for this work, both in terms of what I want to do artistically and what I need to do to grow my business. I read some posts on Luann Udell's blog this weekend, where she talked about reorganizing her workspace, and how she couldn't focus on her craft until she'd cleared out some space, both physical and mental.

So, this morning I'm in here trying to forge through the clutter and finish the workroom improvements I started more than a month ago (hangs head in shame). I can't bear the thought of taking "before" photos, but I will post some pics when it looks decent. So stay tuned.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Changes to Stone Soup Jewelry Supplies

I'm in stage one of redoing my handmade jewelry supply shop. I have some new photos, a new color scheme, and some new designs coming soon.

Stage two: moving the shop to an independent site. My goal is to finish the move by the end of July. When I do that, I'll be offering some special sales to friends and mailing list subscribers, so email me if you're interested, and I'll send you the super secret discount code!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Produce from Another Planet



After threatening to do it for a few years, we finally joined a CSA this season. The Food Project in Lincoln, MA has a lot going for it: a beautiful farm in an almost unbelievably idyllic wooded setting; gorgeous and tasty produce; a well-considered and apparently successful community outreach mission. The project brings kids from urban neighborhoods out to the farm to learn about agriculture and business. The kids manage the crops, harvest the produce and sell the food at local farmers' markets. Some of the food is sold through CSA shares, and some is donated to local shelters. It's sustainable, local, organic (not certified, but free of chemical fertilizers and pesticides) agriculture.

It's enough to make a good old fashioned bedwetting liberal like me faint.

And did I mention that the food is gorgeous? This week's share included a few spectacular treats like garlic scapes and kohlrabi, both of which prompted my 6 year old daughter to ask, "Are those really things to EAT? They look like little aliens."