Gratitude

There are just some times when words fail to convey the gratitude we have for our family, friends, and customers who support us throughout the year. This is one of those times.

As many of you know, we were at the Common Ground Fair in Unity, ME this past weekend. We had a steady stream of people in our tent all three days (including Sunday, which had a rainy, windy, thunder-booming start). Your kind comments about our products and the stories shared about fabrics, art, the fair, and many other topics were heart-warming. This is what keeps us going and reminds us why we're doing what we do. Thank you.

We'll be jumping right back into our usual production schedule this week. I'll share more about our fall/winter events in next week's post.

In the meantime, you can leave comments below, check out our facebook page, or visit our Etsy shop.

Off to find some coffee...hope your week's a good one!

Getting Ready for the Fair

Common Ground's this coming weekend: September 20-22, 2013. We'll be spending the week finishing up towels, napkins, and produce bags, checking our tent, display tables, and getting excited for the fair to begin!

There is a lot to see at the fair: animals, gardens, arts and crafts, speakers, music, and more. One of my favorites is the sheep dog demonstration. I could watch those dogs work all day!

 If you're thinking of coming to the fair for the first time, here is a schedule of events for this year.

We sent packages to LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls in Camden, ME, Kennebec River Artisans in Hallowell, ME, Archipelago in Rockland, ME, and Conklin's Maine Mercantile in Belfast, ME last week, so if you're in any of those areas, please stop by and say hello!

 You can find out more about us by checking out our facebook page, our Etsy shop, or stopping by our booth at the fair!

Hope your week's a good one!

Easing into the Day

Just easing into this chilly September morning by watching the sunrise.

The color's already starting to fade a bit. Glad I stepped out on the porch when I did.

Lots on the horizon as we look forward to Common Ground Fair (less than two weeks away!), Close Buy, University of Maine Alumni's Black Bear Auction (more about that later), and the Maine Harvest Festival.

A quick shout-out to Conklin's Maine Mercantile in Belfast, ME, Northern Tides in Lubec, ME, and Window Panes in Bar Harbor, ME who received packages last week. If you are in any of those areas, please stop by and say hello for us!

We would love to hear from you in the comments (below), on facebook, or through our Etsy shop.

Hope your week's a good one!

The Maine Woods

Love this time of year to walk in the woods! Really peaceful. No mosquitoes. Nice to get a little breather before gearing up for the Common Ground Fair.

I am drooling over this old stone wall. It gives me ideas for my own yard. (Who has got a strong back and likes to lug rocks?).

Here is a shout out to our wholesalers this past week who received packages in the mail: Conklin's Maine Mercantile in Belfast, ME, Treats in Wiscasset, ME, Kennebec River Artisans in Hallowell, ME, and Attentif Design in Amesbury, MA. If you are in any of those areas, please stop by and say hello for us.

Off to find some coffee and get ready for the day. If you would like to leave a comment below, we would love to hear from you. You can also find us on facebook and at our Etsy shop.

Hope your week's a good one!

Nice Day for a Hike

It's always a great day when we can escape for a few hours and enjoy Acadia National Park. I didn't actually go on this particular hike, but considering I totally spaced off "Madder Root Monday" yesterday, I thought I'd share some of BF's photos of a recent hike of Pemetic.

We've been super busy (in a good way). We got out tea towels, napkins, and produce bags last week to Lisa Marie's Made in Maine in Bath and Portland, ME, Conklin's Maine Mercantile in Belfast, ME, and Minka in Kennebunkport, ME. If you're in those areas, please stop by and say hello for us!

As August comes to a close, we're getting excited for the Common Ground Fair. It's September 20-22, 2013, so save the date and keep your fingers crossed for glorious fall weather! We've got a new chickadee tea towel design that will be ready to go by then.

Anyway, off to find some coffee and get the day started. If you'd like to leave a comment below, we'd love to hear from you. We're also on facebook and can be found at our Etsy shop.

Hope your week's a good one!

Gilsland Farm

We had such a great time at Gilsland Farm this past weekend! Our booth was tucked under a sweet, old apple tree and we couldn't have asked for better weather for the show. Perfect August days!

We missed the peonies in bloom, but the farm was a great setting for the craft show. We loved catching sight of the ground hog family and the turkeys during set-up and take-down. And, as always, were inspired by the talented artisans and crafters who shared the show with us. 

Before we left for the show, we sent out packages to Bowerbird and Friends in Peterborough, NH and Conklin's Maine Mercantile in Belfast, ME. We do hope, if you're in either of those areas, you'll stop by and say hello for us!

Our next show will be at the Common Ground Fair in Unity, ME. Always such a fun event. This year, it's September 20-22. So, don't forget to mark your calendars!

If you'd like to leave a comment (below), touch base with us on facebook, or send a convo through our Etsy shop, we'd love to hear from you!

Hope your week's a good one!

2013 Show Schedule

Our 2013 show schedule is shaping up. We'll be at the following events this year:

June 22-23 - Vintage Bazaar at Pettingill Farm, Salisbury, MA
July 27 - Artisan Bread Fair, Skowhegan, ME
August 17-18 - Gilsland Farm, Falmouth, ME
September 20-22 - Common Ground Fair, Unity, ME
November 16-17 - Maine Harvest Festival, Bangor, ME

We'll post more information about the shows on our facebook page as we get closer to each event.

New Design for 2013 - Allium

Allium Tea Towel Printed in Violet Purple

We're starting to list new items in our Etsy shop. It's always exciting when a new design makes it from sketch to screen!

Hope your week's a good one!

Day Three at The Fair

We had a great time at The Common Ground Fair. Thanks so, so much to all the people who stopped by our booth to say hello and support us. We met and talked with people from all over the world. What a great way to spend the weekend! We hope to see you all again at CGF next year.

Day Two at the Fair

Here are just some of the many sights at the Common Ground Fair. We'll be there again today. Looks like it's going to be mostly sunny today, so if you're in the area, please do come and join in the fun!

First Day at the Fair

Hi All! Here are a few images from the Common Ground Fair. Two more days to go, so we hope you'll stop by and join in the fun!

Countdown to Common Ground Fair

A week from now, we'll be setting up our tent, tables and displays for the Common Ground Fair in Unity, Maine. We've been anticipating this event since our acceptance to the fair came in at the beginning of the year. Now, it's almost here!

We'd like to thank the Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community (and especially Jane Searles at the Bangor Regional Center) for the mini-grant we received for advertising. Here's the ad we ran in the fair issue of the MOF&G.



If you're planning to be at the fair September 23-25, please stop by and say hello!

Common Ground

Unlike Jan I didn't bring my camera so there is no shot of me with a garlic head (still jealous that I missed that one) but I went to the common ground fair as well last weekend. What I did come away with is the start of a new collection of prints. As some of you may know my other job besides madder root is at the University of Maine where I am the Printmaking Tech. It seems my life revolves around printmaking so it seems only natural that I would be drawn to a wood engraver at the fair. His name is Tony Kulik. He does some amazing work and the two prints I have just make me want more. I'm thinking his veggie series would look great in a kitchen.

Common Ground Fair

Here are just a few images from MOFGA's Common Ground Fair being held September 24-26, 2010.

Garlic Jan



Border Collie Demonstration



Vegetables on Parade



Chicken



Squash and Pumpkins



Quench Metal Works



Garden



Horse Demonstration



One Woman Studio



Oxen



Composting Toilets



Sunflowers



Llama Sculpture