Indie Craft Fair Report

I'm two shows into a nice holiday vending schedule this year. My wares seem to appeal to different groups of people so the shows at which I exhibit have different flavors also. I've sold at two great "indie craft fairs" so far. What does that mean? As Kelly McMahon of May Day Studio puts is, "This is the craft fair where there are tattooed girls crocheting." Last weekend was such a fair: Queen City Craft Bazaar in Burlington, VT, illustrated here. I had a few moments to snap some pictures. Above, a super awesome rhino made from recycled skateboard decks by Calvin at COOB Originals.

I live in quite an out of the way, very rural part of Vermont. After working alone all week, getting rather lonely and feeling isolated, I really look forward to some artistic camaraderie at shows on the weekends. I was really looking forward to seeing every one's work. Once I parked my car and started to unload and catch a glimpse of a few of the other vendors I immediately realized I was really excited to see what everyone was wearing. Attire is of course one of my favorite modes of creative expression and the QCCB artists did not disappoint. No hunter orange or even Carharts to be seen anywhere. Above is the hi guys! creator who was wearing a stunning dress with surprising purple striped socks. It was such busy day I didn't have time to think until the drive home that what I really want to do is take pictures of the artists in front of their displays.

Dan Seigel of danmade pottery rocks his hoodie and vintage Western plaid shirt and specs. Get your ceramic ninjaware here.

Get clean with Clean City Soaps. Maker Missy Bly is one of the best dressed women in Burlington, but alas I didn't get a picture of her. QCCB was a great show. It's a great community of artists and we had a terrific turn-out of enthusiastic shoppers. I greatly appreciate producer Kacey Grasso-Freel for pulling these events off.

But first there was Twist in Northampton. My neighbors are illustrated below.

Rachel Hooper and Erinn Simon with scruptous donuts, cinnamon buns and kitties crocheted by Erinn of urban farmgirl.

Sweet family of octopi by Erinn.


The view from the Vermont block: Recycle Moe engaged with the crowd at her table.

Up next in the vending schedule:

Women's Festival of Crafts in Burlington's City Hall this Friday eve, plus Saturday and Sunday all day. Check my schedule for more shows here.

Slow Fashion

Join me and two other Vermont designers as we present an evening of Slow Fashion at Burlington’s ECHO Center. The ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center is branching out to expose their public to other environmentally-minded movements going on in our fair state.

We Vermonters are highly conscious of, and feel a lot of pride in, our hot shot local foods movement. [above, my neighbor's Bourbon Red heritage breed turkeys, coming to a Thanksgiving dinner table near you soon.] We are second only to Italy, right? And "green" design/build companies don't have to do so much explaining anymore about how they can help you reduce your footprint on the earth.

Now ECHO wants to help folks make the connection between ecologically-minded consumer choices and that other basic necessity: clothing. I feel very honored to be included in ECHO's UpCycled Fashion Show happening on December 9th from 6:30 - 9:30.

Gyllian Rae Svensson of The Bobbin, Rebecca Mack of Flying Hen Studio, and I will talk about our production methods, materials and philosophies and be available for a Q & A session after a runway show highlighting our latest lines of Slow Fashion. For more details call 802.864.1848, ext. 135 or check ECHO’s website for updates.

Holiday Shows 2010

As they say in my home state of Minnesota, there are only two seasons: Winter and Winter is coming.

The strongly pressing Winter is Coming feeling these days is inspiring me to add plaid trim from red to teal to beyond preppy for the festive season that is just around the corner.

My Holiday vending schedule is shaping up and it includes a few dates in the Burlington, Vermont area, a weekend in Northampton MA, a pop-up shop in Central Vermont and possibly a stint in the Upper Valley.

To start out the season I'll be at Twist Fair in Northampton on November 12th and 13th. Find me near the food, beer and DJ. Seriously!

I'm super excited to be back at the premier show for Vermont's indie craft movement, the Queen City Craft Bazaar on November 20th. Find me at the bottom of the stairs. The following weekend, just after Thanksgiving, I'll be in City Hall, Burlington at the Women's Festival of Crafts. Come see me again in Burlington's City Hall at the Holiday Artist Market on December 17 & 18. For a full schedule see my Vending Events page.

Ongoing outlets for Mountain Ash Design aprons and wrap skirts with sweet bows include Artisan's Gallery in Waitsfield, VT, Revolution in White River Junction, and Art on Main in Bristol, VT. Find my wares at Studio Place Arts in Barre, VT during their holiday member show. Details to come so...stay tuned!

New Work

The Vermont Life Artisan Gift Catalog came in the mail the other day and I am very happy with the way my "Classic Kitchen Apron" is presented.

The description starts, "Sarah Green's creative calling is sustainably handmade apparel, sewn from vintage, recycled and new designer fabrics." You can get a free catalog by calling 1-800-455-3399.

I've had some exciting sessions in the studio recently in preparation for the Peru Fair (Sept. 25) and the VNBH Open Studio Tour (Oct 2 & 3) and am sharing pictures of some of the results with you here.

Note the new fall/winter fabrics. More new prints and some inspiring solids (black is inspiring, right? "Yes, but is it a color?") are coming so stay tuned.

Richard the paper maker who provides the paper I use for my shopping bags will be open at the very same address on the Open Studio Tour.

Visit the Vermont North By Hand website to check out all 20 artists and see a map of the tour.

The foliage will be at its peak in our part of Vermont so come out for a drive and give your eyes a feast, inside the studios and outside, too.

An Apron for Your Vermont Life-style

Autumn greetings from the hills of Vermont. The cool air outside breathes like a tall class of cold fresh spring water going down in mid-July. The leaves on the trees are starting to turn. All of us veggie growers are on the alert for frost warnings from the Eye On The Sky guys. Artists and craft makers around the state are gearing up to bring you an ample selection of wonderful unique gift options for the coming winter holidays.



Mountain Ash Design received the opportunity to reach folks far and wide this year with the inclusion of a limited edition full apron in the 2010 Vermont Life Holiday Gift Catalog. Buyer Jan Hubbard scoured the state searching for extra special Vermont-made gifts to offer in this year's "new and improved" catalog. I sent her five aprons to consider and Vermont Life settled on this little number.



I designed this full apron with a wide skirt and ample bib to catch the splatters and keep the flour off your black pants. This fabric combination is available exclusively through the VT Life catalog. It features a skirt and bib of new designer fabric in a cream print with soft pink dots and the sharp silhouettes of black birds perched on branches. The trim is a sophisticated black, violet and frosty blue vintage print of vining roses. The back waist ties are classic blue gingham repurposed from button-down shirts and other textiles saved from the land fill. The bib lining is soft vintage floral percale like you'd sleep on at Grandma's house. The result is a harmonious combination of vintage, recycled and new designer fabrics. Wearing this apron I feel entirely comforted and cosmopolitan, modern and retro at the same time.

And have I mentioned lately that aprons are all about role-playing? You know someone who needs to put on their time-to-feel-smashing-while-getting-dinner-on-the-table costume, non? To request a free catalog and get yours (and one for your aunt/sister/mother-in-law/bff) call 1-800-455-3399 or visit www.vermontlifecatalog.com.

These pictures were taken by Inger Swingforth in the Tunbridge Hill Farm stand at the Waitsfiled Farmers Market. A big thank you to Inger, Jean, Wendy and Rudey!

New Stores

I'm very happy to announce that the Artisan's Gallery in Waitsfield, VT is now carrying skirts, full aprons and handy Cargo Aprons by yours truly. If you can't make it to one of my vending events, add this to the list of where-to-find-them. For skirts that list includes Revolution in White River Junction, Art on Main in Bristol, and North of the Falls in Bradford. These fine establishments are all in my dear home state of Vermont. Just so everyone knows -> I am ready to serve the discerning masses in all major cities so if you know of any boutique buyers in such places send them my way.



Here's a peak into my visual record keeping system. Since the skirts are one of a kind, I try to take pictures of what I send out into the world, especially to stores so I can restock in an informed way. This is what went on the racks at the Artisan's Gallery last week. The charming Lori Klein stopped by to see me on Sunday at the Mad River Valley Craft Fair and picked out 5 more. These include three M/L ones so Artisan's Gallery is now carrying skirts to fit all the ladies from size zero to 18.


While I'm revealing the inner workings of the MAD machine, here's a record-keeping type picture of what I delivered today to Revolution in White River Junction, also in size ranges to fit anyone from a wee size zero to a lovely size 18.

More exciting news coming soon so...stay tuned!

Fall/Winter Preview

Waitsfield Farmers Market

It has been a long time since my last post but that's because I've been so gosh darn busy! I enlisted some sewing help in the spring which has been wonderful. The way the skirts have been flying out the door, so to speak (tent? stall? booth?), it has still been a challenge to keep up with inventory.

Each year (this being #4) I seem to hone in on, and gain access to, my market more effectively. The Waitsfield Farmers Market is turning out to be a great addition to my vending event line-up. Every Saturday I meet people vising Vermont for weddings or vacation or cherishing the time at their country abode. I imagine planning a wedding in the supremely beautiful Mad River Valley as not only a romantic dream location for the happy couple but also as a real gift to all the guests. In any case, they are all having a great time on Saturday mornings before the ceremony checking out the farmers market.

Here are some pictures from last weekend's market in Waitsfield, featuring an adorable customer who ditched what she was wearing before and kept her new skirt on to hang around the market.

This was the third Saturday morning market I've done this summer that started out on the rainy side. A light rain does not keep away the regulars determined to get the fullest selection of glorious fresh veggies when the market opens at 9:00. They just don their raincoats and shopping bags/baskets and head out. Each time the rain has subsided within an hour or so. I've been happy to experience each time that plenty of people are not deterred and are ready to buy skirts, even in the light rain.

I can not say the same for the afternoon market I did in Hanover, NH last week in the middle of the 10 year heat wave we were having. Not only were the potential shoppers staying indoors or at their swimming holes, but the people who came out were just too hot to touch anything...carry anything...much less try on anything that is going to wrap around their waist more than once, if at all. You get the idea. I think the lemonade and gelato sellers did well though.

Because I can handle the heat much better than many people it was still worth it for me to be there. People's eyes were still functioning and my work received many admiring comments. It's all good exposure. I know it is best for me to think about something for a while before actually purchasing it, so I understand that repeat exposure can be an essential part of the buying process.

Summer, summer, summer! I hope you are all enjoying it to the fullest. Until next time...ta ta!

PS. This is Tunbridge Hill Farm stall across from me, always full of customers. They are consolidating their display the entire time as the veggies get snatched up by lucky people. I am amazed at all the early vegetables this year. Farmers have had potatoes for at least two weeks. These guys had plump full heads of garlic with long firm green stems and leaves that people were carrying around the market (you can see them on the low table on the left). I'll have to get a picture of that next time.

Garden Inspired

I'm excited and honored to be participating in the Garden Inspired Show now up at Art on Main Gallery. The show includes a delightful garden room of "living art" pieces right inside the gallery plus work by member exhibitors as well as special guest artists. It was all artistically assembled and arranged by guest curator, Alena Schnarr of alena botanica in Waterbury, VT.


Mountain Ash Design's Gardening Aprons (aka Cargo Aprons) made from new and vintage sturdy home decor fabrics are my contribution.


Visitors are calling the show "very impressive." So get yourselves to Art on Main in Bristol Vermont to see the show, up until June 30th.

Twist recap

I realize 10 days have gone by but it feels like only yesterday that I finished up at the wonderful and fun Twist Fair.



Show director Lexie Barnes and Co. sent many communiques to vendors leading up to the show and it seemed like there were an awful lot of rules. I decided to adopt a "let's see" attitude. Sometimes rules are for a good reason.

Although I balked when I first heard this, it ended up not being a complete handy cap that my display had to be on a table and only 24 inches high. I didn't sell a single full apron. Maybe because I had to display them folded in half. But I sold oodles and oodles of skirts and people from across the room could see all the lovely ladies trying them on. The beautiful ballroom space was pleasantly airy (because of the display rule, see?)

And the perks they provided to vendors - let me recount them for you. Beer tickets on Friday night, breakfast, lunch and dinner provided to vendors on site with a "lounge" to nosh in, free chair massage in said lounge on Saturday, and a great DJ all show long. I wasn't sure I'd want free beer during the Friday night hours but it was just the thing and I was able to give a beer ticket to my very handy assistant, Jeff.

The food was yummy and the masseur's style really worked for me. On the application she asked "what other vendors do you want to be near?" and I love, love, loved having recycle moe next to me as a result. I felt very well cared for as a vendor. If this is how it's gonna be, I say bring on the rules!

I met so many great people - customers, sweet friends of my cousin, Colee's, and other vendors. Some were very helpful in giving me an idea of what to expect from my next big adventure - the BUST Craftacular this Sunday in Brooklyn. Big Props to Casey of The Candy Thief and the Sara and Phil at Rocks and Salt for that!

These pictures are just a teaser. Hop on over to the Mountain Ash Design facebook page to see the complete albums.

Two Shows this Weekend!

I've never done this before but, you know what they say: there's a first time for everything.

I'm just finishing up the sewing (I think. I always feel there's more I could make!) of some very pretty skirts in new fabrics I've picked out for Spring. To kick off the season MAD will be vending at TWO awesome shows coming up this weekend!

I'll be at Twist Fair in Northampton, MA this Friday 6-9 May 7th (that's the "Market Party" folks, when they give free beers to the vendors. Not sure how this is supposed to help sales. I'll give a full report here next week.) and Saturday 10-6 May 8th. This is my first time as a vendor at Twist and I'm excited to experience it from "behind the table" so to speak and to meet some of the other artists who will be there. Check out the impressive vendor list and floor plan here. I'll be packing up my tabletop display for Twist (here's a picture of my trial set-up on my dining room table) and heading down tomorrow. Come see me in the central isle of the big room.

AND Mountain Ash Design will be joining two floors of vendors brimming with local talent at the Queen City Craft Bazaar in Burlington, VT on Saturday May 8th. Last weekend I got my alternate display and the other portion of my inventory to my stellar assistant, Lauren, who will be running my booth at QCCB. Come say hello to Lauren and many of my friends selling their amazing wares.

And just two weeks later come see me at the BUST Spring Fling Craftacular at the Warsaw in Brooklyn, NY on May 23rd (that's a Sunday folks). Check out the very animated vendor page here which includes some big names in the indie craft world. Big steps for this country mouse!