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!

Farmers Market collection on Pie Bird

My Farmers Market belt was recently included in a similarly-themed blog post by Katy at Pie Bird.

I have one of these. As she says, it "vents while baking." It is so cute and useful for juicy apple and rhubarb pies.

This is just a teaser. Go see her wonderfully curated collection. Almost farmers market season here in VT (now that the snow has melted. again.) Yay!

Vendor Special on Handy Cargo Aprons

Whew! I have been feeling both overwhelmed and blessed by opportunities lately. In order to share the joy I'm offering a special to vendors of my May shows: $10 off one of my Handy Cargo Aprons (details below).

In a week I'm going to try doing two shows on the same day - in two different states. I'll be a newbie at Twist Fair in Northampton on May 7-8. But I couldn't bear the thought of leaving behind my home state scene: the Queen City Craft Bazaar in Burlington on May 8th. The latter consists of a exciting community bursting with fresh creativity. I feel like I have grown up with these artists the last few years.

I sure am going to miss my homies while I'm in NoHo, but Mountain Ash Design will have a presence at QCCB - my usual spot at the bottom of the stairs. Please stop by and say "hiya!" to my lovely assistant, Lauren, as she holds down the local fort so to speak, and go check out all the other fabulous goods by other artists at the show.

I am full of giddy anticipation about Twist. My dearest cousins live in NoHo and will be helping me and I'll also have fellow VTer Recycle Moe right in the next booth to hold my hand. Come see me in the center isle of the big room.

To tie these events together I'm offering a Vendor Special on my Handy Cargo Aprons. I started making them a year ago as Gardening Aprons for the Floribunda show, but I have since sold them to nurses, teachers and plenty of vendors. Four roomy pockets hold your receipt book, calculator, pens, business cards, bank, with room still for a handkerchief and Cliff Bar. Never again experience that feeling of disease as you walk away from your cash box. Uber-knitter Kathleen Dowd-Hill says, "I don’t know how I’ve managed all these years at craft shows without my new apron, it is awesome!"

The regular price is $42. For co-vendors they are $32. Bring your business card to my booth and I will be happy to set you up. The ones pictured here are brand-spakin' new, made from sturdy vintage and new home decor fabric, double-stitched and bound on all edges with contrasting colors (black is a color, right?). I have one of each and will be splitting them up between the two shows. Click on the pictures to see them in detail. If you'd like me to reserve one especially for you leave a comment here or email me at sarahogreen@gmail.com. I am packing up for QCCB on May 1st so let me know before then. Otherwise, stop by my stall and check them out.

Delectably Pink on Haute Whimsy

My Black Birds Skirt was recently featured on a pink-themed post on the design blog Haute Whimsy.

Right near this Squirrel Girl by the Black Apple.

Foxy Apothecary

Mountain Ash Design was recently featured on the design blog Apothecary Fox. "Remedies for a More Lovely Life." Blogger Sarah Fox loves pink&green, red gingham, and vintage influences, so she totally gets me! Click on the "my brother" link for a special treat ; >

I recommend her other posts, too, and her profile has a very nice tone. She's a Vermonter, too so I hope to meet her someday.