Monday, July 30, 2012

Croquet

In my mind, I thought we'd be drinking gin and tonics and playing croquet every night once we moved to Vermont.  But sadly, in reality, it has only happened twice.  Here are some photos of the second time, which was over the weekend.  My brother and his wife and two boys have been here for the past five days, and we have been trying to do all the fun things we always mean to do in real life but never seem to get around to.
Yes, that is a very goofy picture of me in the middle, but I only have so many photos of myself living my imaginary life of leisure, so I wanted some photographic evidence on file.  And I love the photo of Sebastian on the bottom.  Does it look familiar to you? Remember this

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Fun With Geometry

Stockpiling rings for Sunapee. . . 

Monday, July 23, 2012

Garden Diary 2012: July 23

 The first garlic and potatoes of the season, before and after a quick bath with the hose.  Look out Olivia, you are next!
Also, please keep in mind that I have skipped over a post on peas, because that post is a longer one with a recipe, and it's not ready yet.  So I apologize that this garden diary isn't going to be chronologically accurate! 

Friday, July 20, 2012

League of NH Craftsmen Sunapee Show Sneak Peek

I like to use some large format images in my booth at shows, and here are the six finalist images for my upcoming show in Lake Sunapee, NH.  I know it is Friday, and you are all off on your way to your summer weekend plans, but I would love to hear what your favorites are.  I really like them all, but which one's do you think would catch your eye as you walked past a show booth? 
I have room in my booth for 4, maybe 5 images.  What are your top 4? And thanks again so much to the lovely Meggie, jewelry model and Emmett's babysitter extraordinaire! 

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Brooklyn Studio

We went to New York last week to catch up with some friends, stock up on supplies, reconnect with some work contacts, and generally have a little city getaway.  On our way out of town we went by my old studio in Red Hook to take some pictures and see what had changed.  The neighborhood on the waterfront, directly around my old studio (behind door number 14. The door was locked, but I found an old photo from when I was moving out to include) has really cleaned up, and the only remaining graffiti and grit seems to be more for folklore than real neglect.  The border neighborhoods are still pretty much the same, a real mix of poverty and artist studios, old fisherman's houses and interesting nooks and crannies.  But now there is a giant (and wonderful) Fairway gourmet supermarket, and an Ikea anchoring both ends of the waterfront, and I'm sure much more development will follow.  But for now it is a really unique part of New York.  This side of the harbor is so peaceful you can really start to feel that New York is actually a coastal town.  And the beautiful old and varied buildings on cobblestone streets make for a great place to grab a coffee at Baked and take a little walk.  I'm not ready to move back, or anything, but I am really glad that this was where I had my studio for those 8 or so years, and I got a chance to spend so much time down there.  I highly recommend checking it out to anyone either in the NYC, or headed there for a visit. 

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Scape Cooking

I just wanted you all to know that I did actually use all of my garlic scapes.  I made fettucini carbonara with garlic scapes (top), and garlic scape pesto which is now frozen for use at a later date (bottom).  So far so good with the summer plan to be efficient with the garden produce!  Go team.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Happy Holiday

How was everybody's holiday week?  It seemed like a long one to me, since the email has been slow due to at least a good chunk of people being out of the office for the second half of the week.  I took off pretty much the first part of the week because Wednesday I competed in my first horse show in 17 years.  First of all I'd like to say that I don't even really want to think about the fact that I am old enough to have taken a 17 year break from anything.  Shudder, but there it is.
The horse show was a dressage schooling show in Woodstock, VT.  It was a very low key affair in the world of horse shows; an opportunity for people to take young or inexperienced horses or riders out into the world to get a little exposure, and see how you both hold up under a little pressure.  
We did ok.  Not great, not terrible, although we did have a couple of terrible moments.  I have no idea if or when my horse Noble has been to his last show.  Certainly not in the two years that I've had him, and I don't think for several years before that, and definitely not since he lost sight in his left eye.  So all things considered I guess it is understandable that he lost his composure a little bit.  As an up side, I think I was less stressed about the whole thing than I used to be as a teenager, so that's good.  And also considering that I got him as a trade from a friend for a little jewelry I think the whole partnership is turning out pretty well!

Have any of you taken up an old hobby recently?  I have found the whole experience to have a lot more ups and downs than I expected.  Some days I am thrilled to be doing it again, and just enjoy gaining ground and making progress.  Then there are days I look back at where I was 15 years ago, and how much better I was as a 17 year old and it makes me feel a little depressed.  And horseback riding, especially competitively, is one of those things that the more time and money you throw at it (more lessons, more training, more expensive horse, more equipment) the more hassle free it is.  So doing it on a shoestring budget, with a full time business to run and a toddler at home is kind of the hard way.  I don't know why I thought I'd be able to just pick up where I left off, but for some reason I kind of did.  And I know it is necessary to get the experience of showing under your belt before you can really start to excel, but if I enter a competition, I pretty much want to win.  That's the underlying point, right?  I guess possibly there are multiple things to achieve when putting yourself out there in the world to be judged, and maybe, just maybe, winning ribbons is only one of them. 

Friday, July 6, 2012

Around the Studio

Some tall and short Pillar Necklaces and Earrings in the works on the bench.  Finished necklaces below.

Monday, July 2, 2012

At the Pear Tree. . .

I am so excited that The Pear Tree, here in Chester, is now offering a collection of Rebecca Haas Jewelry!  It is such a lovely shop, and I am thrilled to be there! They sell furniture and gifts, both vintage and new: Weck jars, soaps, candles, glassware, and some gorgeous cutting boards made from salvaged wood that the owner is making by hand.  And now all of you local customers have a beautiful and convenient place to find my work, no more worrying about trying to make an appointment to come to the studio.  (although of course you are still welcome to do that!) And if she doesn't have the exact piece you are looking for it is easy to place a special order, so stop in and check it out!  And even if you aren't in any immediate need of jewelry (is that possible?), I'm sure you won't leave The Pear Tree empty handed.