house wren studio

girlfriends weekend in Vermont

Read this post on my new site at www.housewrenstudio.com!

Just for the fun of it, I hosted a girlfriends craft weekend here in Vermont. Robin drove up from Boston area and Melinda came from Philly. Meleen joined us and my daughter Erin came over too.

Because it was almost Valentine's Day, I suggested we make tagbooks like this one I made years ago for Mary's magazine. Everyone brought personal photos and bits to add in and I have so much stuff in my studio to share. Wow, it was a crazy, fun craftorama.

We built the books from scratch making pockets to tuck tags into. Click here for another look at the book I made for Mo. (BTW our little Mo's getting married in June!)

Melinda brought this pretty stack of wool and the vintage card - her cats are actually named Bubble and Squeak!

Meleen filled her book with clever tags for recipes.

Robin delighted us with her cute bunny ears!

There was a fair amount of hanging out with mugs of coffee, simmering meals (and a Dutch Baby) and comfy evenings relaxing while catching up. 

Southern Vermont is such a magical place and I love to share it. Having this happy group of crafty women at my home was such a treat for me. Soon the weather will let us be outside on the deck where we can stir up a pot of indigo and dip dye our tag sale finds. We can explore the back roads of paradise. And when we've made the most of the day, we can build a campfire at the pond and let the laughter fly up to meet the stars.

If this sounds like fun to you, email me. I'm an AirBnB host and would love to create a special girlfriends weekend experience just for you. Summer is so sweet here!

vermont creative retreat with rebecca sower

Super excited to announce our October creative event in peak season autumnal Vermont. Returning artist, Rebecca Sower is our featured instructor. She's so awesome and we are so excited to welcome her back. Sketching outdoors in the colorful countryside, painting in the studio, stitching on the porch!

More information to come! Happy to answer questions - just email fallvermontgetaway(at)gmail.com 

register for our summer in vermont art weekends today!

Today's the day!

We are opening registration for this exciting pair of June weekends with two amazing artists here in southern Vermont.

June 14-17 with Jenn McGlon from Noodle and Lou.

June 21-24 with Jennifer Orkin Lewis who is August Wren.

Details for both events are in the post just before this one. Write to us at fallvermontgetaway(at)gmail.com at 3 pm today. Please tell us which artist weekend you would like to attend and which kind of room accommodations you would like.

We always have the best time and can't wait to see and meet you all this summer in Vermont!

 

augustwren :: noodle and lou:: two summer weekends in Vermont

Summer is going to be colorful and fun in Vermont!

Meleen and I are hosting a painting workshop with August Wren over the weekend of June 21-24. Jennifer Orkin Lewis is the noted illustrator known as August Wren. Her work is in Anthropologie, Kate Spade and a number of books including those with Chronicle publications. She will teach technique and lessons in painting with gouache and share our getaway weekend with guests. Before I moved to Vermont, Jen and I were neighbors. Recently, I visited her studio where I had a chance to admire her beautiful work with sneak peeks for future projects. We are so excited to have her join us as a guest teacher!

Two weekends. Two Jennifers!

We have added a second weekend with Jenn McGlon of Noodle and Lou. A maker of darling art dolls, she is one of our most favorite teachers. We always have the best time with her and she is coming back the weekend of June 14-17!

With these bathing beauties! 

Join us and make your own whimsical art doll to paint and decorate! 

Both weekends take place at Meleen's two charming, vintage 1850 farmhouses that are side by side in southern Vermont. Meleen and her husband just built an event barn which is now our spacious and lovely classroom.

We spend most of our time at the houses, making art, playing in the dye pots, eating, laughing, catching up, getting to know each other. Lots of time on the covered porches or in front of the fire, weather depending. It's a beautiful time of year with summer just beginning to bloom in village gardens, farmers' fields and the Green mountains. We also look for local adventures and tag sales to scout out. Meleen and I have gotten to know so many artistic friends, artisan farmers, makers and growers nearby. 

 

Each weekend, I will be leading an afternoon of indigo dyeing. From our creations with various textiles, we will be making indigo-pieced zipbags for paintbrushes or sewing things.

 

 

 

 

Meleen and Kana, our friend and assistant, prepare all the home-cooked, locally grown food there at the house and it is amazing and delicious! There are several posts here on my blog about past retreats. (Use the sidebar link for Vermont Getaway.)

 

We have accommodations for single rooms at 1095, double occupancy rooms with twin beds at 950 pp and a loft room (wide stairs) with twin beds at 875 pp. All are shared bathrooms. All prices include class materials, meals, lodgings, goodie bags and art instruction for Thursday at 12:30 to Sunday at 11 am. Flights go in and out of Albany, NY, about an hour away. 

 

On IG you can follow us at #meleenandcharlottesvermontgetaway - and write to us with questions at fallvermontgetaway(at)gmail.com.

 

Registration opens on December 3 at 3pm EST. Send us an email to that address with your room preference if you would like to sign up for either weekend. Spaces are limited.

 

 

 

 

 

 

beautiful days together

Meleen, Kana and I hosted our weekend guests with so much excitement! Meleen and John's barn is up! I wish you could stand inside and smell the pine, feel the Vermont air and imagine all the good times to come. But first, this good time!

We made the most adorable art dolls with Jenn McGlon from noodle and lou! Jenn is an amazing and generous teacher and so much fun to be with. We love her!

Meleen and Kana whipped up delicious meals and treats to enjoy throughout. One magical evening we enjoyed dinner and a chat afterwards with Liz Putnam, the founder of the Student Conservation Association - the very first national service organization - and recipient of the Citizens Medal from President Obama. Her story is incredibly fascinating and inspired each of us to volunteer, to persevere and accept the small and large challenges we all encounter. Her greatest message is to get our children outside as much as possible so that they learn to love the world and nature. 

In the craft room and on the porches, we made pet portrait pillows with folk art adaptations of the critters we love.

We visited Studio Hill Farm and the darling family that is regenerating the land with a tradition of nourishing the earth without chemicals.

We laughed and shared our own stories, gifts, skills, friendships. 

Our friends, Lori and Julie, surprised us with a sweet project all kitted up and ready to make. Tiny travel suitcases to decoupage and fill! 

It was the loveliest weekend. Perfect weather. New adventures, new friends. Thank you everyone for all the happiness you brought to the event. It was just delightful. Wishing you all blue skies, buckets of love and a super sweet summer to come! xoxox 

Shoot us an email at fallvermontgetaway(at)gmail.com if you'd like to join us in September. The prettiest time of year in New England!

 

fall getaway info

Registration is open for our fall retreat! We will be making papier mache bird plaques and stitched hoop art collages. Our guest artist is fabric and knit designer, Betz White. Please send an email to [email protected] if you would like to attend or get more information.

The event takes place in 2 charming, vintage 1850 farmhouses that are side by side in southern Vermont. Meleen and her husband just built an event barn which will be ready next fall - an extra bonus!

We spend most of our time at the houses, making art, eating, laughing, catching up, getting to know each other. Lots of time on the covered porches or in front of the fire weather depending. It's a very cozy time of year, peak season in autumnal Vermont. We also look for local adventures and tag sales to scout out. Meleen and I have a number of artistic friends, artisan farmers, makers, growers nearby too.

 

Meleen and Kana, our friend and assistant, prepare all the home-cooked food there at the house and it is delicious! There are several posts here on my blog about past retreats. (Use the sidebar link for Vermont Getaway.)

 

Our super-fun spring event just wrapped up yesterday. What a great, memorable weekend! Lots of pictures to share with you in a post to follow.

 

On IG you can follow us at #meleenandcharlottesvermontgetaway - and write to us with questions at fallvermontgetaway(at)gmail.com.

 

 

Can't wait to see you there!

 

upcoming fall retreat in vermont

Papier mache bird plaques with Charlotte Lyons.

Applique bugs and butterflies with Betz White.

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We are excited to announce our next getaway in Vermont this fall. September 28 - October 1. Come and join us for a weekend of making and creative adventures in autumnal southern Vermont!

Our guest artist is Betz White. We will be making these pretty hoops with bugs and butterflies with her. And the papier mache bird plaques with me.

Hop over here for more information about our event agenda and accommodations. We do have so much fun and would love to have you join us! Our spring retreat is about to begin next week on June 1. If you are on instagram, follow our hashtag #meleenandcharlottesvermontgetaway. Everyone will be posting about their Vermont experiences with us.

Registration for the fall event opens Tuesday, June 6.

For more information, write to us at fallvermontgetaway (at) gmail.com.

sign-ups open today

We're opening requests for the spots today for our next Vermont event this spring! June 1-4, 2017. Jenn McGlon from Noodle and Lou is our guest artist.

If you are hoping to attend, just send us an email at fallvermontgetaway(at)gmail.com after 4 EST today. Do you want a private single room, a single bed in a double room or a single bed in the loft? Best to give us a variety of options. (Details are in the previous post.) We'd love to know if you want to come with a friend. 

Then we'll sort it out and contact you later this week.

Thanks so much for all your support and interest! 

our next spring retreat in vermont

Even though it's snowing like crazy, the time has come to tell you about our next spring event in southern Vermont! Our 12th event!

We are excited to have Jenn McGlon come back with her big bag of fun art tricks. Throughout the weekend, we will be celebrating critters and pets - both clay and felt. 

Here's the plan:

*The event begins Thursday at noon with a welcome lunch and an afternoon workshop. Meleen's home-cooked dinner is served in the main house and evening crafting follows with open access to the "craft room" all evening.

*Friday, we will enjoy a leisurely breakfast in Meleen's kitchen and great room and then begin work on the featured projects. Lunch is served on the porches and in the great room as we continue to create and enjoy each other's company. There is time for independent adventuring or relaxing without an agenda. Dinner is served family style in the great room.

*Saturday is the morning for tag saling! Entirely optional, it is a fun way to explore the charming New England villages and highlights that the area is known for. Covered bridges, farmer's markets and photo opportunities are everywhere. There will be time after lunch to keep creating and working on our creative projects. Wrapping up, we will share dinner and a farewell evening celebrating new friendships and artistry.

*Sunday, we all gather for one last yummy breakfast and say our goodbyes at 11.

All of this takes place at in Arlington, VT. Meleen's beautiful side-by-side houses are filled with charm, comfort and hospitality. The village is about an hour from the Albany airport.

Read more about past retreats here, here and here or use the "vermont getaway" category filter up on the righthand sidebar.

Write to us at fallvermontgetaway (at) gmail.com for more information and questions.

 

paints, patterns, pumpkins, posies, pins

Fall swept through here like a fast-moving train. So many days, so quickly come and gone. Meleen and I hosted another art-making event in Vermont with the loveliest group of women. Rebecca Sower came up from Tennessee to lead an amazing workshop of watercolor painting and mixed media collage. I love her style. Her work is gorgeous but so is her teaching. Layers and layers of thoughtful instruction to keep students thinking and exploring. Our friend, Robin arrived with a carload of harvested dahlias, zinnias and cosmos from her garden. A flurry of sparkling vases and blooms followed us from house to house, porch to porch, table to table throughout the weekend. What perfect subjects to inspire and paint! Sitting outside on the porch with the sunlight glancing across the materials and watching the student works emerging. Exquisite.

In between, we stitched little pumpkin and birdie pin cushions that I designed for the group. (yes, hoping to post the pattern in my shop soon.) It made me happy to see everyone stitching away, embellishing their felt creations with fancy stitches and ornament. Meleen and Kana whipped up an endless parade of beautiful, delicious meals and treats. There was time to wander out and about for tag sales and a quick stop by Tammy's farm. There was even a 40th birthday to celebrate! Thanks to everyone who came all this way to make the weekend such a sweet success. We had the best time sharing it with you!