I am excited to be attending this show for the first time.  Beautiful weather is promised, and Coggeshall farm is a charming, wonderful place to visit.  There are also bound to be extra llamas, bunnies and sheep visiting- and animals always make me happy!

Coggeshall Farm Website

Also, I wanted to let my customers know that I will be a guest vendor online at Luna’s Gate  Sunday, May 20.  The theme is “bugs” and I will have a couple of buggy items up, plus some other goodies.  I will try to get photos up today, but I may put up a couple of last minute items after the show on Saturday!

Then, on Monday the 21st, I will be having a special stocking at Universal Mama celebrating my 5th anniversary with this amazing group of women!  I will have much coveted CUSTOM SLOTS up for grabs, as well as some items that have been requested over the last few weeks- compost pots, dippy bowls and butter crocks come to mind.

I’ll be a busy little bee this weekend, to be sure.  I hope you can join me at one of these events!

Here is a yarn bowl I did especially for the show- I took a risk but love the way it came out!

Just got back from a beautiful wedding in Waxahachie, Texas.  Got to visit with my dad and my stepmom, and some of my extended family (Hi Aunt Teri and Kelly!) which was so much fun!  And brought back a lovely (sarcasm) souvenir from Texas- a wicked bad cold  (as they say in the Rhode Island parlance).  But, mom and potter duties do not stop for illness- first thing on the agenda was to get Katie to DMV for her road test.  Yup, the Gonzalez family has  another driver now- so beware!  I do have to say that after 3 days I have noticed that I have MUCH more free time:

“Oh rats!  I forgot to buy milk!”

“I’ll go get it!”

“Who’s going to pick John up from work?”

“Me!  Me!”

You get the picture.

The second thing was Junior Prom.  Having never attended a prom or dance of any sort, I neglected to order John a tux, so that was a high priority.  Luckily the local tux rental is used to dealing with procrastinators.  Then came Katie’s needs- shoes, makeup, etc. etc. etc. etc. ad infinitum.  Oi.  I’ll say it again- boys are so easy.

The final thing was that I have been throwing and glazing and torching every day to get ready for the annual Rhode Island Wool and Fiber Festival (scroll down to May 19).  I am making an enormous amount of yarn bowls- plain and with sheep, flowers, and lotsa dots.  Also a bunch of sheepy mugs and some new glass items- glass buttons and stitch markers (I sent my beads to the lovely Sue of Pink Lemonade to wire them into stitch marker loops for me because I don’t “do” jewelry or metal or wire work).  If I have time, I might make some ceramic buttons as well!

So, I’ll sign off and head to the dungeon with kleenex box in hand.  If you need me, just follow the coughing, sneezing and whining sounds coming from the basement…

This is Katie, my daughter.

She will be 17 in June, and has taken on the weekend packing and shipping for RSE.  It took me a very long time to relax my inner control freak enough to entrust her with this time consuming job, but she is careful and trustworthy, and has been seeing me do the same things over and over again for about 5 years now!  This job will augment her farm stand and milking duties at Simmon’s Farm until the farmer’s market season is in full swing.

Katie loves animals of all kinds, is smart, funny, and multi-talented:

Here’s a little interview I had with Katie:

What is your best childhood memory?

Visiting the Caldera in New Mexico with my family seeing all of the wildlife and nature. Seeing the herd of elk and coyote cubs playing was so amazing.

What are your interests?

Drawing, animals, music, art, food, sleep.

What do you want to do for a living?

Something with animals. A veterinarian is what I’m aiming for.(:

What was your biggest accomplishment?

Passing my AP Biology class.

What are your pet peeves?

Being nagged by my mom and liars.

Uh… thanks, Katie!

I’m getting ready to do another Squishy Cup preorder at Hyena Cart, with the help of lovely host Becky!  Check in here for updates, directions, and more:

RSE Squishy Cup Preorder Thread at Hyena Cart

This time around, I will be offering adult sized (about 12-16 ounce) squishies along with the regular 6-8 ounce ones.

And here they are next to each other for a size comparison!

Thank you, and good luck!

It really sums up how I feel about Rising Sun Earthworks:

It’s so true!  While I might be able to keep up with demand by hiring help, I want this to be all mine.  If this means I have to turn down orders or wholesale, or skip a show or two because there is only one of me, then that is what has to happen.  This way I have my finger, my mark,  in every little aspect and every little step of my little biz.  It’s just the way I want it!

I’ve been scarce lately and I apologize.  I am currently finishing up a 100 mug preorder.  My next big project will be a 200 squishy cup preorder at www.hyenacart.com probably starting April 1 (no fooling), so check there if you’re interested!  I expect they will sell out pretty quickly.

Universal Mama is having a Garden Party Monday at 10 p.m. and it really inspired me!  I’m excited about these new pieces I will be putting up later today:

I will also have a series of planters with attached saucers- just in time for spring planting!

It was a wonderful experience setting up a table at Simmons Farm’s winter CSA last Thursday;  we will be back again next week!  If there is anything special in the catalog you are looking for, please contact me to see if it’s available and I will bring it with me on Thursday.  Contact and catalog links are at the top of this page.

I had a great time meeting all the CSA members, but I think Katie had a better time getting to know a newborn little friend:

See you on Thursday!

Rising Sun Earthworks has just been invited to set up a table at our local organic farm, Simmons Farm !

They are trying out a new idea, having different food-related artists and artisans setting up their wares on CSA days. I will be there from 3-6 on February 16 and 23, during Winter CSA pick up days, and if all goes well, will continue once every month or so.  Check the schedule for dates (link at top of page).

We are lucky enough to live just 1/2 mile down the road from this beautiful farm, and we love to visit there.  They have a petting zoo full of tame goats, sheep, ducks, cows and more.  They have both summer and winter CSAs- for veggies, eggs, milk, meat and cheeses.  I’m excited to be invited to participate in this new venture!

There is nothing like the decadence of a melty, gooey rich baked brie spread over a cracker.  This baker makes it easy and presents the dish in style.  The first of these bakers are debuting Monday at 9 p.m. EST at The Fifth Monday.

Place brie in baker and let sit at room temperature for at least 1/2 hour (in other words, don’t try to bake an ice cold brie in the hot oven or the dish may crack).  If you cut a star (*) in the top of the brie before baking, the cheese oozing through makes a lovely presentation.  Top with your favorite toppings.  Ours are a 1/2 cup of apricot preserves and a handful of sliced or slivered almonds.  Bake at 350 degrees until bubbly (about 20 minutes).  Serve piping hot.

The preorder/group buy at Cloth Diaper Nation is now taking your orders!  You will have to register however, and there is a minimum of posts required before you can enter a group buy, but the host will take orders from people with fewer posts if the total of 100 mugs is not filled.

I will be offering 12, 16 and 20 ounce mugs in curvy or straight shapes, and if you like you can have a sheep or a tree on them, too!

The thread for the coop is here:  Group Buy

There will be a maximum of 100 mugs, so get your orders in now!