I’m happy to announce the arrival of a healthy baby girl.

We’ll be taking the summer to get to know each other – back in mid-September!

Until then, all items in the shop are ready to ship.

Thanks for stopping by.  See you in the fall.

This time of year has me yearning for a cup of tea, a warm fire, a crisp new sweater pattern (for me) and a few skeins of a luxurious yarn.

With the holiday rush is behind me, I finally have some time to venture out to my favorite yarn shops, to pawn over the new shades and fawn over fiber combinations of merino, cashmere, alpaca, bamboo and organic cotton.

Once I decide on the color/yarn of my dreams I’ll go off to my studio to flip through the mountain of knitting books that line my bookshelves emerging only when I have settled on the perfect pattern.

At this point you may be saying to yourself “wait a second, that’s backwards; shouldn’t you pick your pattern first and then decide on the yarn?”

Yes, most people do prefer this method, but for me it’s always been about the fiber. As the name of my shop, “Tactile Baby” suggests I’m all about touch, feeling and texture.

The nearly simultaneous births of my son and my business have left me with few opportunities to knit for myself. This makes the short window of time I can find for myself in January a precious moment that demands that I make the most of my time and (much depleted) energy.

Recently, quite unexpectedly, I found myself in fiber heaven when I stumbled upon “Sheeples” fine fibers. I was home for the Thanksgiving holiday and was cruising the aisles of one of my favorite craft fairs, Scattered Seeds, when I happened upon their booth. Of course I was in the middle of the holiday rush myself and looking for gifts for friends and family,(none of whom knit) but I couldn’t resist a peek.

What I found was a tiny slice of paradise. Sheeples is a two person, 300+ sheep (sheep+people=sheeples), operation, run not too far from my family’s summer cabin in the Interlake of Manitoba.

The flock is made up of a variety of high end sheep specifically bred for excellence in fleece (Medium Longwool breeds such as Romney, Leicester, Corriedale and Cotswold have been crossed with Fine wool breeds including: Finn, Tunis and Merino. The result is an unimaginably soft, long and oh so lustrous yarn.

I left the Sheeples booth with a bag of candy floss pink pindrafted roving and a promise to return for a visit to the farm on my next trip home. And although I haven’t quite decided what I’m going to make-up with my 500 yards, I look forward to finally having the time to find the perfect project.

If you are looking for unique and personal gifts for that very special little one in your life consider a handcrafted toy from Tactile Baby.  There is still time to have your gift delivered in time for the Christmas Holiday (ordering deadline for the continental USA is December 18th).  And, if you’re in the Boston area come browse in person at the Boston Handmade Gallery, 505 Washington Street in Boston’s Downtown Crossing shopping district.  We’re open Wed-Sun from 11am – 7pm.

Since 2001 Boston’s Bazaar Bizarre has been wowing Boston area shoppers with an eclectic mix of handmade wares.  This year more than 100 local handmade artists will be selling their goods, ensuring holiday shoppers will be able to find something for everyone on their list.  

While past shows have featured a  Boston Handmade presence, with various  members exhibiting on their own, this year’s show marks the debut of “The Boston Handmade Marketplace”, (an area made up exclusively of Boston Handmade artists).

Fifteen BH members will be showing at the marketplace, featuring a wide assortment of gifts that are both unique and personal including: knitted outerwear, funky clothing & accessories, heirloom toys, hand-bound journals, stunning jewelry, groovy decor, original art and so much more.  We hope to see you there!

Show Details:

When: Sunday, December 6th, 2009

Where: BCA Cyclorama 539 Tremont St Boston, MA
Cost: Admission $1

Boston Marketplace Vendors:
All The Numbers
Blue Alvarez
Chroma Lab
Cristina Hurley
Elizabeth Brennick Designs
Fraske Designs
MaJenta Designs
Lush Beads
Nancyrosetta
Stonehouse Studio
Tactile Baby
thirteenthstory
Vintage By Crystal
Weller Wishes
White Sparrow Bindery

I have very little formal training in my chosen crafts.  Most of what I know has been learned from osmosis. With grandparents that survived the depression on lonely rural farms I learned the basics – and I learned them early.

Unlike my grandparents I grew up in relative privilege.  My parents took advantage of all the conveniences their middle-class suburban lifestyles afforded them.

“The family talent skipped a generation” my mother is fond of saying as she quizzically watches me seam together a newly knitted sweater.

No doubt about it, I was deeply affected by my grandparents tales, and often daydreamed about what it would have been like to pioneer in the newly settled wilds of central Canada. 

I loved fashion for certain, but why buy that dress on the rack when I could make one – except in a color that would suit me better, and that neckline would have to be changed too…)

Today there is a trendy name for that kind of person, a “DIY’er”.  But in the 80’s I was considered a bit of an oddball.

After the last of my grandparents passed away in the late 1990’s I found myself isolated and uninspired. 

I turned to books and workshop instructors to fulfill my need to learn; my techniques improved but there was something lacking.

And then in 2000 I met my future husband.  Three months after we began dating I walked into my future-in-laws home for the first time and I instantly felt at home. In addition to the warm embraces that greeted me, the entire home felt familiar and comforting.

Original artwork decorated the walls, hand crochet afghans draped over couches and quilts covered the beds. But most intriguing of all to me, were the hand carved duck decoys and birds that filled the display shelves in the family room.

My soon to be father-in-law was a wood-worker. 

After realizing that my interest was genuine (and not just a ploy to get in his good graces), my father-in-law became a gracious and patient teacher. 

Soon my love for wood-working became obsessive (a girl can never have too many pairs of shoes, or too many linear feet of curly maple).  I had found a new teacher, and my passion for a new craft was ignited.

When my husband and I moved into our first home one of the “must haves” on our property checklists was room for a workshop.  Fantastically the house we fell in love with also happened to be the former home of a professional potter – workshop space was already established.

I hold my father-in-law largely responsible for the fabulous turn my life has taken since opening my Etsy shop just over a year ago.   His instruction, his confidence in my work and his encouragement have helped me discover just who it is that I was meant to become, a wood-worker.

Trying to get ready for a show last weekend Evan stepped in to help his mummy out!   Now if he could only reach the foot presser without my help

I happened to be travelling a new route to my son’s favorite playground the other day when I happen to pass a lumber yard. 

Stopping in to take a looksy I was impressed by the fact that:

#1 I was greeted warmly upon entering (I’ve been ignored in lumber yards before) and

#2, I was told that I could go into the workshop and take a look at the stock.

I’ve been loyal to a lumber yard closer to home since I started my business. 

I would tell them what species I wanted and they would pull a board for me to inspect.  Sure, I could decline and have them pull another – but I never was able to peruse them en masse!

When I entered the mill I was immediately taken to the neatly organized stacks of  lumber and told to take as long as I needed!  I was in heaven.

I walked out of there with enough wood to last me until the holidays! 

Anxious to cut into some beautiful cherry I got to work right away; expanding my natural collection on rolling animals to include a dog, elephant and dinosaur. 

All items in my natural collection are hand cut, hand sanded and finished with organic flax seed oil, which in addition to being naturally non-toxic and scent and taste free also helps bring out the beautiful natural grain of the wood.

Next up will be some natural puzzles, so  keep checking back.  I hope to have added 6-10 by the fall – just in time for the holidays!

It was a good week for my rolling toy collection as evidenced by 2 front page appearances at Etsy.

Monday, July 6th, Green Polka Dot Horse Rolling Wood Toy

Saturday, July 11th, Oriental Scales Rolling Wood Toy

Come visit me, and many of the Boston Handmade artists at the ArtsCouncil Marketplace, featuring Boston Handmade.

Saturday, July 11th (raindate July 12th) ~ 3-7pm in Union Square, Somerville, MA

Come to Union Square on July 11th to support YOUR local artists

Our July 2009 outdoor fair will feature work by Massachusetts area artists, craftspeople and artisans associated with the arts group Boston Handmade and Etsy.com: helping people make a living making things.

Boston Handmade promotes local independent businesses and individuals creating one-of-a-kind and limited edition handmade works in small studio environments, not factories.

More than 25 artists, artisans, and craftspeople will be showing and selling handmade jewelry, clothing, accessories, housewares, art, photography, toys, and sculpture along with hands-on craft demonstratons from The Common Cod Fiber Guild and The Eliot School of Fine and Applied Arts

maple teething ring

This little birdie

is desgined to help sooth sore and itchy gums.

The natural contours of this pretty little birdie’s beak and tail feathers provide baby with options for massaging hard to reach places.

Made from one of natures hardest woods, maple, this teething ring is handsanded to a silky smooth finish and left unfinished.

More designs on the way soon!

Click here to go to the Tactile Baby Store.