A Lasting Imprint

One of the many things I love about Shire City Sanctuary's Holiday Shindy is wandering the aisles with my 10 year old son. The abandoned church has been 're-purposed' for the community. Each year it is brilliantly [and respectfully] transformed into a holiday festival of artisans and admirers, jam-packed with "good things made by good people". As my son soaks up the spirit, he mingles with friends and enjoys visiting with different vendors. I'm not the only one ogling beautiful objects.  Allott spends A LOT of time looking through the "secret books" made by Michael Vincent Bushy and treats them like treasures for ever after. His collection is growing as he selects one very special book each year.  

What makes the whole experience even more twinkly is that Michael Vincent Bushy takes the time to talk to my son about the techniques and tools he uses to make a wide variety of designs. It isn't a lecture. It's a gentle conversation that sprinkles a gift with meaning. This kind of interaction doesn't happen every day. I sure wish it did, but I suppose if it did, then the spell might be broken. This Christmas, bring your kids to some holiday markets in your neck of the woods and see what magic they get up to! 

Into the Woods: Beautiful Things Make Beautiful Memories

INTO THE WOODS. Good Girl loves visiting the Aubry workshop at Overmeade Farm in Lenox, MA. It's always inspiring to see the beautiful things Kyra and Matty Hart are making there. Every object is made from wood they gather from the forests on their farm or source locally. Using traditional hand tools such as an ax and a knife, Matty's hand carving technique is influenced by traditional Scandinavian methods.

Kyra later paints the wooden objects using Milk Paint, a naturally safe historic paint made from skim milk or buttermilk, crushed limestone and pigments found around clay pits, or chimney soot and mineral colors crushed and powdered. The colors are deep, authentic and safe enough to lick - yes lick - which is the whole point. The bowls are just begging to be filled with porridge, or soup, or salad and nuts and chips.

They are amazingly beautiful bare naked, too, with nothing at all in them and yes, like some other naked things, you will be compelled to touch them.  Each piece is unique and just waiting to become part of your family history. Matty and Kyra take pride in their work and gain much meaning from making items today that are sure to become heirlooms tomorrow. For the Harts, "treasured family items carry with them the story of countless meals made, much bread broken and many hours sat in the company of friends and family."

The wood takes on a 'life' of its own in the shape of our own memories and senses. For me, it makes it even more wonderful that my son's Aubry porridge bowl [a porringer] and spoon will gather layers of meaning in the same way the patterns of wood grain reveal age and beauty and a little bit of mystery, too...and this is why it feels sooooo good to give the gift of "good things made by good people."   

Photo credits: All of Aubry wooden ware is made from green wood. 'Tree wet' is freshly cut, not dried or seasoned. The techniques and tools are specific to green wood carving. Pictured at top bowl turned green from a Maple tree finished with navy milk paint and 100% pure raw organic linseed oil. Lower left to right: Fan birds and two hand carved cherry spoons, a knife and an ax.

Go On, Good Girl, Go to Market!

Good Girl is getting ready for Christmas and the holidays and a very special wedding, too. Nothing makes gift-giving more special than when we buy our loved ones good things made by good people. 

Not only are hand-made gifts beautiful and unique, they support local economies and inform communities of the many sustainable choices we can make every day of our lives, not just at Christmas. In the lead up to Christmas, Good Girl will highlight wholesome, healthy, ethical gift ideas as she adds them to Good Girl Go to Market, a new on-line gallery that features good things made by good people. 

No matter where you live on this beautiful planet, try to spend more time shopping at local markets and less time shopping on line. It's a personal choice that is sure to make this holiday season even brighter for you and all those you love. Go on, Good Girl, Go to Market!