Spring Schedule of Events

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April 9 – Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market 10-5 at The Historic Roebling Machine Shop Clinton Ave Trenton, NJ

April 23- Clover Market  10-5 7 N. Bryn Mawr Ave Bryn Mawr, Pa

April 29- Welcome to Walnut Street Fair 10-2 Walnut Street Montclair, NJ

May 13- Asbury Park Spring Bazaar  12-5 Asbury Park Convention Hall Asbury Park, NJ

June 18 – Ocean Grove Giant Craft Show  9-4 Beach Ave Ocean Grove, NJ

Where do the sachets fit in?

 

Before there was an official Forage Workshop, I dabbled in lots of different mediums in art and in crafts. I started making sachets filled with balsam mainly for myself, I LOVE the smell of balsam, and to give as holiday gifts. The eye pillows were a soon second for exactly the same reason. I soon found that I had more than I needed, but I wanted to make even more, it was such a satisfying process! So I went downtown and talked to a local shop owner who suggested I put them in the towns seasonal holiday boutique. I put in a bunch of balsam sachets and some catnip toys as well. (another creation I had started making mostly for my own cat, Moose) Both items sold very well! I even had my balsam sachets featured in a blog! It was such a gratifying experience! I was hooked.

I kept at it, returning the following holiday season to sell in a local shop and to be a “featured maker”. The following  year I was laid off from the full time job I had held for 12 years. I felt free to try out all of the things I had always wanted to do, including making things to sell at local craft shows and markets. Forage was officially born! My focus of course was, and still is, wood burning, but I have never left behind the spark that started it all, my sweet smelling sachets.

 

Soothing scents of lavender and chamomile

 

for you

Recently I was speaking to a dear friend who (amongst others) encouraged me to tell my stories to you. Nothing epic, just one of my little day to day happenings that maybe made me smile when it happened, maybe made her smile when I told it to her, and maybe it will make you smile when i tell it to you. I was thinking of how to break into this trend of sharing things with all of you, and I thought I’d first share someone else’s story. (I know I’m totally cheating but it’s such a nice one)

I have been making my camping ornaments and magnets for years. I first made them to commemorate a camping trip in Letchworth State park that I took with some of my very best friends. These magnets and ornaments have turned into some of my best sellers and I think that is partially due to my allowing you to make it yours. You choose the tent color, the inscription, the date… I have always valued making something for you that can reflect your special memory as it reflected mine when I first created this little scene

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a rainbow of tents on my camping ornaments

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Just a few days ago I had a new request for a change in scene. A grandparent wrote to me asking me to change the moon from a crescent to a full. She had taken her grandson on his first camping trip to Big Sur along the California coast and the moon was so full, so big that it really made an impression on them both. I imagined the sea air combined with the smells of the forest, the 2 of them sitting outside their orange tent marveling at the beautiful, humongous moon and I smiled. I’m smiling now picturing that sweet moment. I’m trying my best to capture that feeling on this wood slice ornament for them,  so they can look at it every Christmas, and remember that trip and smile.

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making it theirs

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grandson’s full moon

Forage Workshop on Blog Cabin!

I am very excited to announce that my driftwood coasters have been featured on the DIY network’s show, Blog Cabin. They are accented the island countertop in the gorgeously redone kitchen.

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50 makers from all 50 states were chosen to have their creations featured as the accents in the cabin. I am very proud to be representing New Jersey. Check out all of the makers in this article  http:/http://blog.diynetwork.com/maderemade/2015/08/20/shop-handmade-from-50-makers-one-in-every-state/

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