Handmade Fair RVA on Vimeo

Handmade Fair RVA from Gwenyth Gaba on Vimeo.

Did you get to meet Gwenyth? We are so grateful she made this video for us! Plan to be in RVA December 7th; more info on the Holiday Handmade Fair to come...

pulling back

This place is buzzing. Thanks to everyone who came to learn & make a mess together! I'm looking forward to making generous time for more and more gathering, in many changing forms as we grow.

After the final edit, we'll be able to post a video of the Handmade Fair! For now, still shots of Saturday workshops. See more photos from this weekend on our Facebook page.

limb and leaf

In prep for next weekend's #HandmadeFairRVA, allow me to introduce my wares! Small batch, herbal body care after the traditions of domestic medicine, repurposing containers whenever possible. Low tech kitchen techniques ease the ache in my heart to take natural resources & make products that please the senses, nourish the body & serve everyday life. Secret ingredient: love.

All herbs & essential oils sourced from Mountain Rose Herbs, Native American Nutritionals, Bulk Herb Store (each USDA organic certified & sustainable harvest companies) or my kitchen garden (too small for the USDA to care that it's organic & sustainable.)

Healing Salve

Natural first-aid for all your skin's woes. Gentle enough for the newest baby bum; strong enough to calm a surprise wasp-sting; nourishing enough to help heal surgical scars.  Anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-itch. Most effective when applied immediately to injured skin.

Made with cold pressed organic coconut & extra virgin olive oil, organic calendula blossoms, organic comfrey & plantain leaves, natural beeswax, organic tea tree oil, organic eucalyptus & peppermint essential oils. Smooth, nourishing, moisturizing, petroleum-free & friendly to all skin types. Cloth diaper friendly. Rave reviews when given as a new mama gift, at showers & as thank you gifts.

Zzzzzzz Herb Cream

Fragrant, natural remedy for the tossie-turnies. You (& your babies) may start sleeping through thunderstorms. Most effective when applied on the soles of the feet, temples & behind the ears (think lymph nodes.) Smooth as silk, nourishing, moisturizing, petroleum-free & friendly to all skin types.

Made with cold pressed organic coconut oil, organic lavender & chamomile buds, organic cocoa butter, organic beeswax, & lavender essential oil. Makes a great personal go-to solid perfume or works well as a gift.

Detox Dry Shampoo

Vegan, talc free, organic scalp revitalizer for the girl who likes to camp. Or between washes for anyone with bangs, great for use before styling. Removes excess oil & dirt at the roots via bentonite clay (draws toxins into itself, washes away in the next shower, you won’t feel a thing.) Dust a small amount on roots and scalp. Using fingers, massage in. Brush throughout, from roots to end, helping to disperse evenly. Style as usual.

Made with the perfect ratio of bentonite clay, organic brown rice flour, organic cocoa powder (brunette version), baking soda & your choice of essential oil.
Essential Oil Addition Choices;
+lavender      +rosemary
+peppermint  +eucalyptus
+bergamot     +cedarwood

 Herbal Probiotic Tea This vegan drink is fermented with kefir grains. Mild enough for toddler tummies & a great alternative to commercially carbonated beverages, with a low glycemic load & no caffeine. As a natural supplier of probiotics, this tea restores the healthy flora of your stomach & intestines. As a natural source of electrolytes, this tea is a supplemental source of vitamins B12, B1 & B6.  Made using distilled water, organic raw sugars & herbal teas. Fermented over 24-48 hrs. (Kefir consists of lactic acid bacteria & yeast that exist in a symbiotic relationship.) Herbal tea variations:
+lavender        +rosemary
+peppermint    +chamomile

PLEASE: If you have serious health issues, I urge you to consult your physician or health practitioner before adding this tea to your diet.

Save the Date: Handmade Fair & Fall Creative Retreat

Ladies, mark your calendars for Sept 27-28; the Hunt.Gather Fall Retreat is almost here! We will refresh & reconnect with our Creator & with one another in hands-on, family-style workshops: $10 per session covers materials. We'll kick-off with a Handmade Fair, coffee & live music Friday night from 6-7.30p.  Sign-up info at huntgatherblog.wordpress.com/ to reserve your spot in a session, but anyone can drop in for the Handmade Fair!

Retreat Weekend Sessions

Because interesting session content is what makes the Hunt.Gather. retreat worth hosting... here are the details from each instructor, in 50 words or fewer. April 19-20, 2013. Sign up HERE!
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FRIDAY NIGHT (7-9.30p):

Stories & Responsive Writing (Megan Clinch)

Whether you are writing for personal use, online publication or the stage, this session is meant to revitalize your daily process. We'll spend our time on brief prompts & free-writing exercises, looking at Bird by Bird (by Anne Lamott) & encouraging one another in the steady work it takes to craft a story worth reading. Bring a notebook & pens that work best for you.

Drawing Figures & Faces (Micaela Folkes)

Through repetition (the oldest method of learning) & a variety of exercises, we develop hand-eye coordination & the visual ability to see/judge proportion. Our goals are to simplify what we see, to transmit what we see onto paper, to discover & solve drawing problems, to work with rhythm & movement, & to relate all points to the established center. Bring your sketchbook & favorite pencil.

Photo 101 (Taylor Saalfeld)

Capture the soul of a portrait. Discover the spirit of place. Refine your personal style. Hone your technical skills. Take your camera out of the box! Treat yourself to an experience where you are welcomed by others who are just as passionate. You deserve it!

Please bring your camera & a memory card.

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SATURDAY MORNING (9-11.30a):

Knitting (Ashley Lewis)

Sisters, mothers, daughters, lifelong knitters & novices, come together for demonstration & practice in continental style knitting. We will cast on, knit, purl, cable & cast off as well as examining a variety of fibers, patterns & symbols. Several gauges of needles will be available, but feel free to bring what you're used to using. Please bring your own yarn!

Photo workshop & critique (Sara Tyer)

Since my background is portraits & weddings, our focus will be getting the most lifelike images of the people we love. We will discuss lighting, composition, & what makes a photograph successful.  If you'd like feedback on your work, e-mail up to 3 photos to saratyerphoto@gmail.com to be included in the critique. The last hour is an outdoor photo shoot, so bring your camera!

Cooking from Scratch (Mignon Robinson)

The art of cooking from scratch seems to have been lost in recent years.  Speed & convenience in preparation have taken primacy over quality flavor in food.  We will focus on seasoning & finding balance in flavor by taking the time to cook from scratch. Food isn't just for nutrition, God gave us taste buds so it could be savored and enjoyed. Bring a good, sharp knife & cutting board.

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SATURDAY AFTERNOON (1-3.30p):

The Art of Paleo Cooking (Erin Greene)

In an effort to improve our overall health & increase fitness, our family has decided to follow the paleolithic approach to nutrition. Our meals are made up primarily of meats, fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts & very little sugar. We will focus on simplifying the cooking process while learning to exclude grains, dairy, legumes, sugars & processed oils. Bring a sharp knife & cutting board.

Jewelry 101 (Anna Tonn)

Learn basic techniques as well as finishing details to design & create vintage-style jewelry. We will be working with antiqued brass, bronze or copper wire as well as glass & metal beads, cabochons, charms, & ribbon. Bring a solid color flannel pillowcase or piece of fabric to work upon. If you have them, bring a set of needle-nose (or round-nosed), flat-nose and/or cutting pliers. (Limited sets of tools will be provided & available for purchase.)

Writing workshop & critique (Megan Clinch)

Wherever you are in the writing process, bring an original work to share aloud, hear constructive feedback & move forward. We'll each read a brief excerpt from our own work (that we wish to revise), make notes of first impressions & encourage one another in the steady work it takes to craft a story worth reading. Bring a notebook & pens that work best for you.

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Sign up HERE!

Spring 2013 retreat

Join us for the first installation of Hunt.Gather, creative retreat for female artists! This event is open to the public, facilitated by the ladies of Redemption Hill & hosted by The 400 in RVA on April 19-20. For session info & to sign up, please use this online form.

Expect a studio or lab environment with hands-on instruction, collaboration & discussion/critique. We see the creative process as more than self-expression, energy flow or sending thoughts into the universe. Our aim is to curate events that are safe for vulnerable questions: Who is God? Who am I? Can I thrive as an active part of a larger creative community?

Our time together will encourage trusting, ongoing relationships among female artists in Richmond, from student to hobbyist to career artists to retiree. We hope to join each other’s knitting hours, supper clubs, writing critiques & skill swaps, however informal or hard-core they may become.

So jump in with us!