first friday giveaway :: july!

Do you have a little time right now? A cold drink, maybe something sparkling or festive? Go ahead and get yourself a little something then come back, I'll be here. This post is lengthy, but you don't want to miss a bit of it, there is a whole lot to enjoy and check out. Give yourself the time to follow some great links, and have a good time.

Are you ready? Each month I grow more and more excited to collaborate with my readers, together we extend a gesture of thanks to everyone who contributes to this space. This month I am joined by two woman, each from opposite sides of the country, each offering you their own unique brand of art.

First, I can't remember a time when Bean, of Coyote Craft was not a visitor of this blog. She is an incredibly mindful soul, a woman that knows her way around the kitchen, and quite a prolific crafter with a very busy little etsy shop. Oh! And she recently opened a vintage shop - it's always fun to check out a new vintage shop! Bean is debuting something brand new in her handmade shop this week and is sharing the love by offering one here as well!

The Recycled Vintage Sewing Basket!

Isn't this brilliant? Bean starts by crocheting the entire basket out of discarded plastic bags (keeping them out of the landfill!), then she adds oneof her handmade trademark pincushions. Next, she gathers all sorts of vintage sewing notions; buttons, zippers, thread, ric-rac, pretty trim... all sorts of things, then she packs it all up nice and cute. Precious!

Oh look - she also included a couple of vintage fabric pieces. A whole sewing kit, nothing newly manufactured. Talk about a small footprint! Thank you so much Bean for your generosity, what a treasure.

Second, I'm quite excited to share a special friend of mine with you all today. Her name is Emma Weiss, and she is an amazing and accomplished songwriter. Emma and I met several years back, we were both enrolled in the same yoga teacher training program, she was just seventeen when our training began. Easily the youngest person in our class, Emma wasn't held back or set apart in the least (I think she was actually one of the first of us to land a teaching job!). The world has always been Emma's classroom, she settles in comfortably in a variety of settings, taking on studies that most people wait a lifetime to embrace. It is no surprise that by 20 (or was it 19 Emma?) years old, her first studio album was released and she was performing all over the Northeast with her original material.

And here today, Emma is giving away two of her CD's!!!

Remember that show on the Bravo channel Musicians? I don't know if it's still on, or the name of the Rolling Stone writer who hosted the show, I do however, remember the quality of his interviews and the intimate performances he evoked from his guests. Man that was a good show. Anyway, I wish I was him right now, that I could in a matter of sentences sum up the talent and artistry of Emma's songwriting. And I don't mean to overemphasize her age, but the lady is young. I remember telling her on the day we graduated from yoga teacher training that I hoped to know her as an old woman. I just know she will be one of those well-seasoned souls that could rock the day away on a front porch, never running out of stories to tell. 

I offered to make a little video of Emma to share a sample of her music with you all. She entrusted herself and her guitar to the hands of me and my not-very-high-tech video camera. Even further she maintained her confidence as I attempted to transfer said footage to my out of date movie editing program... it was hard. We aren't as excited as we hoped to be with the video quality, but we do hope that our best intentions shine through and you enjoy the tune nonetheless.

Emma is a true professional. I have a lot to learn.

Emma Weiss - Over The Bridge - 6/09 from Beauty That Moves on Vimeo.

I also thought it would be fun to ask her a few questions so you could get to know her a little better. I think I might start doing this with other contributors, Emma shared some pretty great things with us..

1. Last year Clamor was my album of the summer! Stop blushing, it's true... I'm often busy in the studio this time of year sewing away for the Farmers' Market and having the right playlist is essential. Here we are at the beginning of another Summer and I'm curious... what/who is on your Summer playlist list year?

I am so flattered! Thanks so much for listening, that's the best compliment after all.

I just got Brad Barr's solo album which is called The Fall Apartment. He is the guitar player from the band The Slip which has been a longtime favorite band of mine, I've been going to their shows for a number of years, at this point there are too many shows to count! They are a really talented trio who's beginnings stem back to Berkley School of Music in Boston. I have admired Brads playing since the first time I saw him play in The Slip, he's a very creative player who knows how to break rules and piece together a lot of styles of music. He does a couple of nice latin sounding tunes on this solo album, a really good cover of Nirvanas Heart Shaped Box and some masterful songs of his own. If you get the chance definitely check out The Slip and also Brad's album.

This is a dangerous question to ask me, because the list can get very long and descriptive very quickly! 

Next on the list would be Alice Russel who is a singer from Australiawho's soul stylings are in the same vein as Sharon Jonesand the Dapkings (they're another must listen if you haven't checked them out already) I have the her latest album which is called Pot of Gold. If you like doing investigating you can find some good side projectsgoing on with other members of the band. Alice also sings for the Quantic Soul Orchestra, a DJ who plays several instruments, goes under several different monikers and has some real funk based songs.

Also, Club D'elf, a boston based world music/electronica bass bumpin group headed up by Mike Rivard. Soul Coughing, Rudder,Tower of Power, I was listening to  the Rolling Stones on my foggy flooded drive home tonight! Out of the fog arose a big oak tree limb down in the road which I managed to navigate safely around, I was listening to the Stones song Shattered though, so that might have had something to do with the busted tree showing up just then.

3. Let's talk about fueling the fire. To be at it's most bountiful, creativity needs to be nurtured, tended to and must be well fed. Can you paint us a little picture of what an afternoon, evening or morning of songwriting might look like where everything is aligned and your creative process is flowing abundantly? What needs to happen for your artistic self to arrive in that space?

Creativityseems to show itself a little more easily for me late at night. I tend to have more focus for a technical practice, working on different techniques or being more theoretical in the earlier part of the day, late at night I tend to have more free flowing ideas lyrically and with my playing. I usually come up with the instrumental parts first and then come up with lyrics that fit the mood and tempo of the song. I've begun writing down my chord progressionsand song lyrics and tunings in a black notebook instead of writing on random scraps of paper which is what I've always done. This is a huge organizational step for me, there's been a lot more time to play, rather than searching for envelopes, receipts, folders etc. to compile my writings on them to be able to practice! 

 I enjoy having materials for writing and recording on hand to use when coming up with ideas. Pen, paper, mic, a nice rainy day. Very conducive to idea grabbing. 

I also like to drink lemonade when writing songs, but I don't usually remember that until the song has already been written...

    

4. Can you tell us a little more? Music aside, what other areas of interest; work, learning or play, have your attention these days?

Well in terms of music I have begun playing with a friend of mine who is also a guitar player, Brandt Taylor who is a very talented local musician, he plays with several bands and projects and I'm learning a lot from playing with him, and I'm excited to be working on the material we've been coming up with together, so stay tuned for a band name and some gigs in the near future for he and I as a duo! 

But as you say, music aside! I am working on two organic farms in the area, this is my third season on both of these farms, so I'm learning alot still, working really hard, and usually getting rained on these days! We've been having quite the deluge around here in the northeast and there are certain problems that arise with farming when it's this wet, so having some sun would be great. I recently finished a yearlong course in Biodynamics in NY which was a great agricultural course, the content of which focuses on the work and writings of Rudolf Steiner, a German philosopher and writer and imaginer of great things! 

I am going to be attending The Swananoa Gathering in NC at the end of this month, there are classes for a solid week on guitar playing, I'm going to be learning Hawaiian slack key, percussive techniques, all kinds of new cool stuff, I'm really excited to connect with other musicians from all over the country.

Thanks for including me in the give away this month and giving me the opportunity to share my music, my thoughts in writing, and your good company!

Please be sure to visit Emma's Myspacepage for upcoming show information, and listen to more of her songs too! She also has loaded her new Etsy shop, Dancing Nomad, with CD's! Nothing quite feels as good as supporting an independent musician, and at such an affordable price, you might just want to hop on over and grab one. ;)

You know I try to join in the fun for these giveaways too. I almost bowed out of this one as I knew it would be a hefty post... but then I thought about the newest thing I've been making and haven't shared here yet.

Wristlet Key Chains!! I have been using mine for a few weeks now and am amazed at how many times I slip it onto my wrist while I'm doing other things with my hands; carrying the groceries, gathering up all the soccer balls (you adopt a trunk full of soccer balls when you live with the coach and they all need to come out when you go to the park), roadside wildflower picking... they are fabulous! I want you to have one too, but the skeleton key needs to stay here - it is the key to Emily's room. ;)

 

Also, if you follow many of the Northeast blogs, you know we are pretty much drowning over here. Nothing but rain for weeks now. In my mind though, it is sunny and warm, we are camping and hiking, there is lots of swimming, birdwatching, and summertime adventures. I searched through my vintage books for a few titles that should be appropriate for this time of year. May the sun shine brightly very soon!

I hope you love our offering this month!

Let's wrap this up, you know I keep it simple. Leave a comment on this post and I will be drawing TWO names on Tuesday morning. The first name will win the full package in the picture above, the second winner will receive a copy of Clamor, Emma's album.

Feel free to share lot's of love for these two wildly talented ladies here with us today. Thank you Bean and Emma! Have a fun and safe weekend everyone!

Comments are now closed, I'll be back soon with the winners!!