While I was down at Juniper Moon Farm, Susan Gibbs launched the By Hand Kickstarter Campaign to fund a new lifestyle magazine for people that make and do. A few months ago Susan contacted me about possibly contributing to the magazine. To which I answered with a squeal, "Heck yeah! I'm up for anything!" When I saw her on the farm she asked if I'd be willing to be the sewing editor. Once again, I squealed, "Heck yeah!" A magazine dedicated to people that are makers! Folks like you and me! I am 100% behind this.

<PREVIEWEND>The first week I checked on the campaign with my limited cell service each morning while holding my phone above my head in the middle of the pasture. WOW! Susan and Jeannie have to be jumping for joy, totally funded in 5 days! But here's the thing, just because their first goal was met doesn't mean they couldn't use your pledge. Additional funding means MORE digital content. The ability to post full online tutorials in all areas of the magazine (cooking, gardening, woodworking, knitting, crochet, sewing, and more).  Additional funding means I'll be able to launch actual downloadable patterns! And serious all out stitching tutorials by some of my favorite stitching geniuses (Like Lizzy House!!!). It's going to be the bomb[dot]com. For reals.

This magazine is for every kind of maker, too. You can expect to find articles and tutorials on woodworking, vegetable gardening, cheese-making, canning, block printing, do-gooding, and re-purposing. Everyone involved is first and foremost a maker. With a wealth of useful magazine making knowledge to boot. (Did you know I have a BA in English? And wrote for most of my college career a monthly column for the Drake Times-Delphic? Hah, that degree is paying off!)

Have I convinced you to pledge yet? Well, if my involvement isn't enough consider the incredible gifts for your pledge. (Besides just my gratitude!) The By Hand tees and letter-press posters are amazing. I want all seven posters for our shop. Can you picture them all on the studio wall inspiring you to make something? Because we all know that "The Revolution WILL BE hand made." You betcha it will be. And I know you will all be a part of it. If you are feeling wicked fancy and wealthy, you could pledge $3,000 and enjoy dinner for 10 in the sheep pasture. Local food and wine whipped up by Zac and Susan which is totally worth every penny - I know. This sheep pasture dinner is a dream of mine and I really want someone I know to enjoy this. (If you invite me to your dinner, I'll sew you a garment to wear.) So please, if you have the inclination, please pledge your support today. And be a part of the Hand Made Revolution.

xoVirginia, By Hand Sewing Editor (yep, that does sound good!)

Last fall Susan Gibbs of Juniper Moon Farm announced that Lizzy House would be doing a quilting and block printing workshop at the farm. It was six months away and I decided to sign up. I still haven't figured out how to tell the future so I booked myself a trip so far in advance that it would have to all work out. I'd be totally lying if I said the week before leaving wasn't crazy and stressful. It was the first time I would be out of the state and not just a text message away from the shop since we opened in February of 2011. But I still got on the plane and left. The promise of great food, excellent conversation and new friendships helped me set aside any anxieties I had about leaving the shop for an entire week. <PREVIEWEND>

Clockwise from left: Amanda with Jerry the llama, Caroline feeding the sheep, Zac and Lizzy with a lamb,Lizzy is ambushed by goats and sheep!

I'm so very glad I did. Lizzy House is exactly the person she says she is. The woman behind the enthusiastic tweets, the hopeful soul behind the honest blog posts, the gifted artist behind each inspired fabric collection. She is all of this and more. Plus she raises her voice in song when the mood strikes her, serenading a room of students cutting out fabric with "You're the Top" from Anything Goes.

Clockwise from left: the quilt Lizzy designed for the workshop, Lizzy sports the dress we made, Lizzy gets llama smooches, detail of her new Hello, Pilgrim! quilt

The farm is truly the magical place you've seen on the JMF website. The faces of the JMF pattern books smiling in real life. Susan is a gracious hostess leading her guests on a tour that would make you never want to leave. I stayed in a yurt! With a wood burning stove! I woke up to sheep grazing under the yurt and miniature donkeys frolicking in the copse. Homemade yogurt and granola waiting in the kitchen. And each evening delicious meals prepared by Zac were served and devoured by us as if it was our last meal.

Clockwise from left: first morning of the workshop, Monday morning snow fall, SHEEP!, one of several amazing meals by Zac.

And the people. The people who came were gems. Amanda, Peggy, Mary, Lisa, Amy, Caroline and Therese were the other students in Lizzy's workshop. Each of them truly amazing and all of us with such different yet beautiful fabric. I can't wait to see each of their finished quilts! Kimm would join us for garment sewing on Monday and made the most adorable sweet pea skirt this side of the Mississippi. I swear.

Clockwise from left: Mary's blocks, Caroline in handmade skirt, Amanda's blocks, Kimm hemming her skirt.

The next time Juniper Moon Farm offers a weekend workshop retreat, GO! If you ever have the opportunity to take a class from Lizzy House, DO IT! The experience will be with me forever. I'm pretty sure this is true for everyone who came. (A blog post dedicated just to my week of making to follow...)

Clockwise from left: Susan leads us on a tour of the farm, the sun setting on the farm, the interior of the yurt, picturesque barn