There’s a particular kind of morning I’ve been chasing for a decade: the one where the to-do list is mine. Deadlines and client commitments set the skeleton, sure. But since 2008, the rest has been a free choice β a refinished chair, a photoshoot, a blog post, a painting at the easel. That freedom is the whole job.
And a few weeks ago, the kind of invitation that makes that freedom feel worth it landed on my desk. I’m joining a speaking panel at the Country Living Fair in Rhinebeck, New York β the one I’ve wanted to visit for years. Now I finally have a real reason to make it happen.
The panel: Return to Craft
My session is RETURN TO CRAFT: The Joy of Analog Pastimes, on the main stage Friday, October 2, at 11:00. It runs about 45 minutes, and it sits right on top of the ideas in my book, Move Slow & Make Things.
It’s a genuinely fun topic for someone whose business lives online. Because honestly, what would I photograph, write about, or share if I stopped making things with my hands? That tension is the whole point of the panel.
I’ll be sitting down with Amy and Sarah Blessing, founders of Loop Canvas; Mariana Barran, founder of Hibiscus Linens; and Kristina Schnepf, director of Green Door Folk School. I haven’t met any of them yet, but I’ve spent a happy hour digging into their work and their feeds β so expect me to be the one asking too many questions.
Right after the panel, I’ll be doing a book signing in the Horticulture Barn. If you’re in the area and can make it, come say hello.
The road trip
Mom and I are driving up from New York together. October is the right season for that route, and I have a soft spot for a good mother-daughter road trip β the playlist debates are half the fun.
Beyond the panel, I’ll be trying to meet some of the vendors I’ve followed online for years and doing what any editor does at a fair: browsing, lingering, and photographing everything worth borrowing an idea from. I’ll share highlights here and on social media.
The Edit
If you can only do one thing this weekend, make it the craft panel. Analog is having a moment, and this is the clearest way to see why.
FAQ
When and where is the panel? Friday, October 2, at 11:00 on the main stage at the Country Living Fair in Rhinebeck, NY. The fair runs October 2-4.
Is there a book signing? Yes β right after the panel, in the Horticulture Barn.
Do I have to live nearby? No. The fair is a three-day weekend, and the drive from New York City makes for a proper early-fall road trip.
a note from Margot
I’ve spent ten years editing other people’s ideas. This weekend I get to be on stage with people who actually make them β and my mom gets to ride shotgun.
Originally published the week of September 21, 2026. The fair runs October 2-4, 2026, so if you’re reading this after the fact, think of it as a look back at what I was up to.
I spent ten years editing magazine racks. Now I edit your closet. If this felt useful, you might also enjoy my wardrobe edit checklist and my cost-per-wear guide.
