Kristen Leigh
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kristenleigh.bsky.social
Kristen Leigh
@kristenleigh.bsky.social
1.1K followers 340 following 1.1K posts
Reader. Writer. Dancer. Mom. She/Her.

Writing about grief and landscape, Mahler and octopuses, echoes and Texas.

Co-founder of slips slips literary journal.

Rep by Susan Canavan at WLA Books.

https://bio.site/kristenly
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kristenleigh.bsky.social
Just got in and here’s the second sconce in the series of eight I’m working on. As you can see, only the cups and bobeches have been removed and the bottom scalloped detail has been cleaned so far. It took me five hours to get it to this stage.
A brass wall sconce rests on the quilted surface of a work table. A variety of cleaning tools surround the sconce.
November 12, 2025 at 1:35 PM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
It is a bit like trying to wire an octopus but I’m making it work. Late 19th century gas fixture converted to electric sometime mid-20thC. Brass.
Interior cluster of an antique 3 socket brass chandelier.
October 20, 2025 at 2:52 PM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
Really can't wait to start writing about Niagara Falls. Maybe can get to that on Thursday.
An image of several waterfalls at Niagara Falls from the bottom of the falls. A rainbow arcs across the photo.
October 20, 2025 at 11:06 AM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
slips slips has an open call for submissions until the end of the month! Please send us your poetry, short prose, and visual art that fits the theme of Dialogues. Hit me up with questions - I can't wait to read and publish your work!
A hand drawn image of dialogue bubbles clustered like balloons with the word "words" written in each one. In the bottom left of the image the words: slips slips #2 "DIALOGUES" Submissions open until 8/31/25 is hand written in black
August 9, 2025 at 2:28 PM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
😂

#Writers #VisualArtists Send us your work!

We're #OpenForSubmissions #CallForSubmissions until August 31. hmu if you have questions but we're eager to share your #flashfiction #flashnonfiction #poetry #illustrations #linedrawings #photos

Need a little more inspo on the theme of Dialogues?
Three hand drawn dialogue balloons with black text against a white background read "this" "that" "the other" against a light gray background. Black hand lettered words slips slips #2 submissions open until 8/31/25 are in the bottom left of the frame.
July 23, 2025 at 10:49 PM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
Hey #Writers #VisualArtists and #Photographers! Excellent news!

slips slips issue #2 is open for submissions until August 31! Please send us your work for this wonderful print arts and literary journal! details here: www.slipsslips.net or hit me up with questions!

#OpenCall #CallforSubmissions
an illustration of two balloon dialogues with the words Call and Response in black, all capital hand lettering hover in the center of the frame. the words slips slips #2 "Dialogues" submissions open until 8/31/25 in black hand lettered text are in the bottom left corner of the frame.
July 22, 2025 at 1:11 AM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
Timelapse of the sun setting into Block Island Sound in Montauk, NY yesterday, June 20.

My fellow Edward Albee Foundation Fellows and I celebrated the solstice with a picnic on Sunset Beach. Grateful for the time and space to get my good work done.

#WritingCommunity #AmWriting #SummerSolstice
June 21, 2025 at 3:14 PM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
One of two folks out in Montauk for #NoKings protest today. We got rained on but held it down for democracy!
A white woman flashing a piece sign stands in a gazebo holding cardboard that reads I black heart Crushed Ice
June 14, 2025 at 7:45 PM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
Spent some time with this lovely lady yesterday. She's a Misumena vatia, a crab spider, hunting from her camouflaged hiding place in a blackberry blossom. #Gardening 🌿 #Spiders
A pale pink and white spider hides in the petals and filaments of a white flower.
June 4, 2025 at 10:44 PM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
Today is the day for the slips slips launch party! Thank you to everyone who contributed to this zany gorgeous #print #publication!

So many friends from BlueSky sent us work so I'm going to make a slips slips starter pack. 1/
Hand drawn text of the words slips slips in lower case letters. The illustration is black ink on a white background.
May 17, 2025 at 1:56 PM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
I just added a hold request at the Brooklyn Public Library and super excited about these stats! Go on, @tananarivedue.bsky.social!
A screenshot from the hold request at the Brooklyn Public Library. The Reformatory by Tananarive Due has a waitlist of 6 for the book, 78 for the eBook, and 111 for the Audiobook.
April 12, 2025 at 4:13 PM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
Here she is! #VintageLighting #Restoration #Antique #CraftWork
Bronze plated brass table lamp with a hand painted glass shade. The design on the shade is pink flowers on a green vine. The glass is frosted. The restored bronze finish of a table lamp Bronze plated brass table lamp with a hand painted glass shade. The design on the shade is pink flowers on a green vine. The glass is frosted. A selection of table lamps on display ina shop.
February 22, 2025 at 9:36 PM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
Some of the tools I’m using: wire brushes and dental picks.
Two wire brushes and one dental pick on a cork work table. A bin of orange-handled metal dental picks is on the left; a coming-to-shine half moon of the bronze table lamp base is visible on the left.
February 21, 2025 at 7:34 PM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
Today’s project: refinishing the bronze plated brass Handel table lamp. Made in Meriden, CT circa 1920. The hand painted glass shade is exquisite. Can’t wait to show you what it looks like when it’s done!

#CraftWork #AntiqueLighting #Restoration
A bronze plated brass table lamp on a cork work table. The grooves in the lamp design are filled in with coagulated furniture polish that’s becoming a chalky white dust.
February 21, 2025 at 7:25 PM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
Writing about trees this morning. Specifically this one at the bottom of the Delaware River:
A leafless tree lies felled on a riverbed.
February 16, 2025 at 1:07 PM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
A great white shark head with an open mouth showing off rows of sharp teeth.
February 10, 2025 at 1:06 AM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
I know the good times aren't rolling at the moment, but...
a shiny plastic white baby rests in the open palm of a white hand
February 3, 2025 at 1:56 PM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
In the meantime, working on the winter windows at the lamp shop. This is a 1920s Bradley & Hubbard pendant we restored in house.
January 9, 2025 at 6:33 PM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
Still working on my foul papers but the snow!
December 5, 2024 at 12:48 PM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
#Writing from bed this morning. I think it’s the first snow of the season, just a dusting on the roof.
The view through a second-story window of a shingled roof, in the foreground, sloping from left to right with a light cover of snow. In the background is the horizontal line of a wet street bordered by brown grass and leafless trees. The reflection of an illuminated lampshade is in the window pane.
December 5, 2024 at 12:21 PM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
I am delighted to find the lit mag @slagglasscity.bsky.social on here and patiently await the arrival of Barrie Jean Borich. Maybe this slag glass lamp will lure her to BlueSky?
A bronze table lamp with an Amber and cream glass lamp shade sits on a glass surface. A cut glass inkwell with a bronze top is under the lamp.
November 21, 2024 at 7:49 PM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
Something for the #birds 🪶feed. I’ve been neglecting my og content haunts since the influx of newbies.

We have a lovely pheasant hanging out in the yard. Here she is on her morning strut to some berries.
A female pheasant walks among scattered brown leaves toward a thicket of orange red berries.
November 19, 2024 at 3:14 PM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
While the Venetian glass arms dry, I’ll take this bad boy apart, clean/refinish the metalwork, and rewire. This piece is from the late 1800s was originally a gas fixture. #VintageLighting #CraftWork #SlowWork
A five arm brass chandelier hangs above a workbench. Detail of interior fret of brass chandelier.
November 16, 2024 at 6:55 PM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
Here are some photos of the #VenetianGlass #vintage chandelier we’re cleaning and rewiring. I just took it apart and will wash the glass. Next week we’ll rewire the arms and reassemble the fixture. #CraftWork #Restoration
Detail of a Venetian glass chandelier. The cut glass is fluted and clear with a rim of pink and blue colored glass to suggest a flower’s calyx. Detail of a Venetian glass chandelier. The cut glass is fluted and clear with a rim of pink and blue colored glass to suggest a flower’s calyx. Detail of a Venetian glass chandelier. The cut glass is fluted and clear with a rim of pink and blue colored glass to suggest a flower’s calyx.
November 16, 2024 at 4:58 PM
kristenleigh.bsky.social
Hi there! I'm a writer who weaves natural science themes into my autoethnographic narratives. I studied Marine Bio at U of H, Hilo as an undergrad and am always looking to feature ocean creatures in my work. My latest WIP has a section about this skate carcass I found on a beach in Hull, MA, USA.
Side view of a skate carcass on wet sand in the foreground, a strip of the Massachusetts Bay is blurred in the middle third of the image, the top third is an overcast sky. A bird's eye view of a skate carcass on wet sand. The body is pearlescent with a long spiked tail. There are small, smooth stones in the sand.
November 11, 2024 at 3:39 PM