The Craftsmen's Fair
Each summer the League of NH Craftsmen holds a huge fair at a nearby ski area. It is huge with craftspeople displaying their wares, demonstrating their crafts, and teaching children. Nels and I haven't gone in a long time and we were surprised at how many craftspeople we actually knew from doing open studio weekend over the past few years. It was fun. This shot is of just one small section of the ski area.
The kids had the choice of a number of workshops including this soap carving workshop. The man who ran this workshop was a chainsaw artist and had an amazing biography that included working for NASA in the Apollo program. He was a great teacher with a phenomenal NH accent.
We came up with lots of fun ideas for Christmas crafting and met a number of new artists --one of our favorite, a woodblock engraver, turns out to show his work in my grandmother's house which has been turned into an art gallery down in Massachusetts. I haven't had the chance to see my grandmother's house since it was turned into a gallery but now I have even more reason! Here's the gallery. I sense another road trip!
Sounds like a fun day. I'm impressed with the soap carving.....we tried it once, and found it to be quite hard, as little chunks kept breaking off. So glad it worked for you! :)
It sounds like this was a great experience. We live near a little town called Leavenworth that seems to draw a lot of artists to the area. I'm so appreciative because this also means shows and craft fairs are readily available to us. How special that your Grandmother's house has been turned into a gallery!
I would definitely like to see the photos when you go to your grandma's. Do you have strong memories of this place? it is so cool that it has been turned into a gallery. Jerome's father had a big house/farm in SW France, some Americans bought it and wrote a cook book with the same name as the farm and all the art work is inspired by his father's work (he is an artist)- "Pistoulet".
I just recently saw a comment you left about giving you my e-mail, I am sorry I didn't see it sooner:(
I got the dreaded call from camp, apparently Amelia has been sick since I dropped her off!! I think she will be fine, everyone there is so nurturing, they will call me if they think she is getting worse...sigh...She really needs a break from the farm, poor thing!
(mahayanafarm dot com at yahoo)
Looks like great fun!! I am so envious of your open studio scheme there!