Vermont Travel
Vermont Fine Art Galleries: Middlebury’s Edgewater Is One Of The Best
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Edgewater Art Gallery in Middlebury Vermont. Home to “distinctive, collectible works by established and emerging artists from Vermont and beyond”.
We’re right at the height of leaf-peeping season in Vermont. If you’re planning a trip you might want to check out Vermont’s Foliage report or our friend Rachel Carter’s article, “Best Fall Drives in Vermont” to gather travel tips about the fine art of leaf-peeping.
This year leaf peepers have had some rain but don’t let that dampen your spirits. Escape the weather by ducking into Vermont’s many fine art galleries! Last weekend I visited one of the best, The Edgewater Gallery in the heart of downtown Middlebury, VT. Edgewater is elegant both inside and out. The setting overlooks lovely Middlebury Falls on Otter Creek. If you haven’t strolled along the river’s banks and wound your way in and out of Middlebury’s charming downtown area, you’re missing out! I promise, it’s worth the trip.
Inside Edgewater Gallery you’ll enjoy the creative works of some of Vermont and New England’s most talented artists and artisans. You’ll find something for everyone: many diverse paintings, sketchings, ceramics, pottery, glass works, jewelery, fabric, wooden furniture and more. The prices range from affordable to expensive. But even the priciest pieces are far less than you would find in Manhattan– and of no smaller stature either!
You can find the inside scoop on Edgewater’s collections on the current shows section of their website or on their Facebook. And speaking of Facebook, let us know about your favorite Vermont Fine Art Galleries on our Vermont Fine Furniture Facebook. Thanks and happy travels.
A Vermont Weekend Event: Vermont’s Premier Craft Show
Looking for a great Vermont weekend event?
If you love unique, high-quality handmade crafts then Weston, Vermont is the place to be. This weekend is the 29th Annual Weston Craft Show. The event will be open daily from 10-5 starting on Friday, October 12, and ending on Sunday, October 14. This Vermont weekend event represents 45 artists and artisans who showcase the highest quality crafts in the state. Artists’ work fall under the categories of bookbinding, ceramics, floor cloths, folk art, glass, jewelry, wood, textiles, sculpture, photography, lighting and pastels. Their impeccable work makes this a Top 10 Fall Event, named by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.
Proceeds from the Weston Craft Show support the preservation of Weston’s historic properties, including the Weston Playhouse building that is hosting the event. The quaint village of Weston is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Not only is this Vermont weekend event the perfect opportunity to see Vermont’s finest artists, but it is also a great time of year to see the Vermont foliage. Foliage is just hitting peak season in many areas of Vermont, including Weston. While traveling to Weston, you will be spending time on Route 100, which is a classic foliage drive. You will also have a great view of the Green Mountains on this route, making it well worth the drive.
Besides the Weston Craft Show, the village has a lot to offer visitors. There are museums, art galleries, and restaurants to keep you busy for hours. But the one stop that you must make while in Weston is to the Vermont Country Store. Make sure you’re hungry when you go in because the Vermont Country Store has dozens of treats for you to taste. You’ll leave the store with a smile on your face and a strong sense of nostalgia after discovering jars filled with penny candy.
Vermont Fall Open Studio Weekend
Vermont always has unique events happening, and Columbus Day Weekend is packed with them. One that we are most excited about is the Vermont Fall Open Studio Weekend. Vermont artisans are opening up their private studios, on October 6-7, to the public for this statewide event. The Vermont Crafts Council Director states, “It’s a rare invitation to go behind the craft shows and exhibits to view the creative work environment and speak with the artist.” There are 119 studio locations all over the state, so you can personalize your own route and move at your leisure. Most Vermont artisans have studios on the same property of their homes, and in many times, on back roads that visitors typically wouldn’t travel. This event is a great excuse to jump in the car and explore Vermont during foliage season.
Studios will be open from 10-5 each day, and will be marked with yellow signs from the Crafts Council. Free map booklets of the 119 studio locations (showcasing 131 artists) can be found online, at galleries, and at Vermont Welcome Centers.
If you stop at the Guilford, Sharon, or Williston (north and south) Welcome Centers be sure to keep an eye out for Vermont Woods Studios. A barnwood bench and inlaid table have found their home at the Guilford Welcome Center. We have an additional furniture display of an inlaid table at the Sharon center, and our rack cards can be found at both Williston centers.
Vermont Tourism: Twitter, Welcome Centers and a Lending Library
By Heather Barrett
The Vermont Department of Marketing and Tourism has been
experimentally trying out progressive tactics to boost tourism and ensure that
visitors have a unique, memorable time in the Green
Mountain State.
This summer the Twitter handle @THISISVT was handed over to the public. Each
week a new Vermonter is selected to take over the account and share their Vermont
experiences. @THISISVT acts as a peer
review / inside scoop on what to do and where to go while in Vermont.
It also gives visitors a glimpse into the everyday lives of Vermonters.
Additionally, The Vermont Department of Marketing and
Tourism, the Department of Buildings and General Services, the Vermont
Librarian’s Association and AMPress Publishing have developed a new program
that encourages visitors to experience the state’s literary resources. Seven
Visitor Centers are participating in The Vermont Authors Project’s Lending
Library. The Alburgh, Fair Haven, Guilford,
Montpelier, White River Junction
and Williston north and south Visitor Centers will have free books to lend to
the public. The books are written by Vermont
authors Archer Mayor and Castle Freeman, with the intention to expand genres
and authors in the future. Travelers can sign out a free paperback or audio
book to enjoy during their Vermont
trip. The program uses a classic Vermont
honor system in that borrowers are simply asked to return the book to any Welcome
Center in Vermont
or by mail (envelope provided) within one month.
To learn more about the program and Vermont
authors, please read the press release from Vermont Tourism & Marketing.
Heather Barrett is a Marketing Assistant at Vermont Woods Studios,
an online furniture gallery which showcases Vermont’s finest wood
furniture. Follow our blog to learn about Vermont fine furniture,
Vermont happenings, our mission, and our team.
Vermont Fine Furniture and Woodworking Festival
From Forest To Fine Furniture
The weather isn’t looking so great for leaf peeping in Vermont this weekend. So if you’re traveling around the Green Mountain State and looking for indoor activities, try heading to Woodstock, VT for the Ninth Annual Vermont Fine Furniture and Woodworking Festival.
This year’s theme is “From Forest to Furniture: Take Home a Piece of Vermont”. It dovetails with our plans at Vermont Woods Studios for a showroom at Stonehurst in that the focus is to raise awareness about where your furniture comes from.
Much like the organic food movement, the organic furniture movement is catching on. Customers are realizing both the economic and health benefits to buying locally crafted furniture, handmade from real, solid, sustainably harvested wood.
Come visit with some of the regions (and world’s) most respected fine furniture makers in Woodstock this weekend. You’ll be able to see and feel their furniture creations and also learn about the well-managed forests where their wood is harvested. Free tours are available of the nearby Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park. Here customers can experience the forest and learn about each of the many links in the chain from forest to trees to furniture.
Shown above: Brent Karner of ClearLake Furniture in Ludlow VT won first place for production furniture in the 2011 Vermont Fine Furniture Festival. Who is going to win this year?
Weekend Events: Meet Vermont’s Finest Artists and Artisans
By Heather Barrett
Vermont is
full of artists and artisans, and this weekend is a perfect opportunity to discover
their products and visit their studios.
There are two events, one in Manchester,
and the other in Brattleboro, for
you to explore this weekend.
Craftproducers Manchester Fall Art and Craft Festival
September 28-30, 10am-5pm
Manchester is
starting their foliage season with an outdoor event celebrating the local art
community. Over 180 artisans will have their craftwork on display and for
purchase. Art work ranges from photography to paintings to clothing to maple
distilled vodka. In addition to the beautiful array of art on display, the
festival offers food and drink. There will be a food area serving a variety of
localvore items, and a Vermont Beer, Cheese and Sausage tent. Spend the day
meeting artists, purchasing gifts for the upcoming holidays, and eating
delicious food. For more information about this event, visit the
Craftproducers' website.
Brattleboro-West Arts' 4th Annual Open Studio Tour
September 29-30, 10am-5pm
The town of Brattleboro
is Vermont Woods Studios' neighbor, located in the southeast corner of Vermont.
Brattleboro is known for it's
thriving arts community, and this weekend you will have the opportunity to meet
some of the artists. Artists are opening up their studios this weekend to the
public. There will be 13 different locations with 16 artists showing off their
crafts. The tour is mapped out on a brochure that you can print from their
website, pick up at any of the studio locations, or get from the Brattleboro
Chamber of Commerce. At the studio locations you will see where artists make
violins, blow glass, paint, and create many more items in different mediums. In
addition, to conclude the first night of the weekend event, the Chelsea Royal
Diner will be hosting a special dinner on Saturday. The dinner will feature a
selection of locally produced foods.
This is another opportunity to meet artists and learn about their crafts.
The Brattleboro-West Open Studio Tour has been recognized by the Boston
Globe. For more information about the
event, please visit the Brattleboro-West Arts website.
Heather Barrett is a Marketing Assistant at Vermont Woods Studios, an online furniture gallery which showcases Vermont's finest wood furniture. Follow our blog to learn about Vermont fine furniture, Vermont happenings, our mission, and our team.
Fall Colors Outside Vermont Woods Studios
Autumn has arrived in Vernon, Vermont and I had to snap this photo today as I was leaving the showroom at Vermont Woods Studios. It feels great to see water back in our pond at George's Mill after the summer's drought left it pretty well empty for several weeks.
We're celebrating Fall with a Shaker style furniture sale that lasts for a few more days (till next Tuesday, Oct 2). Stop by to shop or just check out the colorful maple trees at the water's edge. Heather or Liz will be more than happy to accompany you for an Autumn leaf-peeping stroll around the pond.
Vermont Artisan Robin Chase of Maple Corner Woodworks
Friday Douglas and I traveled around Vermont to check in with a few of our fine furniture makers. Our last stop was at Maple Corner Woodworks to see our friend Robin Chase.
Robin's been crafting beautiful fine wooden furniture for over 25 years and it's always fun to visit his workshop in pastoral Calais, Vermont. Besides seeing all of his works in progress we got to tour the Maple Corner campus and meet the furry sentinels that guard and patrol the grounds (see photo).
It was a very productive meeting and it didn't hurt that it was in a setting of Robin and Annie's herbal gardens and central Vermont's rolling hills.
I see Robin's furniture as a reflection of his own demeanor: elegant,
refined and genuine. He's a master at combining authentic Shaker sensibilities with modern, contemporary design. Check out his furniture creations on our website:
Cherry Moon Furniture Collection
Vermont Made Shaker Furniture Collection
American Made Shaker Collection
Each of Robin's pieces is backed by the craftsman's lifetime guarantee. Let us know which ones you like most on our Facebook or in the comments section below.
Exploring Vermont With Rachel Carter
http://www.vermontexplorersguide.com/index.html
Wont be available to purchase until Sept 2012
Take A Peak At Vermont Foliage This Fall
This is the time of year when our Green
Mountain State
begins to transform into a world full of red, orange, and yellow hues. The
brilliant colors of autumn attract leaf peepers from across the world, and it’s
easy to see why. Vermont is the
best place to see fall foliage in New England, and
arguably the United States.
With nearly 80% of our state being forested, the opportunities to see the
dramatic hues are limitless.
Additionally, Vermont has
the highest number of maple trees in New England, which
produce the ultimate red leaves during the fall season.
This year the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing
will be producing a Foliage Report that will be issued weekly. Starting
September 18, the Foliage Report will provide a map of the finest driving
routes, an audio update and trail recommendations. In addition to visiting the website, leaf peepers can stay up-to-date on Vermont’s foliage progression by calling 1-800-VERMONT.
When is peak fall foliage in Vermont?
The trees outside our offices at Vermont Woods Studios have already begun to change, but looking at the foliage Forecaster, it appears that Columbus Day weekend will be the best time to see the
dramatic colors cover Vermont.
This is a perfect opportunity to spend a weekend in Vermont
to breathe in the cool, crisp air of autumn, enjoy the outdoors, and listen to
leaves crunch below your feet.
Heather Barrett is a Marketing Assistant at Vermont Woods Studios, an online furniture gallery which showcases Vermont’s finest wood furniture. Follow our blog to learn about Vermont fine furniture, Vermont happenings, our mission, and our team.
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