Syracuse NY

I am away at our last 2009 Arts Festival this weekend, in Syracuse NY. The best part about this show is I get to decorate five little Christmas trees for the entrance way. I keep it simple, lights and ribbon and tinsely strands, but it is rather fun! I'll take some pictures...

ps. And of course, if you happen to be anywhere near the New York State Fairgrounds, come and see for yourself in the Horticulture Building.

pps. Oh, and there will also be 125 really talented artists and artisans selling their handmade work. You know, if the trees aren't enough to tempt you...

... and Adirondack!

The Season is over. The final show was in Greenwich, NY, a small town just outside of Saratoga Springs. The site was the Washington County Fairgrounds, quite a nice facility. Weather was brisk but bright. Exhibits were lovely, demonstrations interesting.

I am sorry if my exuberance is somewhat drained at this point. Turns out three festivals in a row is rather exhausting. I am quite glad to be home again, though the work waiting for me here is also fairly significant. Sigh. I think it can wait til tomorrow, however, so for now I intend to relax and maybe even make something!

But first, a few photos -



The Doc Scanlon Jazz Trio


Wire crosshatched Bison sculpture, by Peter Robinson-Smith of Burlington, VT


Specialty Food booth


Dan from Loopy's Crepes. Yum!


Shane of Red Dog Forge hard at work in his blacksmithing booth


Ms. Sticks' entry in the scarecrow contest!


See, it actually was pretty great!

oh yeah, Stowe!

I never posted any pictures from the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival, mainly because I never got around to uploading said pictures off my camera. We are currently winding up the Adirondack Arts and Crafts Fair, and I finally took a moment to empty the camera. So here's Stowe:






The weekend was simply gorgeous. The foliage was in full effect, the weather cooperated fabulously, and many people came and saw and enjoyed. All adding up to my idea of a successful show! It was definitely a busy weekend, however, and coming on top of the previous show meant we were all a little tired. Just a little.

I'll tell you a bit about the Adirondack show soon. I have very much enjoyed my first Festival season, but I do have to admit that I am glad to have the end in sight. Seeing C and the dog, sleeping in, doing some art/craft work of my own, and tackling some major cleaning are going to be so good!

(last photo taken by one of our fantastic UVM gate workers - thanks!)

Fall Festivals

I started writing this a few days ago, when I got home from the first fall Arts Festival. And then I probably fell asleep, since that is pretty much all I was good for the last few evenings. I am currently back in Stowe, getting set up for our second festival! The good times never end! But here is a bit about the first one...


We are right in the middle of the Fall Arts Festivals. The first was this past weekend, the Hildene Fall Arts Festival in Manchester, Vt. - the same place where the Southern Vermont festival was held in August.


I got a rough start on Thursday - setup day -, becoming ridiculously lost on my way to pick up cheese for the new Vermont Cheese, Beer, and Sausage Tent. After 45 minutes of back and forth and all around (in my defense, the construction worker I asked for directions sent in the completely wrong direction), I found the cheese and then had a lovely 2 hour drive to the festival grounds. Turns out the cheese selection was Bonne Bouche and Chevre. Stinky! It was a gorgeous trip, however, through the flaming red and gold Green Mountains.


By the time I got there, the rain and wind had also arrived and the temperature was cold cold cold! This general nastiness continued through Friday, but a surprising number of people braved the weather and came to the show. The die-hard Art Festival Patrons! We applaud you!



Saturday the wind was still around and the cold hadn't given up either, but we had loads of people! I worked the front gate, and man was it busy! When I finally took a break, I could hardly walk through the tents because there were so many people. It makes me so very happy that so many will come to an Arts Festival. And they come from a long ways away too - 2 or 3 hours often!



Sunday was quieter, but still busy. We ran out of show programs in the afternoon and some customers were annoyed, but what could we do? We printed several thousand copies! I guess that's just a sign of a successful show!



I headed out Sunday evening pretty much as soon as the gates closed. A benefit of being festival administration is I don't have to hang around for the cleanup. Instead I get to go to work in the office early the next morning, to get ready for the next show!


This festival certainly tired me out, but I also feel more on top of things than at the summer shows. I know how we work now - I have some experience - and when I answer questions they can actually be helpful answers instead of only pointing out someone else to ask.



The closing moments of the festival were graced with a fabulous rainbow that truly and honestly ended right in our parking lot. I was too tired to go collect the pot of gold.