 This is Venice McMahon and welcome to Positively Vermont and today we are going to be speaking with Elizabeth Boudreau of the Vermont hand crafters about a very exciting event called craft Vermont Coming up on November 18 19 and 20 in South Burlington and To get started Elizabeth, please tell us a little bit about yourself Well, hi Want to say hello to everybody? I am a native Vermonter. I grew up in St. Albans, Vermont And I'm an artist. I'm also a member of Vermont hand crafters I'm a mother of three and Grandmother of three And I live in East Berkshire now. I've been here for the last 40 years in East Berkshire and I Started my My art career or my crafting career, but with paintings oil paintings and I moved into To do started doing shows with in the 90s with a Botanical Designs Reese swags some people Victorian touch it was called Some of our viewers may remember me from those days from the craft show days and I became a Vermont hand crafters crafter in 2002 And I became their director of events or show chair at what was originally my title in 2003 and I've been the director Slash oh chair ever since great. Well, this is The brochure of the poster for the events is celebrating 70 years History there isn't that amazing Years of the show. I gotta look at my notes just so I get the names right so in December of 1951 to women Mrs. Rita Longley of Pittsburgh and Mrs. Madeline Madeline spear of Rutland organized an exhibit now not a sale an exhibit of Vermont craftspeople and it was held at the Rutland Armory in Rutland Vermont and They had such so many people who wanted to exhibit there the exhibit had like a hundred displays But like I said, there was no sales So in 19, but it was so well received. So then the next year in 1952 was the first show and that was held at the Armory and I think You know it didn't have that they didn't have a hundred Exhibitors, but they had I don't know they had a fairly significant size I think you know of people who actually sold their crafts there and It was set up. I think you brought it in and people are you set up yourself up? But there was only one like register Can you imagine so you had to wait in line to check out where their stuff? So that's so that's the 70 years that was the first show the first and then in 1955 This group of artists Became Vermont hand crafters. They incorporated they named themselves So that's how that started and from there they had several shows. They had one in Rutland and then they had one in Barry and I think they might have had one Oh in Brandon and Brandon also, which is a great art community, too If you ever get a chance to go down and look down there and Brandon, but anyways and the one in Burlington was held at the Burlington Armory and for some of our viewers who are my vintage and younger of course you'll remember I don't know if you the brand the Burlington Armory was where hunts the nightclub was and then it became shun on the house after hunts closed and now It's a comedy club. That's the Burlington Armory. So I find that always so interesting and then in 1968 the show moved to memorial auditorium and they called it originally they called it the craft bazaar, but they changed the name to craft Fair or craft show just so they could distinguish themselves from you know Like church bazaars and you know to distinguish it a little bit and There it was until and I think most of our viewers would remember The memorial auditorium. That's where I remember it. I used to go with my grandmother and my My mother every year and my aunt and I remember saying to myself Someday I want to be a Vermont hand crafters. I didn't know that I would not only become a member but I would also Be the director of events for 19 years. Wow Now you're doing this for 19 years. This is my 19th year. Yes Yeah, and it is a fabulous job. I mean and it is a fabulous group of people so then in 19 I'm really giving you the history and then in 1990 and uh They just they I think they might have taken a year off to regroup and then in 1991 They secured the double tree and our those days it was called Sheridan And it moved to the Sheridan where it's been ever since so It's like 30 years that we've been at the the Sheridan So are the oh excuse me the double tree Double tree by Hilton right by Hilton. Yep right off right off the interstate. Yep In south burlington. Yes That's great. We got to get all the details down and it's going to be november 18th through november 20, right? Yes, uh friday the 18th. It'll be open from 10 to 8 at night For everyone who gets out of work. We always have a group that comes um Family group mother daughter grandmother aunts I they're from the st. Albans area and and around but they come every year. I see them every year I love those guys And then sunday it's from 10 to six and Monday, no monday sunday. It's from 10 to four That's great. Now. This is a jury event Uh, could you tell us what that means exactly jury's event? Yeah, and that's kind of one of the things that makes it I don't know special is that it is a jury event so Um, and we're a membership so in order to become a member you have to jury your products you're and so it's um, they take they all you bring your work and um set it set a little display up Um, we always have it. We have it at the double tree in one of the rooms there and then you um Uh, uh, we have a jury panel of of three to five depending upon You know what we have for work to look at And they review it they go through it. They you know make sure that it meets our standards and our criteria and um And that's how you become a member once you are juried in and you are offered membership in our organization and um I always want to say that for my hand crafters is inclusive. We're always looking for new people We you know young artists a lot of people, you know, there's people that retire and then they Everything they did as a hobby. They now want to do a little more full time So, uh, you know, it's a it's a great process We we have a jury chair and like I said, we have anywhere from well, we have a whole a panel of jurors and usually experts in their field so Um They got to have a good eye and but we are inclusive. That's great. Oh, this is one of the largest of the largest such show in new england Well It has been over the years um What it is is it's all vermonas and that you know, you have to be a vermont resident to be part of this show so I believe it's has been one of the largest Show of all vermont You know Vermont artists. Yes. That's great. Now. Tell us uh, how the pandemic which We've been going for has affected this. Oh, well This will be our first show and uh since 2019 which was a fabulous show and so excited But you know, we couldn't do an in-person show. We did them online for two years But it really changed You know a lot a lot for many artists They had to find other ways other than craft shows to get their work out there um A lot of you know, several of our members retired, you know, uh It's a lot for three years life changes and the pandemic changed a lot of things and other some of our artists also went to Wholesaling and finding, you know, really getting doing the online You know shops and stuff like that. So You know, it's really and part of the other thing like about our show is that we're like a big family You know of of artists so we feed off each other So when we get together At a live show we everything gets exchanged ideas And that's and you know, even other things, you know other shows That wasn't happening and you know, that's difficult. That's hard. Well, the pandemic was isolating and if you're an artist you It's isolating in itself and then you know, so yeah, it's really so we're excited everybody all the people that are going to be at the show are like Oh, I can't wait Can you give us an idea of what it's going to look like when people come in and What the setting is going to be well when you come I always think it's quite magical When you come in through the door, you know They'll be we're going to have we have an artist in the In in the lobby and then we're going to have a demonstration booth that is going to be running three all three days The first day we're going to have mags bottom and she is going to do her polymer clay demonstrations and she's Brilliant at it. So and then she'll be there from 10 to 4 the next On saturday, we're going to have I mean You know what I get doing this I get a little Oh on saturday, we're going to have angie Full fullsby hall. She is a paper artist. So she'll be showing how to make paper That's going to be really fun. And then on saturday sunday. Audrey limb will be demonstrating How she makes her sheepskin products. So You know, it's going to be great to see that and we'll have artists there And then when you walk into the big room right off that the exhibition hall That room will be full of artists and then upstairs. There's going to be the The the emerald room and that will be full of artists and the promenade that goes down to the emerald room Will be there'll be 90 90 artists and all will be at the show So it's really going to be a fun time And you know when you come to the show part of it is um That our customers come in and they They know a lot of these artists because they've been buying from them So, you know, and new people if you haven't been come you get to meet the artists see their process See how they work, you know, uh The attendees and the artists become friends It's really it's really it's really interesting and it's really fun Tell us a variety of crafts that are going to be on offer Oh, you'll be able to find everything. I have a few items here Right that are actually mine. That's how I thought. Oh, I'll show them This look at these glasses. These are hand-blown by matt seashells. Aren't they gorgeous? So he'll have Glasses ornaments. He does little snowman so glass This is by This is a hand carved santa doll by meet a strict. Isn't this incredible? She has on our postcard. She has her doll there This is uh I love this. Wow. This this is um called It's a painting and it's called uh past the moon and this is by christin of Let's see chris christen richland. Isn't that cute? She'll be there. Um Look at this scarf. I love this Christine pratt Hand woven her colors are beautiful. Aren't they gorgeous? Um, so we'll have that also there We'll have jewelry all kinds of different jewelry. You can probably see I have earrings from daryl stores on Bracelets necklace. You can always find jewelry there. Um, we'll have wooden bowls. We'll have What else? Uh, oh this year we have a knife a knife forger a knife make, you know, he makes knives And that'll be fun wood Not only wooden bowls. I said that wooden bowls already, but also like cutting boards things like that All kinds of weaving Oh my gosh, you name it. I said jewelry glass books handmade journals and um Let me see what else. Oh my gosh. I can't even think of all the things we'll have photographs beautiful photographs Um We'll have painting uh felting, uh, you know, just A beautiful right far out of your things Behind me tie dye Mary and see a mary and seashells. Look at that. Isn't that gorgeous? And look at this. This is a cape by sue meshner Isn't that beautiful? Um, the all that all the I mean you you name it. It'll be there we have, uh You know personal products like creams and lotions and um, so You it'll be it'll you'll find it all Uh, you know when you mentioned the knives and and and that kind of work. What about furniture any any furniture component to this? Um, yeah Jay Uh Jay's woodworking shop. He does beautiful tables with vermont marble on the top made out of cherry Um small I I could I have one of those too, but I'm not going to take it to my learner to show you but um, yep and But I I think that's oh also, um Metal work this year. We have another a new member who does beautiful iron work that um Some small pieces and you'll see those we're going to have those in the lobby also So Right. Yeah, what about the possibility of instruction? I know the networking component is important But suppose someone is is interested in learning how to do, uh, their own type of crafts is going to be any instruction type No, this is this isn't it's just truly, uh, I mean the demonstrations you can kind of learn from but It's truly just a craft show, you know a fine craft and art show And you can talk to the artists so you can get ideas and we always have a if you're interested in becoming a member At the front desk Where you'll often find me we have cards We have a sign-up sheet and we also have like cards that kind of tell how to become a member but That would be And how how this will one become of them other than so they have to have Uh, a demonstrated type of skill or is there a a process by which they they become a member? Yeah, it's about that. It's the jury process. So they have to um You go to our well go if you're interested in becoming a member you go to our Vermont hand crafter website And it says become a member and there you give you gives you all the instructions that you have to be legal Vermont resident You have to send in photos of your work. You have to also Give a description of your process so that we have a clear idea of You know, what it is you're doing and that you have a handle on what you're doing you You know, you know what I mean. So we like to know about the process And then you send that information and you'll get an invitation to come to a jury session They the next one will be probably april or may of this year After the first of the year our new jury sessions will be up on the listed on our website and And that's it and then hopefully you'll become a member great and uh In terms of the the way it is going to be presented. There'll be different stalls For the participants. There'll be 90 90 booths will be there. So and everybody has their own booth So it's like you're walking into their own little shop You know, they all have sides. They're all lit So and the artists themselves of course will be there So that you can learn about you can learn about their process and ask them questions if you so desire You know, so it's really It's really interactive. It's it's a fun show and I'll tell you Everybody's always so excited the people The the members that are doing the show are so excited To to talk about their art and their craft and you know, so it's a it's a great experience. It's a good It's a just a fun weekend. That's great. Yeah, I can imagine since this is going to be the first live one There's been a tremendous amount of work involved in this Tell us a little bit about that Everybody everybody the artists that are getting ready have been really getting ready, you know Um And having to re get all their booths together, you know Doing that and for me and um our office manager katie And the double tree, you know, I mean we've done it for years but it's almost like kind of reinventing the wheel because Everything stopped so Even myself just getting back in the swing of things. Of course now we're heavy into the swinging things But you know to get everything that we need to do together we make floor plans. Um, it's just It's it's a lot more work than one might think when you get there it seems Oh my you know You don't realize the hours. Yeah That go into it on thursday I have a team of Of artists that come in and help us mark the floors because every booth has to be marked out So that people know where they're going to be. They're all numbered. We have a program, of course Um, and then the electricians from the double tree have to come and put all the uh plugs for the lighting in it's really a process Wow Now how do you do this? Do you have volunteers or is this your members? How is this all accomplished and how can people help if you need them? It's member. It's members. It's really the members that do it. Um Uh, we reach out to a couple of our organizations to see if they want to volunteer to help With our admissions program and things like that But the members mark the floor, you know, they come in and mark the floors and um We You know the office manager katie is it really does a great job She does a lot of it. She also does the advertising now for the show, which is new We had another get we had a gal prior to the that did it for years also, but now katie's been doing it and um Yeah, and me great Let me ask you another interesting thing Before we conclude and that's door door prizes. Oh, what is that going to be? I forgot to tell you about the door prizes. So every year, um, and even when we were online Uh, the artists individual artists donate One of their items to our door to the uh, a table to our door price door price selection um, and what happens is when you come in And during the show you can register all we want is your name. We don't care about your phone number We're not this is not for gathering information And you put your name in a bucket and every hour on the hour about We draw one or two names and you get to choose your if you win you get to choose your own prize off the table and um, it's our way of saying thank you for supporting vermont hand crafters for You know 70 years I mean it really is and it's so it's really become a lot of fun Because you know people always say oh, they never win anything, but guess what they won prize at the show And the show is also, you know The local vermont Vermonters have really supported us And so it's it's important for us to give something back also Has is there anyone you want to mention that that may have been particularly helpful this year? Oh Well, I always talk about katie our office manager is always very helpful, but the list of volunteers We have a board and there are board. They know who they are and i'm going to send out there. They're a great group also And the double tree we've worked with the double tree for a long time and They're They are really Wonderful to work with they are really great to us and we're very appreciative of that all the people that and they know who they are They know who i'm talking about. That's great. Well, tell us about the website. There's a website Yep, you go to vermont hand crafters.com and you'll find our website and um, you can see all the artists Uh, you go to their their thing their whatever Uh, I not sure I sometimes we have the program up. I'm not sure if it is or not yet You know everything's A little changed But you can go right there Um, and you'll see all the artists and um, I think if you hit on different names, you'll see what booth they're in So it's it's a very good site. It's got that's where I do a lot of preparation from and it's got all the Different facts and history and everything else what we're summarizing and you know what else on I think on the main page There's also a taste of vermont of vermont hand crafters. It's a little short video But it gives you a feel of what our show that's the 2019 show that you're looking at So it really gives you a feel of what the show is about And the show is ten dollars And and that's good for all three days if you get coming on friday You can come saturday and sunday and if you only want to come on saturday sunday. I mean sunday only it's eight dollars That's very reasonable really It's a good value for you know, it's good value. You get to stop. I always think of it. I think our men are Our p our customers think of it as start kind of the starting of the holiday season. Yes. Yes And that's a very good video. Well, that's fantastic. I'm glad we're able to get all this information and We are at the end for now and uh, I want to You really did a great job As I always say our best guest is an enthusiastic guest. I mean certainly did a great job there So, uh, I just want to uh, thank elizabeth boudreau the director of events For vermont hand crafters for being with me today on positively vermont There's going to be the fine craft and art show at the double tree in south berlington November 18 19 and 20 This is venice mcman for positively vermont. Thank you for watching