Artisan Demonstrations
at the Market

Linda Lomasney
Bloomfield, VT
Deeda's Baskets

I am a native Vermonter, having lived in the Northeast Kingdom all of my life. The women in my family have traditionally been artistic on some level, whether sewing, weaving, cooking, painting, or gardening to name a few. I find myself wanting to do it all, or at least making an attempt. I took a basket weaving class from a local woman many years ago . . . and now I'm teaching basketry classes. In fact, I won't be at the Lupine Market on June 12th because I'll be teaching a class at the Balsams Resort that day. I will be having a class in Sugar Hill, perhaps you'd like to sign up for it - in preparation for that class, I'm demonstrating and displaying my baskets at the Sugar Hill Library (at the Carolina Crapo Building) on Saturday, June 5th. If the weather's nice - I'll be outside on the lawn.

Over the years I have exhibited basketry at art shows and have sold at many craft fairs. Many of my baskets have been given as gifts, something that will last a lifetime. I use reed in various sizes and colors to create my baskets. Most of them are from patterns, although I do design some on my own. The beauty of a basket, is that no two are alike; each one is unique. Most of my baskets are traditional and functional, other are decorative. Each basket has a name, although many are used for something entirely different ... a laundry basket becomes a wood basket next to a fireplace or wood stove ... a gathering basket holds magazines next to your favorite chair ... a toy basket holds towels or you favorite pet's toy ... uses are endless. My name is Linda Lomasney, and I weave baskets. I hope you too, will enjoy them.

Carolyn E. Guest
East St. Johnsbury, VT
Sheep Shear Cuttings

Back in 1996, Harman's hosted Carolyn's demonstration of Polish folk art of paper cutting, Wycinanki, at the Fields of Lupine Festival as our contribution to the Festival events. We are pleased that she has continued over the years to join us. Carolyn brings her 13-inch sheep shearing shears to cut paper cuts; not only in traditional Polish folk designs but also in her own original designs. Even though these large shears are designed to clip a sheep's fleece, Carolyn is able to make small detailed cuts that seem so simple but turn into very intricate paper cuts that are more like snapshots of life than papercut designs.

Carolyn (Gorham) Guest grew up on a farm in Lyndon, Vermont - not far from her father's fifth generation home farm. She was an active 4-H member, and, as a young adult, spent six months living and working in Poland with the International 4-H Youth Exchange (IFYE) Program. Folk art and crafts were always an intricate part of her life in Vermont and in Poland she was introduced to Wycinanki (vee-chee-non-kee). This Polish Folk Art became a way for Carolyn to share her life experiences and heritage through original papercut designs.

Carolyn has chosen to cut with the 13-inch sheep shearing shears in tribute to her Polish mentors and to honor the Polish Women that only had sheep shears to cut Wycinanki. In Poland the women use Wycinanki as we might use curtains in our windows and to brighten shelving. Carolyn has been nationally recognized for her talented work in this traditional folk art. In 2002, she was one of five Vermont artists who designed Christmas ornaments for the White House Christmas Tree and was also chosen to be one of ten Vermont artisans in a traveling exhibit that portrayed Vermont agriculture. Her work is currently on display at The Catamount Arts Gallery in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The exhibit: "Pushing the Limits with Sheep Shears" will be on display throughout the month of June. The exhibit is a collection of Carolyn' s cuttings from over the last 25 plus years. She was also interviewed by Jack Thurston from WCAX TV and it aired May 29th, 2009. You can still view the interview at www.wcax.com. Find the video clip under the video box: "More" and look for the Made in Vermont Series featured there. Carolyn's interview is called "Intricate Cuttings."

Carolyn enjoys demonstrating this folk art and it is fascinating to watch her cut out her artwork. She also has the talent to cut silhouettes and will cut them either from sight or from a photo that you bring. Check out her website: Sheep Shear Cuttings to watch Carolyn's videos of paper cutting, her visits to Poland, and events she will be attending this summer. Stop by to watch her manipulate the sheep shears with precision and see a scene or design unfold; she will be inside the Meetinghouse.

John will be sharing his experience and talent as a wood carver. He demonstrates relief wood-carving and always has a block handy for you to work on with his hand tools. Take a minute to look at the many designs he has done, some of his patriotic designs are my favorites. Stop by on Sundays, to visit and try your hand at carving.

The North Country Spinners & Fiber Artists
Margararet Knapp, Florence Howes, Beth St. Onge
Canaan, Vermont

This group from northern New Hampshire and Vermont meet twice a month. If you dropped in on a meeting; you might see one person felting, another embroidering, someone spinning, and hear the click of knitting needles. That's also what you'll find in their tent at the Lupine Festival.

Margaret Knapp has been a regular at the Lupine Festival for over 5 years. She has been spinning for over 20 years and brings down a beautiful hand-painted spinning wheel to work on. Margaret obtains raw fleece from the Riverview Alpaca Farm in Stark, New Hampshire and spins them into yarns for socks, hats, and for use in another of her talents - weaving. She also enjoys purchasing & using exotic fibers in her work. She enjoys sharing her passion with others, answering all questions, and will have a few finished products for sale. Margaret's husband, Richard, a woodworker, puts some of his games alongside Margaret's socks. His double marble game is popular with kids (of all ages). You catch just a glimpse of one the games above to the left.

Another member of the group, Florence Howes, has been spinning since 1989 and brings her "traveling" spinning wheel, made in New Zealand to the Festival. Florence has a larger wheel made in Colorado that is used often at her home. Florence spins yarns mostly of wool or alpaca but she also loves to use her pussycat's hair. She brushes her cat and saves the hair to spin into a very unique and personal yarn. Florence is a gifted knitter, she started at age 8. She had a yarn shop (before she retired - though she's so busy now, it's hard to call that retirement) so it was a natural progression from knitting into spinning her own yarn. She and her daughter, Beth St. Onge, also enjoy the skill of felting. They make felted hats, mittens, and socks. And, if like me, you aren't sure what felting is - stop by their tent; Beth, Florence, Margaret, along other members of the group will be glad to share their knowledge with you. Beth also makes beautiful rock design vases, a unique way to use something New England has an abundance of.

Mt. Crescent Crafts  - Randolph, NH

Sara Glines has been creating hand-crafted wooden figures based on seven generations of her family's history in northern New Hampshire. The figures represent a moment in time of a real person in the Boothman Sisters’ family. Spanning seven generations in Northern New Hampshire, personalities of farmers and woodsmen, builders of hiking trails and mountain huts, hotel proprietors, homemakers, carpenters, and photographers, are handcrafted for your enjoyment.
   Each personality begins with a flat board and a 2” diameter wooden egg. The body, arms, and boots are cut out of the board; then the legs are cut to give the appropriate stance for each figure. Each piece is drilled, doweled and glued to create the different poses. No nails are used. The face is hand-carved into the wooden egg giving each figure its own personality and the hands are also hand-carved. Sally’s older sister, Rebecca Boothman (Becky), an accomplished knitter - a skill inspired by her mother - carefully hand knits the sweaters, hats, scarves, mittens and Single Heel Service Socks for the personalities. All patterns and pieces are her original designs. The hair is from fleece of local sheep. Much of the yarn is hand-dyed and spun. All accessories including the snowshoes and all the baskets for the personalities are original designs and are made by Sally and her family.
  Sara is sharing and teaching others how wonderful her family's history is through art. She will also have Christmas ornaments and mini quilts for sale at her table. Sara will join us for all 4 days of the Festival Market and will be inside the Meetinghouse demonstrating her craft. Stop by and watch as she demonstrations the creations of these fascinating figures.

Sara is member of NH-made and also has a fascinating website: www.ravinehousestore.com. During 2010 you can also find her at the Cultural Heritage Festival on June 5th in Berlin, NH and at the Berlin Farmer's Markets on Thursdays from 3-7 pm, starting July 1st through September 13th.