Annual League of NH Craftsmen’s Fair at Mount Sunapee Resort in Newbury, NH

Yesterday The Girl and I left the snuggle puggle and HH behind and headed to Newbury, New Hampshire for the Annual League of NH Craftsmen’s Fair at Mount Sunapee Resort.

The HH and I were in the area last year while the Craftmen’s Fair was going on, but since we were on a mission to pick up a boatload of wool at The Dorr Mill Store {and not attend an arts and crafts fair} I couldn’t get him to deviate from the plan and I didn’t get to go. 🙁 As soon as we got home though I looked up pictures of the fair online and made sure to mark it on the calendar to attend this year.

And holy canolies people, I’m so glad we did!

The Girl and I thought we’d be super clever and go on a week day and get there right when the venue opened thinking there wouldn’t be a ton of people there, but we were both sort of shocked when we looked around after about an hour or so to see the fair had filled up so quickly.

I think I read somewhere that this is the 86th year the juried craft fair has been held and let me tell you Bob, the quality of the work presented was exceptional.

There were oodles of potters and jewelry makers, painters and fiber artists.

And a few unexpected items like stained glass, a guy who made {and was playing} the didgeridoo.

Furniture maker Eric Johnson was there with some of his beautiful pieces in tiger maple.

I didn’t snap a picture but there was even a traditional basket maker there {Jeffrey Gale} with baskets in the $295 – $2995 range. WOWIE ZOWIE. You can see a video of him at work HERE that someone filmed a few years ago. And his arms. They were huge! The baskets? Absolutely beautiful! There are even a few of his baskets in the Smithsonian Museum. The quality of the artwork that filled the various booths was truly exceptional.

And the artists in motion…. They were not only plentiful, but really fun to watch.

There was even a lady there selling house chickens!!! Mrs. Hillbilly, you need a bird like this in your life!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

One of the things we really liked were all the hands on demonstrations. Weaving, wood turning and pottery were just a few that we noticed.

I have been wanting to try throwing pottery on a wheel for a few years now and so when we spotted a sign for a $10 mini lesson, The Girl and I both both tickets to give it a try.

The goal was to go home with some sort of bowl.

And everything was going peachy until I got a little overconfident and pressed the clay too hard and before you know it my hopes were dashed and the bowl I was aiming for was gone.

But I was able to make my instructor Daniel a lovely bracelet. 😉

And hey, a toothpick holder for my Dad! 🙂 🙂 🙂 I’m pretty sure he’s going to love it.

We were there 3 hours, and we had a blast. I can’t recommend the Annual League of NH Craftsmen’s Fair at Mount Sunapee Resort enough. If you are even anywhere close to the area, you should totally go.

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone, I’m off to go make some jam.

~Mavis

2019 Craftsmen’s Fair

AUGUST 3, 2019 – AUGUST 11, 2019

MOUNT SUNAPEE RESORT
1398 ROUTE 103
NEWBURY, NH, 03255