BRATTLEBORO — Cherry Street Artisans' sixth annual Holiday Sale & Café takes place Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 8, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 44 Cherry St.
This unique, friendly environment is presented by 12 artisans who honor handmade objects, artisanal food, live music, and the pleasure of being with others. The venue, an in-town Victorian home, fosters an intimate, non-commercial atmosphere. The “Cherries” exhibit their beautiful and original crafts as a small craft fair all under one roof. The on-site café encourages slowing down and savoring of food.
This year, 10 returning artisans and five family members welcome two new members.
Born into a family of scientists, Carlene Raper split from the pack and got involved with fabric and making art. She's been a quiltmaker for over 30 years and has been dyeing her own fabric for the last 20. Her work is luscious in its use of color. For Cherry Street, Carlene will have a large quilt on display and many smaller items for sale.
Phil & Marcia Hamm join the group as a couple. Phil, master candle maker for 40 years, has developed a new candle making technique that uses waxed wick to create unusual sculptures having the quality of fine pottery. Most of his current works are illuminated by LED tea lights, thereby safely maintaining the life and integrity of his sculptures.
Marcia has been a Sumie brush painter for over 30 years. As a form of meditation, Marcia has created a wide range of paintings with a focus on nature's creatures and foliage. She is currently studying with Bruce Iverson of Portsmouth, N.H., and collaborating with her husband, Phil, in the formation of “lite nites” (LED illuminated sculptured vessels).
The Café welcomes back baker Kris McDermet, who will provide tantalizing gourmet desserts, and Aew Ladd with her sumptuous sigh-invoking Thai fare. Saturday evening takes on the air of a bistro, with live music from 6-9 p.m. Several performances are being scheduled, with host Teta Hilsdon and musical guests, including Rich Grumbine, Jas Hilsdon and Josh Hilsdon.
This year's members include founders Josh & Marta Bernbaum, Teta Hilsdon, Naomi Lindenfeld, and Judy Zemel, plus returning members Pamela Cubbage, Patricia Johnson, Aew Ladd, Kris McDermet, David Schoales, and Ellen Troy. The annual event makes room for family of exhibiting members who have high-quality handmade craft to show, adding great enrichment to the event.
This year's family members are Lucy Myles Billings (Judy's daughter) with handmade soap; Ruby Lou Coleman (Judy's granddaughter) with hand dyed wash clothes and a perpetual birthday calendar with Ruby art; Connie Cubbage (Pamela's mother), with home made cards; Eileen Hilsdon (Teta's mother) with quilted lap quilts, potholders and placemats; and Cher Jones (Marta's mother) with felted animals and domestic diva aprons.
Josh and Marta Bernbaum make unique glass work in their studio in West Brattleboro. They will again have their ornaments, which were popular at the previous shows, and will offer tumblers and other smaller functional vessels, ideal for gifts. Both Josh and Marta's work may be seen on their website, www.jmbglass.com.
Pamela Cubbage comes from a long line of women who sew, from whom she inherited her love of colorful fabric. Pamela's napkins and potholders made from fabric of fruit and vegetable prints will be making another appearance at Cherry Street along with eye pillows, handbags and aprons, new for 2013.
Teta Hilsdon works with high-fired stoneware thrown on the wheel. “I make simple classic forms that serve their functions well with decorations that demonstrate the magic of clay.” She will have a variety of carved and glazed bowls and mugs in strong, earthy colors. A co-founder of the Brattleboro Clayworks in 1983, Hilsdon now does pottery “on the side” in between full-time work at the In-Sight Photography Project. For more information, see www.tetahilsdon.com.
Patricia Johnson has been a bookbinder for over 30 years, and is always reinventing her craft and art. From traditional books and boxes, to more innovative mobile structures, she uses found objects and original paste papers to complete her books. New this year is a line of Eloise Twilight Delights - a range of original unique earrings, market bags, and various gift items. Her work is available all year long at www.stillwaterbindery.com.
Aew Ladd, who will show her woven scarves in addition to offering her wonderful Thai food in the cafe was born and raised in Thailand in a family and community of weavers. In her weaving, she enjoys experimenting with varying patterns and colors, using fine natural fibers of cotton and tencel. Aew has been living in Vermont for over 20 years where she raised her two daughters. Aew manages a home based business in Thai Cuisine catering.
Naomi Lindenfeld is drawn to colored clay work because of the nature-inspired and rhythmic imagery that appears. Since 1983, she has been refining a technique of staining clay with metallic oxides, then layering and carving the soft clay to create patterns. She has expanded her line of pottery that incorporates leaf patterns. Images of her pottery are at www.naomilindenfeld.com.
In addition to Kris McDermet offering her delicious desserts in the cafe, she will show a few of her rugs that have the unusual combination of hooking and braiding. She loves the textural differences of the two early American crafts complementing each other, the vivid colors of using hand dyed wool and silk together, and the endless possibilities of designs.
David Schoales makes a line of hardwood products noted for their sensual feel, gorgeous grain patterns, and durability. He creates cutting boards and kitchen implements from Vermont hardwoods, especially Bird's Eye Maple, Black Walnut, and Black Birch. He also builds cedar garden furniture and trellises and sells his work at area farmers' markets.
Ellen Troy's one-of-a-kind beaded jewelry is colorful and elegant. For the past 30 years, she has been a graphic designer and fiber artist. She feels that this background is a real asset in her use of color for her beadwork. She is fascinated with the mosaic quality of beading with how the build-up of beads can subtly or dramatically form larger patterns. With different colors, reflectivity and shape of the individual beads, the bracelets and necklaces come to life with the larger patterns dynamically changing depending on the viewing angle.
Judy Zemel is a retired textile artist. Recently she has been working with silk, rayon and linen to make scarves, napkins, kitchen towels, and handkerchiefs. Judy also makes jewelry using crystal and glass beads, small hanging ornaments and mobiles using objects found in nature, and stoneware plant pots and small vases. New this year are thoughtful compositions combining plants and pottery.