Vermont Craft Traditions Come Alive at Billings Farm & Museum Sunday, September 12, 2021
WOODSTOCK, VERMONT . . . Billings Farm & Museum will host Traditional Crafts Day, a celebration of makers and the handmade, on Sunday, September 12, from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Visitors can learn how these pragmatic and beautiful crafts are made, view demonstrations, and meet practicing artisans in the region.
Skilled demonstrations will include:
- Wheel-thrown Potterywith Laura White of Woodstock, Vermont. White learned her craft through years of schooling and apprenticeships and continues to explore new techniques and ideas. Guests can watch as she creates artful bowls and other vessels for daily use using a pottery wheel. Kids can work some clay at her table and make their own creations.
- Leather Workingwith Mark Humpal of Cornish, New Hampshire. Humpal has been doing leatherwork for four decades, having apprenticed to a master saddle maker and a European shoemaker. He will demonstrate how to make and repair leather harnesses for horses.
- Sheep Shear Silhouette Cuttingswith Carolyn Guest of St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Using only sheep shears, Guest practices the art of papercutting as a way to tell about her experiences, the stories she has heard and to reflect on her rural Vermont heritage.
- Fiber Art Craftswith the Billings Farm staff. See how wool is spun and used for weaving knitting, and crochet.
Guests young and old can also try a craft of their own – finger knitting – led by Billings Farm interpreters. The traditions continue in the Learning Kitchen where guests can see demonstrations featuring hand churned butter and homemade ricotta cheese and try samples.
Billings Farm Cheddar, made exclusively from milk produced by our Billings Farm Jerseys, is hand-crafted in small batches at Grafton Village Cheese in Grafton, Vermont, and carefully aged for at least 60 days. The Billings Farm artisan crafted cheddars will be available for sale as will select items sold by the crafters on site. Special seasonal treats – apple cider and cider doughnuts – will also be available for sale.
Visiting safely. For the continued safety of our staff and guests, all guests over the age of 2 are required to wear a face covering in all indoor spaces. For outdoor spaces, mask wearing is optional for fully-vaccinated persons; unvaccinated persons must wear masks when around people and unable to maintain 6’ physical distances. No entry is permitted without a face covering. Visit billingsfarm.org/safety for details.
Billings Farm & Museum, now in its 39th season, is open daily, 10AM-5PM, through October 31 and weekends 10AM-4PM, November-February. Find the Special Events Calendar, daily schedules, admission pricing and membership information at billingsfarm.org. Celebrate Billings Farm’s 150th Anniversary with a visit this season and support its education mission at billingsfarm.org/donate.
Billings Farm & Museum is owned and operated by The Woodstock Foundation Inc., a charitable non-profit institution. Billings Farm & Museum is committed to providing educational opportunities and experiences to our visitors, whether here in Woodstock, Vermont or at home wherever you are through our online resources at Billings Farm at Home. Visit us on billingsfarm.org, and find us on Facebook at facebook.com/BillingsFarmMuseum/ and Instagram at instagram.com/billingsfarm/.
