Traditional Crafts Day

A celebration of makers and the handmade. Visitors can learn how these pragmatic and beautiful crafts are made, view demonstrations, and meet practicing artisans in the region.

Explore some of Vermont’s traditional crafts and discover their history, process, and uses. Demonstrations will include:

• Wheel-thrown Pottery with 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 Working with 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 Cuttings with 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 Crafts with the Billings Farm staff. See how wool is spun and used for weaving knitting, and crochet.

~ Bring your own knitting and crocheting projects and join a friendly knitting circle.

~ Try finger knitting or working clay at the Kids Clay Station.

~ Sample homemade ricotta and hand-churned butter and watch a demonstration of how they are made.

Fresh local cider and cider donuts will be available for sale as well as Billings Farm artisan-crafted cheddars. The craftspeople on site will have select items for purchase. Live music from 12-3.