Thank You for Visiting the 83rd Annual LNHC Fair!

It was hot at the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s 83rd Annual Fair. And by hot, I mean HOTTTT, as in the kind of muggy New England day that makes you wish for less clothing overall, not more. And certainly not clothing of the knitted-felt winter hat variety!

NH fiber artist, Carrie Cahill Mulligan sports one of her freehand embroidered snowflake felt hats at the 83rd LNHC Annual Fair at Mount Sunapee.

And yet… You still came.

I remember in particular a woman who entered my booth on perhaps the hottest, most humid & sticky day of the whole 9-day event. She came right up to me, and with slightly pained smile told me,

“You know, last year I left this Fair without one of your hats and I kicked myself for that all the way back to Philadelphia. I’ve been thinking about these beautiful hats all year, so here I am… Please, help me find a hat… but quickly!”

And so we did.

Detail of freehand french knot Mandala embroidery on felt hat, by NH fiber artist, Carrie Cahill Mulligan.

Detail of freehand french knot Mandala embroidery on felt

It’s a special sort of person who appreciates & supports locally-made American fine craft. And it’s an extraordinary sort who does so, even on the hottest days of the year. You have my deepest gratitude!

Embroidered felt hat fiber artist, Carrie Cahill Mulligan of Canaan, NH exhibits her work at the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen's summer Fair in Newbury, NH.

To EVERYONE who visited the LNHC Fair, thank you!

I hope you’ll mark your calendar for the 84th Annual Craftsmen’s Fair next summer, August 5-13, 2017. I love hearing back how you & your new hat are getting on…!

And, the 2011 Dorr Mill Award Winner is…

Embroidered felt hat, Jungle Flower!

My felted knit hat, "Jungle Flower" won this year's Dorr Mill Award at the Sunapee Fair.

Each August, visitors to the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Sunapee Fair can visit CraftWear, a glorious collection of fine, handmade art-to-wear.

The LNHC CraftWear boutique offers one-of-a-kind jewelry, clothing and accessories.

The CraftWear Exhibit at the League of NH Craftsmen's Annual Fair, 2011.

Many thanks to Dorr Mill, for the award. I’m delighted by the recognition, especially considering the talent of my fiber artist peers.

New Freehand Embroidery: Red-Hot Blues French-Knot Mandala

New Freehand Embroidery: Red-hot Blues French-knot Mandala

The 78th Annual League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair begins in less than two weeks, so I’m in embroidery overdrive.

Icy-hot french-knots (more than 150!) make up the bulk of this freehand embroidery.

I love the nubbly texture of this french-knot mandala design… it feels amazing to the touch! If you come by my booth in Tent 7, you can feel for yourself.

Silk & cotton hand-dyed yarns are doubled then knotted to form this freehand embroidery.

This is my newest design, and I’m planning on stitching a few more before the Fair opens on Saturday, August 6, 2011. It’s very meditative to build up the embroidery, knot by knot.

Each art-to-wear hat is signed, dated and numbered. "Red-hot Blues" is #65 in 2011.

There are so many amazingly talented craftsmen at this fair: from glass-blowers, to raku potters, to printmakers, to rug-braiders, and more. Not only can you meet these artists, you can also enjoy free daily craft demonstrations, and learn their secrets.

I hope you’ll be able to visit!