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…!

Throwback Thursday: Good Times at the 2008 LNHC Fair

Each August, you’ll find amazing, beautiful, handmade crafts at the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair: works of clay, blown glass, fiber art, jewelry in silver, jewelry in gold, fine woodwork and so much more.

League of NH Craftsmen artists, from L-R: Carrie Cahill Mulligan, Laura Chowanski, Kristin Kennedy, Deirdre Donnelly & Natalie Blake at the 2008 Craftsmen's Fair, Newbury, New Hampshire.

My amazingly talented LNHC peers, at the 2008 Craftsmen’s Fair.

What’s more, you can attend daily live craft demonstrations throughout the 10-day fair. You can even sign up for a workshop to create your own.

League of NH Craftsmen artists, from L-R: Carrie Cahill Mulligan, Laura Chowanski, Kristin Kennedy, Deirdre Donnelly & Natalie Blake at the 2008 Craftsmen's Fair, Newbury, New Hampshire.

Besides being talented & lovely, these women were a joy to spend 10 days with!

Best of all, fair-goers have the chance to personally meet the makers & artisans themselves, ask questions & learn about their techniques, inspirations & personal stories.

League of NH Craftsmen artists, from L-R: Deirdre Donnelly, Laura Chowanski, Carrie Cahill Mulligan, Natalie Blake & Kristin Kennedy at the 2008 Craftsmen's Fair, Newbury, New Hampshire.

It’s the wonderful craftsmen who make the League Fair such fun!

In my 11 years as a member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, without a doubt, it is the fine crafts folks who make this excellent fair as fun as it is.

This year, I’ll be in Tent 7, Booth 708. I hope you’ll join me and visit the Mount Sunapee Resort from August 2-10, 2014 for the 81st Annual Craftsmen’s Fair.

Winter Craft Markets at the Wentworth Greenhouses

Embroidering while chatting with visitors to the Wentworth Greenhouses.

Embroidering while chatting with visitors at the Wentworth Greenhouses.

Tomorrow will mark my 3rd appearance at the Winter Craft Market section of the Wentworth Greenhouses Winter Farmer’s Market in Rollinsford, NH.

(Although, technically, there are only fine crafts and no farmers tomorrow, as we are launching the 1st Annual Artisan Celebration & Fair, with extra artisans.)

I love meeting the people who love my embroidered felt hats!

I love meeting the people who love my embroidered felt hats!

I’ve got well over 75 finished hats, plus another 20 or so, awaiting your custom embroidery suggestions…

Finding just the right color hat can be a bit of a quest...

Finding just the right color hat can often be a bit of a quest…

With temperatures dipping into the single digits this weekend, this is the perfect time to treat yourself to an exquisitely practical felt hat.

Such great lighting in the new greenhouse... really shows off the hats!

Such great lighting in the new greenhouse… really shows off the hats!

If you’re within striking distance of the New Hampshire seacoast on Saturday, December 14 or 21, I hope you’ll visit or tell your friends. A stylish warm hat can really change your outlook on winter!