Thank You for Visiting the 83rd Annual LNHC Fair!

Posted on 13 October 2016 by Carrie Cahill Mulligan

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!

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

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

Posted on 29 May 2014 by Carrie Cahill Mulligan

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.

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.

Latest Freehand Embroidery: Red-Hot Denim Blues Mandala

Posted on 2 April 2012 by Carrie Cahill Mulligan

Recently, I was contacted by Gayle in Portland, Oregon, who’s ready for a new hat.

She loved the original Red-Hot Blues French-knot Mandala I embroidered last summer. But that hat found a new home with Gwen at the 2011 League of NH Craftsmen’s Fair:

Although not generally a “hat person”, Gwen’s blue eyes perfectly match her new felt hat.

I strive to create felt hats as unique as the wearer, so I didn’t want to re-create the exact same hat. Instead, Gayle selected several yarn colors she liked, and gave me her head-size measurements.

As luck would have it, I had a suitable hat, felted & ready for embroidering just waiting in my studio. And in between games at my 1st-ever coed hockey tournament this weekend, I was able to embroider it: