Knitting & Weaving

The Lost Arts Guild is having a statewide exhibition March - May 2004. All sorts of artisans and crafters will be exhibiting. Folks who make traditional, heritage crafts - 4-string mountain dulcimers, hay forks, benches, saddles, courtn' candles, shawls, hats, scarves and lots more. I started the guild a few years ago because there wasn't one in the area and I felt there were a lot of quality crafters going begging. I'm hoping for state and regional exposure and will send out press releases to papers in DC, Baltimore and Richmond. Hopefully, someone will pick up our story and get the word out "there". Brenda, a friend and expert in fillet crochet, has completed The Lord's Prayer in cotton thread. Beautiful! I need to get photos so we can start publicizing her and the guild. The Artisans Center of Virginia, Waynesboro, VA, is where our exhibition will take place.

I sell a lot of my work at folk festivals, which include but are not limited to traditional crafts. If you ever put together a brochure with pics and contact info for the crafters in the guild, I'm positive it would be welcome at the info tables of these festivals.

THANKS Meredithbead! I'm working on a brochure for the guild and will get with you after it's completed. I was doing volunteer work for the county (in tourism) and am now finished my 2 year stint. With all this "free" time on my hands I'm having a ball doing what I want to do!

I live in the area of teh exhibit. Do you have any info on specific locations and dates. I would love to see it.

Artisans Center of VA is in Waynesboro at the outlet center. The exhibition is sometime in March through May, when I have firm information, I'll let you know.

Thanks, Candace, for asking.

www.artisanscenterofvirginia.org is the website where the Lost Arts Guild is having their exhibit. It opens March 18, reception the 20th and runs through mid-May. They are at the Waynesboro, VA exit on Rt. 64.

I'm excited about the exposure; not sure we'll get many sales. The quality of our products is exceptional! One woman spins her Angora rabbits' fiber on a wheel and then crochets heirloom scarves, hats, vests, etc. Another will crochet your name in white cotton thread called fillet crochet. One young man makes leather riding saddles, his dad works in iron. Another makes wooden items like hay forks, benches, beds, etc. using only 100 year old tools. A gourd gardner and designer, a doll maker, some musical instrument makers...4-string mtn. dulcimers, violins, mandolins, guitars. Lots of wonderful people making beautiful things!

Thanks for the info TCF. I am hoping I can get there, but it is about 3 hours away, so we will see. It looks great.

Hi,
I'm curious how did the festival go here?
Sounded interesting wish we lived closer.
Maggie

Hi Maggie - the exhibit runs through the 29th of April and so far...so good. Some guild members have sold stuff and others haven't. The broom man has sold the most but he had the most to sell. He raises his own broomstraw and then makes all sorts of brooms out of the straw. Really useful and decorative brooms too.

This has been a good opportunity for folks and the guild has received a lot of exposure. I'm still trying to get more press with different East Coast papers.

I sold some greeting cards of farm scenes. That's good, shows me there's a market out there if I can find the people. Now to get the cards on our website.

Hi Thistle,
Sounds neat and congratulations on the cards. They sound beautiful. I am sure there is a market for them.
Is the broom person also demonstrating? It seems like when someone demoes they always sell a lot.
Glad you are doing well!!!!
Thanks,
Maggie

Thistle,
If you need help with getting the cards on the site let me know. I have greeting cards on my site. I didn't put them there, but the gal who does my site did.