Crafts of Colrain Studio Tour
   
     

 

Saturday November 14th and Sunday November 15th, 2009

10 am to 5 pm

Last year's tour was a huge success, attracting over 300 registered visitors, who enjoyed maple glazed fried dough, and the talents and charms of Colrain's diverse artisans. See map below.

Two gift baskets will be given away this year. Sign up for a chance to win at each location that you visit.

For a list of B & B's in our area, click here

 

     
Colrain, Massachusetts is one of the last, great "undiscovered" places. Tucked beneath the Vermont state line and above the Deerfield River, Colrain has long been a refuge for artists, artisans and others looking for someplace beautiful and affordable in which to do their work, while appreciating and preserving the area's pastoral past. Colrain's diverse artisans invite you up to their hilltops and vales to demonstrate their crafts and display and sell their wares. The information point this year has changed and will be the Brick Meeting House in Colrain Center which on the map is #5. Several of the artisans will display their creations there as they have in past years. You can sample products and pick up a map showing the farms and studios you might otherwise never find! However, you may begin the tour at any studio or farm. This is who we are:
     
 
Leigh Morrell at the forge. Ceacey Henderson and Nancie Rich display their graphic skills. Laurel Thorndike painting   Russ Peck pouring soy candles
 
 
Genie Shearer holds a decorated plate Carole Adams demonstrating
supply and process.
Adam Grandin creating leather art   Al Ladd sands a cutting board.
 
 
Matt Shearer pouring berry jam Bob Ramirez tends his angora goats. Denese Gurley knitting   Lynn Fisher spins some wool
         
 
Chip and Sherri Hager with a tray of maple sugar. Kenny Noyes at the lathe. Peggy Davis creating calligraphy   Cliff Daniels and a fresh pot.
         
 
A stone hand garden sculpture, by Tony Palumbo. Mike Purrington roughs out a bowl. Ruth B. McDowell trimming threads from a quilt   Ruby Rice as Sacred Art
     
 

A special thanks to our

Corporate Sponsor

 
     

(Is it an Outhouse?, a Privy?, or a Garden Shed?)

 

In 2008, a group of individuals who are accustomed to working alone have collaborated on a project guaranteed to amuseand delight.

What began as a practical discussion for providing comfort stations to the growing number of rural adventurers seeking fine and unique handmade craft in the hills of Colrain-turned into a high- spirited brainstorm;that has culminated in the creation of three versions of that old relic of rural living - the outhouse, the backhouse, the privy.

Using their collective creative license Colrain artists have designed built and decorated three "privies."
Although all have the requisite seats inside, they are built to function as small garden shedsand will provide a delightful focal point to a yard or garden

While other cities and towns have their artist-decorated moose or cows, sheep or pigs, Colrain's artists wanted to create something more suited to the human landscape. They hope the Arthouses will ignite greater public interest in joining in this year's crafts tour.

A collaborative effort of the Colrain Artisans to raise funds for the Griswold Memorial Library, and the Colrain Business Association Scholarship Fund, and other Colrain causes.

The art project last year resulted in the sale of the "Coneflowers and Chicks" arthouse.. The other two are currentlyavailable for sale and are on display on Route 2 at the "Hager Family Farm Market" in Shelburne.

 
  Coneflowers and Chicks            
Sunflowers to the Sky The Potty Shed
Click on the highlighted to visit their website:  
 
   

Colrain is in Northwestern Massachusetts, northwest of Greenfield, 10 minutes drive west from the I-91 exit 26 rotary where 1-91 meets route 2.

Click here for a detailed printable map of the tour (PDF file.)

Carole Adams- Whispering Pines Farm  
Colrain Mountain Candleworks, Soy candles  
Cliff Daniels, pottery  
Peggy Davis Calligraphy and Joe Kurland Klezmer Music  
Lynn Fisher, woven fiber  
Tony Palumbo, Garden Hands,and neon art, and fine art  
Chip & Sheri Hager, Hager Bros. Farms, Maple products  
Ceacey Henderson and Nancie Rich, paper art  
Cynthia Herbert and Bob Ramirez, Keldaby Farm, Mohair  
Al Ladd, Inlaid wood jewelry boxes and cutting boards  
Ruth McDowell, Art quilts and quilt books  
Leigh Morrell, Metalsmith  
Ken Noyes, JR, woodworking  
Mike Purington, Turned Bowls  
Ruby Rice,www.vhasanctuary.com  
Eugenia Shearer, decorative painting  
Matthew Shearer, Bear Meadow Farm, Jams and jellies  
Laurel Thorndike, Original art and photography  
Adam Grandin, Leather Work, Oak and Acorn Crafts, Custom leatherwork  
Denise Gurley, Hand knit items  
JoAnne Sherburne, Fine Art & Portraiture  
For a list of B & B's in our area, click here  
   
   

The tour is supported by: Colrain Business Association, Bank of Western Massachusetts, TD Banknorth and Shelburne Falls Area Business Association



This year's Additional Sponsors

Canepari's Landscaping

The Katy Will Project

Village Auto

Hager Bros. Farm

Colrain Mountain CandleWorks

2008 tour raffle gift basket winners are: Cindy Hunter, Gill, MA and Marcellina Brown, Oakham,MA 2

Web hosting provided by : Colrain Mountain CandleWorks

Web Design by Al Ladd