House-Mouse Designs [334]

12/14/13: It all started with a pet mouse named Tiny in 1980. Artist Ellen Jareckie and marketing partner Barry Percy were inspired by Tiny to start House-Mouse Designs when they were UVM students. Over the past 33 years, their business has thrived and Ellen's fanciful mice designs are instantly recognizable whether seen on greeting cards, calendars, mouse pads or buttons.

Eva visited with Ellen and her mice Squeak and Blizzard at her studio in Shelburne.

Music: The Smittens, A Little Revolution, "Twitterpated!" (Mfdod Remix)

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was made possible by Hotel Vermont and Vermont Tourism.

Vermont Hand Crafters' Craft VT Show [331]

11/23/13: The Vermont Hand Crafters held their 61st Annual Craft Vermont Show last weekend at the Sheraton Conference Center in South Burlington. Thousands of shoppers got a jump on their holiday buying at this well-loved artisan fair.

Music: "In the Hall of the Mountain King" by Edvard Grieg, "Jingle Bells" by James Lord Pierpont and "Deck the Halls" - as performed by Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was made possible by Hotel Vermont and Vermont Tourism.

Warren Pieces [319]

7/25/13: After Hurricane Irene hit the Mad River Valley in 2011, Matt Groom and Whitney Phillips met while fixing the flood damaged woodwork in Warren's Pitcher Inn. Dismayed by the amount of wood waste post-flood, the two formed Warren Pieces, using recycled wood to make unique skateboards and longboards. They call it "art you can ride" and Eva got a tour of their shop and a skateboarding lesson.

Music: Barbacoa, "Hoveround"

The Art of Horror [285]

10/5/12: The annual Art of Horror Opening Reception has become an early Halloween for some.  Many attendees arrived in costume at The S.P.A.C.E. Gallery and The Backspace Gallery Friday evening.  The juried group show was curated by artists Kevin Montanaro and Beth Robinson and includes the macabre work of almost 50 artists, most of them Vermonters.

You can catch the spooky show through the end of October.

Music: Aaron Reil, Children of a Lesser Species, "Scratch Me"

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was brought to you by

Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

Ken Leslie's Gold Dome Cycle [275]

7/16/12: For the past year, artist Ken Leslie has been visiting the Vermont State House in Montpelier every other week to work on his Gold Dome Cycle. 

He climbs 201 stairs to its highest point, above the gold dome and below Ceres' feet, and paints one section of the view into the pages of his circular book. 

The finished work will show a 360 degree panorama of Montpelier made in 365 days. Eva visits with Ken in the "drum of the dome" and watches the final page come to life.

Music: La Strada, New Home,"Mean That Much"

 

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was brought to you by

Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

Happy Fantastic Designs [272]

6/9/12: Burlington artist Joanne Kalisz has been selling her original designs silk-screened on apparel, handbags, and accessories under the guise of Happy Fantastic Designs since 2007. Eva caught up with Joanne at Happy Fantastic HQ and at her Burlington Farmers' Market booth.

Music: The Smittens, The Coolest Thing About Love, "Half My Heart Beats," "Baby, Don't You Know," "Something Sassy" 

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was brought to you by

Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

20 Years of Open Studio Weekend [269]

5/27/12: Across the state of Vermont during Memorial Day weekend, yellow signs led visitors to the studios of 263 artists and craftspeople who were participating in the 20th Open Studio Weekend. This event is organized by the Vermont Crafts Council and was founded to increase the visibility of the many creative people who live in our state.

Eva visited the Vermont Glass Workshop in Hardwick where Harry and Wendy Besett have been a part of Open Studio for the past 20 years. Up the road, artists Ruby and Ken Leslie are another prolific couple who opened their home and work spaces to the public.

Music Video: "Getya Loom Goin" by Malina and Woody Leslie

Music: Japhy Ryder, If the Haves Are Willing, "Self Set Sail"

Brothers McCann, Different Colors, "Different Colors"

 

 

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was brought to you by

Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

John Brickels' Mad Scientist Workshop [267]

5/5/12: Clay, a late night, white coats, pancakes and inspiration - what more would you expect from a Mad Scientist Workshop?

At 5am last Saturday morning in downtown Burlington, John Brickels' Pine Street studio was alive with mad energy and creativity. Lab coat wearing participants were hard at work bringing their mounds of clay to life under the tutelage of Dr Brickelstein who has held 13 of these unique workshops.

You can see some of Brickels' imaginative work in the upcoming show, "Time Machines: Robots, Rockets and Steampunks" opening June 16th at the Shelburne Museum.

Music: Matt Mazur and the Caring Babies, The Noisebelt, "Hyperventilate," "Tweaklepuss"

This episode of Stuck in Vermont was brought to you by

Cabot Creamery Cooperative.

Hooked in the Mountains XV [247]

‎11/19/11: Did you know that the world's largest hooked rug exhibit is held in VT every year? The 15th annual Hooked in the Mountains was held at the Shelburne Museum in the round barn and included about 480 rugs, each made one loop at a time by members of the Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild. While the subject matter, colors and styles varied wildly, all hookers share an appreciation of this historic art form.

Music: Joshua Panda, "Rosie"

Dennis Sparling [246]

11/12/11: Dennis Sparling has been sculpting metal in his former quarry home studio in New Haven Vermont for over 40 years. Burlingtonians are probably familiar with Sparling's Church Street sculpture "Leap Froggers" and his "UVM Catamount" near the Royall Tyler Theatre. Sparling hopes to take his new 9 foot tall creation, Leonardo Da Vinci, on a road trip across the country to find its permanent home.

Music: Renaissonics, Carols For Dancing, "Remember, O Thou Man," "Un Sarao De La Chacona," "Halfe Hannikin," "Greensleeves Passa E Mezzo"

Seven Days Presents Strut!

9/10/11: Strut, presented by Seven Days and SEABA (South End Art and Business Association), rocks Burlington's South End one Saturday night each year. This South End Art Hop signature event flaunts the work of 20+ area fashion designers and raises money for SEABA.

Stills from the video here.

 

BCA's "30 Hours of Art" [234]

8/5/11-8/6/11: Burlington City Arts celebrated their 30 year anniversary this weekend with 30 hours of non-stop art.

Abby Manock's large scale paintings "Monkeys Vs. Bananas" hung outside the BCA Center and audience participation was encouraged. A pop-up group exhibit called CHURCH OF CIRCUS transformed the former Outdoor Gear Exchange up the street.

Add all that to the Festival of Fools, the Farmers' Market and the BCA Artist Market and you have a downtown bursting with creative energy.

Music: The Two Man Gentlemen Band

 

Green Mountain 48-Hour Film Slam [216]

3/19/11: "Action!" The Green Mountain 48-Hour Film Slam took over the streets of Montpelier this weekend. 8 teams spent a sleepless weekend racing the clock to complete films for a sold-out Sunday screening at the 14th Annual Green Mountain Film Festival.

Prizes were awarded Sunday but you can see the films again March 27 at 4:00 pm at the Pavilion Auditorium in Montpelier.

Music: Composed in under 48 hours for Team Malone's "Time Share" by Matt Mazur and the Caring Babies

VT State Snow Sculpting Competition [211]

2/4/11: This weekend was the 19th annual Burlington Winter Festival, and at the top of Church Street, four teams competed in the 16th annual VT State Snow Sculpting Competition.

The winning team Vermont Snows will head to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin in 2012 to compete at nationals.

Music: The Vacant Lots, According To The Gospel, "Thief of Time"

 

Women's Festival of Crafts [202]

11/27/10: The 21st Annual Women's Festival of Crafts was held at Burlington's City Hall this weekend. About 63 vendors from all over the state of Vermont gathered to sell their wares to the holiday shopping public.

Why should you buy local this holiday season? Watch and see...

Music: Missy Bly, Missy Bly 3, "Handmade Love"

Reflections on Basin Harbor [189]

8/20/10: Last Friday marked the 25th anniversary of Reflections on Basin Harbor. Using a variety of mediums, Vermont artists showcase the beauty of the historic Basin Harbor Club in this popular show.

The Basin Harbor Club dates back to the 1700s and has been run by the Beach family for 4 generations.

Show runs through August 28th.

Music: Syd, The Way We Found It, "Interlude"

Emergent Media Center [148]

10/17/09: Champlain College's Emergent Media Center in Winooski is preparing students for the "real world" and helping to solve world problems at the same time.

Vermont 3.0 is Monday, Oct 26 at the Sheraton in South Burlington, see you there!!!

Music: Chuch, Juarez, "Hold Me Down"

Location: Champlain Mill, Winooski, VT

Ava Bishop [132] & Craft with the Band [7DTV18]

6/8/09: Fashion in VT? Local designer Ava Bishop is making it stylish to be a Vermonter.

Music: Missy Bly, Missy Bly 3, "Handmade Love"

Try Missy Bly's stylish soaps at the Burlington Art Market on Saturdays in City Hall Park.

6/6/09: Joe Jack Talcum of Dead Milkmen fame performs at The Bobbin whilst nimble crafters print woodblocks.

Stephen Huneck [119]

3/7/09: Eva travels to Dog Mountain where artist and sculptor Stephen Huneck has built a Dog Chapel in honor of our dearly departed canine companions.

Stephen recently decided to donate 50% of his proceeds to animal shelters, including the Chittenden Humane Society.

Music: Missy Bly, Missy Bly 3, "Joey is a Dog"
Amber DeLaurentis, Hey Sadie, "Rely"

Location: Dog Mountain, St Johnsbury, Vermont

The Bobbin [108]

12/7/08: Mommy-owned and operated The Bobbin Sew Bar & Craft Lounge welcomes nursing moms, kids, crafters, novices and community members to take part in the fun.

Whether you are knitting, crocheting, sewing, shopping, hanging out or just observing, The Bobbin will keep you entertained.

So why should you pledge to buy locally-produced handmade goods this holiday season?  Meet some of the artists like Happy Fantastic and Urban Farm Girl to help make up your mind.

Music:
The Smittens, "Baby, Don't You Know." The Coolest Thing About Love

LOCATION:
The Bobbin Sew Bar & Craft Lounge, Burlington Vermont

Watch this video on YouTube here.