Happy New Year!

As 2018 draws to it's close, American Craft Week wishes everyone a happy New Year, all the best and let's make 2019 another successful year of great craft and art! Please mark your calendars so you don't miss the fun~👌

St. Peteersburg, Florida... a Top 10 Craft Town

So to round up American Craft Week's Top 10 Craft Towns : St Petersburg, Florida, or St. Pete's as it's popularly called, is a craft town supreme … it has a whole spectrum of craft and art from small galleries and studios to the fabulous world renown Salvador Dali Museum plus the Chihuly Collection on Central Avenue. You can plan your visit by starting with the VisitFlorida or St. Pete.org but don't miss a stop at the great American Craft Week participant, Shapiro's Fine American Crafts in the hip Downtown St. Petersburg or at their Hyde Park Village.

There's always lots to see and do, lots of great museums and galleries to visit. For instance, there's the Warehouse Arts District second Saturday Art Walk.. check out the “Seven Arts Districts: One Arts Destination webpage.

Enjoy your time in the great Top 10 Craft Town of St. Petersburg, Florida

Happy Thanksgiving

American Craft Week wishes you a very happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Copyright Anne Jenkins 

Little Mineral Point, WI, lives large

Image courtesy of Mineral Point Chamber

Mineral Point, Wisconsin, might be small in size but it's really big in heart and craft. Justifiably proud of their small town, the residents and friends of the town voted passionately for their town to be included in American Craft Week's search for the Top Ten Craft Towns in the USA. They take their place with pride - so when you visit this little big town that could, be sure to congratulate them! And enjoy exploring all it has to offer.
The Chamber will give you a warm welcome and has all the information you will need... and be sure to visit as often as you can.

Image courtesy of Mineral Point Chamber

Image courtesy of Mineral Point Chamber

Gloucester, MA rocks as a Top Ten Craft Town

American Craft Week is over for 2018 and it was great all round.. and in one of the Top Ten Craft Towns things are still rocking! Gloucester, MA hosts wonderful art and craft events all year... 

Image courtesy of Cape Ann Studio Tour

if you missed them, check out the next dates for Cape Ann Artisans Studio Tour and how about DIVA, Donna's Infinite Variety of Adornments? Good Linens/Studio will enchant you... Pauline's Gifts is another must stop. Please be sure to visit Gloucester and explore all they have to offer. You won't be disappointed.
And when you do visit, congratulate them on being voted one of ACW's Top 10 Towns... they certainly deserve it!

American Craft Week in full swing at Quad City Arts!

Quad City Arts covers a large area - 37 counties in 2 states...Iowa and Illinois, it's an active arts scene indeed.  If you're in or near Rock Island, Iowa this week, you mustn't miss American Craft Week celebrated at Quad City Arts. The exhibit"Breathe",  by artists Carol Hamilton and Matt Pulford  at the lovely gallery is definitely a must see. The whole area has wonderful public art...sculptures, Art @ the Airport, performing arts, visiting artists and much more. Check out the website for all the details.

They also create a pop up gallery once a year and loads of cool events. Be sure to support this great participant in American Craft Week.

Enjoy the fun week!

Connecting with Craft in Arkansas this Saturday!

Arkansas is going all out this American Craft Week with an exciting, action packed schedule, “Connectingwith Craft” Meet the artisans, explore their crafts & enjoy the beauty of Stone County Mountain View, Arkansas – – Connecting with Craft is a free event on October 6, 2018 during American Craft Week.

Stone County is known for the quality and artistry of its crafts people. They have a great day planned with events including the handmade traditions of the Ozarks, the craft artisans of Stone County, Arkansas, and the natural beauty that inspires their works.
Connecting with Craft will begin in Mountain View on Saturday, October 6, with a special open house in the Craft Village Ozark Folk Center State Park from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Throughout the day, craft artisans will be demonstrating in shops around the Courthouse Square in Mountain View, including the Arkansas Craft School, the Arkansas Craft Gallery, at the Stone County Museum’s Painting Place, and at Blanchard Springs Caverns at the Springs. To cap it all off there will be craft beer, a reception and prize drawings at Gravity BrewWorks near Big Flat at the close of the day. To be entered in the prize drawing, share your experiences throughout the day on your favorite social media. Use the hashtag #ConnectingwithCraft

The list of events is fabulous – and there's plenty to keep you busy and excited... it'll be a phenomenal American Craft Week in Arkansas! Check out these links for a list of events: WEBSITE    FACEBOOK

Image courtesy of their Facebook page

Gatlinburg, Tenn., rates high on the Top Ten List..and so does the whole state!

A Gatlinburg crafter demonstrates his craft

Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains, a setting perfectly suited to get the creative juices going, Gatlinburg in Tennessee is proud to be on the American Craft Week's Top Ten Craft Towns this year. And rightly so...there's crafts, arts and music in the air - and on land - there. In fact, not only Gatlinburg boasts tons of creative outlets. the whole state is artistic! So, with so much going on around there, this tip might make it easier for you:
Go to the ACW participant page and get the Tennessee list from there...another great resource is the Tennessee Craft Week website. Yes, the state has a statewide craft week in conjunction with American Craft Week - isn't that fabulous? Please support them all for their great efforts and ENJOY this American Craft Week 2018 in Tennessee. And a big bravo to Gatlinburg for making the 2018 top ten list.

Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania is a Top Ten!

Well, it might be more than one town but without a doubt, Cumberland Valley is a Top Ten Craft destination and regularly finds it's place on American Craft Week's annual list. There's so much to discover so give yourself plenty of time - days in fact!

TheVillage Artisans Gallery. Photo courtesy their website

One of the driving forces behind this creative place is The Village Artisans Gallery in Boiling Springs, Pa. You'll not only find a fabulous diverse choice of cool craft but you'll also get a wealth of information about the area... they know the region and it's artists well. Another Boiling Springs must visit is Metalledwith - their website notes they are ' jewelry inspired by nature and crafted by hand.'
In Carlisle there's the American Artisan Gallery, the Carlisle Arts & Learning Center, Meadowbrook Gourds and the Greatest Gift. There's more in Mechanicsburg and Latrobe. You getting the idea? The area is loaded with great places to visit. Go to American Craft Week's participant page , highlight Pennsylvania - get the list and hit the road...enjoy!

Have fun at Pine Lake Fest, Georgia during American Craft Week!

The first weekend of October 6-7 is the start of the best best week American Craft Week and if you're in the area, it's time to head to the Pine Lake Fest in Georgia....

Just North of Atlanta, and one of Georgia’s smallest cities but they host a big event, Pine Lake is a haven for artists. Now in its 18th year, Pine LakeFest curates a group of 50 artists and crafts people of all disciplines to display their wares within view of the lake.
Go enjoy the crafts like Unique Craft Baskets and Peace of Thread... there's many more... metal work, glass work and there's paintings and photography.
Don't forget the music, the food and the fun. Check out all that's on offer, plus the times and directions on the Pine Lake Fest website
   And have a great time during American Craft Week at the Pine Lake Fest!

Big welcome to Baker City Studio Tour in Oregon

Nestled in beautiful North East Oregon, Baker City oozes art and history. And every first weekend in October they host a fabulous diverse art studio tour - this year we're delighted to welcome to American Craft Week first time participants, the Baker City Studio Tour.

Crossroads Carnegie Art Center, Baker City, Ore.

During the first weekend in October local area artists open their studios to the public for the Baker City Studio Tour, which also includes a stop at the Crossroads Carnegie Art Center and other local galleries or facilities. The galleries host individual artists who can not open their studio to the public to demonstrate their craft, plus the organizations put on special exhibits for the tour. 

Centrally located at 2020 Auburn Ave., the Crossroads Carnegie Art Center, is an art corner stone for the town and the surrounding area. The old Carnegie library has been transformed in to a first class art center in an impressive building and what is inside is just as impressive.

Artist Mike Meyers, photo credit Base Camp Baker

The studio tour features approximately 20-25 individual artists covering a range of artistic media from sculpture, pottery, wood work, painting, mosaic and fibre art. Follow their updates on their blog. Get the brochure and map and head out to see the artists at work in their studios, talk with them about their process and buy yourself, or someone special, a unique gift. You can be sure of a warm welcome during American Craft Week at the Baker City Studio Tour in NE Oregon.

Brattleboro, Vermont...one great craft town

Vermont has a host of great artists and crafters throughout the state but one of the mainstays of their creative culture is Brattleboro. The town regularly finds a place on American Craft Week's Top Ten Craft Towns, and rightly so. It is set in beautiful countryside and nurtures the creative soul.
One of the driving forces behind the town's artistic soul is an American Craft Week long time supporter, Vermont Artisan Designs.

Downtown Brattleboro, Vermont

Located at 106 main Street in the heart of town, it is a cornucopia of wonderful craft and art. They feature established and emerging artists from Vermont and throughout the North East. They are active participants in the First Friday Gallery Walk held every month and constantly promote their town and the arts.
And don't miss the Brattleboro Museum & Arts Center, another member of the gallery walk. There are lots of great venue choices.
The gallery walk has a downloadable map of all the venues, so head to their website to get all the info.
Be sure to spend some time in Brattleboro - especially if you can stroll through town during the Gallery Walk to discover all the creative places.

Welcome to our new participant from Louisiana!

Greg Little Woodworks of Prairieville, Louisiana is a new participant in America Craft Week and we extend the warmest of welcomes!  Greg Little gives a great introduction to himself on his website..quote:
"We all start somewhere in our journey of doing what we love to do. My creative journey started when I was around 12 years old. As a young child I watched and learned as my Dad, Uncle and Grand Papa built pirogues in the garage. It’s quite an experience to go out duck hunting in the marsh using a homemade pirogue (even if I did flip over into the water a time or two)... These are the kind of great memories that last a lifetime."
unquote
Now don't you just want to go find out more? He's master woodworker and has won many awards...even if he thinks he's having too much time doing it!! So give him a call (number's on the webiste) and find ot when he's doing a show, or arrange to head on over to Prairieville,LA and see Greg and his crafted woodwork.
 

Image courtesy artists website

3 very good reasons to sign up with ACW now!

National Exposure - Visitors to the American Craft Week website are looking for events in your area, not just during American Craft Week! One gallery reports that Google Analytics shows a dozen visitors a week to their gallery, originating from the ACW website, in April. Travel writers often search our website for ideas.

It's Easy! - And takes less than 5 minutes. Just head over to the ACW website and sign up. Note: it's free for CRAFT members and just $35 for retailers/artists.

Become Part of a Larger Craft Community - You'll be joining other galleries, shops, studios, artists and festivals to bring national attention to all things handmade in America by proudly displaying the American Craft Week logo. The more of us celebrating & spreading the word, the louder our voice becomes

Join the fun – ENJOY!

Big congratulations to Blue Ridge, Georgia...

Blue Ridge Arts Association is a participant in American Craft Week AND Blue Ridge, GA, is a 2018 Top Ten Craft Town. It's happening place! The town's website says it all - Perfect for people who love art, good food and the great outdoors!
There's cool music in them thar hills with Pickin' in the Park on Thursdays, movies in the park and great craft and art all around. And don't miss the Contemporary & Southern Folk ArtExzhibit which ends August 25 at the Arts Center. There's the International Paint out September 6-9 and the SAAG National Juried Show October 6-Nov 10... and so much more. Check out the websites before you plan your visit and make the most of it!  ENJOY!

Welcome back to a special participant...

American Craft Week  loves it when friends join us, and when they've been with us since the beginning it's special indeed... so it's big welcome back to SEASONS on St. Croix Gallery, at 401 Second Street, Hudson, WI.

SEASONS on St. Croix Gallery is a wonderful, relaxed arts venue with an eclectic mix of contemporary craft and fine art. You'll enjoy exploring the works of mostly local and regional artists. Their varied collection of glass, ceramics, jewelry, mixed media, sculpture, wood, metal, fiber, as well as two dimensional fine art, is a kalidescope of great art and craft.

Be sure to stop in and say hello, buy something special for yourself or as a great gift.

Image courtesy of  SEASONS on St Croix website

Oh yes! Berea, Kentucky is a Top Ten Craft Town

Berea, KY enjoys national recognition as an outstanding craft town.  You can't miss the public art display of the "hands of Berea," click on this link to hear the story of the hands, and to hear the artists explain their work. There's the Berea Craft Festival coming up 13-15  July - don't miss it. 
The Artisan's Village is the lower section of town, and the College area is the upper section. And be sure to make a note of the working artists in town to arrange your visit.
There's lots to see and do so give yourself a few days. Berea is a delight to visit, historic hotel, great eateries and great craft and art..start planning your trip!

Asheville, N.C. a Top Ten Town

Asheville is a haven for artists and crafters nestled in the spectacular Western North Carolina mountains. Be sure to give yourself a few days to visit, there's so much great art and craft you'll need some time there to really enjoy it. A good place to start is to visit the Asheville Area Art Council website -it's chock a block full of information on events, gallery shows, exhibitions and more. Another good resource is Art Connections with Sherry Masters to book a tour. If you time it right in June or October, you can spend hours of enjoyment at the Asheville Art in the Park, a great outdoor art show. Grovewood Village is a must visit historic arts district. The Southern Highlands Guild  in Biltmore Village is renown nationally and internationally. And ofcourse there's Chihuly exhibit the Biltmore House & Gardens - definitely don't want to miss that! 
Well, these are some ideas for you and we could go on and on... but why don'[t you visit our Participant page and get links to so many more good things to do in Asheville, a Top Ten Craft Town par excellence!

ATTENTION: Time's getting short...

American Craft Week Presents Metamorphosis

Repurposed, Recycled, Resourceful Craft

This is like 20 questions, only we don't have SO many questions … just these three:

Do you use recyled materials to create? Do you know some one who does? Do you collect the recycled works of artists and crafters?

If so check out our new competition to find 25 great craft artists... by June 22..that's FRIDAY, June 22. So hurry over to our website and enter yourself or nominate your favorite "recycler!" It's easy...just follow these rules:

We are looking for twenty-five exceptional craft artists who make their art out of recycled materials. We want to know what inspired you, the materials you use, your process, and of course, the end result, your creations.

The national American Craft Week Committee will judge the entries on the following criteria:
1. An impressive body of work demonstrating excellence in design and skill level.
2. The extent to which the original materials were transformed into new art.
3. How much of the art is made from recycled materials.
4. The quality and craftsmanship of the art.
5. Where the general public can see and/or purchase your art.

Entries accepted until midnight, Friday, June 22, 2018.

Go to our website and start now before it's too late

Highlighting great towns

Congratulations to American Craft Week's Top 10 Craft towns...well deserved indeed. We'll be highlighting each town individually on this blog throughout the year. So join us in celebrating all the winners... and encourage all the runners up. They might not have made the final 10 but everyone's a winner in our book.

Take time to learn about the 10 towns and be sure to visit them...add them to your itinery when you next go on a road trip. Or plan a special weekend away to explore one of these fabulous towns. Maybe celebrate a special anniversary by visiting one. There's all sorts of reasons to detour – you won't be disappointed!

Keep an eye out for each town when it's featured on the blog during the year and get the calendar out to plan that trip. Enjoy!

Click here to view...

Colorado is joining us!

American Craft Week welcomes Aspen Light Glass Studio in Montrose, Colorado who is joining us to celebrate beautiful craft nationwide. Located at 21 N Junction Ave, the kiln-formed glass studio specializes in glass frit (crushed glass,) paintings and dimensional glass sculpture.
We're looking forward to hear about what special event they will plan for 5-14 October. Be sure to check closer to the time to see what fabulous things they have in store for you. If you're in the Montrose, Colorado area, or just visiting nearby, be sure to stop by to see them. For more information, check their website and start following their blog for lots of cool information and events.

Copyright Aspen Glass. Image courtesy of their website.

Welcome to Wyoming!

American Craft Week is delighted the great state of Wyoming is joining us to celebrate craft in October. Casper Art Guild will celebrate Fiber Arts with an open call gallery show for any and all fiber arts. Also featured in October of 2018 is a solo show by Ken Carpenter, woods artist, and an open call Greeting Cards Show. 
They have a fabulous facility in a historic warehouse at 312 W. Midwest Ave. They participate in the Casper Art Walk each month from April through December. They offer a variety of artistic workshop all year. And their gift shop offers the works of artists & craftspeople throughout the year.
If you live in the area, or are just visiting, be sure to stop by and enjoy all they have to offer.
For more information, visit their website

How to find great craft and art?

A couple of blogs back we talked about buying local, finding artists when you visit new destinations. Here's a great way to go about it if you're in North Carolina... sign with the American Craft Week loyal and active participant, Art Connections with Sherry Masters.
The Asheville area is a renown artist haven and Sherry Masters knows the artists and area well. You can take a scheduled planned tour or you can have a tour personalized just for you. She will plan a tour to suit your interests and budget. You get to visit private studios, hidden gems and more. Noting beats hearing the story from the artist about why they create, what they do and how they do it. Spending personal time will be so worth it.

Tour visit to artists studio, photo courtesy of Art Connections website

Top 10 Craft Towns..the race to the finish is on!

Who will be the American Craft Week 2018 Top Craft Town in the USA? And who will be the final 10? The last few days of voting is here... things get exciting now. St Pete's in Florida is steaming ahead, little Mineral Point in WI is really doing well at the top. And trying to make it in to the final 10 has a couple of towns are battling it out at 10 - 12!! Oh the thrills!
There can be surprises, towns surge, there can be upsets, the competition is fierce and it's all great fun. The prestige of being the top town, or on the final list, is great! So, get your town folks voting, spread the word.... you've only got a few days left. Vote here

Welcome back to one of ACW stalwarts!

It's time to highlight another great American Craft Week participant... Random Acts of Art in the historic Crayton Cove district of Naples, Florida. This funky, fun and fabulous gallery is a treasure trove - do visit and treat yourself or that someone special. Every delightful piece is guaranteed handmade in America, local artists all.
Random Acts of Act is a strong and active supporter of ACW, and we certainly appreciate them. Why don't you join us alongside Random Acts of Art and celebrate local craft and arts during American Craft week this year? Make sure you note the dates 5-14 October 2018...
We look forward to seeing you soon

All the info you need to visit is on their website... hours of business, location, phone etc,.. so hurry over!

Support your local artists!

"Support your local artist," may sound like a no-brainer, but have you thought about how much it impacts the local economy and community? Say you're on a vacation and want a special memento or a unique gift to take to your best friend. Take the time to find out where the local artists are, which galleries they're in or do they have open studio days? If you buy the perfect unique piece of jewelry, a beautifully blown glass container, a wooden bowl turned to perfection or that piece of pottery you can't resist, it will remind you of your special time. And the money you spent doesn't need to be a huge amount but it will have a big impact if many people spend locally... perhaps it'll help pay for a child's school, to buy groceries, fill a tank of gas... you get the picture.

So, spend some time going through the wonderful participants over the years of American Craft Week, check out their websites – here's an example, Alexis Moyer, one of ACW's 2017 Star Award winners, has pottery which will have you reaching for your wallet without a second thought. If you're in California be sure to look her up.

So, now go buy local craft and art. It will make a big difference and you will have a fun time hearing the stories from the artists or the gallery owner. They make great dinner party stories when you get home ...

Photo of Alexis Moyer courtesy of the artist's website

Are you voting for your town?

America's Top Ten Craft Towns....
Voting is open for America's Top Ten Craft Towns... are you voting every day for your town? or your favorite craft town? Head over to American Craft Week Facebook page and vote... it's important!

Welcome back to a wonderful participant!

It's always good to see old friends! Every year we love having supportive participants of American Craft Week return for another grand celebration in October. We're going to highlight a participant every so often over the year and today we're delighted to welcome back Vermont Artisan Designs, they are stalwart of ACW. So, welcome back, Vermont Artisan Designs and thank you for your support!

Check out their website, make a note of their info and see how they do it so well!

Vermont Artisan Designs – plus their upstairs’ Gallery 2 – has been an extensive “showcase of fine art and hand-crafted gifts” in downtown Brattleboro, Vermont for more than 40 years

When you’re in southeastern Vermont, be sure to head to 106 Main Street and see this great gallery. They’re open 7 days a week. And they always take part in the local monthly event, First Friday Gallery Walk and are strong supporters of American Craft Week every October.

Phone is (802) 257-7044

Visit and like their facebook page 

VOTE! oh yes you must....

Here's a heads up folks! 
Voting for the Top Ten Craft Towns starts March 15... and there's room on the ballot for a couple more. Do you think your town should be listed? Go to the American Craft Week Facebook page, add it to the poll and start voting. Time is short.... it is a great boost for your town, travel writer's follow the competition every year. 

But you have to vote! Round up your town's fans and vote....and have fun.

Be inspired

Joining us for American Craft Week is easy and we want you to have fun. We ask you to arrange one event at least during the week. This can be a demonstration of throwing pots on a wheel, an artist talk to an elaborate multi-media group exhibit. You can get a number of arts related businesses near you to join up and throw an arty party for a weekend with studio tours, gallery events and performance art. Whatever works for you, the activities help the chorus of voices to highlight how important our crafts are to the quality of life and the economy of our communities.

So, now you've signed up to join us in 2018 and you need some ideas to get the creative juices going? Try checking out what previous participants have done.
A fabulous example for an exhibit during American Craft Week is North Carolina's Asheville Area Arts Council. They were the winner of the 2017 Star Award for "The Perfect ACW Exhibit." Check out all our Star Award winners AND other participants...they're all are fabulous!

We're looking for you to join us

Are you an individual artist?..join us! Should your organization, studio or shop be an American Craft Week participant? Join us! It's time to sign up for this years celebration, Oct. 5-14. Get more information & sign up now

Save the Date

Time to start thinking of creative ways to celebrate American Craft Week!  It's never too early to be prepared...first, sign up to join us and then put on your creative thinking cap... we'll share ideas to inspire you over the next few months. Looking forward to seeing you