Made In Newtown: Crafts Show Will Celebrate Talented Friends & Neighbors

By Shannon Hicks

The public is invited to start its holiday shopping (or for those who have already started, continue…), purchase something new for their home, or just enjoy some family time while meeting talented neighbors during “Made In Newtown,” an arts and crafts show being presented on Sunday, November 14, at C.H. Booth Library.

The event is being sponsored by The Newtown Newcomers & Neighbors Club and as its name implies, all of the vendors participating are Newtown residents.

The show and sale will be in the Olga Knoepke Meeting Room (the lower level community/meeting room) at C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street. Hours are 1 to 5 pm, and admission is free.

Twenty local crafters have been accepted into the show. There will be jewelry, holiday decorations, paintings, hand knit items, custom chocolate items, and photography.

Participants include Janeen Baron, the owner of Simple Pleasures, with handmade soaps, bath salts, body scrubs, and bath fizzies; Renee Bulkley with hand painted room signs and artwork; Lisa Cascone, pieces that honor  Newtown and its upcoming tercentennial celebration; Lisa Gallagher (Chocolate Creations), with custom chocolate creations; Valerie Hart, with silver jewelry; and Amy Holcomb (AH!), who does hand painted rustic signs and décor.

Valerie Ide Crafts owner Valerie Ide does hand-knit roll brim hats, mittens, and scarves, and children’s hats with bears and fun fur scarves. Jennifer Keddy (From Me To You) will have embellished jean jackets, baskets, lamp shades, and small furniture.

Also participating is Tina Mahoney, with handmade dresses and quilts; Wendy Rafferty, who was a familiar face at this summer’s Sandy Hook Organic Farmers’ Market with Edwardian vintage-inspired handmade jewelry; and Diane Rand, who does knitting, cross-stitch, and crochet.

Jeanie Ruddy will have handmade felt and wooden ornaments and holiday decorations; Conny Schmitt (Whatever Wave You Are On), fine woven silver jewelry; Joanne Sherwoon, hand painted room signs and artwork; Mike Summerer, woodturning; Leslie Troy (Hickory Dickory Dock), painted bowls and other decorative items; and Tracy Van Buskirk (NovaClay) will have polymer clay jewelry and accessories.

Kathy Murdy, who has lived in Newtown for more than 30 years and regularly shows her folk painted items at Newtown Country Mill, will be doing one of her first Connecticut shows next weekend. Mrs Murdy creates painted bowls, wooden Santas on found pieces of birch (which her husband Rich cuts down and shapes for her), wooden plates and ornaments, and trays with wooden inserts.

Many of her plates, ornaments, and tray inserts feature Newtown’s rooster weathervane. She has also created mirrors with frames that have familiar scenes of Newtown painted on them. One such mirror is currently featured at The Inn at Newtown.

The director of Newtown Congregational Church Cooperative Nursery School, Mrs Murdy always has her work station set up at home but does not participate in shows regularly because she doesn’t have enough time to do so.

She spends her summers in New Hampshire, where she and her husband have a cottage surrounded by boulders — hence the name of her business, Boulder Point Designs. Much of her work is sold through a store in New Hampshire, with many of her Connecticut creations being share with family and friends.

“I heard about this show through one of the parents at the nursery school and it just seems like a perfect fit,” she said.

The show will also feature balloons and face painting for the younger visitors, and a raffle featuring at least one item donated by each participating crafter.

Proceeds from the show will benefit Newtown Newcomers & Neighbors, a nonprofit organization that is open to new residents and anyone currently living in town. The club helps introduce members — regardless of their length of residence — to the civic and social aspects of Newtown and the surrounding area.

“Made in Newtown” proceeds will help fund the club’s scholarship and community service efforts. Club members will be available to answer questions and acquaint shoppers with the organization’s mission and efforts.