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One of the reasons I love going to craft shows is that is where my products practically sell themselves. Using ecommerce, Instagram and Facebook you can reach a larger audience but it is difficult to show customers how vivid the canvas colors are, how comfy it feels to the touch after being dyed and washed several times, or the quality of the sewing and bag construction.   Most of the craft shows I planned to attend in 2020 were canceled, with the exception of the Woodstock Apple Fest, which is only about a 20-minute drive from my place. It was...

‘Hartford Dollars’ Program Now Active! These dollars can be purchased by anyone: you do not have to be a Hartford resident! The goal is to increase consumer spending, support local businesses, and advance community recovery efforts. “Hartford Dollars” with $30 and $50 values to be used at participating Hartford restaurants, retail and lodging businesses. These will cost you $15 and $25 respectively.  The form is pretty simple - here’s the link to purchase: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07eh9z3yivc658b76e&oseq=&c=&ch= The program will run from October 16th to November 30th. No change will be given; customers must use the full amount at one time. Hartford Dollars”...

It's official. Starting August 1, 2020 everyone in Vermont over the age of 2 yrs. needs to wear a mask and keep six feet apart. If you want to know the exact rules, check out Vermont State's Mask Mandate: https://accd.vermont.gov/covid-19/restart/masks Facebook and Google are doing their best to block small businesses from selling masks, so it can be hard for local mask makers to get the word out, however Vermont State does provide a Face Covering Guide - how to make them and also where to buy them. Another source for local mask makers is a VSECU blog https://blog.vsecu.com/get-your-vermont-made-face-masks-here Buying...

I use Indonesian batik exclusively in my business for good reason. The colors and designs are extraordinarily beautiful and the cotton has a wonderfully fine weave. Other countries such as China and India are trying to edge their way into this market but they make poor substitutes. Indonesian batik is pure artistry and the techniques used to make this fabric is labor intensive. Imagine - it takes two days to complete each 15 yards of fabric! Here is a video created by AvlynFabrics that shows how this incredible fabric is made. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nsMFIZfBiE

In an earlier blog, I posted a video by YouTuber Nicole Herrick that shows how to make a protective mask. Her mask is well-designed and she provides instructions and a downloadable pattern, although for me watching the video was all the instruction I needed. Nicole lives in Australia and some of the materials and information she provides are not yet commonly accepted practice in the US. For example, she recommends using a "Sunbrella"-type indoor-outdoor fabric for the outside of the mask, which may be perfectly okay, but this has not been tested/recommended in the US, as far as I know. ...