More than 80 artisans to showcase handcrafted works

By Deborah Rose

What began as a small artisan event three years ago has blossomed into a full-scale artisan festival that will grace the Village Green July 22.

Eighty-two vendors, four food trucks, and three bands will be featured at the Litchfield County Artisans Festival that will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Green.

The event has come together smoothly and “has exceeded our hopes and expectations as far as the scope of it,” said resident Janet Wittmann, who, along with her husband, John, daughter, Denice Wittmann, Denice’s boyfriend, and Denice’s daughter, is organizing the festival.

With more than 80 artisans to be featured, the festival will cover the majority of the Green, except for the northern portion, which will be dedicated to the farmers market, which is offered every Saturday morning.

Artisans will showcase their crocheted goods, stained glass, pottery, children’s clothing, resin and acrylic, fused glass, woodworks, handmade soap, cookie-making, upcycle, candlemaking, photography, jewelry-making, and more.

Many local artisans and crafters will participate, and some will travel from out-of-state.

“Everything is handmade,” Denice said. “Nothing is resale.”

The festival is about “people being creative – craftspeople, artisans, talented people who are just expressing themselves,” Janet explained. 

“Everybody needs an outlet like that,” she said.

Denice said the opportunity to move the fair from the VFW, where it has been held the past two years, to the Green is significant. 

It provides better “visibility” for participating artisans, and the presentation of the festival is nostalgic, reminding her of the early years of the former Village Fair Day, she said. 

Janet said organizers have personally visited downtown merchants and “extended a welcome” to them and encouraged them “to take advantage of the people that will be coming to town.”

“Have a sidewalk sale,” Janet suggested.

The Wittmanns said they see the festival as a way to “kickstart” a new, spirited downtown event.

Artisan Christine Maschke, of The Sharp Pencil in New Milford, said she is “really looking forward” to participating in the festival.

“It is fantastic that it is being held on the New Milford Green, where our town loves to gather,” she said. 

“This event will bring business to our local merchants, as well as the vendors,” Maschke said.

Middletown artist Elaine Duchaineau will return to the festival for the third year. She said she looks forward to the new venue because it is “more welcoming to customers” and offers more space for additional features, such as the food trucks, and more parking for customers.

Duchaineau, who creates bags, pillows, mug rugs and more using vintage and upcycled fabrics through her business, Elainenthesun, praised the organizers.

“Their energy and the amount of time and effort they put into making this a great event was a big part of my decision” to participate, Duchaineau said.

Artisans were selected through a juried application process, and participants were carefully chosen, according to Denice.

Having participated as an artisan in similar events and not having a positive vendor experience in the past, Denice said she and her mother committed to going a different direction for the Litchfield Artisans Festival to ensure artisans have a balanced opportunity to show and sell their products.

To that end, no one medium is over-represented. If there are multiple jewelers, for example, each offers a different style or type of jewelry.

In addition to vendor booths, entertainment will be provided throughout the day.

Guy Tino will offer acoustic music in the morning, followed by the Back Porch Singers, and Blonde and Gray.

Original artwork, below, by New Milford artist Christina Maschke will be included in the festival.

Below, bags and mug rugs are among the handcrafted items Elaine Duchaineau, of Middletown, will showcase and sell at the July 22 event.