Tag: CT Travel

Tina’s Baskets & Woven Arts Offers A Creative Option for Holiday Shopping

Are you ready for holiday shopping? It’s officially gift–giving season, and Tina’s Baskets and Woven Art located in Studio #305 at Whiting Mills in Winsted is here to help. Admittedly gift giving can be kind of selfish… what’s better than that feeling of satisfaction knowing you have found something wonderful and unique for that special someone on your list? At Tina Puckett’s art studio, shoppers will find something unique and not mass–produced for your just as unique friends and family members at various price points. Best of all, this shopping experience lets folks see and feel their choices in person while supporting Connecticut’s artists and the local community.

In an atmospheric studio, visitors will find Master Weaver, Tina Puckett, a national and international award-winning artist known for her woven arts and dimensional weaving creating phantasmagorical pieces that are as beautiful as they are useful. The studio is cheerfully decorated and is open on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in December. An added perk of shopping local is that shoppers will meet Tina and learn what inspires her sought-after woven pieces, making it a memorable experience this season. While shopping don’t forget to enter the raffle for a festive handmade basket!

Finding the perfect present can be a tricky business – and yet a local artist Tina Puckett weaves baskets, bowls, wall hangers, and sculptures that are pieces of art. Tina’s Baskets & Woven Art is sure to satisfy even the most discerning on your holiday list. Visiting her rustic art studio is an adventure in itself, especially if you are on the hunt for something special that is sustainable, ready to be used time and time again, and loved for years to come.

Many things make Tina’s Baskets and Woven Arts, unusual. Each piece is inspired by Tina’s imagination and the natural beauty of bittersweet vines that she weaves into the dynamic shapes with hand-dyed reeds that create a mélange of colors that will not be found anywhere else. What enhances the character of each piece is the addition of the bittersweet vine that is foraged by Tina in the woods near her studio in the Northwest Corner of Connecticut.

New this year and perfect for friends and family who love learning and creating works of art is a gift certificate to take one of Tina’s Basket Weaving Classes. The classes offer teens and adults of all abilities the opportunity to learn more about the timeless art of basket weaving from a master in the field.

Tina’s Baskets is also open by appointment and all woven art and baskets are available online at http://www.tinasbaskets.com.

About Tina’s Baskets
Tina Puckett is an internationally awarded weaver of baskets and woven arts. You can see her works in studio #305/ Tina’s Baskets. Located at Whiting Mills in Winsted, Connecticut. Tina has been weaving since 1981 using hand-dyed reeds, bittersweet vines, and a variety of found objects like beads or seagrass. Her work is showcased at galleries across the World and at her gallery/studio where you will often find her weaving on weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments are preferred and can be arranged by texting 860-309-6934.

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Finding Your Bearings October 15 @ Institute For American Indian Studies

Did you know there was something besides Google Maps or Waze for directions? For centuries people around the world have used a variety of techniques to mark their boundaries, measure distances, and find their sense of place.

Native Americans used many different means to navigate their environment. Different methods were used to mark tribal territories and hunting boundaries, as well as to designate their trails and, to convey important messages. It is fascinating to learn how the natural environment was used for directions.

If you want to learn about the various ways to find directions, including traditional indigenous techniques as well as how to read a map and a compass, don’t miss the “Find Your Bearings Orienteering Workshop” on Sunday, October 15 at 1 p.m. at the Institute for American Indian Studies at 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut.

Participants will join IAIS educator and ecologist, Susan Scherf for an interactive in-person workshop to learn how to get their bearings should their GPS lose its signal! A highlight of the workshop is to practice these newly acquired skills by completing an orienteering scavenger hunt on the Museum’s colorful autumn trails, which add to the fun.

Most of this program is being held outside, and some of the woodland terrain may be uneven, so wear sturdy shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. Space is limited and pre-registration is requested at http://www.iaismusueum.org or by calling 860-868-0518 or via email at events@iaismuseum.org. This program costs $10 for non-members and $5 for members.

About the Institute for American Indian Studies
Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have the 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

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Basket Weaving Classes offered by Award Winning Artist – Tina Puckett At Her Studio

Tina Puckett, owner of Tina’s Baskets and Woven Art in Winsted, Connecticut is a nationally and internationally award-winning woven artist specializing in everything from intricate baskets and bowls to woven sculptures and wall hangings. Puckett has just announced that she is offering a series of year-round classes for teens and adults on Saturday and Sunday and on Monday and Friday nights. “There is a universal and enduring appeal of baskets and woven bowls. The sensation of making something with your hands from reeds and bittersweet vines is empowering, and I want to share that feeling in my classes,” says Puckett.

Learn from an award winning artist

The classes, which are suitable for all skill levels, are offered for up to six people as well as for individuals who want an intensive session. During the weaving session, Tina will share her knowledge about the history of basket weaving and what inspires her work. This hands-on experience provides participants with the basic techniques to create their very own basket or bowl, an understanding of this time-honored craft, as well as improving their understanding of the beauty of bittersweet and reeds. Among the many things that make these classes different is that participants will learn that weaving with bittersweet defines the character and shape of the basket or bowl transforming it into a woven piece of art.

Have fun making this bittersweet tray!

All classes take place in Tina’s atmospherically inspiring Studio at Whiting Mills in Winsted. Part of the fun of is to choose the type of basket or bowl you want to weave, your color palate, and how much time you want to spend weaving it. Participants can choose a class on Saturday or Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. or from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Classes are also being offered Monday and Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. All participants will leave the class with a finished basket or bowl to take home. All materials are provided including a piece of locally foraged bittersweet vine or a wooden hoop, and a choice of hand-colored, custom reeds. All classes are by advance reservation only and can be made by clicking https://www.tinasbaskets.com/classes

If you can’t make it to the studio, no worries, Tina is also offering classes via Zoom. Off-site classes are also available by special arrangement.

Learn how to make this colorful and useful basket

“I am excited to share what I know,” says Puckett. “It is a tradition that has been handed down through the centuries, in just about every culture around the world. Basketry weaving classes aren’t one of those things that are readily accessible to everybody, which is why I decided to offer classes year-round.”

About Tina’s Baskets

Tina Puckett is a nationally awarded weaver of baskets and woven art who is the owner of Tina’s Baskets which is located at Whiting Mills in Winsted, Connecticut. Tina has been weaving since 1981 using hand-dyed reeds, bittersweet, and a variety of objects like beads or seagrass. Her work is showcased at a variety of galleries across the United States as well as at her gallery/studio where you will often find her weaving on weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Custom orders are accepted and appointments can be arranged by texting 860-309-6934.

JanetLeave a comment

Orchard Farm Stay at Husky Meadows Farm

September at Husky Meadows, a certified organic working farm, is a very special time to experience a farm stay. The gardens and orchards are brimming with fruits, vegetables, and flowers, just as the leaves are beginning to turn. The Orchard Farm Stay taking place from Friday, September 22 through Sunday, September 24 invites guests to enjoy the season in a beautiful setting on this small New England farm.

Farm stays include two nights lodging in one of four elegantly appointed and very private guest suites. A favorite among guests is the Pergola Apartment because it has two bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms, a sitting area, a kitchenette, and even a balcony. This totally separate guesthouse is perfect to book with four friends or family members. Another favorite guesthouse is called The Coop, which is the most private of all the rooms. It has a cozy loft bedroom and a large sitting room replete with a rustic stone fireplace. All meals with beverages and cocktails are included in the farm stay package. Highlights of the package include a Friday night welcome dinner around a communal table, light breakfast, and lunch, a Saturday evening cooking class dinner, and a sumptuous and healthy Sunday brunch.

The Coop

During the Orchard Farm Stay, guests will have the opportunity to go into the garden and harvest its bounty with Farmer Brett, who tended the gardens at California’s famous restaurant, The French Laundry. There will be a cider-making donut class and a pie-making class with Tracy Hayhurst, the farm’s Culinary Director followed by a Hard Cider Tasting that features the best hard
ciders made in the Northeast.

The two-acre orchard at Husky Meadows Farm is a treasure trove of peaches, plums, pears, and too many types of apples to name. A highlight of the weekend will be the Saturday night cooking class that combines fruit from the orchard into a mélange of savory dishes inspired by the harvest. Guests will be amazed at the number of ways there are to incorporate fruit into savory dishes. Cooking is an art and the classes at Husky Meadows Farm are designed to help guests make magic in their kitchens long after the weekend is over.

To book the Orchard Farm Stay visit huskymeadows.com.

About Husky Meadows Farm
Situated on three hundred bucolic acres in Norfolk, Connecticut, Husky Meadows Farm grows certified organic produce for its kitchen, farm stand, and community-supported agriculture membership. The farm kitchen offers year-round prepared foods. At the height of the growing season from May – October the farm also offers intimate farm stays, cooking classes, community dinners, and special workshops on a variety of farm-to-table and ecological topics.

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Jazz in the Garden @ the Torrington Historical Society

On Saturday, August 26 at 6:30 pm the Torrington Historical Society located on 192 Main Street is hosting the Southern CT State University Latin Jazz Ensemble. The Ensemble explores the repertoire of jazz and improvised music from the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking cultures of the Caribbean and South America.

Expect a concert with classic pieces from Cuba, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and other parts of the region. These students work hard to learn these traditional rhythms and melodies and their concerts are filled with moments when you will want to just get up and dance!!!

The ensemble is led by Dr. David Chevan of the SCSU Music Department. In addition to his work as a bass player, Chevan believes in jazz education in all its shapes, sizes, methods, processes, and encounters. He is a member of the board of trustees of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation

Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs, blankets, and refreshments. General admission is $18, historical society members are $15 and SCSU students and faculty are $10. To purchase tickets click here.

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Kent Summer Sales Days August 3-6

Catch more than just one good bargain during the Kent Sidewalk Sale Days! Sponsored by the Kent Chamber of Commerce, St. Andrew’s Parish, The Shops at 31 North Main Street, 45 on Main Coffee, Chocolate & Creamery, and Kent Greenhouse & Gardens, the Sale Days are scheduled for Thursday, August 3 through Sunday, August 6, 2023, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Shoppers will delight in FABULOUS SALES at merchants including Ace Hardware, Sundog Shoe & Leather, Fife ‘n Drum Gift Shop, House of Books, Kent Greenhouse & Gardens, Koblenz & Co. Antique & Estate Jewelry, Chestnut Woodworking, Tarot in Thyme, and the Kent Station Pharmacy. The long weekend will also feature the wonderful St. Andrews Annual Tag Sale. The Kent Memorial Library will have its Outdoor Book Sale for all four days, Li Liu’s “Traditions of Chinese Acrobatics” performance, and other family-friendly events PLUS you can purchase a raffle ticket to win a 2000 Porsche Boxster 5 Convertible!

Hungry? Of course, there will be delicious food & drinks. Newly opened 45 on Main Coffee and Creamery will have coffee drinks, chocolate treats, and ice cream! The KPG Kitchen & Bar will offer a free glass of beer, wine, or soda with a receipt from a Kent participating merchant! On Kent Green, Sophie’s Bakery & Restaurant will serve up cookies, pastries, and “grab & go” noshes. Stop by JP Gifford Market or the Villager Restaurant for sandwiches, burgers, salads, and lots more options. The Kent Farmers Market takes place on Friday, August 4 from 3:00 to 6:00 PM at the Kent Land Trust Field (South Main Street) directly across Route 7 from the Kent Greenhouse. Now’s the time to get your fresh veggies and produce along with craftspeople, food-to-go, and more at the Farmers Market.

The 2023 Summer Concert Series will present a free concert on Thursday, August 3 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM and will feature the Kenn Morr Band. The concert will take place at the Kent Land Trust Field on Route 7. (Rain cancels) Please support Kent’s Food Bank by bringing a non-perishable item for collection at the event.

The Golden Falcon Lot (on North Main Street) will feature non-profits with information about their dedicated volunteer organizations. Stop by and discover more about the Kent Historical Society, Kent Quilters, Kent Lions Club, Kent Land Trust, Kent Affordable Housing, and Project SAGE. And as always, the art galleries in town will have exhibitions to peruse wonderful works of art!

Parking is available on Main Street and on the Kent Green property. For more information and a schedule of sales & events, visit www.kentct.com.

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