Tag: New England

Creative Day at Whiting Mills – May 11 Take a Free Class with Tina’s Baskets and Woven Art

On May 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the general public will have the opportunity to unleash their inner artist and let their creativity run wild at Whiting Mill’s “Creative Day” where a variety of classes and workshops are offered at no charge. It is the ideal way to step away from the mundane and get your creativity flowing by signing up for up to three classes. Jewelry makers, candle and soap makers, painters, photographers, special effect make–up artists, and a nationally awarded woven arts weaver have joined together to celebrate and nurture the creative spirit that lives in all of us.

The general public is invited to Whiting Mills located at 210 Holabird Rd. in Winsted at 9 a.m. to sign up for two classes of their choice. After completing their two-morning classes that run from one hour to one and a half hours long, they can sign up for one additional class that is not filled up at noon. The artists can offer these classes for free because of grants from a variety of sponsors. All materials are provided and participants will leave with a piece of art that they have created under the guidance of professional artists and craftspeople. In addition to classes, there will be a series of demonstrations throughout the building to show what the creative process entails and to encourage folks to pursue their dreams in the creative arts.

The classes offered by Tina’s Baskets and Woven Art, located in Studio 305, are three of the most coveted of the day because it gives people the chance to work with a nationally and internationally awarded artist. These intensive and fun classes are limited to six people per session and will run about an hour and a half. The lucky folks who sign up for these classes will leave with a small basket that they have handcrafted from Tina’s hand-dyed reeds. The studio itself is a pleasure to explore because it is a treasure trove of hand-woven work that includes baskets, bowls, sculptures, and wall hangings. Each piece is inspired by Tina’s imagination and woven with hand-dyed reeds into beautiful dynamic shapes in delightful color combinations that won’t be found anywhere else. They are an inspiration and may encourage participants to sign up for one of Tina’s extensive group classes that she offers throughout the year for all levels of weaving acumen.

This is the second annual Creative Day at Whiting Mills that is being held to have fun while learning new skills to encourage participants to keep creating!

JanetLeave a comment

Tina’s Baskets and Woven Art to Participate in Open Studio @ Whiting Mills April 27 and 28

Whiting Mills in Winsted is a magnet for creative people and art lovers. On Saturday, April 27, and Sunday, April 28, in honor of their 20th year as an art co-op, they are inviting the public to explore more than 50 artist studios including nationally acclaimed artists like Tina Puckett, owner of Tina’s Baskets and Woven Art, whose work is highly collectible and far from ordinary

Whether you are a seasoned collector or a first-time buyer, Whiting Mills has something for everyone. There are studios of woven art, baskets, paintings, photography, printmaking, jewelry, fiber arts, candles, soaps, pottery, and handmade garments. Meet with seasoned artists who have been with Whiting Mills for 20 years as well as talented newcomers, guest artists for the weekend, and makers and creators of all kinds. A perk of visiting Whiting Mills on April 27 and 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. is the chance to get to meet the artist in person, see their creative process up close, find out what inspires their work, and buy directly from the source.

Visitors to Tina’s Baskets and Woven Art will find a treasure trove of hand-woven work that includes baskets, bowls, sculptures, and wall hangings. Each piece is inspired by Tina’s imagination and woven with hand-dyed reeds into beautiful dynamic shapes in delightful color combinations that won’t be found anywhere else. What enhances the character of each piece is the addition of the Bittersweet Vine foraged by Tina in the woods near her home in northwest Connecticut. The natural beauty of bittersweet inspires each custom piece and often dictates the form a basket, bowl, wall hanging, or sculpture will take.

Tina is also offering classes for teens and adults of all abilities for up to six people by reservation only. Classes are offered on Saturday or Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as mini classes from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., or 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.

Tina’s Baskets and Woven Art Studio is located in Room 305 @ Whiting Mills at 100 Whiting Street in Winsted. The Studio is open every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you need a special appointment or want to inquire about custom work, please text 860-309-6934 or email tina@tinasbaskets.com.

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

Moccasin Workshop 4/30 @ Institute for American Indian Studies

The Institute for American Indian Studies located at 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut is holding a Moccasin Making Workshop on Saturday, March 30, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants will not only leave this workshop with a pair of moccasins that they have made, they will also leave with a greater understanding of the cultural significance this footwear has with Native American communities throughout the country.

Across the United States, many Native American tribes created different styles of moccasins to suit their environment. The word moccasin itself comes from the Algonkian language – meaning “shoe.” They can be hard or soft-soled, ornately beaded, or plain, fur-lined, or cuffed. In short, the style of moccasins is as diverse as the many different tribes that they originate from.

Traditionally, in the Eastern Woodlands, including Connecticut, soft-soled moccasins were commonly made out of a single piece of deer, elk or moose hide, and hand-sewn using sinew. A characteristic making it an Eastern Woodlands moccasin is the center seam that is gathered at the toe giving it a pucker shape. Today, moccasin-inspired shoes find their way into modern designs and fashion statements, even as Native culture keepers continue the centuries-old tradition of moccasin making.

This fascinating three-hour workshop, led by Darlene Kascak, Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, and Educational Outreach Ambassador for IAIS promises to be fun and informative. Participants will make a pair of pucker toe style moccasins out of deer hide while listening to the history of moccasins. It is a powerful feeling to make something that you can use in your everyday life, using methods that people have used for generations.

This workshop is recommended for adults and children ages 8 and up due to the dexterity required for sewing. To register for this workshop head to the website http://www.iaismuseum.org, call 860-868-0518, or email events@iaismuseum.org. The cost of this workshop, which includes all materials, is $80 for non-members of the museum and $70 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 a 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 located at 38 Curtis Road, in Washington, Connecticut.

JanetLeave a comment

BraeVal and Rob Roy!

One of the leading men’s outdoor apparel companies, BraeVal, headquartered in Litchfield is well known for its field duty collection of shirts and jackets perfect for outdoor adventure. The foundation of this brand is on form and function in the field, at the office, or on a night in the town. One of the founder’s uncles brought the Rob Roy MacGregor tartan, known today as Buffalo Plaid to America in the 1800s. Today, the neckline and cuffs of every shirt and jacket hand-crafted by BraeVal are lined with Buffalo plaid.

Hero or villain, Rob Roy made an indelible impact on Scottish history for his dastardly deeds of cattle raiding and robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. The legend of Rob Roy is known throughout the world. It has been made popular by books, poems, and movies. There is even a drink created in his honor that dates back to 18th-century New York City.

One of the ways to stay ahead of the pack as a hotelier and restaurateur in NYC in the 1890s was to create a new cocktail sensation and name it after a popular production to draw clients in the door. That said, most folks believe that the birthplace of the Rob Roy cocktail was at New York City’s infamous Waldorf Astoria in 1894. At that time, the Waldorf was located where the Empire State Building now stands. Just down the block from the Waldorf, The Herald Square Theater, was producing Reginald De Koven’s operetta called “Rob Roy,” based on the life of the Scottish folk hero. The bartender at the Waldorf decided to create a new drink, the Rob Roy, to promote the hotel and the opening of this performance. Similar to a Manhattan, the bartender prepared his new Rob Roy creation with scotch instead of rye whiskey. It was a sensation and became popular across the country.

Historian David Wondrich’s recent research led him to conclude that the Rob Roy cocktail was a creation borrowed from Duke’s House in Hoboken, New Jersey. The story goes that a salesman for Usher’s Scotch was invited to join a table of men drinking Manhattan’s at Duke’s and he said he would only join them if a round of drinks were made using his company’s scotch. The bartender, Henry A. Orphal, created the Rob Roy using Usher’s Scotch and it was a hit. Another historian claims that the birthplace of the Rob Roy was the swank Fifth Avenue Hotel, just up the street from the Waldorf.

Regardless of who created this cocktail, it is still popular today. Essentially a Rob Roy is a Manhattan created for a scotch lover. It is less sweet than a Manhattan because the scotch adds a touch of smoke to vermouth’s sweetness, giving this drink balance. It is made by combining scotch with sweet vermouth and a dash of bitters and served either with a Maraschino cherry or a twist of lemon… be decadent, have it with both!

JanetLeave a comment

Tap into a Native American Tradition @ Maple Sugar Festival @ Institute for American Indian Studies March 2

Maple syrup has long enjoyed pride of place on many breakfast tables. The origin of this sweet spring elixir isn’t part of a trendy branding campaign; it is the widely unknown discovery of Native Americans, who have tapped trees for maple syrup since time immemorial. On March 2, the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington, Connecticut is hosting its annual Maple Sugar Festival, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to celebrate the original legacy of maple syrup.

Indigenous communities in the Northeast and Canada harvested sap from maple trees, boiling down sap and turning it into sugar water and maple syrup long before European contact. Special sugar camps were set up in groves of sugar maple trees and much like this festival, sugaring became a social event. “At the Institute’s Maple Sugar Festival, families will see firsthand how Native Americans harvested this sugary delight, a process that has been passed on through stories and demonstrations from generation to generation,” said Chris Combs, Executive Director of the Institute. “Most importantly, they’ll learn why this process is such an important part of Native American culture,” Combs added.

At this event, IAIS Educator and Ecologist, Susan Scherf will demonstrate various traditional Native American techniques of collecting sap and boiling it down into syrup and sugar. Visitors will learn the importance of maple sugar to the diet of Native Americans as well as its usefulness as an item of trade, and even as medicine.

In keeping with the fun-filled traditions surrounding Native American sugar camps, children are invited to listen to Native American stories and play traditional family-friendly games that will take place throughout the day, adding to this culturally enriching experience. To satiate your taste buds, maple syrup, samples from the Passamaquoddy Tribe of Maine are being offered. And, if you want to bring some of this delicious amber nectar home, head to the Institute’s gift shop which is stocked up with maple syrup made by the Passamaquoddy Tribe.

The cost of participation is $15 for adults, $10 for children, and $5 for members of the Institute. To pre-register head to The Institute for American Indian Studies Museum & Research Center, email events@iaismuseum.org, or call (860) 868-0518.

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 a 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 located at 38 Curtis Road, in Washington, Connecticut.

JanetLeave a comment

The Magic of Courting Flutes @ Institute for American Indian Studies Feb. 17

The Institute of American Indian Studies at 38 Curtis Road in Washington has a wonderful way to end Valentine’s Day week. On Saturday, February 17, beginning at 1 p.m., Ojibway artist, and musician Allan Madahbee will explain the cultural significance and demonstrate the hauntingly beautiful sound of the Native American courting flute. A highlight for participants is to learn why the courting flute is deeply rooted in the traditions of many Native American Cultures.

Today, makers of Native American Flutes like Ojibway artist and musician Allan Madahbee craft their style and sound into their creations. Madahbee began to research the Chippewa flute culture and was influenced and mentored by Joseph Firecrow of the Cheyenne Nation. “We became friends and he provided guidance and feedback and explained some of his methods of flute making. With his passing, we have all lost a great Native American flute maker and musician. I am proud to continue our flute-making traditions.” The sound of the courting flute, which is usually made of cedar, has an uncommon scale for Western music and is entrancing.

Participants will listen to this haunting music performed by Madahbee, hear the legend of the courting flute, and examine the unique construction of a collection of flutes on display. There will also be a limited number of original, one-of-a-kind handmade courting flutes for purchase. Space is limited and pre-registration is requested. To reserve a spot head to http://www.iaismuseum.org, email events@iaismuseum.org, or call (860) 868-0518. The price of participation is $5 for IAIS Members and $15 for Non-Members.

About Allan Madhbee
Born on Manitoulin Island, the Home of the Great Spirit, Allan Madahbee is a member of the Ojibway (Chippewa) Nation who has pursued the traditional arts and crafts of his ancestors. He has been making Native American flutes for about ten years. “I had always thought they were a product of the Southwest Indian tribes, but a book that I found that was written during the 1800s about Chippewa culture, had a passage about the Chippewa flutes, along with pictures. This made me realize that they were indeed a part of my Chippewa culture. Knowing that my ancestors constructed these flutes for hundreds of years has inspired me to continue this tradition. Also, the haunting sound from these mystical instruments is a large part of my inspiration.”

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 located at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

JanetLeave a comment