Wilton craftsmanship on display

A plethora of art, crafts and designs will be on display Saturday, Nov. 5, through Sunday, Nov. 6, when the American Artisan Show returns to the Wilton Historical Society at 224 Danbury Road. From whirligigs, ornaments and soap to furniture, quilts and jewelry, the 31st annual show will feature the handmade work of 40 artisans — more than the show’s ever had before. To make this year’s show “even more of a great experience,” said Wilton Historical Society Executive Director Leslie Nolan, the historical society decided to move it to the 1772 Fitch House to accommodate more artisans. “We literally expanded the space we have for exhibitors by taking over the Rockwell Dining Room and the Tavern Room in the Fitch House,” said Nolan. Tiny Teacups Making its American Artisan Show debut this year is Tiny Teacups, a custom dollhouse-making business run by Wilton residents Sarah and Chris Beach. “What makes our dollhouses special is the fact that they are custom-made,” said Sarah, and everything is crafted by hand. “Each individual spindle on the porch has to be painted and sanded down several times before the porch railings are assembled, and floors are varnished up to three times to get the best finish,” she said. “Every window has to be hand-painted and assembled and every baseboard has been cut to a 45-degree angle so that it fits perfectly. It’s a labor of love.” Tiny Teacups offers three dollhouse styles — the Vermont Farmhouse, the Princess Anne and Victoria’s Farmhouse — the latter two of which will be featured at the Artisan Show. “We have part-finished the Princess Anne, so people can see some of the work that goes into creating the interior of the house,” said Sarah. Tiny Teacups also offers three packages for the dollhouses — houses with completed exteriors, houses with completed exteriors and interiors, and houses completed with electric wiring and lights. Sarah said the dollhouses at the Artisan Show will feature “a completely finished and lit room, a finished room without lighting, a room that shows how the lighting is fitted, and an unfinished room.” “That way, people can see the work that goes in and how beautiful a finished room can look,” she said. The Beaches are “delighted” to be participating and bringing their dollhouses to a wider audience at the Artisan Show, said Sarah. “We’re really looking forward to getting our houses out there for people to see up close,” she said, “and it’s an honor to be able to attend the show with so many other talented artisans.” To learn more about Tiny Teacups, visit tinyteacups.net. Other Wilton participants Two Wilton artisans will return to this year’s Artisan Show — Nod Hill Soap owner Catherine Romer and Saltbox Press owner Lynda Campbell. Romer handcrafts and sells all-natural products, including soaps, lotions, facial toners, bath salts, and lip butters. To learn more, visit nodhillsoap.com. Campbell uses 60-year-old press machines to create invitations, note cards, holiday cards, calendars, notepads, and alphabet cards featuring letterpress typography and small images. She also makes products with watercolor designs of flowers, animals and small still lifes. To learn more, visit saltboxpress.com. Among the several new pop-up exhibitors this year is Truffles & James Floral Design owner Meghan Greenberg, who provides floral design services for weddings, graduations, birthdays, and other special occasions. To learn more, visit trufflesandjames.com. Preview and silent auction This year’s American Artisan Show will kick off with a festive preview and silent auction gala on Friday, Nov. 4, from 6 to 9. The gala will feature contributed pieces for guests to buy and browse while enjoying hors d’oeuvres provided by the Schoolhouse Restaurant at Cannondale. Gala tIckets are $100, and all proceeds will directly benefit the historical society. American Artisan Show hours are 10 to 5 on Nov. 5, and 10 to 4 on Nov. 6. Admission is $10 and free for those under 18. Information: wiltonhistorical.org.

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