The Quoi de Neuf? Astisan Show and Sale presents its fifteenth annual exhibition and sale this October 17th and 18th at the beautiful Club de Golf Knowlton. The organizers, in trying to keep a very personal and intimate feeling to the show, have the artisans displays set up so that visitors can meander throughout several rooms in this wonderful Eastern Townships setting. The cozy boutique style set up offers customers a chance to chat personally with the artisans. Custom orders for really personalized gifts or items for ones home can be discussed with the artisans, which makes this an exceptional shopping experience. The artisans give so much of themselves, hours of personal creativity are put into their products, and reflected in the items themselves.

Judy Mullins says the organizing committee is always trying to keep the quality while creating an interesting mix, and adding new elements to the offering each year. This year some of the new artisans will be Barbara Sala, with her whimsical, naïf art cards and children’s books. Another new artisan, Kazuyo Kamada brings wonderful Japanese pottery pieces that sooth the soul just to look at or touch. A local labour of love will be added to the mix with the Domaine Bressee wines from Sutton Junction. Andre Ouellet is an incredibly fine leather artisan who will offer beautiful bags, and leather accessories. Other fine accessories, new to the mix are Caroline Lanctot-Benoit’s beautiful jewellery, and incredible colourful hand painted silk scarves by Colette Groulx. For parents to be or grand parents…what more wonderful gift than a beautifully shaped rocking chair, by wood furniture artisan Brian Penning, or the special wooden toys and furniture produced by Francois Boisvert of St- Catherine de Hatley. For special little girls in your life you must see Monique Lemieux’s incredible line of dolls and doll clothing…nothing from the box stores here!

Of course, those of you who have been to the show before, will be happy to welcome back our returning artisans offering: handmade soaps, and bathsalts, chocolates, fudge, jams, and pickles, honey and beeswax, or for your home; beautiful rustic birdhouses and mirrors from Bonnie and Pete of ‘Cloud Hidden”, stained glass, pressed flower creations, braided rugs, handcarved mirrors, and sculpted figurines by Sylvie Therrien, ceramics, blown flamed glass, cushions and throws by Denis Meunier, and rustic folk carving by Doug Purdy. Acccessories will see Susan Hill back with her very colourful beaded jewellery, beautiful and cozy angora items, funky purses, and bags, recycled silver jewellery by Roger and Marilyn of Spoon Art, and Elianne Saucier’s whimsical felted hats. When thinking of your gift list….what more generous feeling could one have than seeing a child’s eyes on Christmas morning, when first viewing an incredible one of a kind Saint Nicholas crafted by Judy Mullins, or an intricately detailed and true to period doll house, painstakingly created by Claire Globensky!

You could happily win one of the prizes donated by the generous artisans to the raffle; the proceeds of which are donated to the Brome Lake food Bank.

2009 :The artisans, and Quoi de Neuf? Organizing committee invite you to join them for this wonderful experience: Quoi de Neuf? Artisan Show and Sale October 17th and 18th
Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m Club de Golf Knowlton, 264 Lakeside road Knowlton, Lac Brome, Quebec

Contact: Debbie Hornig 450-243-0890, email: debhornig@axion.ca

The location is a wonderful reminder of yesteryear, as are many of the skills shown, and crafts displayed. It is obvious on entering, that this is no ordinary shopping experience; no box store here, no mass merchandised items of dubious quality in sight; but a return to handcrafted quality workmanship.

Many old style skills are on display: folk art furniture, willow basketry, dried flowers, braided rugs, Victorian Santas, homemade soaps, bath salts, herbal mixes, tisanes, stained glass, woven fabrics, unique children’s clothing, specialty doggie treats, and items, woodcarvings, dollhouses, and blown/flamed glass, hand died hooked rugs, rustic folk-art dolls, cushions, wall hangings, rustic birdhouses, ceramics, turned wood items, and beautifully crafted local angora knits, woven ponchos, and crafted accessory bags. Many of these artisans have put their own modern interpretation to these crafts, resulting in the “one of a kind” type of offering this show is known for. Food items, most from locally grown produce are also available; cider products, flavouring salts, honey, fudge rose based food and beauty items, wonderful chutneys and brandied fruits, and more….

From 2008: Special to the show this year are invited guests; Samuel Pépin-Guay and Etienne Guay from the well-known Saint-Jean-Port-Joli area. This brother team working in recycled industrial wood and metal materials are putting a whole new spin on traditional crafts while caring for the environment, and producing truly beautiful pieces.

Each year the artisans contribute examples of their crafts towards a raffle supporting the Brome Lake Food Bank. The Quoi de Neuf? Artisan Show and Sale is truly a wonderful shopping experience. A place to get unique gifts, unusual items for home, customized pieces, one on one consultations with the artists, Christmas goodies, or just to experience the wondrous creativity in a beautiful country setting.

Directions: (exit 90 off the #10 autoroute, and take 243 south, or 20 minutes from the Richford Vermont, Border, via 139 north )

2009:

When: Saturday the 17th of October 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday the 18th of October 9 am – 4 pm

Where: Club de Golf Knowlton
264 Lakeside Road, Knowlton, Ville de Lac Brome