The Walpolean

Come experience art in all its diversity during the 13th Annual Walpole Artisans Tour the weekend immediately following Thanksgiving: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 10am-5pm. There will be five convenient locations this year; four in Walpole, NH, and one in Bellows Falls, VT. The days and times will vary slightly by location this year, so be sure to get a map at the Walpole Artisans Cooperative Gallery located on 52 Main Street in downtown Walpole, across from Burdick’s Restaurant. The Artisans Cooperative is a gallery founded by local artists who view art as a joy to make and a gift to be shared.  Here you will find art that catches your eye, feathers your nest, adorns your body, and warms your heart.  Discover unique gifts, innovative wearables, beautiful home furnishings, pottery, handcrafted greetings, and much more.

The first location, The Walpole Town Hall, will include many of the Artisans (open Friday and Saturday only). The town hall is a beautiful, historic building with large open rooms, perfect for displaying the art and fine craft of the Walpole Artisans.  Some of the Artisans will be demonstrating and all will be happy to discuss their work and share their process with you. You will find the fine wood craftsmanship of John Burrows, Wayne Cotton, and Jeff Lessels; hand-woven scarves, table runners, and more by Deb Dupell; paintings and greeting cards by David Howell; beautifully crafted jewelry by Jim and Andrea Lorette; fine photography as well as knitted and crocheted wearables by Judy Stalus; and fun and memorable metal sculptures by Bob Taylor.  Additionally, found object artist Janette Schuster and mixed media artist Loribeth Robare will each display their art and jewelry, and they invite you to join them in making paper ornaments using vintage maps, book pages, and other ephemera. They will provide instructions and materials free of charge on Friday and Saturday at the Walpole Town Hall. Janette is also offering a free gift with every purchase of her found object art and jewelry during the art tour.

We are proud to announce the addition of two other tour locations, Maggie Suttles’ Antiques & Folk Art, and the Walpole Mountain View Winery. Maggie Suttles specializes in folk art and antiques, and her shop is conveniently located on the corner of North River Road and South Main Street in Walpole.  The Walpole Mountain View Winery on Barnett Hill Road in Walpole, run by Virginia Carter, features stunning views of the surrounding area and products for sale, and will have wine tastings from 12 pm-5 pm throughout the weekend.

At the final location are Donna Lund and Chris Sherwin, exhibiting their work at 33 Bridge Street in Bellows Falls, VT—the location of the Sherwin Art Glass Studio/Gallery. Donna will have her original pastels and watercolor paintings on display, as well as prints and cards available.  Chris will be serving refreshments and giving glassmaking demonstrations throughout the weekend, as well as having a selection of glass featuring seasonal themes for sale at his gallery.

For additional information, please visit the Walpole Artisans website (www.walpoleartisans.org) and Facebook page. Feel free to stop by the Walpole Artisans Cooperative, now open from Wednesday – Saturday, 10am-5pm, and Sunday, 11am-4pm, located at 52 Main Street, Walpole, NH, or call (603) 756-3020. Tour maps are available at the Cooperative and around the Greater Falls area. The Cooperative is looking for new Members and applications are being accepted.

The Holidays are coming and the Museum Gift Shop is ready.   We have lots of ornaments, Christmas cards, candles and napkins for your home or gift giving.

We will be open from 9 am to 2 pm on Saturday November 21^st.

We have books about Walpole, marbled earrings and bracelets.   This year we have scented votive candles too.  Vermont Stoneware coasters or trivets are perfect gifts for anyone on your list.   The painted stem glasses from  Dellamano Glassware are just beautiful. – And we even have coasters just for stemware glasses!!

Come and browse and enjoy light refreshments with us at the Museum Gift Shop.  Plenty of parking up the hill behind the building or on the street right out front!!

Start your shopping at the Museum Gift Shop!!

I know I said that you would have to sign up with the library to get their emails, but this information is just too special not to share. – Lil

Come one, come all! Walpole Unitarian Church Family First will celebrate the season(s)!

Dig out your scarves and silly hats, your skulls and your tutus, Family First Sunday at the Walpole Unitarian Church will celebrate the season with a trading truck of items to create your own costume at our brunch at 10 a.m. at Hastings Parish House on Union Street, next to the church.

We’ve combined elements of Halloween, All Saint’s Day, Samhein, and the Mexican Day of the Dead celebration, from traditional “pan de meurto” an anise flavored bread, sugar skulls to paint, and faces to paint as well (an experienced face painter will be on site)!

Everyone is encouraged to bring something to recycle with others that can be turned into or added to a costume. We’ll discuss repurposing things as part of our care of the earth’s resources.

Additionally, we’ll introduce this year’s UUA “Guest at the Table” project, which focuses on refugees and displaced persons.

Guest at Your Table is an annual fundraising and education program that supports the UUA’s service committee human rights work. We invite everyone to take part: individuals, families, small groups, congregations, and community organizations.

Over the decades, Guest at Your Table has raised millions of dollars for human rights projects that have made a real difference in people’s lives.

Light brunch foods, coffee, tea, and witch’s brew will be available. Bring your self, your children, your parents, your friends, and join in our celebration of the season!

Families First is “our sustainable approach to families and spirituality in the 21st century” designed to help feed our bodies, our curiosity, and our spirit.

This is an informal, hassle-free time for adults or the entire family to interact with other families, and talk with members of the congregation about values and spiritual dimensions in our lives. We’ll talk, we’ll sing, we’ll have fun, and share a meal and our time.

Spread the word! Bring a friend!

Good news from Holly Gowdy. – Lil  

The Walpole Farmers Market will be hosting a Thanksgiving Farmers Market, on November 21st, on the Walpole Town Common. Once again to coincide with the Holiday Church Fairs, the Orchard School Crafts Fair, and Holiday Sales events at the Walpole Village School and the Walpole Historical Society.

This prelude to the holidays, is becoming an annual tradition, and as an event is an opportunity to shop locally for the holidays and support many local programs, projects, and small businesses. The WFM is happy to be a part of this, with atleast a dozen vendors selling food and products that they made or produced themselves. Locally raised meats, breads, cheeses, and other foods that are great additions to your holiday menus and tables or make great gifts.

For more information please contact Holly Gowdy at holly@walpolefarmersmarket.com or at 445-5104

St. John’s Episcopal Church in Walpole will host its Holiday Fair on Saturday, November 21st 2015 from 9 AM to 2 PM in the Parish Hall on Elm Street.

This year’s fair will include St John’s famous Cookie Walk, featuring dozens of varieties of home baked cookies. The Holly and Ivy table will have wreaths, swags, and centerpiece decorations. The Harvest Home table will offer pies and tarts (perfect for Thanksgiving!), muffins, tea breads, chocolate-covered pretzels, fudge, novelty holiday treats, and delicious jams and pickles made from produce harvested from local gardens. Beautiful ornaments and Christmas decorations will be for sale at the Deck the Halls table. New this year will be a raffle of wares from our talented artisans, including a crib quilt, a handmade nativity set, a set of assorted handmade ornaments, and more. The lunch menu will include hot dogs and chips, chili with tortilla chips, and small salads.

St John’s is located at the corner of Westminster and Elm Streets, opposite Town Hall. Come out and join in the festivities on November 21st!

And while you’re out and about, be sure to visit all the other organizations that are hosting events in town on that day, including:

* The Walpole Congregational Church’s Mistletoe Mart, next to the Walpole Common

* The Orchard School’s Crafts Fair, at the Walpole Town Hall

* The Walpole Village School’s Sugar Plum Shoppe, at the bottom of Westminster Street

* The Walpole Historical Society Museum and Holiday Gift Shop, in the Academy Building on Main Street

Each participating event will hold a door prize raffle. Pick up a door prize flyer at any event, and be sure to enter each raffle!