A lot of our new members are curious about this next questions:

What is a chapter and why should I join one?

A chapter brings the Guild into local communities. Guild members in similar areas have formed chapters to focus on specific aims in a more intimate setting.  Many of our chapters sponsor events, such as the Pocono State Craft Festival put on by the Pocono Chapter.  Chapters also work to provide opportunities within its community such as workshops and scholarships for highschool students.

The Bucks County Chapter website aptly states that one of their goals is to:

“assists members in marketing high quality crafts and provides a forum for exchange of ideas and information through its meetings and programs”

If you are looking for a setting in which you can get to know and share information with artists in your own community, join a chapter. Chapter membership is included in the new member rate, simply check the chapter that interests you the most or is closest to you geographically.

The Pennsylvania Guild has 17 chapters, a full listing can be found on our Chapters webpage.

Are you looking for something warm to do this weekend?  Check out “The Craftsman’s Journey-Enhancing Peoples Lives”, the newest exhibit at the Mechanicsburg Museum.  This exhibition features the work of craftsman in the Yellow Breeches chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, including woodworker Doug Starry and enamelist  Averill Shepps.

Opening this Saturday (Feb. 13th), the show goes through May 1st.  There will be a public reception on Sunday (Feb. 14) between 2-4pm.

Our new Haverford Guild of Craftsmen wasted no time getting their first event slated.  This weekend on the 5th and 6th, they’re hosting a studio tour in Ardmore and Havertown called HOST (Haverford Open Studio Tour).  Hours are Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm.  The artists and locations include:

At 2912 Rising Sun Road, Ardmore, PA 19003

• Irene Pearlman
• Angela Duffin
• Sharon Bartmann
• Cathy Hetznecker
• Lori Meisle
• Elizabeth Wright

At 18 Colfax Rd, Havertown, PA 19083

• Deena Ball
• Susan Osborne
• Hajo Hibben

At 3 West Clearfield Rd, Havertown, PA 19083

• Rudy Miller
• Patricia Mahoney
• Debbie Lamprinakos
• Lorraine Williams
• Tama Gorelick
• Lucy Edwards

At 115 Ellis Rd, Havertown, PA 19083

• Susan Stefanski
• and more

Enjoy a lovely self-guided tour of the Ardmore and Havertown art scene.  There’s a wide range of work being shown as well from watercolors to pottery, jewelry to rag rugs.  Come out and support our newest chapter!

The Central Pennsylvania chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen presents the 34th Annual Winter Craft Market. With 80 juried artisans, you’ll be able to choose from a wide variety of high quality hand crafted items, such as jewelry, ceramics, home décor, photography, and much more! D & J Catering Concepts will have the perfect menu to feed your appetite after a day of shopping! The Winter Craft Market will be held December 5th & 6th at Mount Nittany Middle School in Boalsburg. Shopping hours are from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. Admission is $3.00/person. For additional information, please contact Karen English at 814-238-9578.

Mount Nittany Middle School, 656 Brandywine Drive, State College, PA 16801.  Get a map here.

The Guild is comprised of 17 chapters throughout the commonwealth stretching from Bedford county to Bucks county.  We’ll feature them periodically on our blog.

————————————————————————————

from Janice Ritenuti, president Chester County Craft Guild

We are very excited to once again host our Holiday show at the West Pikeland Township Cultural Center. This show attracts a high-end audience as the Village is known for arts & crafts events.  There will be a wide variety of exhibitors – wood working, textiles, pottery, jewelry, glass, tiles and mosaics

Twenty six craftsmen, including sixteen CCCG members will be exhibiting their work.  Several of the crafters will demonstrate during  the show.  A popular feature is the free raffle for the basket of gifts donated by the craftsmen. A  raffle ticket is included with admission price of $3 (or $2 with postcard or newspaper coupon.)

There will be a special dining room display of work by the chapter members. All of the tabletop items will be handmade as well as the chairs made by member Jim Stevens.

Directions to the show:  The West Pikeland Township Cultural Center is located at 1645 Art School Rd, Chester Springs, PA  within the historic area of Yellow Springs.  From Exton, take Rt 100 north for 3 miles; turn right on Rt 113;  go about 3 miles and turn left on Yellow Springs Rd; turn right at the fork onto Art School Rd.  Go about 100 yds to the Center on the left; free parking is available just past the center on the left.

The Guild is comprised of 17 chapters throughout the commonwealth stretching from Bedford county to Bucks county.  We’ll feature them periodically on our blog.

————————————————————————————

Guild members of the Reading-Berks Chapter have been invited to each make five (5) ornaments to adorn Governor and Mrs. Edward Rendell’s Christmas Tree and Garland on the grand staircase in the Governor’s Mansion in Harrisburg. W. Eugene Burkhart, Jr. and Pat Oxenford wrote a letter to Governor Rendell in May requesting that the Reading-Berks Chapter decorate the 2009 Governor’s Christmas Tree.

By the end of June a reply was received and members have been invited to participate in this prestigious event. We hope to have a minimum of 300 ornaments and would be elated to have 400 to decorate the 18-foot tall tree. The theme of the 2009 holiday season decorations is “Believe” and each member may intrepret their ornaments accordingly.

A group of 10 members will actually visit the Governor’s mansion on December 2nd to decorate the tree. The Governor and Mrs. Rendell will host an open house from December 5th through 13th to view this year’s decorations. On  December 13th the chapter is hosting a bus trip for members to view the tree. BCTV will also accompany us on each trip to document this event which will be the feature program on the December 16th BCTV’s “Your Berks Craftsmen” hosted by Gene Burkhart. A video and DVD will also be available for purchase from BCTV.

We hope everyone stops by on October 31 & November 1 to wish our Reading-Berks chapter a happy 60th anniversary at their Holiday Craft Show at the Kutztown University Field House.

I’m sure you know by now that we have a fall craft festival coming up this weekend at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell.  We’ve only been saying it every chance we get since it’s a great way to celebrate fall outside!

But there’s a lot more happening in the coming weeks, here’s a quick preview…

Also this weekend, in Lancaster, we have a Juried Member Showcase during Fall ArtWalk at our 252 N. Prince St gallery.  David Lunin and Jay Brubaker are showing their furniture for two days in what they’re calling ‘Divergince’.  These showcases are an opportunity for our juried members to rent our gallery.

October 31 is the final day to see ‘from Raw to Refined‘ at the Reading Public Museum.   If you have not made it, it is worth the drive.  Plus there’s a really cool printmaking exhibition on display with works from Cezanne, Millet and Whistler.

October 31 is also the date of our ‘Anatomy of a Pattern‘ workshop with Debby Spence at Millersville University.  There are a number of spaces remaining.  If you’re interested in making your own patterns for clothing, don’t miss this one.  It’s gonna be great.

We open our Prince St gallery doors for ‘Handmade Holiday‘ on Friday, November 6.  This store setting runs until January 2.  We’ve extended our regular hours for the month of December so you can get in and buy some handmade crafts for gifts.  For those of you from out of town, it’s worth the drive: come down to see our gallery on a Tuesday, Friday or Saturday and you can also catch Central Market, the country’s oldest continuously operating farmer’s market.

Saturday, November 7 is the ‘FELT: Hat, Bag or Vessel’ class with Jeri Robinson.  It’s also the start of Lebanon Valley Studio Tour, which has a number of Guild members involved.

The following weekend is our return to Manheim Township High School for our Holiday Fine Craft Fair on November 14 & 15.  We love this show and we know you will too.  It’s a short (10 minutes) drive outside of downtown Lancaster.  And if you’re planning to come to this craft show, you should make it a point to then drive into our gallery downtown.

I can’t believe how much is going on in the next few weeks!  Leave comments below about other events I may have missed.

The Guild is comprised of 17 chapters throughout the commonwealth stretching from Bedford county to Bucks county.  We’ll feature them periodically on our blog.

————————————————————————————

by Paula Lewis, chapter President

Why should I join the Yellow Breeches Chapter of the PGC?

Lots of people wonder whether a craft guild is right for them – would they “fit in” – would they get anything out of it – would they be the next American Idol . . . okay, well, maybe not that.  To make your decision a little more scientific – which is (NOT) one of the core traits of artists and artisans – take this little test to find out whether we’re right for you!

1. I am
   • An artist
   • A craftsman
   • A crafter
   • A DIYer
   • A collector
   • Alive
2. I live in
   • Central PA
   • Pennsylvania
   • The 21st Century
3. I am interested in
   • Learning about fine craft
   • Networking
   • Everything
4. I am
   • Young and strong
   • Old and wicked
   • Middle-aged and tired
5. My favorite medium is
   • Clay
   • Glass
   • Fiber
   • Allison DuBois
6. My goal is to
   • Become a better artisan
   • Gain wider recognition for my work
   • Enjoy all that fine craft can bring to my life

If you answered any of these questions – no matter what your answer was – you should join the Yellow Breeches Chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen!  We are a group representing all of the above with joy, vigor, and humor.  We support each other and fine craft in general.  We’ll even give you a free sample – come visit one of our meetings as our guest!  Our schedule of events, including meeting information, is available on our website at www.ybcrafts.org.

The board of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen approved the formation of a brand-new chapter located in Delaware county.   The Haverford Guild of Craftsmen, an official chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, is lead by Cathy Hetznecker.

The first chapter activity is a tour of the Wharton Esherick House in Valley Forge on Wednesday, September 2 at 10:20 am.  The cost is $10 for Haverford Guild members or $15 for non-members.  A carpool is being organized.  Contact Cathy Hetznecker if you’re interested in attending (610-449-8118).

Their first official meeting is Sunday, September 13 at 7 pm at Saint George’s Episcopal Church (link for directions) at the corner of Ardmore Ave and Darby Road in Ardmore, PA.  Stop in and show your support.

We’re sure we’ll be hearing much more from this great group of artists in Delaware county.  Congratulations and may your membership blossom.