Artists to exhibit at shop during Milford Holiday Stroll

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Michael Cleveland photo Eileen Cavallero of The Garden Party on Middle Street in Milford will host the Mont Vernon Artisans as part of the Saturday, Dec. 3, day of holiday fairs and the annual Downtown Stroll.

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Michael Cleveland photo Eileen Cavallero of The Garden Party on Middle Street in Milford will host the Mont Vernon Artisans as part of the Saturday, Dec. 3, day of holiday fairs and the annual Downtown Stroll.

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Dec. 3 Milford Holiday Fairs

MILFORD – For Anita Carroll, supporting local businesses is important.

For Eileen Cavallaro, supporting local artists is important.

It’s nice when two ideas come together, as they will on Saturday, Dec. 3, when Milford’s annual Holiday Stroll and the town’s bevy of annual holiday fairs coincide.

Carroll, who is a member of the Mont Vernon Artisans group, will be among those from that organization exhibiting Saturday at The Garden Party, Cavallaro’s shop on Middle Street. The Garden Party will be one of many shops open around the Oval on a day that will culminate in the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree.

“I am so thrilled to see local businesses such as The Garden Party support the local artisan community,” Carroll said via e-mail. “I think I speak for most of the artisans when I say that we feel so fortunate to have found what we truly love doing. This is why it is so important that the local artisan community is supported by the local business owners, since it helps us reach out to a much larger audience and by supporting us we can continue to do what we love.”

Cavallaro said she invited the Mont Vernon Artisans because of her commitment to “keep things local” at her shop.

“I try to support the local (arts) community, and they’re such a talented group,” she said. “It’s amazing.”

She’s looking forward to Saturday because she and the other Oval shops are “right in the middle of all the churches” that are holding fairs, so a lot of people drop by.

Several of the Mont Vernon Artisans will be at The Garden Party to talk with visitors.

“It’s a good way for them to represent their work if people have questions,” Cavallaro said. “They’re a fun group. I love them.

Carroll said the artists in the group are “passionate about their work,” and while they always hope to sell a piece or two, “our biggest reward is not of a monetary recognition for our talents but to see how positively people respond to our creations.”

She described the group as artists and makers of fine craft, both amateur and professional, who are residents of Mont Vernon. All Mont Vernon residents at any stage of their practice are welcome to join, she said in her e-mail, as all have value to contribute to the mission of the Mont Vernon Artisans.

Those showing their work at The Garden Party include: Sheila Clegg, handcrafted silver jewelry; Anita B. Carroll, glass (beads and jewelry) and photography; Tony Immorlica, wood (bowls, wine bottle toppers, candle holders); Kyeong Kim, jewelry and photography; JoAnn Kitchel, illustrations (cards, handmade birds, framed watercolor wall art); Michelle Kolb, fine silver jewelry; Cheryl Miller, fabric collages and paintings; Karen Mitchell, fine silver jewelry; Roxanne O’Brien, watercolor and oil paintings; Paula Pestana, acrylic and watercolor paintings; and Susanna Ries, stained glass with lampwork glass beads.

Tracy Hutchins, director of the Downtown Ongoing Improvement Team (DO-IT), which puts on the Stroll and the tree lighting, said The Garden Party isn’t the only shop with something special set for Saturday. The new bridal-prom dress shop on South Street, I Do, Again, will have a Mary Kay makeup and tuxedo consultant in her business, and JM Princewell has Jessi of K&R Designs, Hollis, available to take orders for custom sterling silver word jewelry.

The downtown businesses also will have a little friendly competition on who has the best holiday decorated windows and are asking customers to vote in the stores – each should have a ballot box. They will announce the winner at the tree lighting.

There will be a performance of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” in Town Hall at 3 p.m. by Project Shakespeare.

“DO-IT encourages everyone to consider shopping locally this holiday season, and the holiday fairs and Jingle Downtown Holiday Stroll are a great way to find that unique and special gift while supporting our local businesses and economy,” Hutchins said.