American Craft Week Announces Partnership With Thos. Moser

American Craft Week, now in its fourth year, announces partnership with Thos. Moser, makers of fine furniture, handcrafted in Maine, with showrooms in New York, Boston, San Francisco and Greenwich, Ct.

"We are thrilled Thos. Moser is celebrating our mission by contributing 5% of all sales on all products during American Craft Week, October 4-13. American Craft Week shows us how craft enhances our lives, makes us feel good and brings people together," says Diane Sulg, co-chair of American Craft Week and board member of Craft Retailers & Artists for Tomorrow.

"Celebrating craft is core to who we are", says Tom Moser, founder, Thos. Moser. "While in recent years the artisan movement has been strong, especially in the design and culinary worlds, we still have work to do. Giving craft a place of importance is imperative to keeping America strong and vibrant. Encouraging people to value well designed, hand crafted items that have a reverence for materials, and will last generations is what the American Craft movement, and frankly, we at Thos. Moser are all about. It's only right that we support this organization with vital resources."

Four years ago, the American craft industry decided it was time to do something to bring more visibility to the industry that was facing challenges as the global market and advanced technology brought more competition for the consumer's dollar.

Diane Sulg launched the idea to have a national weeklong celebration to promote the wonders, value, innovations and traditions of American made craft. She says, "Other industries tout their products...now it's time to showcase the American craft industry with a nationwide celebration."

American Craft Week is a project of Craft Retailers and Artists for Tomorrow. Since its inception in 2010, American Craft Week has grown from 240 to nearly 1000 participating events in over 40 states in artist studios, galleries, museums and school, as well as at fairs and festivals. By taking part in the celebration, people are joining in on the trend of buying products made in America while shopping locally.

Festivals & Craft Shows

Manchester Fall Art & Craft Festival (Craftproducers), Oct 4-6, The Practice Tee at Riley Rink?, Hunter Park Road, Manchester, VT. A gorgeous Autumn-in-Vermont weekend excursion: 150 juried artisan Exhibitors, great food and wine, seasonal Vermont beers presented by Long Trail Brewing Company, live music, comic juggling, craft demonstrations, and more. For more information go to: www.craftproducers.com

The Hudson Valley Art & Craft Festival (Artrider Productions Inc), Oct 4 & 5; 10-6 & Oct 6; 10-5, Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck, NY. The Hudson Valley Arts Festival will feature over 200 outstanding artists and craftspeople from 21 states, 30 gourmet food purveyors, 25 musicians and performers, and a host of other features and interactive activities. For more information go to: www.artrider.com

Stowe Foliage Art & Craft Festival (Craftproducers), Oct 11-13, Stowe Events Field, ?80 Weeks Hill Road, Stowe, VT. 150 juried Artisan Exhibitors come to Stowe for Northeastern Vermont's biggest fall Arts Festival. Now in it's 26th year, this event celebrates American handmade in beautiful Stowe at the height of Autumn foliage. Food, beer, wine, and entertainment for the whole family complete the weekend festivities. For more information go to: http://www.craftproducers.com

Paradise City Northampton, Oct 12, 13 & 14, 3 county fairgrounds, 54 old ferry road, off route 9, Northampton, MA. Meet 275 of the nation's very best craftsmen and artists showing their newest work. Dine on sensational cuisine by Northampton's best chefs under the Festival Dining Tent. Catch the excitement of live performances by nationally and regionally acclaimed musicians. For more information go to: http://www.paradisecityarts.com

American Fine Craft Show, Oct 25-27, Javits Center North, 11th Ave and 39th Streets. The show features some 200 artisans and artists who use innovative techniques in their approach to ceramics, jewelry, fashion, decorative and fine arts. Joining artisans at the Craft Show are painters, photographers, sculptors and artists working in mixed media at the Art Fair. Artists of Caribbean, African and Latin American ancestry are featured at Art Off the Main. For more information go to: http://www.americanartmarketing.com/

Open Houses and Open Studios, Oct 5 & 6, Open Studio Weekend at 127 Sites Across Vermont. Leaf peepers love Vermont in autumn, traveling the state to see the brilliant show of reds, oranges and yellows shimmering in the mountains and valleys. Craftspeople and artists at 127 sites in every region of Vermont will open their studios to the public. Iconic bright yellow Open Studio signs are posted along the roads to guide visitors to the studios. Visitors are offered a behind-the-scenes look at the workspaces of glassblowers, weavers, sculptors, potters, woodworkers, printmakers, jewelers, furniture makers, painters, quilters, and other makers. For more information go to: http://www.vermontcrafts.com/

Maine Crafts Association, Oct 5, Gardiner, 288 Lewiston Road, Gardiner, ME. In conjunction with American Craft Week, the MCA will promote the first annual MAINE CRAFT SATURDAY October 5, 2013. This event encourages craft artists all over the state to open to the public and take advantage of a critical mass of similar businesses doing the same thing at the same time! For more information go to: http://www.mainecrafts.org

Cornwall Bridge Potter, Todd Piker, Oct 12, 69 Kent Road South, Cornwall Bridge, CT, Cornwall Bridge is hosting an Open Studio Tour as part of a town-wide celebration.

35th Anniversary of the Putney Craft Tour celebrates American Craft Week, Thanksgiving Weekend, Nov 29, 30 and Dec 1, Open studios around Putney, VT. The 35th Annual Putney Craft Tour gives shoppers, visitors and collectors another reason to be thankful. Blacksmiths, glass blowers, potters, jewelers, weavers, woodworkers - even artisan cheesemakers - invite visitors to come in, discover, ask questions, sip hot cider and find that one-of-a-kind gift direct from the artisan who made it for themselves or others. Part of the fun is meandering through the beautiful Vermont countryside, following the map to find these prominent craftspeople and view the works where they are conceived and created; in some cases, the settings showcase how to incorporate original pieces into a home. Putney and Saxtons River, VT. www.putneycrafts.com

Craft Demonstrations and More

Moniktree, Gardiner, 263 Water Street, Gardiner, ME. To celebrate American Craft Week, Monkitree will be hosting an Etsy Maine Team Pop Up Shop, featuring a wide range of Maine craft offerings. For more information go to: http://www.monkitree.com

Brookfield Craft Center, Oct 5, 10-4, 286 Whisconier Road, PO Box 122, Brookfield, CT. Brookfield Craft Center, a non-profit craft school, celebrates ACW with a free open house and gallery exhibit. Studios host live demos in jewelry, blacksmithing, ceramics, glass, woodturning and fiber arts. Artist-in-Residence Peter Kirkiles unveils his public sculpture for Brookfield. For more information go to: http://www.brookfieldcraft.org

Abilis Gifts, 50 Glenville Street, Greenwich, CT. Abilis is a non-profit that supports people with developmental disabilities. During ACW we will be observing the one-year anniversary of our gift shop with a celebration that will include a demonstration of product production by our participants. Our products include soap, jewelry and pet products. For more information go to: http://www.abilis.us

Boston Pot and Tile, Oct 12, 4-6pm, 114 Joshua Hill Road, Woodbury, CT. Boston Pot and Tile will be doing a tile making demonstration in the studio. Among the methods demonstrated will be cloisonné, additive, direct and molded. For more information go to: http://www.bostonpotandtile.com

Exhibits and Lectures

Vermont Artisan Designs, Sept 6-Oct, 106 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT. Of Land & Local exhibition is a multidisciplinary exhibition designed to initiate a dialogue about the Vermont landscape. Vermonters' shared interest in land and enthusiasm for the local lay the groundwork for this exhibition. The Brattleboro portion of the exhibit is being held at Vermont Artisan Designs on Main Street. The opening coincides with Gallery Walk on Sept. 6 and continues through the month of October. For more information go to: http://www.vtart.com

Griswold Inn Store-Goods & Curiosities, 47 Main Street, Essex, CT. Over 60 handcrafted US artisan lines. Guest artist trunk show Laura Zindel and happy hour late hours for our 3rd American Craft Week. For more information go to: http://www. store.griswoldinn.com

ABOUT AMERICAN CRAFT WEEK

The fourth annual American Craft Week will be held Oct. 4-13 in cities and towns across the nation. With hundreds of diverse events at galleries, artist studios, museums, schools, as well as fairs and festivals, it is the premier public celebration of handmade craft in America. American Craft Week is a program of Craft Retailers and Artists for Tomorrow (CRAFT), a trade association dedicated to the growth and vitality of American craft. For more information, visit http://www.Americancraftweek.com.

Additional Background

Why is American craft important?

Making and selling American craft employs thousands and contributes in huge ways to our national and local economies. Craft embodies our national history and heritage, it is the American story. It makes our homes, offices and public spaces beautiful. We love wearing it, using it and displaying it!

Why does craft deserve attention and support at this time?

American craft is all about small, local businesses that contribute energy, vitality and income to our communities. Efforts to improve our national economy show that by supporting small, local businesses and buying "made in America," we all profit. And when those businesses produce beautiful items that can be passed down for generations, we are that much richer!

Where can I learn more about American Craft Week?

Log onto AmericanCraftWeek.com. The website grows weekly as we add event participants from across the country, update information about American Craft week, and put our sponsors in a national spotlight. Your business can be featured here as well!

"We are thrilled once again to join American Craft Week as a sponsor. ACW publicizes and gives authenticity and legitimacy to the American Craft movement. Eighteen years of craft promotion as directors of Paradise City Arts Festivals have made us realize how important this is."