The Cotton Mill is an old mill in Brattleboro, Vermont that has been converted into studio space for artist and performers. The first weekend in December the Cotton Mill opens to the public with demonstrations and art for sale, just in time to pick up some great holiday gifts. In this quick video we take a look at some of the artist studios and offerings in the Cotton Mill during the 2009 open studio sale.

From their release:

Where can you go to see potters, glass blowers, circus performers, musicians, painters, candlemakers, jam makers, jewelers, booksellers, dancers and more all under one roof, all while you get your holiday shopping done?

Announcing the 13th Annual Cotton Mill Open Studio and Holiday Sale at the historic Cotton Mill building in Brattleboro,VT.

Admission and parking are free.

2011 Time & Dates:
Friday, December 2 – 10 am to 7 pm
Saturday, December 3 – 10 am to 6 pm
Sunday, December 4 – 10 am to 5 pm

Location:
76 Cotton Mill Hill – Brattleboro, VT

This once-a-year celebration features the work of many artists and artisans and promises something of interest for all ages. Walk away with handmade crafts, candles, candy, handmade jewelry, freshly made Jam, garden sculpture, cool books and so much more. Meet the artisans in their studios as you find beautifully handcrafted gifts for the holiday season.
Explore a diverse array of entertainment and artist demonstrations. There will be trapeze and dance, glassblowing, ceramics, woodworking, painting, film, a free raffle and more.

This once-a-year celebration features the work of many artists and artisans and promises something of interest for all ages. Explore a diverse array of entertainment and craft work, from live music, demos, trapeze and dance to blown glass, ceramics, woodworking, painting, film, bodyworks, toys, a free raffle and more. Meet the artisans in their studios as you find beautifully handcrafted gifts for the holiday season and enjoy live music, entertainment and demonstrations.

Even if you miss the open studio, since the space is not usually open to the public, many of the pieces of art you see in this video can be purchased at the shops downtown including Gallery in the Woods and The Artisan Design.

If you would like to contact the artists in this video directly please find their information below:

Natalie Blake Studios
802-254-9761

T. Breeze Verdant
Marquetry & Inlay
802-258-9820

Solinglass
802-251-0389

If you would like to contact any of the performers in this video please find their information below:

Luminz Dance Studio
802-254-9200

John Hughes Music

And for information on Brattleboro and the surrounding area, please keep an eye on our website InnBrattleboro.com or spend a night with us at our Brattleboro Vermont B&B. Thanks for watching!

We always describe the uniquely odd (in a good way) Brattleboro culture, but Twice Upon a Time makes the case more so than any other store. It’s not just merchandise, but keepsakes, antique furniture, jewelry, dishware, decor, clothes and “stuff” with a story, many of which came from the characters living here in southern Vermont. Vendors stalls line the isles with pieces from 1 to 100 years old. I can’t think of a better place to get a Halloween costume or a store that has such an incredible selection, anywhere, much less in downtown Brattleboro. Twice Upon A Time has giant hats for Sunday brunch (feel free to bring yours) and Fiesta Ware to match. The shelves are stocked with books, cowboy boots, kimonos, vintage ashtrays – a tough find even at the flea market.

We moved to Brattleboro to buy our inn, 40 Putney Road, after months of looking for a fun and interesting place to live. Twice Upon a Time says it all. Brattleboro’s eclectic culture can be seen all over downtown in the people, the home goods, the clothes, the shopping, the food, the books and the art and architecture. Twice Upon A Time is one of our favorite consignment shops…. in the lower 48!  Stop by downtown Brattleboro and see for yourself.

Downtown Brattleboro book stores all have their own niche and are still surviving after years of growing competition from larger, bigger budget stores. Thanks to a thriving interest in keeping it local and a large population of book enthusiast and authors, downtown Brattleboro book stores hold their ground. Some hold events, books signings and reading for all ages year round. Although each book store has its own personality, they all have a well read staff. Each store presents an enthusiastic staff, who in many cases (like Mystery on Main), have read almost every book in the store. This is what they do and they love it! These aren’t the people you want to play Trivia with, trust us. But they are the people to recommend the best books for recipes on a dime, DIY home insulating, Joe Gunther’s greatest adventure, social justice or natural birthing in your home. You name it, one of the downtown book stores carry it.

What’s your flavor? Not sure? Check out our book stores just a few blocks from our inn in downtown Brattleboro to find out for yourself.

The Book Cellar
120 Main Street, Brattleboro (802) 254-6810

Everyone’s Books
25 Elliot Street, Brattleboro (802) 254-8160

Brattleboro Books
34-36 Elliot Street, Brattleboro (802) 257-7777

Mystery On Main
119 Main Street, Brattleboro (802) 258-2211

Baskets Bookstore/Paperback Palace
48 Harmony Place, Brattleboro (802) 258-4980

If there are other book stores you think we should include, comment! We’d love the feedback.

In downtown Brattleboro, it all starts with the storefront. Regardless of the season, plants and home furnishings sit playfully on the sidewalk calling my name every time I walk by. (Tim thinks I may have a problem.) Inside sits an eclectic mix of quirky garden supplies, jewelry, fashion accents pieces, books, umbrellas for a rainy day, stationary, home decor and unique gifts for your favorite ladies back at home. Some of my favorites are the showers curtains and scarves, many of which have a bright, springy, vintage feel. And the wall clocks ……. I LOVE the wall clocks! They hang nicely lit on the side wall in orange, yellow, sea green, red and blue and make a great, unique gift for anyone who likes to mix the old and the new. The clocks are must see, but the garden section also has a flavor hard to find at your typical decor store. Not only is the presentation great, the prices are modest and the staff are friendly and helpful.

Verde’s eclectic feel fits right in with the shopping in downtown Brattleboro and the culture in southern Vermont. Whether you’re passing through or staying at our inn, drop by Verde and see for yourself. And don’t forget about the clocks!!

First, of course, if you’re staying at our B&B, a fine gourmet breakfast and a hot cup of Mocha Joes coffee gets you started every day, not just on the rainy ones.  Amy loves to tailor her menu to the weather, preparing the perfect breakfast for the day ahead.

After breakfast, head over to Grafton Cheese,  just 1/2 mile from 40 Putney Road B&B.   Over there you’ll find artisan cheeses, fine wine, local flair, a gift shop and, of course, samples of their award winning cheeses. Next, get your umbrellas (which of course we have available for you to use) and venture downtown. Catch the latest opening at the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center and see historical exhibits and a variety of contemporary art. Stop for a cup of tea in downtown Brattleboro and get a crash course on knitting at Knit or Dye (yes, it’s even fun for the guys!) The Latchis Theater sits across the street where shows begin at 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Not only does the Latchis Theater have great popcorn, the 1938 historic Art Deco building was deemed a “town within a town” housing a pub, hotel, retail space and 4 theaters.

Looking for your own umbrella? Shopping in Brattleboro starts at Sam’s Outdoor store. Downtown Brattleboro storefronts are filled with unique decor shops, vintage and contemporary clothing and wouldn’t be complete without Mocha Joes coffee shop located at Main and Elliot. If it’s a cold beverage you’re after, McNeill’s and Kipling’s both sit on the edge of the downtown providing libations, specifically for those who enjoy a craft brew or two. Although many places serve lunch in Brattleboro, the dinner choices are abundant for a town of 12,000. Sit down for a brick oven pizza at Fireworks and go for dessert at Peter Haven’s.

Galleries, food and shopping in Brattleboro not your ideal idea on a rainy day? Book stores are scattered throughout downtown, all with their own flavor and unique niche. Whether it’s a coffee shop, under a pavilion overlooking the town or just lounging on the enclosed sun porch at 40 Putney Road B&B, there is a great way to spend a rainy day in Brattleboro for everyone.

Our sample covers a 5 night stay (we could have gone on even longer!) but combines a fun mix of outdoors, arts, entertainment, dining and of course some relaxing too.  You can check out what we have put together on our Inn website under the “Our Area” tab.

If you are from Vermont, or have any suggestions for the itinerary, we would love to hear your thoughts!  Leave us a comment or send us an email.  Let’s make it easy and fun for people to choose Brattleboro as their summer getaway!

Of course, we hope you’ll stay with us at Forty Putney Road Bed and Breakfast when you do take the trip to Vermont!

Brattleboro Sidewalk Sale will be held in downtown Brattleboro on May 7th, 8th, & 9th 2010, organized by Build a Better Brattleboro.  Downtown Brattleboro is home to many outdoor events, join local businesses as they kick off the spring season right with deals and discounts.

Gallery Walk, on Friday night will follow the sidewalk sale.   All of the Galleries, many restaurants and shops will open up to display a variety of art work, sculptures and paintings.

River Garden Event also in downtown Brattleboro, on Saturday, May 2nd,  from 10am – 4pm will host a pottery exhibit and sale complete with food and live entertainment by Brattleboro Music Center’s Music School  join them for there Performathon.  Music School students perform recitals all day to raise money for the student scholarship fund. Public invited free.

Brattleboro Farmers Market opens for the season on Saturday, May 2nd from 9am – 2pm.  Enjoy local grown flowers, herbs, produce and locally made Vermont products along with live entertainment.

Brattleboro Museum and Art Center presents Charmed by Audrey: Life on the Set of Sabrina at 2 pm on Sunday, May 3rd at 2pm. Located in downtown Brattleboro at 10 Vernon St, tickets are $6. Join the BMAC as they celebrate Audrey Hepburn’s 80th birthday with a screening of the 1954 film Sabrina starring Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, and William Holden. Following the film , photographer and author Juliet Cuming of Dummerston, Vt., will sign copies of her new book, Charmed by Audrey: Life on the set of Sabrina, which features photographs by Cuming’s father-in-law, famed fashion and celebrity photographer Mark Shaw.

The Race for a Reason is an annual fundraiser hosted by the SIT Graduate Institute Chapter of Net Impact. This event will begin at 10am, on Saturday, May 2nd, with the customary 5/10k run/walk, and continue the festivities with games, food, live music, and entertainment. There will be also be a silent auction with a selection of wonderful items generously donated by Brattleboro businesses. Net proceeds will benefit our ‘Reason’, Morningside Shelter, which is the only homeless shelter in southern Vermont. Join them in celebrating spring and give your support to a fantastic local cause!  For more details contact Sara LeHoullier (919)257-0057

For continued updates on what is going on around Brattleboro, follow us on twitter or sign up for email alerts on our blog, innbrattleboro.com.

The Newfane Country Store is one of my favorite country stores in southern Vermont.  When you walk through the door you are brought back in time.  The experience begins with a welcoming greeting by their friendly staff.  In the front room the walls are covered in floor to ceiling built in shelves with counters in front of them on both sides.  The counters display their homemade fudge and the built in shelves hold a plethora of Vermont made products.  The next room is jam packed with small isles fill with old fashion toys for children and other great trinkets.  The next room offers handmade quilts, candles and other home items.  Finally the last room offers the cutest baby products.  The Newfane Country Store is just the kind of place you want to stop and poke around in.