America's Death Wish...

It appears that America has a death wish regarding products imported from China. A death wish is a conscious or unconscious desire for self destruction, and I believe we have it.

I remember as a child not wanting to finish my supper only, to be told by my mother that there were poor people in China that didn't have enough to eat. This was during the 1940s when China was engaged in the Chinese Civil War that ended in 1950, resulting in a split country with two States, The People's Republic of China and The Republic of China, now known as Taiwan.

Books have been written on China's progress since those hard times. It came back strong. We did okay after World War II as well, with our economy developing and only a few minor bumps in the road. That is, until the real estate bubble collapsed, which drove our economy into a ditch. I'm not sure if the blame can be conveniently placed on the market alone. Somehow I believe there are contributing factors, one being the outsourcing of our manufacturing factories and jobs. The worm has turned, and China now has many jobs that once belonged to us. We Americans are enriching China's economy while still stuck in that ditch and suffering the losses at home.

As if that isn't bad enough, China is adding salt to the wound by taking our money and poisoning us with their inferior products in return. Literally! China exports lead poisoning from eye shadow to glazed pottery. Children's metal jewelry has been found to contain high levels of lead. Toy drums, action figure toys and children's gardening gloves had lead in the stamp-painted logo; some hard candies and sidewalk chalk also had high amounts of lead.

More problems: Consumers developed eye conditions from using "Complete Moisture Plus." Chinese-made toothpaste contained diethylene glycol, a solvent used in antifreeze that killed 107 Americans years ago.  Some monkfish turned out to be toxic pufferfish. China also exported drug-laced frozen eel and juices that contained unsafe additives for color. Melamine, a chemical, was added to baby formula and mixed as a powder with milk products. China has been found to export much of the seafood we eat -- raised in raw sewage water that was then treated with drugs and chemicals banned by the FDA. 

China added rat poison (aminopterin) to ingredients for pet foods, causing kidney failure and death to our animals. Wheat gluten tainted with melamine has also been blamed for the deaths of cats and dogs. The FDA's top veterinarian at the time said that finding melamine in so many products "would certainly lend credibility to the theory that maybe it was intentional."

Many medicines made in China contain the posion diethylene glyol, including cough syrup, injectable drugs and fever medications. Hemlock wooly adelgids, which are insects, and the carcinogen Cadmium, which is a substitute for lead, have been found in 50% of bed sheets made in China. Then there was a problem with toxic sheet rock that caused thousands of newly-built homes to be gutted because of health dangers. I'll stop here, but the list goes on and on.

We are not the only country with this China problem. Panama, Haiti, Bangladesh, Argentina, Nigeria and India have reported problems. The British Medical Journal spoke to the problem and stated that the deaths from poisoned medications "must be in the thousands or tens of thousands."

Let's take stock: We currently have a huge unemployment problem, but yet we continue to send our jobs out of the country. Our economy is tanking, but we continue to shore up other countries on the other side of the world. We pride ourselves with the belief that we have the best workers and make quality products here, but we import goods that are killing us. We are all on a tight budget and if we don't have jobs we don't have money, but we send what money and jobs we do have to places like China. We owe China a lot of money because we can't pay cash for their junk due to the trade deficit leaning in China's favor.

To me, this appears to be a form of self destruction, as though we have a death wish. With money not circulating in our counrty, foreclosures, bankruptcies, along with taxes going higher, businesses leaving the country and local and federal goverment making cuts and going deeper into debt, we will only get poorer. Something's got to give. What would happen if we all just stopped buying products made in China? Give it some thought. We need to start someplace...

Did you know:

• 13% of people in the U.S. live in poverty.
• Almost one in four children live in households that have difficulty putting food on the table. That's 16.7 million children.
• 51.4% of Americans will live in poverty at some point before age 65.

I can almost hear the voices of those mothers in China saying, "Finish your supper. Think about those poor hungry people in America who don't have enough to eat."

 Stop buying China...    Buy American...     Buy local...    Buy Connecticut...

Jimmy Halloran is Co-Owner of ConnecticutHandiworks.com, an online retailer featuring handcrafted items made in Connecticut.

jimmy130@live.com  /  860.942.7571  / 

PO Box 26 Hampton, CT.

  06247

Shopping Online...

I remember reading an old 1908 Sears and Roebuck Modern Home catalog where you could select a house from 44 different designs. The buyer needed to send in $1 to receive a materials list with blueprints. After the order was placed Sears would ship the house parts in two box cars to the nearest train depot. Sears catalogs included thousands of items in their mail-order catalogs dating back to 1886. These were the days before the telephone, automobile, radio and television. If people wanted to travel, it was by horse-drawn wagon, horseback or stagecoach. Not everyone lived in town. Richard Sears had the right idea: If the people can't get to the store, then bring the store to the people. Today's online shopping is a similar concept. The click of a mouse will bring whatever you order right to your doorstep.

Shopping online has become quite popular since the first web store opened in 1979. Online sales topped $30.8 billion during the Christmas holidays of 2010, up 13% from the same peroid in 2009. This spending took place in spite of the continuing economic challenges of high unemployment and depressed housing prices. Santa and his elves were very busy delivering all these gifts!

It's difficult, if not impossible, to say how many people bought items online for any peroid of time. However, the following statistics are available:

• 80% of individuals aged 32-44 buy products on the Internet.
• 72% of people aged 55-64 and 71% of 18-32 year olds also purchase items from the Internet.
• With all age groups combined, an overall 71% of all U.S. adults shop on line.
• 62% of consumers use web connected mobile devices to buy goods online.
• Of Internet users, 91% use email, 81% conduct research, 68% make travel arrangements, and 32% read blogs.

It's clear that Internet usage has become a main resource for information and communication and continues to grow.

The benefits of online shopping far outweigh the disadvantages, and I will speak to both. Let's start with the obvious:

Convenience. Online stores don't close. You can shop at midnight in your PJs. No traveling, using gas or having to find a parking space. No crowds. No high pressure salespeople to contend with. Shop at your leisure, no need to rush. No standing in line or writing a check. Makes gifting to friends and relatives easy wherever they live.

Better prices. Web stores do not have the overhead that brick-and-mortar stores have. No rent, employee burdens, insurance, or light/heating bills and other costs. Here in Connecticut online stores are not required to collect sales tax on items shipped out of state.

Variety. If one website doesn't have what you are looking for, another usually will. You can visit web stores in other parts of the country or the other side of the world. You don't have to settle for something you don't really want due to lack of choices.

The possible downsides:

Identification. It's nice to know who you are doing business with. Read the company's policies. Can you reach them by email and telephone? If you are leery, call to see if a live person answers the phone before placing an order.

Security. Years ago credit card theft was a concern. Today, security devices are in place to minimize such thefts. PayPal is also available.

Privacy. Check to see if there is a policy in effect that will assure you that your personal information won't be given out.

Disappointments. You may find an item advertised, only to find out that it isn't in stock. Waiting on hold for a store rep to take your call and then getting disconnected is frustrating. You may even find out that the store policy on returns isn't what you thought it was. It all depends on whom you choose to do business with.

Shipping and handling. Attention needs to be given here to cost. Some companies will charge by the cost of the item, and others by the weight. If you're buying a pricey item and the company bases its shipping cost on your purchase cost, you may want to reconsider making your purchase. It doesn't make sense to pay more to ship a three-ounce item that costs $80 than to ship a one-pound item that costs $10!

Inability to "see" the merchandise. No, you can't touch, smell, taste or feel the item. You have only the picture, the description, and maybe some details of who made it to go by. I'm afraid this will have to do, unless you call up for some additional information. Again, it all has to do with whom you choose to do business with.

There you have it.  Happy online shopping!

Jimmy Halloran is Co-Owner of ConnecticutHandiworks.com, an online retailer featuring handcrafted items made in Connecticut.

jimmy130@live.com  /  860.942.7571  / 

PO Box 26 Hampton, CT.

  06247

A Bird's Eye View...

The question of which came first, the chicken or the egg, has always been asked, but to date no scientific answer has been given. Where did birds come from is another puzzling question within the evolutionary biology community. There are those that say a connection exists between birds and dinosaurs because fossils found from over twenty species of dinosaurs contained feathers that formed wings. Birds and dinosaurs do share many similiar features, leading some scientists to conclude that this is the missing link in the process of evolution. Others wrestle with the controversial question of which came first, the bird or the dinosaur.

What we know for sure is that the birds have survived, who knows how long -- maybe millions of years. According to those in the know, we have over 10,000 species on the planet, 800 or so in North America, and a total of 417 that have been recorded in the State of Connecticut, one of which is the American Robin, our State bird. Considering that our State is only 5,500 square miles, we have a surprising number of birds within our borders. Our State is rich in natural habitat that is just perfect for them.

Birds are doing okay for themselves, if you ask me. Alfred Hitchcock gave them a leading role in his classic film "The Birds" -- remember that?  The United States gives the Bald Eagle plenty of recognition as its national bird and symbol. Birds are represented at our ball games (falcons, blue jays, hawks, ravens, and so on). Birds also have a following. Those who bird watch as a hobby make "birding" the largest spectator sport in America!

Birds have it easy. They can just pick up and go. If it gets too cold or there is a shortage of food, they will pack up and migrate. They vacation in warm places like Costa Rica (hummingbirds) and South America (red-breasted grosbeaks) for example. I imagine that's where the expression "snow-birds" came from. When it gets cold, head south! Did you know that most birds, when migrating, fly at night using the stars to navigate? Others, like doves, use the Earth's magnetic fields to guide them. Some migrators may travel incredible distances, logging as much as 15,000 miles or more in one year. Whew... who knew.

Here in Connecticut, our local artists have portrayed birds in all media. Applying their talents in paintings as "Birds On A Wire" or on ornaments depicting bluebirds, robins and yellow finches, as Patty from Coventry has done. Carvings of Japanese Cranes and Egrets out of wood are crafted by Derek of Norwich. James from North Windham carved his Shore Birds and Canadian Goose from wood, as well. Terese of Chaplin incorporated "Birds Of The Sky" into a handwoven wall hanging. Pat of Tolland uses chickadees, doves and cardinals in her creations made of glass. Jack of North Windham put birds in his painting entitled "The Woods In Springtime."  John from Hamden uses a wood burning technique to feature the "Osprey" and "Nest Building" in his pieces, and Marilyn from Marlbrough displays Carolina wrens, willetts, and sparrows in addition to warblers, nuthatches and black-bellied plovers on her note cards.

As I say, not only are the birds doing okay, but they are getting plenty of coverage. Plus they have their charisma going for them. Why else would people build bird houses and hang feeders for them? Heck, I even shovel the snow around the feeders so they can find the seeds! I keep those feeders full and put out suet cakes for my fine feathered friends so that I can get a bird's eye view of the action from my window.

The works of the above-mentioned bird loving artists can be viewed at http://www.connecticuthandiworks.com/.

Jimmy Halloran is Co-Owner of ConnecticutHandiworks.com, an online retailer featuring handcrafted items made in Connecticut.

jimmy130@live.com  /  860.942.7571  / 

PO Box 26 Hampton, CT.

  06247

The Art Of Wood Carving

There are many theories about how, where and when human beings came to be. The only real proof we have to go by are fossils and found skeletons. The oldest human bones found were discovered in Ethiopia, East Africa, and they belonged to Lucy. According to radiometric dating, this old gal was walking around somewhere between 3 and 3.6 million years ago. Now, we know she wasn't the first human on the planet. She had parents, who had parents and so on, so we really don't know when it all started. I will say this though, whenever it was, as soon as man found a sharp rock I believe he began to whittle wood.

We can only go by what we have found. The oldest forms of wood carvings were found in Egypt and date back to possibly 4000 BC. I imagine this wood survived time due to the extreme dryness of the Egyptian climate. At that time Egyptian hieroglyphs were carved into large wood panels that were uncovered in some of the ancient tombs.

Man has always had a tendency to decorate and embelish articles that are commonly used and viewed, whether it be in catheredrals, abbeys, or in the home as furniture or house enhancements. This love affair with items carved from wood has taken place throughout the ages all over the world. Granted, the art has gone out of fashion because it is time consuming and requires significant skill, resulting in expensive pieces. The invention of wood carving machines and wood stamping presses hasn't helped, either.

We do have some good carvers here in Connecticut, and I will talk about two of them whom I know personally. James of North Windham, Connecticut fulfills the role not only of a woodcarver but also of a teacher. James has been carving in wood for over 35 years, and has taught woodcarving in the public school system as well as in private classes. The standard he sets is a quality of craftsmanship that has earned him an enduring reputation among his peers for his traditional European style of carving. He creates history from his carvings.

James's latest carvings include his preening swan fashioned from white pine, the Dowitcher shorebird carved with a graceful flow of the neck and head, the classical folk art shorebird decoy and the valiant flier, the Canadian goose. These birds are so realistic that you expect them to fly away as you move closer to view them.

When weather permits, James can be found at the Revolutionary War reenactments dressed in his 1700s garb and speaking in old Colonial fashion while carving something fantastic out of wood. While he carves he tells stories about how life was hundreds of years ago. Watching him, listening to his vocabulary in that accent of his, and looking around at the group of other reenactors brings one back in time. It's a wonderful feeling... We need more people like James who can take us on such a trip.

Another talented woodcarver is Derek of Norwich, Connecticut, he has also been carving for 35 years. Derek has exhibited his works of art at various art galleries and at the Slater Museum in Norwich, and has participated in many sucessful art shows throughout Eastern Connecticut. Derek's works include dolphins, cranes and model ships in which his attention to detail creates a lifelike appearance.

Some of Derek's carvings include his bottlenose dolphin made from cedar, painted dolphins made from cedar and mounted on a vine, dolphins at play on a wave and three dolphins at play fashioned from birchwood and mounted on a  root burl.

Derek has carved a fleet of old sailing ships that have been carved according to details gleaned from extensive research. Two of these are of an ancient Dahshur boat made of teakwood and his Chinese junk carved from white ash and then painted by hand.

Although I am impressed with all of Derek's carvings, his maplewood Japanese cranes have attracted my attention due to the feathers that are carved from wood. They look so much like real feathers that I had to touch them to make sure they were wood! These birds, caught in the act of flapping their wings, appear ready for take off. I've never seen anything like it and I asked him how he does it. He smiled and said "experience."

So, here we have it. Two master woodcarvers with over 70 years experience between them, carrying on an art form that has been around since the beginning of time. The work of both artists may be viewed at connecticuthandiworks.com.

Jimmy Halloran is Co-Owner of ConnecticutHandiworks.com, an online retailer featuring handcrafted items made in Connecticut.

jimmy130@live.com  /  860.942.7571  / 

PO Box 26 Hampton, CT.

  06247

Got Trees?

Aside from being nice to have around, trees also provide us with nuts, fruit, maple syrup and wood for starters, and the list goes on. Can you imagine a world without wood? I can. In the 1980s I spent time in Thailand where slash-and-burn cultivation techniques were being applied. This happens when the jungle and forests are in the way of people wanting to plant crops. So they clear the land. I've seen large swaths of what was thriving wooded area reduced to smoldering ruins.

This process combined with what I call tree poaching, the felling and exportation of choice trees to Japan created a problem. They sold off their wood for money. The final results of slash and burn and the exportation of trees without the insight of proper planning was a shortage of trees. No trees, no wood. No trees, no paper products. I mean they had some trees -- they kept their rubber and palm trees. They had plenty of bamboo, but their best trees were gone. Maybe not all of them, but most. In a society where supply and demand makes the world go around, the local communities could not afford to buy wood. The ripple effect was that nothing was made of wood anymore. I have never seen a wooden residential house in Thailand. They are all concrete. Tables, beds, telephone poles, fences, benches and anything that use to be made of wood is now concrete!

Paper, a bi-product of wood, was also in short supply if available at all. I recall eating out at a neighborhood restaurant where there was only one menu. It was a paper menu that was passed from table to table. Instead of paper napkins there was a roll of toilet paper on each table. It was what it was. Acceptable behavior under these conditions. Paper could be had, I'm sure, but the price was too high to pay.

Here in Connecticut we have our own situation with trees. As I look around we seem to have plenty of trees, but we have been losing  them. I live in a house built in 1779. The floors are all wide-board chestnut and white pine, even in the attic. These trees were overharvested to the point where you can't get them anymore. They were old growth -- big, tall and really old trees. Blight killed off the chestnut trees in the early 1960s. No one seems to know what happened to the white pine trees that used to grow down around the bogs in North Windham. The white birch, which needed cold weather to thrive, was wiped out in the 1970s by too many years of warm weather. It all adds up.

The woods that we are left to build with are mostly pine, Douglas fir, spruce and hemlock. That's it. If we want yellow pine we need to have it brought up from the South. The red cedars used to be plentiful, but if you want it now it's going to cost you, because it comes from the West Coast.

 During World War II, in an effort to be resourceful, the common 2" by 4" was shaved down to 1-1/2" by 3-1/2". Sizes stayed the same after the War but prices continued to rise. As recently as 10 years ago all our 1" by's were shaved down. Example: A 1" by 10" board was trimmed down to a 3/4" by 9-1/4". So, we are getting less wood and it's costing us more money. The concept of supply and demand is alive and doing well.

Getting back to the woods that are no longer available or too expensive, we're left with the process of elimination. What are we using? Have you considered putting in new wood flooring lately? If so, how do you like your choices? All kinds of materials are available that simulate wood. Most people go for the laminate. If you want a real wood floor, get ready for the pieces that look like scraps. You will have to settle for short lengths. Back in the day you could go 24" wide and 24' in length if you chose to do so. All we are left here with are remnants and memories...

My neighbor Henry, a home builder and woodworker all of his life, suggested that when a tree is taken down a sapling be planted in its place. That'll help but won't solve the problem by itself. What I would like to see are some salvage yards where a fellow can be paid for bringing in his used wood and wood products for resale instead of paying a fee at the dump to have the wood destroyed.

We are using our wood faster than we can grow it. I don't think we will ever be faced with what Thailand experienced, but with our wood becoming scarce and the prices going through the roof, the handwriting is on the wall and to me it looks like graffiti...

Jimmy Halloran is Co-Owner of ConnecticutHandiworks.com, an online retailer featuring handcrafted items made in Connecticut.

jimmy130@live.com  /  860.942.7571  / 

PO Box 26 Hampton, CT.

  06247

Jewelry and Its Designers...Part Two

There is nothing as heart warming as a love story, and Anna is living it.  As a young girl growing up in Italy, Anna was introduced to a fellow from the States who came to visit her family. They had eyes for each other and he promised that some day, when she was older, he would come back for her. Some years later came a knock at the door. It was her Prince Charming and he wanted to take Anna to America. Today, proving that there is true love in the world, Anna and Vito were married, have a grown daughter and are still living happily ever after in Danielson, Connecticut.

Eighteen years ago Anna fell in love again, only this time with beading. It all started when she discovered that she was allergic to all base metals, especially nickel, and could wear only silver and gold.  Loving color so much Anna starting stringing beads for herself and soon became addicted to this newfound passion. All of Anna's jewelry is hand woven, using only the best glass, crystals and pearls. She also uses semi-precious stones and all her metals are sterling silver, gold-filled brass or surgical steel (no nickel anywhere). "My inspiration comes from everywhere and never seems to end... just not enough time to do it all," she says.

Tell me... have you ever seen a checkbook cover done in Delica beads from a loom?  How about beaded rings?  Say, for instance, a Swarovski maroon pearl with a fire-polished Czech glass band. No? I didn't think so. All of Anna's pieces are one of a kind and receive compliments from all that notice her jewelry. Some of her other unique pieces include a bracelet made with Czech crystals featuring Swarovski accents and red seed beads, her black vintage cameo and her earrings of dark red coral with hand-carved flowers. Anna's designs are.. are... what's the word I'm looking for... Gorgeous!  Anna's love for beading shows in her magnificent work... You go girl, I feel the love!

Did you know? Almost anything can be used in the making of jewelry. I say almost because lead can't. Not in England, anyway. English assay offices will not give its "Hallmark Stamp of Approval" on any items containing lead or lead solder. Instead, those pieces are confiscated and destroyed!

Linda Jo, nicknamed "gypsy at heart," is a creative lady originally from the Adirondacks who now lives in Windham, Connecticut.  She possesses a wide range of talents and that's probably one of the reasons she has been selected to lead the local Artisans Co-operative as their President.  Linda Jo, now retired from the mental health field, has taught many classes in various media where, I believe, she learned to think out of the box. Aside from her handmade lavender glass and silver earrings or the earrings fashioned from turquoise bead with silver and wooden beads, I have noticed her handfelted necklaces. Felt? Yup... Handfelted balls along with silver beads, nice muted colors and they,of course, are lightweight. Leave it up to the gypsy at heart! Working in various media Linda Jo also makes scarves, neck warmers, baby hats, and my favorite, which are the handfelted catnip balls and handfelted catnip mice. Here kitty, kitty, kitty...

Jewelry is here to stay. In a 2007 study entitled, "Global Jewelry Consumpton," KPMG India stated that the largest jewelry market in the world is the United States with a market share of 30.8%, followed by Japan, India, China and the Middle East, each with 8-9% and Italy with 5%. The field of artisan jewelry making continues to grow as a profession and as a hobby.  Man, we sure do know how to look good, don't we?

My last piece of must-know information is that the amber gemstone needs to be over one million years old in order to be classified as amber. Some amber has been identified as being 120 million years old!  Okay, you can go now...

Jimmy Halloran is Co-Owner of ConnecticutHandiworks.com, an online retailer featuring handcrafted items made in Connecticut.

jimmy130@live.com  /  860.942.7571  / 

PO Box 26 Hampton, CT.

  06247

Jewelry and Its Designers...Part One

Once upon a time long, long ago -- 100,000 years ago -- people were making jewelry. We know this because beads made from nassarius (mud snail shells) were found from that time. Early jewerly was also fashioned from animal teeth, bone, wood, and carved stone. Jewelry throughout time has served many purposes, including currency and wealth display and was used  for protection in the form of amulets. Buckles, pins and clasps gave jewelry a functional purpose. Jewelry also represented symbolism, a show of status or membership as indicated by the use of the Jewish Star of David, the Christian crucifix cross, and the wedding ring. Finally, jewelry was, and still is, used as a display of artistic expression.

Patti of Coventry, Connecticut, incorporates a wide range of materials into her jewelry. Some of her pins are fashioned from slate or beach stones, then hand painted and transformed into images of animals, New England-style homes, barns, and shops. Ya gotta see these... Her glazed clay pendants are made from earthenware clay and impressed with objects found in nature, then bisque fired, glazed, then refired. Quite a process.

Patti, also a Hospice Chaplin,  loves to use sea glass in many of her creations and believes this glass is an inspiration to her patients. She says, "Like each of us, pieces of glass travel on a singular journey. And over time, the glass is tossed about in raging seas, through dark and lonely nights, carrying the hope of each new day. Against all odds, it is eventually transformed into something more beautiful than it was when its journey began." That's a nice way of looking at it...

Did you know that perforated beads fashioned from snail shells, dating back 75,000 years, were found in Africa? And in Kenya, beads made from the egg shells of ostriches were being used 40,000 years ago! Apparently people have enjoyed adorning themselves since the beginning of time as we know it.

Pat of Tolland, Connecticut is fascinated with dichroic glass, understandably so since the beauty in the results of this process is hard to describe.  Dichroic glass dates back to the 4th century, AD.  What is unique about this process is what comes out of making it. Ready? Multi ultra-thin layers of different metals (gold, silver), metal oxides and silica are vaporized by an electron beam in a vacuum chamber. The vapor then condenses on the surface of the glass in the form of a crystal structure. Still with me? This is sometimes followed by a protective layer of quartz crystal. I'll stop here because I don't want to lose you, but you get the point -- it's an intricate process. Pat designs and produces all of her high quality pins, earrings and pendants, which transmit completely different reflective colors as wave lengths of light either pass through, or are reflected when the angle of view changes. The effect is unbelievable.

Glass has been used in the making of jewelry throughout time. In ancient Egypt 3,000 to 5,000 years ago the Egyptians had glass formulations to mimic all of the gemstones. The Greeks added their jewels to molds and then filled them with poured glass. Advanced glass techinques created by Venetian glass masters have developed a wide range of glass jewelry. Murano glass and Murano beads started their popularity back in the 13th century.

Laura, Denise and Michele of Brooklyn, Connecticut were guided by destiny and their talents collided when they came together to make jewelry. Laura has a fondness for making vintage lockets, among her many talents. Denise enjoys working in stained glass repair and restoration in addition to her love for creating beads using the lampworking process. Michele also likes to work with stained glass as well as making glass beads, and leaves her own signature on beads that set them apart from those of her sister, Denise.

Their handmade creations range from handsewn neckbands, bubble bead pendants, and twist bangle braclets to pendants featuring lampwork beads and Swarovski clear crystals. I am amazed at how a delicate little glass rose flower can be fashioned to include tiny purple and pink "budlets." I've always heard the expression "two heads are better than one," but three heads... look out...these gals are turning out keepsakes.

Jimmy Halloran is Co-Owner of ConnecticutHandiworks.com, an online retailer featuring handcrafted items made in Connecticut.

jimmy130@live.com  /  860.942.7571  / 

PO Box 26 Hampton, CT.

  06247

The Chandlers...

Chili Bob of Norwich, Connecticut is a candlestick maker who likes to make candles the old fashioned way. He dips them in a vat of hot wax time and time again until he gets the look he wants. He likes to sit out in the sun come early Fall, talking stories about how life used to be back in the 1700s. See, Chili likes to dress up in his Revolutionary War garb and take part in the reenactments that take place all throughout New England. 

Candle making didn't start in the 1700s, though. In fact, candle making has come a long way since the earliest known candles dating back to 221-206 BC when they were made from whale fat by the Chinese. Both the Chinese and the Japanese are credited with using wax taken from insects and seeds wrapped in paper to be burned.

Chili Bob's candles are different. They have their own character and no two are alike. They appear rustic, and have a curl to them, not like your store boughts. I wouldn't describe them as pretty, straight or smooth. As Chili likes to say, "If you're lookin' for a perfect candle, this ain't it."

Laura, "head chandler" of her "mom and pop" company in Bolton, Connecticut has a different take on candles. She likes to make scented candles. "I love the way the scent of a candle can entirely change the feeling of the room," she says. Laura started making candles on her kitchen stove, melting (paraffin) wax in deep fryers, then adding color and fragrance in preparation to hand pour each candle. Laura finally got out of the kitchen and into a workshop where she has expanded her line of scented candles. Her winter candles include "Winter's Night" which has the scents of warm vanilla with a hint of peppermint, and "Winter Woods" with scents of sandalwood, pine needles, patchouli and freshly fallen leaves, hmmmm. I find it interesting how the sense of smell can bring us back in time to places and events. These scented candles do just that...

The art of candle making is as old as the hills and comes with an extensive, interesting history. Today's candle making techniques didn't just happen. They evolved over time through a trial-and-error process. The first candles used in Europe were made by nomadic tribes late in the Roman era and were made from tallow, an animal fat, and they smelled bad. Because they stunk, a replacement was found using the wax from plant extracts. Different people came up with their own versions of candles. The Tibetans used yak butter. The Chinese found that bees produced wax, and started using it in candles between 265 and 420 BC. The use of "candle fish" became popular in the 1st century AD, when someone had the bright idea of taking this dried fish, putting it on a forked stick and lighting it to use as a candle. Who knew... I wonder what Chili and Laura would say to that?

The Anglo-Saxon King, Alfred the Great, c. 849-899, came up with a the idea of using the candle to tell time: a candle clock. He would mark lines on his candlesticks that would note the passing of each hour.  The timer candle came next, with a metal nail inserted at a desired point.  When the candle melted down to this point the nail would fall, striking a hard surface. Could this have been the first alarm clock?

Bringing it home, the American colonists found that bayberries made for a good candle, but required too much work. It took 15 pounds of boiled bayberries to get only one pound of wax! History has it that chemists in the early 1800s distilled paraffin from coal-tar and produced what was needed to make inexpensive candles of high quality. This wax had a bluish-white color and burned cleanly, with no unpleasant tallow odor.

With the introduction of the light bulb the candle is no longer a necessity. Instead, it is considered a decorative pleasure. Today's market offers a full array of candles made in a variety of shapes, colors, and even scents, like the ones Laura loves to make.

Jimmy Halloran is Co-Owner of ConnecticutHandiworks.com, an online retailer featuring handcrafted items made in Connecticut.

jimmy130@live.com  /  860.942.7571  / 

PO Box 26 Hampton, CT.

  06247

How Much Do You Know About Sewing?

Let's start at the source, when and where it all started.

Archaeologists believe that stone age people across Europe and Asia sewed skins and furs, or grasses and leaves together, making clothing. They used ivory, bone, and antler needles with thread made from various body parts taken from animals.

Did you know that in the Middle East during the Neolitic period, (aka the New Stone age between 10,700-9,400 BC), brought forth the first textiles. This material was defined as felt or spun fibers made into yarn and woven to make fabrics.

The sewing machine dates back to as early as 1755 when Charles Weisenthal applied for a patent, and Isaac Singer introduced his home use version in 1851.

The saftey pin was invented by Walter Hunt around 1849.

Chinese archaeologists reported finding a complete sewing set, including a thimble, dating back to 202 BC.

Scissors can be traced back to around 260 BC according to Archimedes. However, scissors made from one piece of metal were found in ancient Egyptian ruins dating back to 1500 BC. Modern cross blade scissors were invented in Rome around 100 AD. In the end, Leonardo da Vinci is credited with the invention of scissors, since he used them to cut his canvases.

The oldest known bone sewing needle was found in France and is known to be over 25,000 years old. Sewing needles made from silver, bronze and copper were used in ancient Egypt.

The Native American Indians were known to use the pointed end of agave leaves and porcupine quills for sewing needles, and agave leaf fibers were used for thread.

The year 1850 brought the needle-making machine, and by 1866 England was producing 100 million needles a year.

I guess before all of the above happened, we all ran around naked!

And the last little tidbit that you should know, is that those people who collect thimbles are known as digitabulists...

As I review my writings I notice that today's clothiers, seamstresses if you will, are all women, but yet the tailors are mostly men. I remember my grandfather sewing. He spent time at sea as a ship captain and had a lot of time on his hands, like most sailors. They passed time by making things and he used to macrame shade pulls and key chains. I remember that he made a white belt for me, all hand woven cord. I also recall his teaching me as a young boy how to thread a needle. That was fun at the time but sure helps later in life, especially when I pop a button.

I've had some experience at sewing and tried my luck at making pants.  Yeah, I bought the patterns, selected the materials, cut and sewed the pieces. Alas, they all wound up having to be draw-string pants since I couldn't master the art of attaching a zipper to them. I called them my "Plan B" pants. We all have our limitations and this was one of mine.

Jimmy Halloran is Co-Owner of ConnecticutHandiworks.com, an online retailer featuring handcrafted items made in Connecticut.

jimmy130@live.com  /  860.942.7571  / 

PO Box 26 Hampton, CT.

  06247

The Common Thread...

Judi, of East Hartford, comes from a family of seamstresses. Her grandmother had ten children and made all their clothes. Her mother sewed for her and her two sisters. She, in turn, sewed for her children. Hence, the common thread...

Now that Judi is retired, she and her sisters get together for "sister weekends," taking turns going to each other's homes, carrying their sewing machines with them. There they sew together, sharing in each other's projects and talking about new ideas that they have dreamt up.

Judi tells me her "creations are original, coming from my thoughts and efforts" as she strives for quality in her work. Most of her projects evolve from her imagination. When she sees something in her head, she has to make it "because it doesn't go away until I create it." Sometimes it drives her crazy, she explains, but it always gives her a sense of satisfaction once something new has been made.

Judi's got it bad... This love of sewing crafts, embroidering, making clothes, mending and quilting things. She's not alone either, her sisters have got it, too. I can almost hear them chuckling when they get together.

Judi's lastest creations include her line of pouches, and I can't help but love the Hearts and Flowers, a long strap pouch which consists of embroidered, lined, denim jean pockets with a zipper. You gotta see this! Truly a must-have accessory...

A full line of scarves is available, most made with silk-blend material, as well as a series of whimsical, yet practical, pincushions to brighten a sewing corner. It's not surprising that she offers something for her fellow seamstresses!  In addition, Judi has created her own line of place mats that come in sets of four. These colorful mats are edged-stitched and bring beauty and compliments to a table.   

The latest idea Judi turned out is definitely something that you will never see anyplace else. It's a game just perfect for a Valentine's Day gift -- handmade game of Tic-Tac-Toe with a Valentine theme. The Os are hearts, the Xs are kisses with a heart in the middle. These make up the game pieces. The board is imitation white leather embroidered in red with velco squares. '"Be the first in your neighborhood to have one"...

What an imagination this gal has...

Jimmy Halloran is Co-Owner of ConnecticutHandiworks.com, an online retailer featuring handcrafted items made in Connecticut.

jimmy130@live.com  /  860.942.7571  / 

PO Box 26 Hampton, CT.

  06247

Hand-Me-Downs...

Not necessarily clothing, but lessons regarding how to make clothes that are handed down from one generation to another. Today I'll focus on Karen and Missy, clothiers of Plainfield.  Karen learned the importance of making and providing clothing for her family from her Mom. The hand-me-down process led to Karen's teaching her daughter, Missy, who has in turn passed this information down to her two daughters, a 19 year-old, and a 9 year-old. There we have it, once again, old world traits being handed down from one generation to another. I think I know who Karen's Mom learned from and wonder whether Missy's daughters will carry on the tradition by teaching their children.

I met Missy at the craft fairs, and then one day I stopped in to say hello at her home studio and outlet shoppe. There I found Missy instructing her youngest daughter in the use of a hot wax gun. This learning process starts at a very early age. The child knew what she wanted to make, and Missy watched while this project took shape, lovingly guiding and complimenting her as she progressed. The studio was filled with completed works of art, many of which were unique items I had never seen before. This is what happens when a whole family produces their own creations, one idea building upon another.

What strikes me most are the baby clothes: crocheted baby beanies and newborn baby sweater sets which include a sweater, hat and booties. Sooo cute... The newborn baby sweater sets come in a wide choice of colors. These sets are all hand crocheted, made of 100% hypoallergenic acrylic. Now get this, sized 0 to 3 months. Starting life out at size zero! Is that too much, or what?

Jimmy Halloran is Co-Owner of ConnecticutHandiworks.com, an online retailer featuring handcrafted items made in Connecticut.

jimmy130@live.com  /  860.942.7571  / 

PO Box 26 Hampton, CT.

  06247

The Clothiers...

Those that make and sell clothing. I've always believed that if you want something done right, you must do it yourself.  I'm not sure if this is a motivating factor that drives those who produce their own clothing. Why sew, then? When I ask around, many say that they have been taught how to sew at an early age from their mothers and grandmothers. It's second nature. Many find it a form of relaxation and socialization. The sewing circle comes to mind, where family and friends gather to sew and talk stories. Some like to crochet at the beach, others hand stitch while watching television. It's something that can be done anywhere at any time, which makes it convenient. I'm amazed how these talented people can perform this difficult task, while at the same time holding a conversation. I'm not wired that way.

If you have ever produced something, and we all have in one form or another, you will identify with the emotions involved. It starts with the rush one gets in having an idea that you plan to actualize; thinking about it, planning it, and creating it to make it real; tweaking it and improving it until you are satisified; then enjoying and appreciating what you have just accomplished, perhaps looking at it over and over with the idea of improving it the next time. Man, I just want to create something! Oh, I am. I'm doing it right now.

We are all good at something. These people that I am writing about are good at lots of things, but it is their sewing, crocheting, knitting and embroidering that I am focusing on. These are their stories:

Carol of Coventry minored in art at the University of Bridgeport and considers herself to be an "artsy" type person who sewed a lot in her youth. I was told that she made TEN bridesmaid gowns for her wedding! Okay, I'm impressed. We have a serious sewer here...

One thing leads to another, and knitting has finally become a passion of Carol's. I say "finally" because nothing is easy. In the beginning of this learning curve her first project, knitting a baby blanket, "came out terrible." As a self-taught knitter Carol had to rely on books which were written for right-handed people. Carol is left handed.

It's not possible, when looking at a finished product, to know what it took to get the point of starting the project, no less turning out a work of art. We don't just arrive. It seems as if we must experience failure before we attain success. The learning curve is one of life's most difficult but rewarding challenges.

Carol turns out the most beautiful knitted capes you will ever come across. Her pastel rainbow poncho cape, made of machine washable homespun acrylic, is my favorite. The learning curve never ends and Carol is "learning new things every year." I can't wait to see her next creation.

Jimmy Halloran is Co-Owner of ConnecticutHandiworks.com, an online retailer featuring handcrafted items made in Connecticut.

  jimmy130@live.com  /  860.942.7571  /  PO Box 26 Hampton, CT. 06247

Buy Connecticut...

When I started my campaign to promote Buy Connecticut I had two thoughts in mind. First was that the quality and reasonable prices of the items produced by the local artists and handicrafters in my community should be available to everyone. The second was, well, read on...

The history of Connecticut is found in many forms all around us.  I see it as I drive around and notice the large, old, abandoned brick factories that are now closed and boarded up.  These were huge thriving businesses built along rivers that powered the machinery that made wonderful products used locally and sold across the country. Those were the days when everybody had a job. Companies would provide housing for their workers and their families and pensions for their retirement.  It was not uncommon for employees to spend their entire lives working for just one company. Whole families were known to work there as well, one generation after another. These were good jobs.

What the heck happened? We didn't stop using the products that were made at these factories. So what was it? Was it the decisions of business leaders to have their products made in another country for less money? Could be. All I know is that it wasn't all that long ago that this happened. What I notice now is that we no longer manufacture many products here and that too many of our residents are unemployed and can't find work. People don't have the money that they once had. They don't have the jobs.

Politics is not my strong suit, and it seems like the more I learn about economics, the less I know. Even the experts aren't sure how we got into this mess and no two people think alike on how we are going to get out of it. This leads me to think that we cannot afford to wait around for others to fix our problems. We must "go for self" by taking responsibility for our actions, our decisions and the choices we make. Asking ourselves, "What can I do about it?" is a good place to start.

First, let us identify the problem, if we can, and then provide some possible solutions. Without asking why the real estate bubble burst, or why the banks aren't lending or whether we have hit the bottom on foreclosures and bankruptcies or when the jobs will return, let's focus on the issue of today's money. Our money. The money we work hard for. The money we spend on purchasing. Where is this money going after we buy something? Will it be circulated among our neighbors? Or, will it go to people in other countries? Are we giving our money away? Simply put, when money is spent on products imported from foreign countries, our hard-earned dollars leave this country to pay the wages and improve the economy in other parts of the world. That said, I don't know about you, but I was taught that charity begins at home. This is my second reason to Buy Connecticut. Yes, all that I mentioned above are contributing factors to the overall problems we are experiencing. Yeah, the jobs are gone but that doesn't mean our money has to follow them.  Why don't we keep our money here allowing for circulation?

Let me be clear, this is not a push for boycotting. What I am saying is that there is a need for a heightened awareness to a problem that exists, and so far we are not doing anything about it. So what can be done about it? Where to start? We are talking about the potential for change here.

The analogy I would like to start with is that of recycling. Not long ago we all just discarded our recyclables with the garbage and threw everything into the landfill. Remember that? Now we are aware of the need to protect the environment. We reuse our paper and cardboard; we find other uses for our plastic, aluminium and glass containers. Recycling businesses opened up for second-hand items like wood, windows, metals, fixtures, and so on. We look at recycling differently now with our new sense of awareness. What we are doing, each of us, is protecting our environment, trying to make Mother Earth a better place to live for ourselves and our children. We are all working together, doing our part, pitching in for a common goal. We have also created new jobs with this recycling concept.

Is putting effort into changing our spending habits and bettering our local community any different? We are always faced with choices. Whether to buy that item, made by someone on the other side of the world or from your neighbor is your choice. The folks that make products here, the artists, farmers and handicrafters, their job is to make something available for you to buy. They offer you something of quality for a reasonable price. We can't afford to lose these jobs. I can only ask that before you buy, read the label to see where it was made and think about where you want your money to go.

Don't discard your money,  recycle it...  Buy American/Buy Connecticut.

Jimmy Halloran is Co-Owner of ConnecticutHandiworks.com, an online retailer featuring handcrafted items made in Connecticut.

jimmy130@live.com  /  860.942.7571  / 

PO Box 26 Hampton, CT

  06247

Products From The Hive

If what they say is true about busy hands being happy hands, then Bill from Tolland must be the happiest guy in the County.  He's got his hands in a slew of various projects, and bee keeping is one of them.  Another project of Bill's is filling the role of President and Founder of Opportunity Works Inc. of Connecticut.  His interest and goal is to create jobs for people with disabilities.

I asked Bill how he got started working with bees and he explained that it started out as a 4-H project which involved getting him and his son interested in doing something together.  For those who may not know, 4-H, in the United States, is a youth organization adminstered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture whose mission is "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development."  Their motto is "To make the best better," while their slogan is "Learn by doing".

For the last 20 years Bill and his son Ryan have operated their business together, tending to 30 hives and harvesting the honey and beeswax to create products like honey, bee pollen (often referred to as nature's most complete food), and a variety of beeswax candles.  Did you know that the honey bee is the only insect that produces food eaten by man?

Bill and Ryan both rave about this sweet business of theirs.  The creamed honey, the honey-filled hard candy, their honey stix...what a yummy line of work!  Did you know that it takes the nectar and pollen from 2 million flowers to make one pound of honey?

There are many benefits, uses and ways to take bee pollen, too many to mention here.  However, did you know that bee pollen is approximately 25% complete protein, containing at least 18 amino acids?  Bee pollen also provides more than a dozen vitamins, 28 minerals, and 11 carbohydrates, not to mention that it is low in calories -- all while tasting delicious. Bee pollen has been found to strenghten the immune system, rejuvenate the body, stimulate organs and glands and bring about a longer life span, at the same time increasing sex drive.  Okay, that does it!  I'm going on a honey diet...

Jimmy Halloran is Co-Owner of ConnecticutHandiworks.com, an online retailer featuring handcrafted items made in Connecticut.

jimmy130@live.com  /  860.942.7571  / 

PO Box 26 Hampton, CT.

  06247

Looking For Something New

Since coming to Connecticut a few years ago I have enjoyed going to different activities with the hopes of finding something different, something I haven't seen before.  I like the craft shows best, and just love to watch people making things by hand.  They all seem so happy and can't wait to tell you about what they do, how they do it and what got them started, as if they want you to do it, too.  It doesn't matter if these events are held at the Fairgrounds, on the Greens, in the church basement, at the High School gym, at a Flea market or even a tag sale.  If it's possible that I might find something that I haven't seen before, I'll be there.  I'm drawn to them.

Going to these events shows me how others live.  What they enjoy, what interests them.  I like hearing about how they developed an idea into something to sell, or seeing them make something from nothing.  It's an interesting process.  There is an enjoyment that comes from creating something.  Not only are they rewarded with the good feeling of accomplishing and completing the challenge of producing a handicrafted item, but they also get paid for it.  It is my belief that many talented artists who do what they love, would do it even if they weren't rewarded with money.  They would do it for themselves.  To me this is a great form of therapy.  It's important to like what you are doing.  It helps us feel good about ourselves when those creative jucies are flowing.  We need to feel productive.  We need a purpose.  To many, making something gives them that purpose.

Some people cling to the past.  Examples of this would be in the appreciation and collection of antiques or old tools, dolls and even old egg beaters.  I'm a clinger. I love old stuff.  The best clingers of all are those Revolutionary War re-enactments.  The way they dress, the way they talk,  camping out on these 'battle-fields" and cooking their food like the folks did back in the 1700's.  And the battles, why didn't these soldiers duck, I mean they just stand there, in a line, waiting to get shot!  Geeze.  I'd like to think it was pride, you know, with all the flag waving, the drums banging and bugles blaring, but I'm glad to see that style of fighting left in the past.

I find it interesting that some homes and barns today are made using post and beam methods, the same way houses were constructed hundreds of years ago.  People -- many people -- like doing things the old fashioned way.  It shows in their crafts and their products.  The candle makers, the wood carvers, the soap makers, the weavers, potters, handmade clothiers, glass blowers, handmade jewelry designers, bee keepers, the list goes on and on.  These are old traditions, yet something new emerges every time without fail.  As long as this newness continues, I will always be looking for that something new.

Jimmy Halloran is Co-Owner of ConnecticutHandiworks.com, an online retailer featuring handcrafted items made in Connecticut.

jimmy130@live.com  /  860.942.7571  / 

PO Box 26 Hampton, CT.

  06247

   

What Would You Call Someone from Connecticut?

If asked, I would say we were "Connecticuters," but apparently Cotton Mather thought differently about it and in 1702 he coined the term "Connecticutians". That lasted until 1781 when Samuel Peters got up one morning and claimed that the residents of Connecticut should now be known as "Connecticutensians."  In spite of all these name changes we really never lost that "Nutmegger" image, which at one time caused us to be known as the Nutmeg State. 

History has it that early inhabitants were so ingenious and shrewd that they were able to make and sell wooden nutmegs.  "Unknowing buyers may have failed to grate nutmegs, thinking they had to be cracked like a walnut.  Nutmegs are wood, and bounce when struck. If southern customers did not grate them, they very well may have accused the Yankees of selling useless 'wooden' nutmegs, unaware that they wear down to a pungent powder to season pies and bread."  (Elizabeth Abbe, Librarian, the Connecticut Historial Society; Connecticut Magazine, April 1980).

So now I know a little more about nutmeg.  But you never know what you will find until you look.  For instance, did you ever hear about nutmeg butter?  Geeze, I thought, I'd like to try some.  Maybe some nutmeg butter on toast.  Hmmm...  That is until I found out that one of its uses, when mixed with other fats like cottonseed oil or palm oil, is to be used as an industrial lubricant.  What?  I think I'll pass.  Sorry, I just can't see myself eating something that I can also grease my car with.  How about you?

Jimmy Halloran is Co-Owner of ConnecticutHandiworks.com, an online retailer featuring handcrafted items made in Connecticut.

jimmy130@live.com  /  860.942.7571  / 

PO Box 26 Hampton, CT.

  06247

What's in a Name?

Connecticut, a Native American word, means "beside the long river," and here I thought it was another name transplanted from a town in England where so many of our towns have gotten their names.

I also thought Connecticut was the Nutmeg State.  Wrong again.  My license plates say we are now the Constitution State.  This change occured in 1959 when the General Assembly felt the need for a new image, I guess.  What the heck is a nutmeg, anyway?  Well, it's a seed from several species of trees, namely the Myristica fragrans, and is the source for two different spices, nutmeg and mace.  What's strange here is that these trees are indigenous to places like Indonesia, Malaysia, the Caribbean, India and New Guinea and some other warm climate countries.  How these trees survive the cold harsh winters of Connecticut is beyond me!

Getting back to this State name business.  These aren't the only names our State has been given.  During the Revolutionary War, Connecticut supplied most of the food and cannons for the Continenal Army, earning the name Provisional State.  Then, according to A Dictionary Of Americanisms On Historical Principles, Connecticut was known as "The Land Of Steady Habits," alluding to the strict morals of its inhabitants.  Officially, there is no one name adopted by the State for its residents.

What name should be next?  It may sound like I have a bias here, but I propose that we go with the "Handiworks State" for a new name.  We could have a choice for the State song like "If I had A Hammer," or "I Want To Be A Billionaire So Freakin' Bad."  And the State bird?  No doubt it's the Guina Hen because of their survival instincts.  Plus, they make me laugh by finding companionship in their reflection of my chrome truck bumpers.  All in favor...

Jimmy Halloran is Co-Owner of ConnecticutHandiworks.com, an online retailer featuring handcrafted items made in Connecticut.

jimmy130@live.com  /  860.942.7571  / 

PO Box 26 Hampton, CT.

  06247

Small Town Living

Small town living is something new to me. Growing up and spending 30 plus years in Brooklyn, New York with its population of 4.5 million people, and then living in the San Francisco Bay Area, California for the next 32 years kind of makes me a city slicker.

I needed to return to my East Coast roots. In 2007 I came back for the change of seasons, where I could be in touch with the cycle of life. Where preparing for the next season becomes an enjoyable way of life -- putting away the hammock and getting wood cut and stacked for a long, cold winter; watching the days grow shorter as the flowers die back and the leaves fall, followed by snow, lots of snow. Then comes the thaw, Spring arrives, the robin appears and the hummingbirds return to build their nests to raise their young. Getting ready for planting season, becoming aware of the smell of fresh-cut grass, watching new growth stick its head up in the garden, seeing new flowers and leaves on the trees, breaking out the Summer clothes and putting the heavy sweaters away, and putting that hammock back up. Ah, the familiar newness of it all.

Having a choice of 169 cities and towns in Connecticut in which to live, I chose Hampton, one of the smallest. Only 2,034 people living in 709 households? No problem, I can live with that. Only a General Store, a Post Office, a church and a Town Hall that's open only two days a week? No problem. No traffic light and only two stop signs in the whole town? Again, no problem. I'll adjust and cope with the laid-back beauty of it all.

Hampton was settled in the early 18th Century, when the first settlers were primarily farmers. Their houses, barns and sheds, all built on stone foundations, are still scattered throughout the area. Windham County, in which Hampton is situated, is 75% agricultural, and cattle are still raised and bred. The history in this "quiet corner" goes back to a time when the call came to declare independence from England and men went to battle in the Revolutionary War.

In a way, not much has changed. I mean, the war is history now, but people still hunt; plow the fields to raise their own food; make their own clothes, soap, honey, maple syrup and jewelry; decorate their homes with their art; home-school their children; build their own barns with help from their neighbors, and so on. A hardy talented and ambitious bunch, these neighbors of mine, and I am proud to live among them while I try out this small town country boy living....

Jimmy Halloran is Co-Owner of ConnecticutHandiworks.com, an online retailer featuring handcrafted items made in Connecticut.

jimmy130@live.com  /  860.942.7571  / 

PO Box 26 Hampton, CT.

  06247