| Looking for authentic handmade wood furniture, made | | | | craft to the area. Shoppers come from around the |
| in the good 'ol USA? It's not so easy to find it anymore, | | | | world to shop in the small furniture studios and |
| is it? Most Americans think of North Carolina as the | | | | showrooms belonging to these craftsmen and women. |
| fine furniture capitol of the USA, but over the past 30 | | | | Furniture aficionados will find Vermont furniture |
| years, that has changed. The furniture companies we | | | | shopping to be quite a different experience than the |
| think of as being quintessentially American -- for | | | | routine trip to a neighborhood big box furniture store. |
| example Thomasville, Broyhill, Ethan Allen and Lane -- | | | | Savvy customers are combining their furniture |
| no longer make much, if any furniture in the USA. | | | | shopping with travel and tourism throughout Vermont's |
| Instead they outsource their furniture to factories in | | | | rural countryside. The autumn leaf-peeping season has |
| China, Vietnam and other third world countries. | | | | become the time of choice to shop although visitors |
| So where does one go to find authentic, high quality, | | | | are welcomed year-round. To learn more about |
| handmade wood furniture? It turns out that Vermont is | | | | Vermont's handmade wood furniture shopping, check |
| now considered by many to be the fine furniture | | | | out the Vermont Fine Furniture Festival, held in the |
| capitol of the country. By unofficial count, some 2000 | | | | Union Arena, 496 Woodstock Rd # 3 (Route 4) in |
| small wood furniture makers dot the rural Vermont | | | | Woodstock, VT every year during the last week of |
| countryside, taking advantage of the heavily forested | | | | September. This year the dates are September 25-56, |
| nature of our state for supply of natural, eco-friendly | | | | 2010. Over 100 of Vermont's finest furniture makers |
| raw materials. | | | | will be displaying their work and giving you an insider's |
| Vermont has traditionally been home to a vibrant | | | | view of how authentic handmade wood furniture is |
| cottage industry of artisans, working in all types of | | | | made. You'll be able to meet the furniture makers and |
| media, including native hardwoods. Wood furniture | | | | purchase handmade wood furniture off the floor or |
| makers from all around the globe flock to Vermont to | | | | order affordable custom furniture to be crafted just |
| practice their craft in the Green Mountain state. A | | | | for you and delivered directly to your home. While |
| thriving community of woodworkers has developed, | | | | you're there, be sure to let the craftsmen and women |
| bringing together Vermont families who have practiced | | | | know your opinion: is Vermont truly the Fine Furniture |
| woodworking for many generations and newcomers | | | | Capitol of America? |
| who have brought new and different aspects of the | | | | |