Artisans get creative, sell crafts along multi-town trail

Oct. 8, 2020 | Sarah Heinonen
sarah@thereminder.com

ENFIELD/SOMERS – The pandemic has hit people in every industry, but while many small business owners received assistance from the federal government’s coronavirus relief bill known as the CARES Act, local artisans have been without income or assistance because craft fairs and festivals have been canceled since spring.

Angelina Fleury, who runs American Made Crafters by A&W with her husband Wayne Fleury are just two of the area artisans that are experiencing tough economic times courtesy of the pandemic.

“I had lost all my business going out to the fairs and stuff,” Fleury said. She produced fiber crafts, while her husband is a woodworker. “We have taken a huge hit. Most of us artisans save that money to get through the winter. I use it for my insurance.”

Fleury asked her town officials in Somers if she could invite eight or nine crafters to have a sale on her lawn. Due to coronavirus guidelines, she was denied, but she found she was allowed to host a “yard sale.” With that information, Fleury revamped her garage into a shop of sorts and put out the word to other area crafters to organize a trail of artisans through the surrounding towns selling crafts from their own yards and garages. The “Crafty Map Trail” was born.

Normally, Fleury said, artisans pay hundreds of dollars for a table at craft show venues. With the Crafty Map Trail, people are selling their handmade wares from their garages, front lawns, porches and tents. Fleury said that she is personally hoping to make $1,000 to $2,000 to offset some of the money she has lost over the past seven months since craft shows and festivals shut down.

The Crafty Map Trail will kick off on Oct. 9 and run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Oct. 11. The trail will wind from Stafford, CT, through Somers and Enfield, to Suffield, CT. Along that route, 15 different artisans will be set up at 10 separate locations.

The crafters, which include Sunflower Trading Co., Teaberry Treasure, C’Sweets and Alex’s Crafty Creations, will be selling rustic farmhouse decor, primitives, wood working, felting, decoupage, knitted crafts, kettle corn, jams and jellies.

Fleury said the Crafty Map Trail is not a one-time craft sale, but a growing monthly event. She has received so much interest in joining the trail that from Nov. 14 to Nov. 16, 25 artisans will participate in seven towns. There will be another trail from Dec. 4 to Dec. 6 and again in the spring.

“I’m looking for this trail to go nationwide,” Fleury told Reminder Publishing. Fleury and fellow artisan, Jennifer Gionfriddo, a sign maker who owns Fire & Ice Custom Wood Designs, has put the word out on social media to attract crafters in more towns. Any crafters interested in joining the trail can call Fleury at 860-698-2603.

“It’s designed for each artist to compliment each other, not compete,” Fleury said. No two crafters with similar products are located near each other on the trail to limit competition. She also said that if someone doesn’t have enough crafts to sell all three days they can “hitch a ride” and set up at another person’s location for one of the days.

The map for the first trail is available on www.facebook.com/angelinaflerury to be printed out and each location will have paper copies of the map to follow.

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