Valley of Makers

Long before it was “a thing”, Vermont’s Mad River Valley has been home to an astonishing array of “makers” of all kinds. It’s a community that has been an attractive incubator for an  eclectic collection of high caliber artisans and entrepreneurs. These artists, chefs, bakers, crafters, musicians, food producers, farmers, wellness practitioners and designers have, quite literally, woven themselves into the fabric of the community. Interestingly, the pandemic crisis has spurred this creative sector and there are now more makers, small businesses and retailers than ever before.

They have firmly established the Mad River Valley as a creative hub that stands in stark contrast to the ubiquitous homogenization that permeates our society.  The Mad River Valley experience is not just about appreciating unique products that are unavailable elsewhere. It is more about developing a bond with these makers and understanding what drives their work and how it is directly connected to the place they call home.

The growth of the Mad River Valley’s maker community encourages our visitors and fellow Vermonters to discover something new, seek out a unique experiences and support a community that is striving to create a sustainable path forward while remaining true to its roots. While outdoor recreation is what drives much of the visitation to the Mad River Valley this growing movement enhances the overall experience and creates many new ways for people interact with the community.

We’d like to introduce you to the “Makers” of the Mad River Valley;

Artisans

All Things Bright & Beautiful – hand painted ornaments
Artisan’s Gallery – Artisan owned gallery featuring works of 150 Vermont artists
A Wink Designs – Illustrated dry goods and gift items embellished with the joy and whimsy
Mad River Glass Gallery – Creating distinctive glass work for more than 30 years.
Salt & Sand Studios– Glass studio and instruction

Potters

Atelier 101 – Working ceramic studio and retail gallery.
Blockhouse Pottery Studio – Community pottery studio offering classes, memberships and a carefully created retail shop
Luke Iannuzzi Pottery Studio – Full service pottery studio and classes, specializing in custom service ware for chefs & restaurants.
Waitsfield Pottery – Quality and functional stoneware – durable quality and timeless elegance

Food Makers

Ariels’s Honey Infusion – Locally sourced, raw Vermont honey infusions dedicated to spreading awareness about the vital role bees play in keeping the planet healthy.
Babbette’s Table Charcuterie – Old world charcuterie, Salami, Saucisson Sec, Coppa, Lomo, Pancetta and Sausage
Green Rabbit Bread – Naturally leavened bread, slow cool fermentation of grains powered by the sun
Ploughgate Creamery – Crafting small-batch, cultured butter of the finest quality in Vermont since 2014
Red Hen Baking – Guided by the belief that pure, uncomplicated ingredients and the hands of skilled artisans are the building blocks for great food
Floodwoods Farm – Belted Galloway beef
vonTrapp Farmstead – Family farm making cheese since 2009 to secure a sustainable future . Using regenerative farming practices since it was purchased by Erika and Werner von Trapp in 1959.

Beverage Makers

Awake Coffee – Fair trade organic coffee handcrafted in the the heart of Vermont.
Collaborative Brewing Company – A fun and creative team driven by a taste for good beer and an appreciation for pop culture puns bringing a wide variety of beer styles to the local brew scene. Striving to collaborate with not only other breweries, but local farms and businesses, artists, and community members.
Cousins Brewing Company – 3 barrel brewery located in the heart of Vermont ski country.
KS Coffee – Exceptional coffees roasted in the Mad River Valley
Lawson’s Finest Liquids – Straight from the Green Mountains to your head! Producing beer of the highest quality with outstanding freshness. Featuring world class IPAs and unique maple brews.
Noah’s Fizzy Lemonade – Maple lemonade, A bubbly, refreshing elevation of classic and unexpected flavors
Mad River Distillers – Award-Winning Craft Distillery Located in Vermont’s Mad River Valley that ferments, distills and bottles bourbon, rye, rum and apple brandy.
Mad River Vinyard – Producing wine from Frontenec, Marquette and petite Pearly grapes ideally suited to Vermont’s climate.
Root Juice
Committed to offering the finest custom crafted blended juice with your health and wellness in mind.  Root Juice’s recently launched  juice “CSA”, a pre-buy program for the local community to receive fresh cold pressed juice weekly.
Tin Hat Cider – Ted Weber is the owner, orchard steward, harvester, processor, maker, bottler, sales rep and cellar rat who ferments ciders produced with unsprayed apples grown in central Vermont.

Farm & Garden

vonTrapp Flower Farm – Sustainably Grown Specialty Tulips, Annual & Perennial Cut Flowers all grown inIn Waitsfield, Vermont
Knoll Farm – Certified organic family farm on a steep hillside that has been in agriculture since 1804. Perfectly suited for growing berries, and a large flock of Icelandic sheep. A popular destination in the summer months for pick-your-own berries, picnicking, farm-to-table dinners, and special events throughout the year
Hartshorn’s Farm and Farm Tours – Certified organic  farm producing and selling delicious, healthy vegetables, fruits, and flowers from the roadside farm stand. Sustainable, regenerative & healthy. CSA shares, pick your own strawberries and blueberries as well as farm tours/educational workshops

Fiber Arts

Mad River Fiber Mill – An artisan fiber mill and shop providing custom processing of raw fleece to yarn.  The retail shop features Mad River Fiber Mill’s breed specific yarns spun from 100% Vermont fibers.
Yarnstream – A truly local yarn shop, housed in a vintage 1969 Airstream.  She wanders the scenic routes and byways of New England, with Mad River Valley being her true home. Shades of Winter Yarn Shop
Knoll Farm Icelandic Sheep and Habibi’s Yarn Shop – Locally spun Icelandic yarn as well as a variety of other local, high-quality New England small flock yarns and a range of fiber including alpaca, mohair and wool blends.

Wellness Makers

Three Buds Apothecary – Products crafted and created in Vermont using botanical ingredients and unique blends of 100% USDA Certified Organic Carrier and Essential Oils. CBD products use only USDA Certified Organic Full-Spectrum Vermont Hemp Co2 Extract

Designers

Product Think Tank –Experienced designer Annemarie Furey launched her line to offer beautifully crafted pieces which reflect her sewing and tailoring background and decades of relationships with apparel makers.
Whippletree Designs – An embroidery shop that provides personalized monograms and other embroidery services. Attention to detail with hand finishing ensures a high quality result. Embroidering on a wide variety of products including polo shirts, sweatshirts, baseball caps, golf towels, robes, blankets, and other apparel.
Forage & Finery – Handmade, artisan jewelry, clothing, herbal remedies, and giftables. We offer custom bridal jewelry as well as beauty consulting.

Outdoors

Silver Trout Fly Fishing Shop – Stuart Hayden, a chemist and a lifelong fly fisherman wanted to develop premium fly fishing accessories fly fishers can enjoy the highest quality  products made. He spent over 6 years of research and development to create products that many consider the best on the market.
Vermont Canoe & Kayak – Reviving the art of canoe building in Vermont ’s Mad River Valley. The river otter logo is on the bow of every model. Playful and fun-loving river otters are also sleek and efficient in the water, qualities built into every kayak or canoe they make.

Fine Artists

Roarke Sharlow Fine Art Photography
Gary Eckhart Paintings
Marilyn Ruseckas Vermont Landscape Paintings and
Vibrant Pastels
Bette Ann Libby – Painter and mosaic & ceramic artist
Katie Babic Designs – Fusing art and nature synchronously
John Matusz – Sculptor at Transformation Sculpture Studio
Liz Harris

Galleries & Retail Shops

The Mad River Valley’s retail shops take great pride in supporting local makers as they are well aware that their wares are what attract so many of their own customers.

Art Galleries

Mad River Valley Arts Festival Gallery– Come see the latest exhibition at the home of Mad River Valley arts, our local arts organization.
Art in the Village – Where art meets color
Moosewalk Studios & Gallery
Bundy Modern

Fashion

4orty Bridge Boutique – Carefully curated collection of sophisticated and fun casual wear
Forage & Finery – Uniquely crafted in small batches. Our products are carefully curated to offer the highest quality, one of a kind goods to fully adorn yourself and loved ones
The Green Closet – A resale clothing experience like no other.
The Warren Store Upstairs – An emporium of unexpected treasures
Someday Boutique – An upscale resale shop located in the heart of Warren Village

Gifts

 

The Collection – A Vermont family-owned business nestled in the heart of the Mad River Valley
Tempest Bookshop – The MRV’s locally owned book shop
Mountain Rose Provisions – A mindfully curated shop carries a variety of products from crystals to incense and smudge sticks, from locally made jewelry and self-care products.

Food & Beverage

East Warren Community Market – The MRV’s country co-op is open to all. Local and organic products alongside basic staples, prepared foods and unique one of a kind offerings.
Mad River Taste Place – Specialty grocery store
Mehuron’s Market – Our locally owned community supermarket since 1941
Paradise Provisions – Groceries, craft beer, good wine, breakfast, lunch & prepared dinners.
vonTrapp Farmstead Farm Store – cheese, yogurt, & meats and a selection of products from over 40 local producers.