RoyCroftCampusCorporation

Roycroft Festival Weekend

My favorite weekend is here! The Roycroft Summer Festival is June 28 and 29 from 10 AM to 5 PM.

The festival is divided into three sections:  art such as painting and photography on Main Street, Juried artisans in the parking lot, and Antique vendors next to the Appian way. Oh and don't forget the food too!

It is a great weekend to come browse, people watch and purchase yourself a little something. I even know folks that start their Christmas shopping at The Roycroft Festival. There is plenty of sun and plenty of shade so either way you will be comfortable.

Come say "Hi" to the friendly staff at the Copper Shop and purchase the great new dragonfly decals for only $3.00. You will find the full schedule of events on this link.

Hope to see you there!

Julie

The Roycroft Summer Festival is Coming Up!

The Roycroft Summer Festival is almost here!

      Make plans for your visit! June 28th and 29th are spectacular days to visit the Roycroft Campus in East Aurora, NY. This is the time to make the most of your stay.

     There's almost too much to do! Events are scheduled between 10 and 5 pm both Saturday and Sunday. The Roycroft Artisans are set up on campus. See the very best the Roycroft Renaissance has to offer as you stroll by booth after booth.

     Browse 30 antiques dealers on site and find the perfect treasure from the past. The community gets into the action with an art show across the street with over 80 booths. Take a break at the The Baker Memorial strawberry social and rummage sale. Check out the breathtaking Tiffany windows in this church just steps away from the Campus!

     Don't forget to stop by the Copper Shop Gallery just past the parking lot vendors. There will be special activities and displays throughout the weekend!

     Round out your weekend with a stay at the Roycroft Inn. With spacious suites and gourmet dining, the historic Inn cannot be beat. For other lodging choices and activities in the area click here.  An excellent write up of the festival appears in the Buffalo Spotlight newsletter this month on VisitBuffaloNiagara.com.

This summer is heating up at the Roycroft Campus. Plan your visit now!

-Amanda

Down on the Roycroft Farm

     This week is the first installment of my organic Farm Share here in East Aurora. I'm very fortunate to work directly next to the Thorpe's Organic  Farm, a wonderful family run operation. Agriculture is still a big part of life in Western New York.

      Arden Farms, on Billington Road, is also a local farm that produces organic vegetables. They are right outside of the village of East Aurora.  This property has been in the Hubbard family for generations.  My father-in-law remembers buying produce and working odd jobs for the family. It's an important connection to our rural past and our sustainable future.

     Recently, Dan Roelofs, great grandson of Elbert Hubbard, gave a talk at the RALA Little Journeys lecture series about his farm. On April 22nd, Dan spoke about his ideas to reestablish the role of Arden Farms at the Roycroft. There are even plans for the Farm to play a part in this years 5th Annual Arts & Crafts Conference, The Connection.  Arden Farm will supply the produce for the Art and Craft Dining Experience on October 25th!

     I can't wait to go pick up my first taste of Spring this week and I'm looking forward to Autumn when we get a taste of the Roycroft Arden Farms!

-Amanda

Lecture in Roycroft Chapel May 29th

Tuesday, May 27th     

In keeping with Memorial Day and the Roycroft tradition of Head, Heart and Hand, the RCC is offering a lecture (Head) by sculptor Henry Schmidt explaining his work (Hand) creating a memorial (Heart) bronze sculpture of Civil War Union soldiers. The lecture is  being given in the historic landmark Chapel on the corner of Main and South Grove Streets; an echo of times past when lectures were held there in Elbert Hubbard’s day.

      The subject of the lecture, a bronze relief sculpture, in honor of the 155^th Regiment, titled “At the Ready”, stands on the “Walk of Heroes” at the Buffalo & Erie County Naval and Military Park. As described by sculptor Schmidt, “My design depicts common Civil War infantry soldiers standing ready to defend our nation’s flag, symbolizing the vigilance freedom requires. The flag also extends forward, beyond the edge of the monument as if to offer freedom to all.“

      Henry Schmidt’s presentation covers the entire process of creating a large bronze monument from concept sketches through installation at the site. Additionally, a Civil War re-enactor, Gary Costello, will bring the monument to life sharing his knowledge of the 155^th Regiment.

      The lecture is Thursday evening, May 29^th from 6:30 - 8:00 PM at the Chapel on the corner of Main & South Grove Streets in East Aurora. Admission is $5.00 which goes to support the RCC’s Campus restoration work. The event is free to RCC Members. Space is limited, please call for reservations 716-655-0261 or email croot@roycroftcampuscorp.com .

      Photos of the monument can be seen at www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM1D1X .

- Sue

Babik Plays at The Roycroft Inn's Jazz Night

         Spend "Date Night" with the Roycroft!

     Babik is playing the Inn's Jazz Night. This Friday, May 9th at 9:00 Pm, enjoy the sounds of Buffalo's Best Jazz Band in a beautiful historic setting. If you can't make it then, pencil a date for the other Fireside Jazz nights the Roycroft Inn hosts every Friday night!

     Click here for the Inn's announcement about the event and here for information on the band, Babik.

     It's always a pleasant outing, especially strolling to and from the Inn, listening to the notes filter through the night air. If you have time for a meal before hand, check out the menu at the Inn. I couldn't recommend it more!

-Amanda

Steamin' Bead Stampede at the Roycroft

   

    Leah Corey is one of the many Roycroft Renaissance Artisans that offer classes with the Roycroft Campus Corporation. She stitches one-of-a-kind treasures with beads. Many of her complex pieces are three-dimensional, multi-colored, wearable art.

    Leah shared her knowledge and creations this past fall at the Connection 2007 Conference. She was eager to discuss her expertise with fellow beaders and assist shoppers with a handmade gift from her display.    

      Take a look at the Roycroft Campus Corporation Calendar featuring Ms. Corey's upcoming class, Steamin' Beadin'. Look forward to four imaginative beading projects March 7-9th. The class includes an artisan reception Friday night and two days of beading fun!

     You can browse Leah Corey's beadwork at the Copper Shop Gallery, Open 10-5 pm in East Aurora, NY.

-Amanda

Caribbean Vacation in Your Thoughts? Getaway to the Roycroft Inn!

    Those dark, cold days of winter can sure get you down. Take a trip to the Roycroft Inn in East Aurora, NY to warm you up!

January 25th is the Roycroft Inn Caribbean Island Party!

   

     From 6pm to 9pm Friday night, you can enjoy tropical foods from luscious vacation destinations. Get a sip at the Tiki bar while you groove to the Carnival Kids Steel Orchestra. This twenty piece steel drum band will take your mind straight to the islands.  Don't forget to relax in the Sun Room Oasis- a massage and a cool drink await!

     So, get out of the cold and call the Inn at 716-652-5552 for more information and to reserve your place for $25 per person ($15 for children). Make time beforehand to stop by the Copper Shop Gallery right across the Appian Way. We're open 10-5 pm. You'll get a taste of Roycroft history and have fun in the sun!

-Amanda                                                 

                                                 (photo: Amanda Dembik)

Winter Weather brings Roycrofters Together!

           RALA Winter Fest

    Winter is coming! One of the first things to go dashing through the snow for is the Roycroft Winter Festival, December 1st and 2nd from 10-5. This annual event supports the Roycrofters-at Large Association community projects.

    Start the season right with unique artisan gifts from Roycroft Renaissance artists. Held indoors at the East Aurora Main Street School, this gathering is bustling with activity. Take the opportunity to stroll down aisles filled with pottery, jewelry, furniture, glass and so much more.  There will be food, entertainment and raffles featuring original artisan pieces.

     Then, right across the street, at 31 South Grove Street,The Roycroft Copper Shop is having an open house. Stop in and enjoy shopping for all your holiday gifts in the beautifully decorated gallery.There will be holiday cookies and warm cider while you listen to a flute quartet playing joyous holiday music. Watch demonstrations of our antique letterpress and let the children enjoy making their own copper ornaments on Sunday while you browse! Check some of those names off your list while enjoying the warm, inviting ambiance of the Copper Shop Gallery.

     Continue the day with lunch at the Roycroft Inn. The atmosphere is complete with frosty stained glass windows and a roaring original fireplace to cozy up to. Don't forget the Elbert Hubbard Museum on Oakwood Ave. is having a sale!

     Check our calendar for other events to celebrate the season. This weekend is especially merry and bright with the Roycroft. See you there!

-Amanda

Children, Make Your Own Copper Christmas Ornaments at the Roycroft Copper Shop

        

       There is a new event for children this holiday season at the Roycroft Copper Shop - perhaps it will become an annual affair - to come to the Copper Shop and make their own Copper Christmas Ornaments (click on the photo at left for an enlargement). I hope the children enjoy it as they are my designs.

        I doubt I would have had the idea had it not been for the fact that Clare Root, Associate Director, simply asked volunteers to think about holiday ideas for children to do at the Copper Shop. Well, all it takes is the word ‘holiday’ and I start thinking of tree designs past and future. You see I  have built Christmas Trees from scratch for a number of years using skills from my years as a theatre prop artist and it just so happens that one of my trees was copper. It was only a matter of association: Copper Tree and Copper Shop. Going one step further for a smaller, repeatable activity, it was a short hop to ornaments. But going small - from tree down to ornament - wasn’t simply a matter of miniaturization. The only commonality was the type of material.

        First, I had to design appealing ornaments out of a wire which could be bent by children. The next step was to see if the jigs I used as patterns were workable for children. A niece and nephew of the right ages tested the jigs for me. They made the ornaments and I learned what I needed to adjust in the jigs. A woodworker then generously volunteered to make multiple jigs from my prototypes so we have enough for several children to work on their ornaments at the same time. It has been a fun project that I hope is well received by the children. I think Elbert Hubbard would approve - the wooden jigs are hand made and the children get to experience the satisfaction of their own handiwork as well as the Roycroft philosophy of Head, Heart and Hand as they make a holiday gift for someone special.

        If you know or have any children, ages 8 and older, bring them by the Roycroft Copper Shop to make copper wire ornaments as holiday gifts - see the dates for the activity below. There are several designs and volunteers will be there to assist as children use the hand made wooden jigs. The cost is $1.00 for three (3) ornaments. Adults, you can do some of your own holiday shopping in the rest of the Copper Shop while your children are busy creating their hand made copper ornaments.

Cost: $1.00 for 3 ornaments

Dates: Sunday, December 2, Noon - 3pm

          Sunday, December 9, Noon - 3pm

          Sunday, December 16, Noon - 3pm

Location: Copper Shop, 31 South Grove Street, East Aurora

Happy Copper Crafting and let me know if you enjoyed it,

Sue      

Mosaic of the Roycroft Copper Shop Created By Faces

         

           Volunteers here are among the first to create Facial Portraits for a new fundraiser for the Roycroft Campus Corporation.

        During the next couple of months, actually until the deadline of August 15th, 2007, everyone is invited to Draw a Self Portrait to be part of a mosaic to be created of the Roycroft Copper Shop.  This mosaic of faces will be printed, making prints suitable for framing as well as note cards and other items for sale to benefit the restoration of the Roycroft Campus.  The finished mosaic of the landmark Roycroft Copper Shop will be available well before the holiday shopping season.

          During the next weeks the self-portrait forms will be available at local events.  Forms are also available online at http://www.facesofbuffalo.com/roycroft.htm  If you want to know the exact spot where your own portrait appears include your email address on your portrait form. 

          Summer will fly by quickly so get your portrait in soon.  The final products will be for sale in the Copper Shop on the Roycroft Campus.  Other great things are there already.  The Shop is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm at the end of the Appian Way, across the street from the Roycroft Inn.