Autumnfest at John A. Logan Jr. College

This weekend is the biggest Christmas craft show in the area, Autumnfest at John A. Logan Jr. College in Carterville. This is truly the show you don't want to miss, with a huge variety of artists, and a high level of quality. You will find us in the cafeteria again this year. We like it there, as we have more room around us, and the aisles are not so packed as they are elsewhere. Ruth has been busy making soaps and lotions just for this event, and John has lots of fun wine racks for your favorite wine lover.

Saturday, Nov. 13, 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Sunday, Nov. 14, 10:00 am-4:00 pm

Heritage Festival at Southeastern Illinois College

We're heading to Harrisburg, Illinois, for a first-time event for us, namely the Heritage Festival at Southeastern Illinois College. Look for us in a corner of the big room. This is the first of our big Christmas shows, so we are really looking forward to it, and looking forward to seeing you there.

Saturday, Nov. 6, 9:00am-4:00pm
Sunday, Nov 7, 9:00am-4:00pm

Colorfest

It's a double-header for Ruth and John's as we go all out to celebrate Colorfest this season.

Ruth will be at the community park in Cobden this Saturday from 10am-5pm, while John will be at Blue Sky Vineyard Saturday 10am-8pm and Sunday 12pm-8pm. The forecast looks near-perfect, so get out and see the most beautiful part of Illinois in all its fall colors, and stop by and say hello to Ruth and/or John. Really, do you want to be inside on a day like this?

9th Street Grill, Mt. Vernon, IL

We had a good show this weekend at the Illinois Wine & Art Festival in Whittington. It's always nice to be appreciated, and as frequently happens, we had a number of people stopping by who had purchased from us in festivals past. Among our new customers, one couple deserves a special mention.

If you've seen John's wine racks, you know he doesn't take wine too seriously, but loves to find new and unusual ways of showing off a collection of bottles. The owners of the 9th Street Grill in Mt. Vernon, IL, apparently share his taste, as they picked up two of my favorite pieces at this show, and they should be on display in their restaurant. One of them is a floor-standing piece made of cherry which holds 12 bottles, a full case of wine. The other also holds 12 bottles, but in a completely different fashion, and is what I call a "whirligig" (shown below).



We haven't been to the the 9th Street Grill, yet, but are looking forward to it, as it comes highly recommended. If you get there before us (quite likely, as we have a very busy fall ahead of us), drop us a line and let us know how you like it, and keep an eye out for a couple of unusual wine racks.

Downtown Art & Wine Fair

We're staying close to home for the next few weeks. This weekend we are at the Downtown Art & Wine Fair on the square in Carbondale. This event is in the parking lot across from Tres Hombres, and runs from 3 - 9pm. We'll be just inside the Jackson Street entrance, so stop by and say hello.


Downtown Wine & Art Fair

Illinois Wine & Art Festival

This weekend is the grand-daddy of wine and art shows in the region. This will be the eleventh year for the Illinois Wine & Art Festival. Never been? Take I-57 to exit 77, Whittington, and go the Illinois Artisans Shop and Visitors Center. This show has some of the best artisans in the area, and some of the best wineries, to boot. We look forward to this every year, and now it's here!

Saturday, Sept. 25, and Sunday, Sept. 26.

http://www.wineandartfestival.com/

Murphysboro Apple Festival

We are returning to the Murphysboro Apple Festival this year. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Sept. 17-19. Come look for us in downtown Murphy.

Art & Wine Festival at Lake Carlyle

We are off to the Art and Wine Festival at Lake Carlye this weekend. This has been a great show in the past, and promises to be so again.

Saturday, Sept.11, 11:00am-7:00pm
Sunday, Sept. 12, 12:00pm-6:00pm

http://www.carlyleartandwine.com/

Make plans now to attend the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail Fall Festival, Sept. 4 and 5 in Cobden, Illinois. This annual event runs from noon to six in the Downtown Park. We will have some new things for you to look at and try. Ruth has been busy making soaps and lotions, and as always is playing with some new scents. John has been raising a cloud of sawdust in the woodshop, and has a number of new wine racks for yourself or your favorite wine lover. We look forward to seeing you there.

Bluegrass Festival at Vance Vineyards in Fredericktown, MO

We're off to Missouri this weekend for an event which is new to us. The Vance Vineyards Bluegrass Festival promises to be a good time, and weather will even be cooperative, dropping out of the 90's just for us.

http://www.vancevineyards.com/Bluegrass.html

Saturday, Aug. 7, 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

Shawnee Hills Wine Trail Arts Festival

This weekend at Riverside Park in Murphysboro, IL, you can sample wines from all twelve of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail members and check out the work of some of Southern Illinois' best artists at the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail Art Festival. Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 noon - 6:00pm.

Shawnee Hills Wine Trail Arts Festival

Cajun Festival at Pheasant Hollow Winery

Looking for fun this weekend? You can't do better than the Cajun Festival at Pheasant Hollow Winery.

Creole Stomp, Roux de Bayou, Hadley Castille, Dancin' Donna & Cha Cha Willie (could I make that up?) and Ruth & John's as well. Always a great time.

Friday, May 21, 6:00pm - 11:00pm

Saturday, May 22, 11:00am - 6:00pm

Cajun Festival at Pheasant Hollow Winery

Red, White, & Blues Festival

We're off the Blue Sky Vineyards this weekend for their Red, White, & Blues Festival. Wil Maring and Robert Bowlin will be playing both days, and we will be there with new soaps and wine racks. Whether you are celebrating graduation, the end of the semester, or just the end of the week, come on out for a good time in the sun.

Red, White, & Blues Festival

Saturday, May 15, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Sunday, May 16, 12:00am - 8:00pm

Makanda Fest

Get to Makanda this weekend, May 1 & 2, for a uniquely Southern Illinois festival. Makanda Fest is a not-to-be-missed experience in what is probably the funkiest town in the area. Ruth has rolled out new scents for springtime, and John has a batch of new wine racks to hold your purchases from the wine trail. It looks to be another great weekend down in the valley.

We'll see you there!

A great show this weekend, as we will be returning to the Southern Illinois Irish Festival at Turley Park in Carbondale.

Saturday, April 24, 10:00am-6:00pm
Sunday, April 25, 11:00am-4:pm

http://silirishfest.org/

This is one of the best festivals in Southern Illinois, a great chance for you to stock up on Ruth's fabulous soaps, or check out John's new wine racks.

We look forward to seeing you there.

We recently sent out a bunch of applications for upcoming shows. No announcements yet, but we'll let you know as soon as we hear something. In the meantime, stop by Town Square Market or Dayshift in Carbondale to stock up on soaps and lotions from Ruth, or wooden wine racks and accessories from John.

We're looking forward to giving out updated information soon.

Midwestern Herb and Garden Show

Coming soon, a breath of spring in the mid-winter doldrums. The Midwestern Herb and Garden Show at the Times Square Mall in Mt. Vernon, IL, is your chance to get a head start on the season and shake off those gray-day blues. We will be returning for another year at this event, and look forward to seeing you there.

Fri., Sat., Sun, February 12-14
Times Square Mall, Mt. Vernon, IL

http://www.midwesternherbandgardenshow.com/