Vermont
Made in Vermont: Crazy Cat Lady Ceramics
ISLE LA MOTTE, Vt. (WCAX) – Nestled in Isle La Motte, you’ll find The Bohemian Cat House. Inside, the downstairs is decked floor to ceiling in cat-themed wares, and many of them are handmade by residents Chris Hudson and Shelly Hail.
“It’s got the Cat Commandments on it,” says Hudson, referencing a tall sculpture of a cat. “Like, thou shall always have thy lap ready for me to curl up in.”
In addition to Hudson and Hail, The Bohemian Cat House is home to their three feline friends: Monkey, Shalom and Baby Jesus. Upstairs, you can find the workspace for their business, Crazy Cat Lady Ceramics.
“We always say it’s not just a brand, it’s a lifestyle,” laughs Hudson. The couple makes handmade pottery of all kinds, like mugs, art and even urns. Mugs make up the majority of their work, and many of them, but not all, are cat-themed.
“We look at the mug or whatever pottery piece that we make as a canvas and the surface actually tells a story,” says Hail.
Both Hudson and Hail have fascinating stories, far beyond what can fit into this Made in Vermont. But, Hudson has created with ceramics for 25 years, and Hail got into it about 10 years ago after hiking the Appalachian Trail. Life led them both here, making pottery with something called surface decoration, which blends modern-day laser printing with an age-old craft.
”We like the idea that the image goes around the mug so that you have something different from each side that you see,” explains Hudson.
The duo works together to create each piece. They get kiln-fired about five times each and take three or four weeks to make.
“We throw everything on the potter’s wheel, we put the handles on, we make our glazes, the decals,” says Hail.
Over the years, their work has seen major recognition. They’ve made mugs for some of their favorite artists, like Melissa Ethridge. Some of their mugs have wound up on auction for the Ethridge Foundation.
“We would listen for 12 hours a day,” says Hail. “On repeat. Only to Melissa Ethridge.”
They also make for Modern Prairie, which is owned by Melissa Gilbert from Little House on the Prairie… of which Hail is a huge fan. They say they’ve also made mugs for Willie Nelson, Kevin Bacon, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, among many others. Their next goal is to break into a new era of ceramics made for celebrities like Taylor Swift.
Even if you’re not Taylor Swift, it’s easy to get your hands on these cat-themed crafty creations. You can find them on Etsy or at Common Deer in Burlington. If you’re looking for mugs with mega personality, these might be purr-fect.
Copyright 2024 WCAX. All rights reserved.
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Vermont
Old Vt. schoolhouse destroyed in suspicious fire
![Old Vt. schoolhouse destroyed in suspicious fire Old Vt. schoolhouse destroyed in suspicious fire](https://gray-wcax-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S57BWGZXKJERRLRN54WNWMPLUA.jpg?auth=e8f3a4454d2c37b3bd1c2be2acbf2820f5e7f2d8ab5ab90cd580b6c35ed3050a&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
WHEELOCK, Vt. (WCAX) – Police say an old schoolhouse in Wheelock was destroyed in a suspicious fire.
Vermont State Police say the abandoned building on Blakely Road burned to the ground on Friday at about 4:30 a.m.
Fire investigators say the building had no power and was not occupied. They say the fire is suspicious and they are still investigating.
Anyone with information is asked to call the state police in Shaftsbury at 802-748-3111 or to call the Vermont Arson Tip Award Program hotline at 1-800-32-ARSON.
Copyright 2024 WCAX. All rights reserved.
Vermont
Vt. Agency of Agriculture launches flood loss survey
![Vt. Agency of Agriculture launches flood loss survey Vt. Agency of Agriculture launches flood loss survey](https://gray-wcax-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3KMPIOSRXBHGPPD7SLAABUQNFI.jpg?auth=f0f376402942e689d81b6e68a6b42e537ec2657c6e637862878f5cd53d2fe79a&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont has introduced a new way for flood-impacted farmers to report their damages.
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture has launched a new flood loss and damage survey to understand the impacts on Vermont farms.
The goal of the survey is to understand the scale and location of flood damage that agricultural producers experienced this summer as well as the economic impact.
You can complete the survey here.
Copyright 2024 WCAX. All rights reserved.
Vermont
Lefferts Pond area becomes more accessible
![Lefferts Pond area becomes more accessible Lefferts Pond area becomes more accessible](https://gray-wcax-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PFT6CH7PGVCEVOGUI7SKRUELHM.bmp?auth=15abeace5bd6a8a3821678b2c784e1aefcf850150bc6db3012b2f1febf6d22e0&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
CHITTENDEN, Vt. (WCAX) – A lake in Chittenden has received an upgrade so more people with disabilities can enjoy the outdoors.
Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to make Lefferts Pond area more accessible for people with disabilities.
The new additions include a new pier with lower rails to allow fishing in wheelchairs, a viewfinder meant for colorblind people and a new ramp making it easier to access the Chittenden reservoir for all.
Jeff Alexander with Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports says he hopes this encourages more people to get outside throughout Vermont.
“The demand to recreate and get outside and the mental and physical health wellbeing of being outside in the state of Vermont is there and we’re providing those opportunities. It’s basically leveling the playing field for everyone so that everybody can explore Vermont together,” Jeff Alexander of Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports said.
Alexander hopes similar projects will be completed by the forest service at other bodies of water, giving Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports more options for outings.
Copyright 2024 WCAX. All rights reserved.
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