President’s Message
Looks like Old Man Winter is making his presence be known this year; though, I think he is being a little extreme.
A big thank you to Paul Vezzetti for volunteering to be the Spring Show Chairperson. Paul, as you take on this position this year, know that you are supported by the Show Committee and Board of Directors. We are there to help; however, we really need more members to step up and get involved. It takes a team to be successful, and that is what we have here at Reading-Berks. The Spring Show application is up and on our website.
I have to say that I am certainly looking forward to our February 3rd meeting. Unfortunately, I am not sure how I will do at wheat weaving; it’s not wood! Thank you, Linda! You will probably have your hands full with me!
I am starting to get a nominating committee together for the Reading-Berks Guild election that will happen this November. Please think about the future of Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen and where you can be part of its further development in promoting crafts and fine art. Fine artists and craftsmen are an important part of what made our country great in the past, and fine artists and craftsmen will be an important part of our future. I can’t imagine our future without crafts and fine art! Thank-you to all the craftsmen and fine artists who work to make Reading-Berks successful!
The 2nd Annual Eastern Pennsylvania Homestead Festival is happening in Kutztown, PA beginning on July 2 through July 5, 2026, with shorter hours this year. Michael Richards, owner of the Festival, pays homage to The Kutztown Folk Festival. This will be his second year in producing this festival. Let’s help him make it a big one. Applications for craftsmen and artisans are on the website. Spaces are available for inside and outside booths. What a wonderful way to celebrate our country’s 250th birthday right here in our own backyard. July 2, July 3, July 4, July 5!!!
INCLEMENT WEATHER ALERT:
Please note: IF our general meeting at the GoggleWorks is being cancelled because of bad weather, you will receive an email by approximately 1:00 PM the day of the meeting. Also, the board meeting ahead of the general meeting at 6:00 PM will be conducted through Zoom in the case of general meeting cancellation.
“Success is getting what you want. Happiness is liking what you get.”
H. Jackson Brown
Your President,
Barry L. Bennecoff
Programs
Wheat weaver, Linda Beiler, will be joining us to do a live demonstration on February 3, 2026, at 7 pm.
Since this will be an interactive meeting, we will all be making our own piece to take home. The design will remain a secret for now, but it will give you summer vibes.
Please join us at the GoggleWorks to see this PA German craft and learn something new.
Please note that we will not have a typical general meeting in May because the GoggleWorks has an event that day. Save the date for the May 5, 2026 meeting! We will be traveling to the Pennsylvania German Heritage Center in Kutztown for a visit and a lecture by Patrick Donmoyer.
Please let me know if you have any questions. Please keep following the newsletter and social media for the May Program update.
Program Chair,
Amy Langman
programs@rbcrafts.org
Spring Fine Art & Crafts Festival
Paul Vezzetti has graciously volunteered to be the Spring Show Chairperson. The Show is Saturday, May 2, 2026 from 9AM to 3PM at Renninger’s Farmers’ Market. Applications are available on line until April 13th. Take advantage of the guild’s website and print out postcards to give to friends and display at your frequently visited places.
Spring Show Information and Application Sign Up!
Spring Show Chair,
Paul Vezzetti
festivals@rbcrafts.org
Website
Help Shape Our Guild Website in 2026
As Website Chairperson for the Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen, I’d love to hear from you.
Our website is an important way we showcase the Guild, support our members, and connect with the wider community. As we plan updates for the coming year, your ideas and feedback will help guide what we focus on next.
We’d really like to know:
- What works well on the website right now?
- What could be clearer, easier to find, or improved?
- Are there new features you’d like to see (for example: member profiles, event information, galleries, resources, or news)?
- Is there anything missing that would better support you as a member?
Please take a few minutes and view the Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen’s website. Whether you have a small suggestion or a big idea, we’d love to hear it. Please share your thoughts by replying via my email link below.
Thank you for helping us keep the Guild’s website useful, welcoming, and reflective of the talented makers in our guild.
Website Chair,
Lisa Short
webmaster@rbcrafts.org
Social Media
As I sit here writing this article for February, the snow is piling up and making its presence known in a big way. The great part of this is that it will afford me some time to work on projects that have been waiting for this time to work on. The bad part of it is that it can be dangerous and scary if we don’t take precautions to stay safe.
Just like the snow, social media can have two sides of the coin when it comes to how it is used or abused. Facebook can be an extremely good tool to get the word out about shows, allow communication between other similar artists, as well as give us pictures of incredible art and creative works that just amaze us. At the same time there are scammers that look to take advantage of this tool by trying to tell artists that they are the ones that control the show venues. They try to get us to send them money for entry into those shows even though they are not the ones running them. Right after our Spring show event was posted, there were three posts attempting to do exactly this. The running total is now seven and counting. Luckily, I set all posts about our show to be approved by admins, so we are catching them before they hit our web page.
Be aware that we only have entry to our show through our website which should look like the image below.
Also, be sure to send in your updated images so we can highlight your work for this show and let folks know about your amazing works!
Send to images@rbcrafts.org
Gary Rosborough,
Social Media Chair
social-media@rbcrafts.org
BCTV
”Your Berks Craftsmen” on February 18 at 7:00 PM is going to feature one of our newly juried members, Ethan Boyer. Ethan is a young artist and craftsman who was an apprentice at Persephone’s Garden. He will tell his story of how he got interested in dried flowers and how his interest grew into a passion for his craft. His passion is evidenced by his creations as you will see one come together right before your eyes. Tune in on Channel 15 on Comcast. You can also watch on BCTV.org also. Thanks for watching! You will be glad you did.
Find BCTV on air and online:
Comcast Reading Channel 15
Comcast-Southern Berks Channel 965
Service Electric Channel 19
Both channels are streaming online 24-7 at www.bctv.org
BCTV is available on Roku, search for BCTV Berks – HOW TO VIDEO You Tube Channel
Access Your Berks Craftsmen directly.
Your Host of “Your Berks Craftsmen”,
Kay L. Bennecoff
Standards
The next jury session for new members will be on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in room 325 at the Google works. If interested in being juried, you must be a member of the Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen for at least 3 months prior to the jury date. You can apply on-line. You may also reach out to the Standards committee for more information.
Please remember that your work must be original work with no copies of another’s work, commercial kits, assemblages or patterns. Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen standards include excellence in craftsmanship, well resolved design, and a unique voice or style.
Standards Chairperson,
Diane Phalen
standards@rbcrafts.org
Membership
Membership reporting of 167 members in our chapter as February 1, 2026.
We all can do better, a little effort of friendship and support to fellow artists and crafters will cause more people to join in. I would like to thank everyone for a successful 2025. It was all due to our members working together to achieve all the great results we had. It takes more than just the board members to continue the events and shows we have planned out.
So please be sure to come out, participate, and lend us a hand. We alway appreciate the time and efforts you take to help, and we always have outstanding times together. We look forward to a wonderful and well-connected 2026.
Membership Chairperson,
John Paul Warren
membership@rbcrafts.org
Events
The Hellertown Historical Society in Hellertown, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, is seeking craftspeople specializing in Pennsylvania German crafts of the 18th and 19th centuries. They invite experienced craftspeople to their annual Heritage Day event on May 16, 2026, at the 1761 Heller-Wagner Grist Mill Complex, a site recently added to America’s National Register of Historic Places. The event is being expanded this year in honor of America’s semiquincentennial celebration. They are interested in craftspeople who demonstrate and interpret their specialty and appear in period attire. They will provide space at no charge; product sales are encouraged with the full sale price retained by the seller. For more information, please contact Dennis Scholl, HHS Education & Research Chair, at dscholl165@gmail.com or 484-379-7974.
Newsletter
If you would like to put something in the Newsletter, please contact us at newsletter@rbcrafts.org
Newsletter Editor, Nancy Vardjan