Artisans Honored for Excellence
at Fine Furnishings Providence Show

he Fine Furnishings Providence Show, which took place Nov. 7-9 at the Rhode Island Convention Center, announced the winners of the 8th annual best-in-show and design competition awards.

Anatole Burkin, editor of Fine Woodworking magazine, judged and presented the Best in Show, Furniture award to Probst Furniture Makers of Hamlin, W.Va. James Probst received a blue ribbon plus $1,000 provided through a sponsorship from Fine Woodworking
magazine.

Mary Petzak, editor of The Crafts Report, judged the Best in Show, Accessory award, which was presented by Gretchen Keyworth, director of the Fuller Museum, to rugmaker Grace Eckert of Petersburg, Ill.
Leslie Lindeman, marketing director for the show, judged and presented the Marc Harrison Award for professionalism in marketing, booth display and presentation of work to William Laberge, Cabinetmaker of Dorset, Vt.

Dan Machalik, a student at the Rhode Island School of Design, won the Best in Show, Student Work/contemporary award for his cork chair. And Brian McQuay, a student at the North Bennet Street School won Best in Show, Student Work/traditional for his walnut Chippendale chair.

(Above) Award winner Roselle McConnell, from Infant Interiors of Newport (shown here setting up for the show), used a crib designed and built by Gary Keener of G. Keener & Co. of New Carlisle, Ohio.
(Right) Hope Hudner of Hopes Unlimited in Little Compton, R.I., won her division by creating a vignette around a bed built by Henry Fox from Fox Brothers of Newburyport, Mass. Henry and Hope collaborated on the design of the bed.

Stacy Kunstel of Yankee magazine, Paula Bodah, editor of Rhode Island Monthly, and Laura Smith of Cape Cod & Islands Home judged the design competition in which over a dozen interior decorators, designers and restaurateurs created bedroom vignettes utilizing furniture and accessories crafted by exhibitors.

Hope Hudner of Hopes Unlimited in Little Compton, R.I., won for her vignette, which featured a bed built by Henry Fox from Fox Brothers of Newburyport, Mass.

Maggie Vale of Vale Design in Newport won for using a bed designed and built by Dana Robes Wood Craftsmen of Enfield, N.H.

Winner Roselle McConnell from Infant Interiors of Newport utilized a crib designed and built by Gary Keener of G. Keener & Co. of New Carlisle, Ohio. And Bob Burke of The Federal Reserve restaurant in Providence won with a “hilarious” take-off on former Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci’s bedroom at the Providence Biltmore. Walt Stanley from Brookside Woodworking of Castleton, Vt., designed and built the bed in Burke’s vignette.

Karla Little, owner and manager of the event, adds that the show received its own honor — a 52 percent increase in box office attendance. “I am beyond thrilled, especially with all the potential customers for the exhibitors,” says Little. “I knew we had a great marketing and PR campaign coming into the event that would boost attendance, but this increase is beyond our expectations.”