Craft fairs and festivals are more popular than ever these days.

That being said, yesterday I visited a historic house (built in 1820 by George Fayerweather II, an African American who was a 2nd generation blacksmith and abolitionist, and officially added to National Register of Historic Places in 1984) that’s been hosting local Rhode Island makers for over 55 years.

It’s also a stone’s throw from URI where I went to school and I only just found out about it this year. (So RI, amirite?)

Full Disclosure: I was actually made aware by way of a South County photographer I know who has taken up soap making and ended up selling her wares at one of their markets.

Yes, the Fayerweather Craft Guild Gift Shop at Fayerweather House on Mooresfield Road in Kingston (in strolling distance of the main entrance to URI) is an entirely charming cottage that’s chock full of all kinds of terrific handmade things including jewelry, glass and dishware, greeting cards, knitwear, and tons of Christmas themed decorations.

The Guild’s mission, these five plus decades, has been about supporting and preserving the arts and traditions of quilting, sewing, rug hooking, smocking, etc. for future generations.

In addition to maintaining that quaint store on Mooresfield, they have also worked towards that goal by hosting teaching workshops and outdoor pop-ups featuring dozens of micro businesses from around the state.

It’s a locally made — and Rhody history — lover’s dream!

After being occupied by descendants of the Fayerweather fam up until the early 1900’s, the house (also known as the George Fayerweather Blacksmith Shop and the George II Fayerweather House) fell into disrepair.

Then, in the 1960’s, it was rescued and restored by a non-profit organization called the Kingston Improvement Association that contines to oversee it to this day.

Weather permitting, you can shop the out-of-doors market there this weekend (tomorrow & Sunday) with over 30 different artisans and creators.

Find Fayerweather Gift Shop at 1859 Mooresfield Road in South Kingstown, RI.

As always, if you venture over after reading this, please do let them know you discovered them via Patty J and PattyJ.com.