Despite the world's insistence that faster is better, Vermont continues to adhere to a more deliberate timetable. And that slower pacing has opened the door to an exceptionally high level of artistry that can be found throughout the Green Mountains.

Vermont has established a national reputation as a place where fine crafts are made and sold. From hand-woven fabrics, to hand-fired clay pots, carving and glassworks, Vermont's crafting tradition is finding a new life in the 21st century.

Perhaps the best introduction to Vermont's contemporary crafts is on display at the Vermont State Crafts Centers at Frog Hollow in Middlebury, downtown Burlington and Manchester. Here you can see how Vermonters are infusing traditional media like ceramics, wood, fabric and glass with a modern aesthetic. And still, the past is always close at hand, and more traditional crafts can be found at the State Craft Center in Windsor. Countless other venue exists to view the work of Vermont's crafters. There are many galleries throughout the state, as well as farmers' markets, and more than 100 crafts events happening during the year. Any Travel Information Center or Chamber of Commerce can point you in the right direction.

But perhaps you'd like to see how it's done. Then join us for Open Studio Weekend every Memorial Day weekend, when hundreds of craftspeople open their studios to the public. And if you'd like to try your own hand at creating a masterpiece, several crafts schools welcome amateur crafters of all abilities. Just contact the Fletcher Farm Craft School in Ludlow, the Shelburne Craft School in Shelburne, or one the state crafts centers mentioned above.