Some of the family and friends presenting the spring opener of The Great New England Craft & Artisan Shows hosted at Milford’s Hampshire Dome indoor arena include these hostesses, from left, Jody Donohue of Kittery Point, Maine; Juliane Donohue of Somersworth; Denise Desrochers of Londonderry; Debbie Donohue of Merrimack and Colette Desrochers of Londonderry, ladies whose efforts drew more than 125 vendors and a reported 2,000 weekend visitors to the show, one whose raffle ticket sales seen here benefitted a local lacrosse team. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

MILFORD – More than 2,000 tallied attendees supported the handmades of 125 regional artists and craftsmen exhibiting their wares at The Great New England Craft & Artisan Show presented April 12-13 at The Hampshire Dome indoor arena in Milford.

“This weekend’s Spring Craft & Artisan Show showcased the incredible talent of our exhibitors with their beautiful handmade creations” said Jody Donohue, founder and lead member of the family-operated team. “We are so grateful to our supporters and these makers whose products are truly created with both hands and heart.”

The organizers are renowned as documented in various publications for taking the shows on the road, offering more than a dozen seasonal craft shows, wine exhibitions, sea glass festivals, food truck expos and other family-friendly events throughout New Hampshire and Maine.

A Fall Craft & Artisan Show featuring 165 vendors is scheduled for the Hampshire Dome on Oct. 18-19.

Outstanding among the exhibitors were the hand-painted decorative artworks of Susan Swank of Milford whose intricately detailed tableaus adorn painted birdhouses, bee motifs and florals. A wide variety of items including pint-sized chairs for children and other personalized designs drew buyers at the show. The works also stock her vendor’s booth at Treasures Antiques, Collectables & More in Amherst.

Nashua barbecue sauce company “G-Mom’s BBQ Sauce” entrepreneurs, from left, Casey Marques, Alison Marques and Kristine Willett display at the recent craft and artists’ show in Milford some of the handcrafted barbeque sauces that originated with the family’s grandmother, “G-Mom,” a matriarch whose legacy spans the generations of sauce lovers. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

Nearby, the Diaper Creations by Lisa booth, manned by founder Lisa Mullen of Mont Vernon and associate Erica Mitchell of Raymond, featured unique baby gifts whose ensembles each contain 25 diapers, a pair of pajamas, a cotton hat and a blanket, plus a pacifier, bib and toy. (diapedrcreationsbylisa-nh.com)

Elsewhere, some of Nashua’s Marques family presented samples of G-Mom’s BBQ Sauce, a brand extolled by reviewers to be a “legacy of love and family flavor that spans generations” and is offered in a trio of varieties. The recipe was invented by the family’s grandmother, “G-Mom,” and is reputed to turn a backyard barbecue into “the talk of the town.” (gmomsbbq.com).

More information on the 2025 roster of The Great New England Craft & Artisan Shows is available online at GNECraftArtisanShows.com.

Drawing patrons and admirers to the recent craft and artists’ show, an event presented by The Great New England Craft & Artisan Shows organization, is longtime artist Susan Swank of Milford and her husband, Mark Swank, here displaying some of Susan’s colorful hand-painted works of art to event visitors that include their daughter Lindsey Owens, Lindsey’s husband, Jon Owens, and the couple’s 14-month old little girl. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

A season opener for Greater New England Craft & Artisan Shows in Milford attracted 125 vendors of all manner of artistry and craftsmanship ranging from jewelry to metal work to natural foods and woodworking to decor such as these artworks from Milford artist Susan Swank whose hand-painted gifts, bird houses, sand dollars and furniture also is displayed at her vendor’s space within Treasures Antiques, Collectables & More in Amherst. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

Associates Mark Nardella and Mykenzie Bishop, representatives of Aquidneck Honey in Westport, Mass., display some of the pure honey and other products that are the work of millions of honey bees whose foraging amid blossoms gleans the golden elixir so loved for nearly three decades by customers of Aquidneck Honey.  Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

Exhibiting at the recent craft and artist show event in Milford are business women, from left, Lisa Mullen of Mont Vernon and Erica Mitchell of Raymond, here displaying Diaper Creations by Lisa, an enterprise providing baby gifts of bundled diapers, toys, pajamas and other useful items for the very young. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON