Barbara Watkins is the owner of Evergreen Fine American Crafts in downtown Great Barrington, Mass. Almost 40 years ago, she and her husband, Robert Watkins, settled in the Berkshires. He was a potter, and Barbara, who had gone to art school, helped decorate the pots. But after doing that for a couple of years, they couldn’t see running a pottery business forever, so they started Evergreen, which has received the Top 100 Galleries of American Craft Award.
We opened the store in 1980, so it’s 36 years old in April. Originally we were on Railroad Street where GB9 is now, then we moved across the street, where Seeds is. This space on Main Street opened up and we’ve been in this location 26 years. My husband made all of the displays that are still in use today. We were craft people, that was our world, and what we were interested in promoting. We didn’t know anything about business, but we asked a bunch of friends if they would put their work in our store. Some people didn’t think our concept would work in this area because people didn’t appreciate handmade things. Several of those people who said that are no longer in business. Little by little, I learned how to run the store and the business grew. I love connecting with craftspeople. I go to craft shows all over the country. The store is filled with handmade items at a wide variety of price points. Jewelry, pottery, bowls and platters are big sellers. I’ve even carried some of my husband’s work; after he developed carpal tunnel syndrome he had to stop making pottery, so he made jewelry for a while, then went back to painting, which he had done years before. I now have some of his paintings in our store window. What I like about the Berkshires is that there are a lot of really good people and interesting nonprofits. I’m on the boards of the Southern Berkshire Chamber, Railroad Street Youth Project, Music in Common, and co-chapter leader of the local Dining for Women. I headed up the two white dinners we had on Main Street last summer. I thought we needed to bring something positive to downtown Great Barrington when all the construction was going on, and they were really successful. I’m usually working six days a week, but when I’m not, I like to play tennis and garden. If you ever want any shade plants, let me know. I would be happy to share my plants with you!
