For our first show this season we visit the Appalachian Heritage Crafters store in Murphy, NC, where many local crafters display their work. This non-profit organization is dedicated to the education and promotion of local crafts.
Click on “Videos” above and check it out.
It’s Fall in North Carolina and that means one thing…..lots of craft shows. One of my favorites was this weekend in Maggie Valley. Really it’s a BBQ cook off but they have a craft show, too. What could be better, BBQ and crafts. We didn’t get to go over there so no report on the show. As most of the world knows, there is a gas shortage here.
Next weekend is really big. It’s the weekend of the John C. Campbell Folk School Fall Festival. It’s the 4th and 5th. If you are anywhere within driving distance of Brasstown, you have GOT to go. It is one of the best shows I have ever been to. Go early because you might have to park quite a way from the show. I finally got in the year so if you do visit please look for me and say “HI”, I would love to know someone is watching my shows.
Also that weekend the Murphy Medical Center is having their Bazaar. I’ve never visited that one but anywhere there are homemade crafts, it can’t be bad.
And the biggest news of all is that the second season of Carolina Crafting starts tomorrow. We will start with the Applachian Hertiage Crafters. They are located here in Murphy. They will also have a booth at the Fall Festival at the folk school. Check out their booth, too.
Remember to visit you local craft shows and shop. Supporting a local crafter is supporting your community.
My little shop in Brasstown is doing OK. Traffic has been slow because of the gas problem but the people who came by the shop bought a few things. That was really neat.
Just Jackie
I love projects so when my grand-niece, Allie, sent me her Gingerbread Man to take around my area I was thrilled. There were so many places to take him. The only problem I ran into was a shortage of gas due to the hurricane, so I missed out on some of the cooler places to go. But he did get around Murphy and all of it’s local “color”.
I had to take him to work with me. Everyone who visited the shop thought he was sooooo cute.
He’s headed back to Texas today. I’ll sure miss the little guy.
Just Jackie
Well, I finally did it. I checked off one of my longest standing thing to do on my life list. Since I was in high school (we’re talking the early 60’s) I wanted to have a little shop. At the time I wanted to have a doll hospital.As I got older I rethought that but I still wanted a shop. I have done craft shows for over 12 years but it is not the same.
I’ve been selling cool things for cats on the Internet for 5 years and thought I would stick to what I do best. Krafty Kitties is now the smallest shop in Brasstown, NC. Right now I only have my things but will add items made by my friends as well.
My first customer didn’t come in until 3:30 but it was great. Her name was Bonnie Jean and she was from Michigan. She will have wonderful treats for her cats when she arrives home.
Today was a very good day.
Just Jackie
I was driving down one of the country roads that lead to Georgia and saw a young man carving out a bear from a log with a chainsaw. I had to stop. I have been looking for a chainsaw artist to put on my show for the longest time. I tried not to sneak up on the guy in fear of a chainsaw accident, so I waited and watched. He was good. When I finally got to talk to him, what a great story !!! Yes, he would like to be on the show but he was traveling. He had been driving around the country in an old Ford Pickup truck, stopping here and there to carve and sell his chainsaw art. He showed me the Atlas he carried marking all the routes he had taken. He really wants to travel the Al-Can Highway and go to Alaska.(I had on my “Bad Girls of the North, Alaska” tee-shirt and he had some questions for me.
To be young and talented and fearless !!!!! He will have such wonderful stories to tell when he’s old. It’s so good to see someone that young be so excited about he can see and do on the road.
His name is Jerry Stringham. If you run into him somewhere along the road, stop and talk to him, you’ll be glad you did.
Just Jackie
As we all realize, September 11 will always and forever be a sad day in America’s life. We should all take time to think about what it meant and what we have learned from it. Make a moment in your day to reflect.
We all need a counter balance in our lives, so I will celebrate my granddaughter’s birthday that day, too. Tori is growing in to a fine young lady.
The tiniest shop in Brasstown, NC will open tomorrow. Honestly, I’ve had closets bigger. But it will be cute and friendly. I’m not an art gallery, I’m a craft store. Right now, all I have is the stuff I’ve whipped up in my craft room. I will be adding items from other crafters as I go. I’m open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 10-5.
I’ll have pictures from the first day to share with you. I’m a little nervous but really excited. If you are in Brasstown, please drop by.
Just Jackie
When my brother and 
I were small, our dad did wood cutouts in a tiny work shop that had been a smokehouse. All the cutting was done by hand with a coping saw. To me, it seemed that everything he painted was Chinese Red. He enjoyed the time spent out in the smokehouse, away from the hustle and bustle of two small children. After we moved to town, he never made anything again.
Forty years pass, and both my brother and I find a need to cut wood. I’ve never owned a can of Chinese Red paint but both my brother and I have table saws, chop saws, band saws, chain saws and most importantly, our scroll saws. His scroll saw is nicer, he has a Dremel and I have a Rigid. Both have been well used.
When my sister-in-law sent me a picture of my brother base coating some cut out, I wished my dad could be here to join in with us. He would have loved all the tools we have and the fun we have creating projects. I could only hope he would have expanded his use of color.
My brother and his wife do craft shows around the San Antonio, Texas area. The first one this year will be at Encino Park, October 4&5. They have great yard art. Some of their work is in Homestead Hand Crafts, 4536 Thousand Oaks Dr. San Antonio. (a little of my stuff is there, too) They will do the Randolph Officers Wives Club show at the Live Oak Civic Center. (check local papers for the dates and times)
You never know what you pass on to your children. Hopefully some of you will pass on the love of making somthing with your hands like our dad did.
Just Jackie
