LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

New Vendors at the Festival


We find many of the same local artisans with booths at our downtown festivals.  We have several potters who display their works and sometimes demonstrate throwing pots at the booth.  Quilters and knitters are very common as well.  This year we had several vendors new to the festival.

[You may want to click to enlarge the photographs]


This potter had not previously had a booth.




 There were two booths with sweetgrass baskets and bowls.  Most people think of these as Gullah baskets from the coast in lower SC and GA.  One of the vendors was, in fact, from Charleston, SC.  But many people do not realize that we have sweetgrass along the rivers here in the mountains.  The Cherokee have made sweetgrass baskets for centuries.  We also have river cane which is stripped for baskets as well.  It seems surprising to see stands of bamboo growing along the river in the mountains.

Lovely sweetgrass baskets



 One booth featured glass birdbaths, something I've never seen before.  They would certainly add color to your yard.
 Glass birdbaths


 Not all the vendors were new.  The ubiquitous funnel cakes and sno cones were right at hand. along with many of the "fair" favorites.





It was such a nice day.  We met lots of our friends and acquaintances strolling the street or manning the booths.

8 comments:

Barbara Rogers said...

Great looking show, and of course I love the potter's booth. Thanks for posting it, I'm not sure who made it...do you have a name perhaps?

Anonymous said...

It's nice to see such beautiful art and crafts there. Wonderful colors, so vibrant. Interesting to see how similar the offerings are to what we see here on the California north coast.

Tara said...

I love those sweet grass baskets...so delicate yet so durable. I'm amazed at the skill it takes to make one.

Sounds like a great time at the fair!

Arkansas Patti said...

Think I am going to have to Google sweet grass. It has me curious.
I love craft shows and the work of artists, maybe more so since I am not the least bit crafty and am envious.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Carolyn, Looks like your community/town had a great festival. We have many Craft Shows here in our community throughout the year. We had one over the 4th of July weekend. I dare not check them out since I would be temped to spend money on wonderful things like glass birdbaths!!!! ha

Hugs,
Betsy

troutbirder said...

What fun! We have "Wilder Fest" in recognition of the famous author Laura Engels who married into a local family....;)

NCmountainwoman said...

Thanks for your comments, everyone.

B. Rogers - The artist is Joey Sheehan and his studio is Melting Mountains Pottery.

Tara - I love them too. I have a couple of Gullah baskets I bought thirty years ago.

Patti - I'm with you. I love artists and singers because I lack the talents they have.

Betsy - We almost always say we're not going to buy anything. And we almost always do.

Troutbirder - Wilderfest sounds wonderful.

Busy Bee Suz said...

I love those glass bird baths!! I don't know how you walked away without one. :)