Craft Fair of Southern Highlands this week!
July 16, 2013
I can speak for all of us at HandMade in America (HIA) when I say that we are very excited to represent at this year’s Craft Fair of Southern Highlands. For four days every July and October the US Cellular Center is packed full of fine crafts from over 200 craft artists, selling their works of clay, fiber, glass, metal, and more. Staff and volunteers of HandMade in America will be at a table to share our latest and greatest news, events, and programs. This will be our first time representing at the Craft Fair of Southern Highlands.
Did you know that the Southern Highlands Craft Guild was chartered in 1930? The Guild was created in response to the Great Depression as a way to help craftspeople and generate revenue in the Appalachian regions. Fast forward 83 years, and the Guild is made up of almost 1,000 craftspeople from 293 counties, spanning 9 states! They keep busy with many different educational programs, demonstrations, an entire library, 5 craft shops, and 2 of the most highly recognized craft fairs held every year.
The first Craft Fair of Southern Highlands was in 1948 in Gatlinburg, TN. It wasn’t until a few years later, in 1951 that they moved the Fair to Asheville, NC. Back in those days the Fair was a full week-long event that lasted until 10:00 pm every night! It’s hard to believe that people would’ve been more serious about craft 60 years ago than they are today. Deb Schillo, Southern Highlands Craft Guild Archivist, explained that back in those days there would be people in lines extending far beyond of the doors to the Fair. That was one reason the Guild added a second craft fair in the fall of 1960. They have been offering two craft fairs per year ever since.
Looking for something fun to do July 18th-21st? Come down this week to US Cellular Center in Asheville, NC to see craft artistry represent this amazing Southern Highland region that is so rich in craft and culture. Oh, and say hi to us at HandMade in America too!
Lindsey Mudge,
Operations Manager
HandMade in America
828-252-0121 x303
Craft Fair of Southern Highlands
Dates/Times: July 18th-21st
Thursday-Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday 10am-5pm
Location: U.S. Cellular Center
87 Haywood St. Asheville, NC
Breaking Ground: Innovative Craft–A Success!
March 12, 2013
Friday night was unbelievable. Our gallery was filled to the brim the entire evening with people who are passionate about Western North Carolina Craft. We are so fortunate to live in an area where Fine Craft is as appreciated as it is prevalent, and the turnout we had Friday night evidences that our community is thriving. We had between 150 & 200 people in attendance throughout the night and almost all of the artists were able to make it. There is just nothing better that being able to ask the artists themselves about their pieces.
If you weren’t able to make it out Friday night but would like to learn more about the artists and their work, please visit the links below!
Anna Johnson
Jeana Eve Klein
Janet Williams
Gwendolyn Bigham
Kenn Kotara
Sondra Dorn
Dustin Farnsworth
Hayden Wilson
Rachel Meginnes
Sam Reynolds
Robin Johnston
Kathie Roig
Heather Allen Hietala
Ben Elliott
Austin Richards
Michael Parry
John C. Campbell
February 8, 2013
This year, WNC’s American Craft Week celebrations are going to be huge. Many organizations and galleries throughout Western North Carolina and all across the state are committed to honoring craft by participating in this October celebration, and we have already started planning! A few of us WNC organizations got together for a first 2013 meeting and field trip with Sherry Master’s guidance. She even organized a van to drive us all out to John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown! We went out on Wednesday and had such a wonderful time. We went on a nature walk across the grounds to visit artist studios and ate lunch in the beautiful dining hall where we were able to begin strategic planning for ACW.
Take a look at the photos from that day…
Indigo/Shibori Workshop with Linda LaBelle
October 30, 2012
Intersections Craft Club
In partnership with Handmade in America
Indigo/Shibori Workshop with Linda LaBelle
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
6:00 PM in the Forum
Indigo is as old as time, mysterious and beautiful. Indigo is surrounded by myth and superstition, Indigo dyed fabrics clad both royalty and the working class. Indigo traveled the Silk Road from China to Italy (and back to Japan) it was grown, produced, worn and traded.
In this workshop participants will learn how to make a green, eco-friendly and sustainable indigo vat. Using no harsh chemicals and virtually no odor you can use this technique to dye in your kitchen.
Shibori is the Japanese term for creating a resist on cloth by folding, clamping, stitching, wrapping, pleating, knotting or tying. The resist areas will not take dye thus creating a pattern on the cloth. It is also known by the names, Bandy, Plangi and Tikrit and is practiced in Africa, China, Malaysia, Indonesia and India . It can be a simple as a tie-dyed T-shirt to very complex patterns taking hours or days to complete.
The Shibori workshop will cover four ancient resist techniques with a modern twist. After creating the resist patterns participants will dye their silk scarves in indigo.
With Christmas right around the corner this is the perfect workshop – A great how-to for making beautiful gifts!
Linda LaBelle is an Asheville based weaver and natural-dyer. Linda has taught weaving techniques and both indigo and natural dyeing in India, Rwanda, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan , Mexico and Brooklyn, NY.
$30 per adult which covers all materials and fees. A minimum of 10 students must register for the class to take place. Call 828-257-4530 to reserve your spot now.
Buy Coffee and Win Craft!
April 19, 2012
Buy HandMade in America a cup of coffee for $5, enter to win a piece of WNC craft, and help HandMade win $35,000!
Starbucks is giving $4 million to non-profits all over the country and you get to chose where it goes. HandMade in America is one of 124 non-profits chosen nationwide. We are the smallest of the non-profits chosen in North Carolina, but we serve over four thousand craft artists in our 25 county WNC region. We are also the only one exclusively working within the state of NC. Turn your $5 into at least $50 back to HandMade in America.
Simply donate $5 today through the paypal donate button. You will be entered to win unique craft items. Winners will be informed via email on May 1st.
Click here to donate using PayPal
How to turn your $5 into more than $50 for HandMade in America:
- Buy us a cup of coffee. Click this Paypal donate button to give $5 or more that we can use to buy a Starbucks card & vote on your behalf. We’ll buy the card, register it, and do the voting for you!
- Register your own Starbucks card at www.votegivegrow.com & vote for us each week in April.
What do you get in return?
- The satisfaction of helping us out, of course!
- Donate or email us to tell us you voted, and we will enter you in a drawing to win a unique handmade craft item from an artist in WNC. Winners will be informed on May 1.
Craft Lab: March 13, Wholesaling 101
March 9, 2012
Hey Friends,
Are you an artist looking to explore more options to sell your craft? We at HandMade in America want to support WNC craft artists to explore all your options. Next week we will be holding our monthly Craft Lab series on Wholesaling 101. Wholesaling could be a great option! Selling larger quantities to be retailed reduces your time spent on marketing and could create an opportunity to establish steady income from reoccurring wholesale orders.
HandMade in America’s March Craft Lab: Wholesale 101
Are you interested in creating a product for the wholesale market? Do you want to better understand the aspects of wholesaling your work? What things do you need to consider? How do you know your product is a good candidate for wholesale?
Learn about the wholesale market and the various aspects that need to be considered before you decide to enter the wholesale market.
- When: March 13 from 6-8 pm
- Where: HandMade in America, 125 S. Lexington Ave. suite 101. Corner of Church Street and Hilliard Avenue.
- Free and Open to the public, Please RSVP to jwienke@handmadeinamerica.org
We also found an interesting etsy blog about the same topic; read more about wholesaling here.
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