I had a wonderful time in the mountains just like always. It was even sweeter because it was in the low 50's at night and low 70's in the day time. I am tired of North Carolina heat and it was a sweet reprieve.
I have been going to this Appalachian Festival for over 20 years and I truly enjoy getting to see the handmade items as well as my friends. It is really sad to me though that each year there are more imports and less and less of the handmade treasures.
My favorite booth has always been my friend, Lesa, from Fayetteville, WV. She has a cabin built by her and her husband in her back yard where she sells her primitive wares and antiques. She makes her goodies from branches (bittersweet berries) this time of the year gathered from the mountain behind her house. She adds moss and wild limbs to stuff and stitches pumpkins, ghosts, scarecrows and the like. She adds twigs and lights to rusted buckets, etc. You just have to see it to believe and appreciate it. Her hands prove it is her work. She shreds them with all she does but her face shows how much she loves it. She worked over 12 hours the day before the festival opened setting up her booth. I went a bit early and took pictures before the shoppers started "tearing it apart" buying her goodies. They stand in line for her things, they are so unique and people come for miles.
The pictures will tell you more but they don't do justice to the beauty of it. I wouldn't blame her if she quit going to festivals and just sold from the cabin in her yard. So much work, heavy lifting and long days for her but I sure enjoyed seeing it.
What an awesome festival. I love your pictures. Such beautiful things!!! Did you buy any goodies? I hope so. Have a great week. Love & blessings from NC!
ReplyDeleteI have more pictures to follow in the next post I hope. This is just one gal's booth, it was huge. I did buy some goodies: a homemade wreath made from bittersweet (orange berries) that Lesa made and an antique furkin (I think that is what they are called....wood basked used to store sugar at turn of last century). I hope to post pictures of them also. Thank you for stopping in to visit, it is always good to hear from you.
ReplyDeleteoh I would have loved to see it as well..;) glad you had a great time and got some cooler weather.:)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a perfect festival!! I wish I could go! My daughter will be back in WV this coming weekend, to meet up with the friends she made during her Appalachian summer class. She truly loves it there!
ReplyDeleteHey Mom!! It was such a treat getting to see you and to have fun running around-we saw lots of gorgeous stuff but seeing you was the most beautiful part. I wanted to let you know that we have upgraded my computer to Win7 now - so what that means is that I won't have e mail until the morning. SO If you write me, and I don't answer that's why. I should have mail by tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteBy the way-- I have to say I read your post on "spiritually inspired" about the crooked lines-- I thought that was great and well -written. Trying to draw from those crooked lines are hard, I know....
Love you, D.