American Made Crafts Shine at the Dillsboro Arts and Crafts Market

August 15, 2015 from 10 AM to 4 PM in historic Downtown Dillsboro NC the second of three Arts and Crafts Markets will line Front Street in charming downtown Dillsboro NC. This market will showcase demonstrating crafters located inside the shops of Dillsboro, as well as in the tents on Front Street.

Continuing the successful markets produced by Dillsboro Merchants Association, the day-long August market solidifies the efforts of shop owners in this mountain town as they offer even more vendor choices for the visiting public. Demonstrations and items for sale include painting Smoky Mountain flowers with watercolors, soap making, basketry, needlework, metal art, rustic furniture, porcelain jewelry, pottery, painting with oil on tiles and on barn wood, folded star ornaments, and much more. 

Diane Ellis, rug braider

Dogwood Crafters of Dillsboro supports close to 100  local, traditional crafters by selling their wares, including hand-braided rugs by Dianne Ellis, rug braider from Stecoah Valley, North Carolina. Dianne will be on hand at Dogwood Crafters on August 15, demonstrating this heritage craft. Braiding rugs since 1991, Dianne has won countless awards and been featured and taught at some of the most prestigious places in the area. She is a veteran of the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, the Village of Yesteryear at the State Fair in Raleigh, and at the 10-day heritage show at the Western Carolina Mountain State Fair in Fletcher. 

Also demonstrating at Dogwood Crafters will be Madge Sala, who works with gourd art. No longer regarded as just craft, gourd work is now considered art and is being exhibited in many high end galleries throughout the United States. 

Another cooperative shop in Dillsboro is Tunnel Mountain Crafts, who hosts the art and crafts of over 65 local crafters, featuring pottery, knitted items, watercolors, stained glass, wood work, John 'Buddy' Hogan, wood burner. Buddy’s favorite woods to work with are cedar, red oak and ambrosia, and his specialty is making “lazy susans” for dining room tables, benches, tables and smaller items. This art has been called “writing with fire,” and could be easily identified as “drawing with fire!” 

Buddy Hogan, wood burner

wrought iron art, handmade soaps, jewelry, photography, fabric totes and cases, greeting cards, ornaments, candles, wooden toys and much more. The shop also has a variety of local honey, jams, jellies, pickles, teas and herbs. On August 15, the featured crafter at Tunnel Mountain Crafts will be

As a fundraiser for their scholarship efforts, the nonprofit organization, Catch the Spirit of Appalachia will offer a raffle and sell old time mixed pickles (beans, corn and cabbage). Be sure to stop by and have a taste from the crock of mixed pickles…then buy a ticket to win the basket, and buy a jar of the old time pickles. 

To top off the day, visitors will be able to cool off with Little Jimmy's Ices and purchase baked goods, while listening to music. Featured from 11—12 noon, and from 1—2 PM will be the entertainment act called “Twelfth Fret,” an acoustic duo from Sylva who performs classic rock songs.