Promoting an Exclusive Selection of Handcrafted Creations

Mountain Artisans " HARD CANDY CHRISTMAS "ART AND CRAFTS SHOW

NOVEMBER 29-30 2024

10-5 pm each day

(WCU) RAMSEY CENTER

92 Catamount Rd

CULLOWHEE, N.C.

ADMISSION :$5.00 for adults children under 12 free

Featured Artist will be Regenia Ford, "Mountain Memories" of Hartford, TN.

She hand-paints her favorite subjects of our beautiful mountains on rustic barn boards and antique windows. She also creates original Christmas ornaments.

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Small Beginnings

The Mountain Artisans Art & Craft Shows started in Macon County ,N.C. in 1987. Only 8 artisans exhibited at the first Christmas show in Franklin, NC.

"We never imagined that, down the road, we would be headed to the wonderful Ramsey Center on the Western Carolina University campus in Cullowhee, North Carolina! (92 Catamount Rd, Cullowhee, NC 28723)

It is a dream come true. As the years have flown by, more and more artisans wanted a good place to sell their handwork and joined us. The southern craftsman is alive and well in this area. Many of us are descendants of the first settlers in this area. We grew up using heritage crafts and sleeping under quilts our Mothers made. The older generation inspired us with sewing, pine needle baskets, clay art, and primitive furniture.

We are hoping to preserve and share with you these vanishing crafts.

If you are visiting this magical area, we have an amazing Jackson County Chamber www.mountainlovers.com. They will promptly guide your plans to visit us."

You will find Original Art /Craft here.

Mountain Artisans' Art and Crafts Shows provide a marketplace for customers and artisans to meet. It is an amazing collection under one roof. You would have to visit dozens of shows to find what I have gathered in one place.

Cullowhee, North Carolina, is home to Western Carolina University.(Cullowhee is the Cherokee name for 'Valley of the Lily ) On the campus is the Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center arena that boasts 18,000 square feet of climate-controlled comfort for everyone. It is home to the Catamount's basketball games, but two times each year, they move over for our craft shows. A great setup crew makes it all look easy for me.

Quaint Cullowhee Valley nestles off Highway 107 that runs up to Cashiers, North Carolina, from Sylva. It is a stop off of the Southern Highroads Trail Highway. All around are big, soft mountains. A footbridge crosses Cullowhee Creek to get to the show from the parking lot. It is peaceful to your soul just to be here. Click on the map to see how to get to Cullowhee, NC, from Asheville, Cherokee, and Atlanta.

Notes from the Show Promoter - contact me: Doris Hunter (828) 524 3405. (828) 421-8181

2024 'HARD CANDY CHRISTMAS " EXHIBITORS

Stay tuned as the 'CHRISTMAS " Show fills .

Outside Artists: The sidewalk and surrounding area leading up to the big Catamount door entrance has a sample of the quality artisans inside. Look for the following exhibitors:

Master wood craftsman Jerry Stanley, NC Mountains Outdoor Furniture,:Adirondack chairs and swings. All are constructed with Western Red Cedar, stainless steel nails, and blue ribbon quality, made one at a time
(For Jerry's customers ::he is recovering from an accident. He will return at Christmas .)
Noah Alicea; Mountain Woodcrafts ,(shown ) Playing a tune on his Canjo !
John Roper; Benches ,Tables, Coat Racks

contact for ;Allyson Gernandt www.allysongernandtsilversmith.com

Janette Kleinrath : Canvas Hats and Accessories
www.jansallthingscanvas.com For Jan's customers : Her beloved Mother is ill in Michigan . Look for Jan at Christmas

James E Mills Raven Fork Rods: Fly Rods Designer and maker will be inside at Christmas

New! Homer Franklin ;Combat Veteran Wood Working: Wood American Flags

Bobby Bearden: Metal Yard Art

Come Inside. The Entrance Tunnel Has Some Exciting Exhibitors

Tom Livingston's Piece by Piece Intarsia takes many kinds of woods and shapes them into amazing pictures. He will be back for Christmas giving and dressing up your home.www.piecebypieceintarsia.com

Joe Livingston: Wooden Toys, Pens, and Boards

COMING AT "HARD CANDY CHRISTMAS ":
Christie Walker, WOODLAND FARMS POTTERY
THE IDEAL GIFT

: Ceramic Christmas Trees

Sandy De Niear : Original Christmas Painting Note :Sandy will not be at this show..

Look for her in' 25. In her place .

Brock Family Woodcrafts ,Ranburn ,Al.

Turned Bowls and more

Bill Prather: Ole Man, Hickory Rustic Wood Furniture extraordinaire :Swings, Rocking Chairs will return next Summertime show

Update on Andrew

Andrew Hunter: Rustic Mountain Furniture

Andrew has graduated from Toccoa Falls College.in Pre Med . He has found a love for turning mountain hardwoods into tables. He has helped work his way through school. The Mountain laurel has turned into table legs, and the fine Black Walnut was perfect for tops. Many trees he cut and cured himself. His fascination with nature may have come honestly, as he is the Grandson of show producer Doris Hunter. He can be reached at his web site :www.huntershandicrafts.com

Tom Livingston :Intarsia Art

Ronnie Evans:

There will be live guitar music floating from the fingers of Macon County's own.

He will be selling his CDs to enjoy all year and signing copies of his latest historical book

"Brinkley".

This is the nonfiction story about the rise and fall of Dr. John R. Brinkley known as the

'goat gland doctor" of the 1920s and 30s . He was raised at East LaPorte and Tuckasegee in Jackson County N.C.

Wife, Jean Gregory Evans, will be selling her latest signed Children's book.

"Who Knew the Llama Knew"?

Dogwood Crafters will be selling samples from their unique store and demonstrating vanishing arts.

They feature quality mountain handcrafts from their shop in Dillsboro, NC.

www.dogwoodcrafters.com

BRENDA ANDERS info@dogwoodcrafters.com

Arena

Elain Hyatt; Nature / Plaster Casting

Nature Creations Plaster Castings FB

The pottery artisans will be back for Christmas

Bob & Jean Mitchell Clay Art

Jessica Henderson UNTIL EDEN POTTERY

Amanda Janes Home Cooked Pottery

using Mountain Botanicals as patterns

www.HomecookedPottery.com

Cory Plott POTTERY

www.plottwarepottery.com

Wendy Converse Converse Creation Pottery

Mallory Hartman Handmade Pottery /Jewelry

Kelli Hubbs Mountain Soap Box Soap Box cold press www.mountainsoapbox.com

Specialty Foods and Sweets

SOURWOOD HONEY

Honey by Rose Massengill

GW Watts: Sauce Boss Handcrafted Gourmet Sauce and Seasonings

www.gwwatts.com

Terry Cook Delightful Dips

A perennial favorite with her homemade dips, mixes, and southern meat rubs.

https//:www.delightfuldipsandmore.com

Chuck and Amy Ney: Homemade in Haywood Canned goods and Mountain Toys

FB Homemade in Haywood

Joanna Ormond Goat milk Hand soap / Kids toy soap /luxury lotion

WELCOME TO our Cherokee Artisans

Laura Walkingstick Cherokee ,N.C. ,Teacher and Artisans will be demonstrating Husk dolls DOG ART STUDIO FB Instagram

Her sister Hollie Stovall Cherokee ,N.C .will be demonstrating Bead work .

Jacob Long : Sylva, N.C. will be exhibiting his prize winning Photography

Other Special Crafts

Susan Davis "Susie Q Gourds and Demonstrations"

'Cat Creek Mosaics"

Dorinda Spaid , Franklinb,NC

Shawn DiMauro: Franklin,N.C.: Decoupage

Ally and Ava :Cullowhee.N.C. : Mixed Media .

Lyn and J.L. Stepp Mountain Hill Press: Regpaid ional Novels and Guidebooks

www.linstepp.com will be back for Christmas

Kathy Murray Kathy Murray Designs Lighted Glass Pieces
Susan Gasperson with Diamond Dot Painting back for Christmas

Appalachian Baskets : will be demonstrated

Junetta Pell/Charles Paine111/Andrew Beck

Baskets ,Chairs Bottoms, Fine Art

www.andrewbeckdesigns.com

Heather Seaman;, Pine Needle Basket Weaving, and Demonstration

'Scentsy"products

www.marynutter.scentsy.us

Martha Dobson :"Encouraging the Nations " Items from Uganda Missions

Jill Province Gnomes,Magic Wands www.facebook.com/JPFantasies

Jessica Marchel (Niamh Botanicals ) Hendersonville,N.C.

www.niamhbotanicals.com

Torn Frames (Original Art by Nathan Davis )

www.tornframes.com

Liz Bartholomew : Mixed Media

The Fabric and Fiber Art Category

Sharon Blaine Turner Art Dolls

www.sharonsimagination.com

Mark and Susan Kennedy: Susan's Hand Quilted Purses and Mark's Photograph

Bev Bordchardt

presents her 'Christmas " collections of Quilts, Wall hangings and Hand towels.

Olivia Perkins: DeForest Designs

Nicki Russo: Mountain Life

Katie Stovall Crocheted Stuffed Animals

Judy Tobias Housekeeping Accessories

Randy Tobias Pottery Face Jugs

Christina Grubbs Face Book Two Sisters Fiber Art

Member of Toe River Arts Council

Margaret Downs Downs Sisters

Magical Fairies and other special Things

Debra Bell Quilts, Table Runners and more

www.southernhandcrafts.com

Welcome Back Nina Hutchins "Knot Just Country "

Aprons ,Dolls, Knitted Items

The Wood craftsmen

Gary and Lisa Reynolds : Wood Toys

FB@gregreynolds67

David Byers ''Riverwilde Wood Designs"

Hand-Turned Wood & Resin Bowls

www.riverwildewooddesigns.weebly.com

David S. Hedrick Wooden Toys

Betty Rickman Kitchen Boards by Betty will be back in 2025

Keegan Watson Furniture and Turned Bowls

www.handcraftedbykeegan.com

Jay Nelson Wood Bowls and misc.

Kate Kedzierski Creative Path

Small Wood Trinket Boxes

www.creativepathworkshop.etsy.com

Kevin McKinney

Wood Turner and Jean Molnar Artist

MM Artistic Production will be back at Summertime

Dates for the 2024 "Hard Candy Christmas" are Nov 29-30.

Thank you for making it your first stop for original arts and crafts at great prices! Our area American artists and craftsmen are still making beautiful things with our hands and our hearts just for you! Come, have a mountain apple, a piece of hard candy, and shop from the best area artisans. You are sure to catch the Christmas Spirit.

In October, I will make my way over the mountain to visit Barber's Orchard in Waynesville, NC. I will reserve bushels of mixed apples. They will rest in the cooler until the week of the show. My favorite Cameos, Delicious Galas will be piled into the big basket on the ticket table to share with our customers. Peppermint pieces and mixed sweets will be in the antique candy jar to enjoy, too. It is my way of preserving and sharing our mountain Christmas tradition.

MEMORIES: The smell of freshly cut evergreens brings me back home when I was small. Then, my big sister led the way to bring home the family Christmas tree. It was always a cedar scrub tree picked from a neighbor's sagebrush field. She and I struggled through the briars and over the creek with our treasure. I fondly remember the year my brother came home from the War and brought bubble lights! Wow! Decorating that annual tree was unforgettable. No matter how lean the year had been, we got a stocking with an apple, orange, and, of course, Hard Candy. The name of my show is centered around the tradition of our mountain Christmas of celebrating Jesus' birth, it is truly the most wonderful time of the year, sincerely, Doris Cruse Hunter, your show producer

The Mountain Artisans shows are famous for featuring just the biggest selection of authentic handcrafted art and craft in this area.

Mountain Artisans promotes two events each year. The "Summertime" show is held the last week of June The "Hard Candy Christmas," a Mountain Christmas Tradition, is always the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Both events are held inside the Western Carolina University Ramsey Center in scenic Cullowhee, North Carolina.

It is centrally located only 45 miles southwest of Asheville, just minutes from The Great Smoky Mountains.

Each exhibitor at these shows is carefully screened to be the best in their field.

You can purchase original art and meet the artist who made it!

There is a wide selection of heritage crafts. Several of the old-time quilters still make them one at a time just for you. Goat milk soap

pine needle baskets and skilled woodworkers are here every show.

Some of the most skilled doll craft, leather craft, and master jewelers around exhibit with us. Many of the gourd artists have won awards in competitions.

Shoppers love Folk Art, one-of-a-kind birdhouses, and designer fabric purses. We have just the best artists in pottery and clay art.

Ronnie Evans is our live guitar strummer. He plays the songs we remember courting to. At Christmas, he brings good memories with carols that we do not hear much anymore.

It is worth the drive to get here.

You will understand why everyone who attends our shows just says: "Wow" when they attend and plan to come back next year!

Handmade Wonders, Crafted With Passion