Western NC American Craft Week Participants Visit the Folk School

American Craft Week visitors are welcomed to the Folk School in Keith House

It was a beautiful day here in Brasstown. And the Folk School hosted some amazing visitors, including the founder of American Craft Week. As soon as our visitors arrived they were treated to a little performance by our wonderful director, Jan Davidson, who performed a tradtional folk song “Money in Both Pockets” on his violin.

After that, we were off to the studios on a tour lead by Mary Doornbos, Pat Ryan and of course, Jan Davidson. The first stop was Dulcimer Building with Mark Edelman, who played a little song himself- Amazing Grace.

Dulcimer Making with Mark Edelman

Next, we went to Rock Room where students were making Appalachian Brooms with Marlow Gates. One advanced Broom making student, Jackie, was creating a double broom which is traditionally used for “jumping the broomstick” at a wedding.

One of our advanced broom making students works on a double broom, traditionally used for weddings

Pattie Bagley, our resident basket maker, was also taking the broom class. The broom students overheard Mark Edleman playing “Amazing Grace” in the other studio and Pattie sang the Cherokee version of the song for us! What a treat.

Next, we were off to the Jewelry Studio where stained glass windows were being created with instructor Jeanne Roche. Here are a few of the students are feverishly working on their beautiful designs.

A student works with stained glass

After that, we visited the Enameling Studio, where instructor Kaleigh Hessel was demonstrating Flame-worked Glass bead making.

A demonstration with instructor Kaleigh Hessel

Then we popped in on a demonstration on carving Woodspirit Walking Sticks with Allen Goodman.

Students and American Craft Week visitors gather round as Allen Goodman discusses flexibility in the design of the woodspirit walking stick

Our last studio visits were the old Chicken House which has long since been made into  the Quilting and Weaving Studio. Students there were weaving tapestries with instructor Tommye McClure Scanlin and quilting Contra Dance Quilts with Alice Russell.

Weaving a tapestry on a table top loom

Before the culmination of our tour, we stopped by the garden to visit our work studies and of course, our resident chickens and Rooster (whose name is Ed). We also heard a story about the chickens that Jan once had, all named Dolores.

The resident chickens and their fearless leader, Ed the rooster

We had tons of fun- Thanks for visiting American Craft Week! We hope to see you here for some classes soon…