Folk School holding artists' Fireside Sale
By KATHI OSBORNE

Forty artists will offer handmade craft in a variety of media at the annual Fireside Sale, Photo by Keather Weideman

John C. Campbell Folk School will host its annual Fireside Sale of craft Sunday, December 3, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. School staff said the event will feature 40 artists offering handmade items such as jewelry, weavings, forged iron, photography, quilts and turned wood.

Fireside Sale is named in reference to the fire traditionally built in the large fireplace in the Community Room of the Keith House. "For a lot of us, the Fireside Sale is one of the warmest events of the Christmas season. The Folk School is all dressed up in holiday garlands, full of friends and smelling of woodsmoke and greenery, just like Christmas should smell," Jan Davidson, Folk School Director, said. "The Fireside Sale is when our finest craftspeople bring out their best so you can find a gift for your folks. And these gifts will mean a lot when you give them, because they have been made by hand by a somebody you've met, who is probably your neighbor down the road."

Area woodturning team Doug and Marsha Barnes have participated in Fireside Sale since 1999. "It's always fun to see people get excited about finding the perfect gift for a loved one. Giving a unique, handmade present always makes it an extra special one and we enjoy being part of that good experience," Doug Barnes said.

The Folk School also features a Fireside Sale in its Craft Shop which offers the juried craft of over 300 artists in a variety of media. A Fireside Sale discount of 15% will be offered on all items in the Craft Shop from November 24 through December 23.

John C. Campbell Folk School is a non-profit educational organization which offers adults over 830 classes each year in traditional and contemporary craft, art, music, dance, cooking, gardening, nature studies, photography and writing. Founded in 1925, the Folk School is a national landmark on the National Registry of Historic Places.