South of the James, 11/7/09

Set up at South of the James

Bears, Pincushions, Flower bags, Turtles

Yesterday at South of the James got off to a chilly start, but the sun came out bright and warm and the crowd came with it!  As always, I enjoyed visiting with children of all ages.  We went thru a tin of rice for rice bags, talked with regular customers and vendors, and  even sold a respectable number of dolls and gifts. 

I will not be at the market again until the first Saturday in December, if the weather cooperates.  However, I do plan to participate in the Winter Artisan’s Bazaar at the Chesterfield Central Library in Chester on Saturday, December 12th from 10 am – 4 pm.  This will be a benefit for the Chesterfield Center for the Arts Foundation.

Halloween at South of the James!

New Gourd Houses

New Fairies with House

The Next Flight

Dan Springs will be at South of the James for Halloween!  That’s a week from this Saturday (10/24).  And I’ll have a new flight of fairies – this group has fabric skirts and wool hair.  I running out of silk flowers, and decided I like the fabric skirts and ribbon waistbands better anyway – they’re sturdier.  This flight also has loops of gold thread so that they may be hung, just as if they were flying! 

Also have two new gourd houses!  These are probably the last for 2009 as its getting to chilly to work in my unheated gourd studio (also known as the screened porch!)  The tops attach with buttons, and can be easily disassembled for storing away.  Fun to play with, and excellent holiday centerpieces as well.

See you on Halloween!  I’ll be the witch with the stripped stockings!

Dolls and Frogs

New Inventory

Dan Springs Collection will be at South of the James Market in Forest Hills Park this coming Saturday, August 15.  And we’ll have plenty of frogs and dolls – here’s the newest additions to the Collection.  Hope to see you this weekend!

North Carolina Markets

Rickman’s Store

Bartering Day Invite

From Front looking Right

From Front looking Left

From the Back of Store

Ready for Players

The Market Phenomena is alive and well in western North Carolina.  I took some of the Collection with me on vacation, thinking to do the Bryson City Saturday morning tailgate market.  Then I read in a local paper that there was one even closer to our Mountain House on Friday’s from 3-7 PM – at the old Rickman Store.  So I did that one as well!  I enjoyed meeting the vendors from the area, and had reasonable sales. 

Rickman’s Store was run by the same family for years, until the original proprietor was in his 90’s.  He finally sold out five or so years ago and the building went thru two owners.  In 2007 it was purchased by the Tennesee Valley Land Trust to enthusiastic community acclaim and has become a center of Cowee Creek activities.  Everything about the building and the market has a welcome mountain feel to it. Here’s a link to a short video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N7W61Rgyzc If you’re in the area, check it out.

Bryson City Market on Saturday morning was very casual with maybe 10 vendors – mostly produce.  When I got there around 8 am there was only one vendor set up in the generous shade of an old oak tree, and it was a woman I’d met last year!  Joan Glover of Sleep Hollow Farm – fresh brown eggs “laid with pride”, handcrafted gourds, homemade luffa soap, and much more!  Joan turned me on to the Appalacian Grown Local, part of the Appalacian Sustainable Agriculture Project: appalachiangrown.org.  They have an excellent map of local growers and tailgate markets as well as an informative free booklet with more details.

A bit later a photographer set up, who’s day job is working the Marianna Black Library.  I’d met her when getting my library card last summer.  And turns out a fully stocked produce stand across from me with a constant stream of customers was a family related to a decon at Dan Springs Church, just up from our House. 

Life in the Mountains!

South of the James is Back!

Herb Selection

Persimmony Snickett

Craft Sampling

Packed Up Til Next Time

The South of the James Market is back for the 2009 season!  It will be open in Forest Hill Park on Saturdays, from 8am til 1pm.  A full complement of vendors were on hand this past Saturday, and a fine time was had by all.  The rain held off until 2pm – long enough for all of us to get packed up and headed home!

There were lots of fresh veggies, herbs, and garden plants, along with artisan crafts and food selections.  Come out and join us!  Dan Springs will be back the first Saturday in June, and thru September on first and third Saturdays.  Hope to see you there!

South of the James Market

Views of Booth

 Saturday was a comfortable and busy day at South of the James Market in Forest Hill Park!  I thoroughly enjoyed talking with the end of Summer crowd and other vendors, and sales were good.  I’ll be back again next Saturday, September 27th.  The Market is scheduled to go Saturdays from 8am til noon up until Thanksgiving.  I won’t be able to make it in October, but may be there one of the Saturdays in November.