Tick Tock Time's a wastin'
Let North Carolina's Trail of Crafts help with last minute gifts
In need of Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa gifts, and time is fleeting? Or is this not your season of celebration - but you still want treat yourself or loved ones? Travel North Carolina's craft trail from the Atlantic coast through the Piedmont and into the mountains.
In 17th century when the first European settlers arrived - the existing Native American population (Cherokees, Tuscarora, Pamlico among others) already possessed thriving trade routes. As the colony became a state and the next five centuries passed the word "crafts" became associated with North Carolina.
Woodworking, quilting, decoy carving, basket weaving and pottery were just a few of the handiwork passed along from generation to generation.
Where to start?
Consider the Atlantic Coast, and Core Sound.
Tucked into the marshlands of the barrier islands south of Cape Hatteras and Orcacoke, the town honors its past, present and preserves the future at the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum. 2007marks the 20th anniversary of the Decoy Carvers Guild. Here wood ducks, cormorants; pintails are among the fowl presented in wood and paint.
While still in eastern NC a stop in Columbia can be a cornucopia of crafting. Big wheels keep on spinning in the form of potter's wheels and spinning wheels. Besides having the opportunity to buy, buy and buy workshops and classes are held year-round.
Moving into the Piedmont and the potters of Seagrove call at the North Carolina Pottery Center Museum. Here a number of items are salt glazed ensuring no two pieces are exactly the same.
Once an regional branch of the US Mint of Art; the Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte has a sister museum, the Mint Museum of Craft and Design and both highlight the area's wealth of talent especially with basket weaving.
Feel your attitude changes with the climb in altitude. The Blue Ridge Mountains are chock full of hand-made crafts. The Folk Arts Center, outside Asheville and on the Blue Ridge Parkway, is the nation's oldest crafts center. It is also the mother lode stop for shopping. Within the same building you'll find not only the FAC, but also the Southern Highlands Craft Guild's Allanstand Craft Shop and an Eastern National Store. Eastern National is the educational branch of the National Park Service. Appalachian items like handmade brooms, quilts, hand-woven clothing, baskets, and toys are produced from close to 400Guild members.
While visiting these places provide richness in tradition and flavor going online can also assist in bringing the traditions home without the journey.
The following links are for museums with online shopping.
www.southernhighlandguild.org
www.themintmuseums.org
www.ncpotterycenter.com
