Loose Leaf Notes

Floyd’s Winterfest Arts and Craft Festival is the Jacksonville Center’s oldest and the biggest yearly event.  For years I was a Winterfest vendor, selling my sterling wire-wrap jewelry, and then later my books.  I remember the early days of Winterfest before the art center’s dairy barn was renovated and before it had heat.  The event has grown in popularity over the years but still maintains its roots as a community gathering of friends and neighbors.

Last weekend marked the 17^th annual Winterfest. The turnout and weather were good. More than 25 area artists and artisans displayed their handcrafted works in the upper and lower levels of the center, providing festival goers with a variety of local gift-shopping options that included pottery, woodworks, jewelry, handmade hats, leather crafts, clothing, candles and more.  Local musicians played throughout the Friday evening and Saturday day long event.  Attendees enjoyed soup and sandwiches, hot chocolates and treats at the Jax cafe.  Children visited with Santa and made Christmas cards and other decorations.  I took photos for The Floyd Press, which appeared in this week’s issue.  The following is a sampling of some of my favorites.

Candy canes taste better when they come from Santa.

A Jax volunteer directs traffic as a group of attendees arrive.

A shopper examines a handcrafted wood bowl made by vendor Ricky Boyd of Boyd Wood Crafts in Floyd.

A mother and daughter create a Christmas card at the kid’s seasonal crafts activities, a Winterfest free event that is staffed by volunteers.

Ceramic and watercolor artist Sidra Kaluszka greeting visitors in her studio. Kaluszka’s studio is one of several residential art studio and business spaces available for rent at the center.

Jacksonville Center’s developmental coordinator Lee Chichester and educational program director Amy Avery strike a pose in the center’s festively transformed community room.  Pictured in the background are chestnut spilt rail fence vases made from salvaged fencing on the Blue Ridge Parkway by Linda Hearn.

Jewelry artist Carly Burke assists a customer, as local musician Ben Kirkland played guitar and sang.

A group of young women had fun trying on handmade hats made by Teagan Dobkin.

A Santa’s Helper and Jacksonville Center volunteer works her way through the festival selling treats from the Jax Café.

A pot made by Eric Bolling of Melungeon Forge & Pottery catches the eye of a shopper.  Pictured in the forefront are local honey and beeswax candles from beekeepers Dan and Kirsten Vest’s Locust Grove Farm.

~ Read more about the Jacksonville Center HERE.  Visit their website HERE.  Winterfest pictures from past years are HERE and HERE.