By By JONATHAN CLAYBORNE
jonathan@wdnweb.com
Staff Writer
Are you looking for one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts this year?
You might consider checking out the Beaufort County Arts Council’s 2010 Holiday Arts &Craft Show at the Washington Civic Center this weekend.
The show runs from noon until 7 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday.
The arts council asks each attendee to consider making a $2 donation at the door.
The show affords opportunities for patrons to purchase unique, hand-made gifts made and sold by around 50 fine artists and artisans, according to Joey Toler, executive director of the arts council.
“All work has to be original in concept and design, meaning that there’s not any prefabricated things sold there,” Toler said. “It’s all work by craftspeople and artisans, and a little bit of fine art.”
Original works — from homemade soaps to wood carvings — will be offered throughout the Civic Center, Toler shared.
“They’ll be in every corner,” he said.
It’s too late for exhibitors to sign up for this year’s show, the roster for which has been filled to capacity for two months, Toler related.
Artisans who are interested in taking part in next year’s craft show are advised to call the arts council at 252-946-2504 or e-mail the staff at beaufortcountyarts@embarqmail.com.
Coinciding with the show will be a refreshments sale at the Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center next to the Civic Center. The sale raises money for the Pamlico Senior Citizens organization.
Volunteers will serve up homemade baked goods such as cakes and candies, cheese biscuits in the morning, soup, sandwiches and hot dogs for lunch and more, said Carolyne Everett, director of the senior center.
“We usually run out of food,” Everett added.
Also, the seniors will sell raffle tickets for a quilt and a basket of homemade goodies to be raffled off Dec. 17, she said.
Among the artisans scheduled to take part in the craft show is local potter Carolyn Sleeper, who’s heading into her sixth year as a participant.
Asked why she returns to the event, Sleeper replied, “Because it’s fun and you get to see the same people, the same crafters, and you get to see a lot of friends and meet new friends. It’s like an all-day party.”
Sleeper said she even gets to watch the passing Washington Christmas parade from her post in the Civic Center.
As a tradition, the craft show dates back at least 30 years, Toler said.
“It gives our local craftspeople, our local artisans an opportunity to show and sell their work, and it also brings in some very well-regarded craftspeople and artisans from outside our immediate area,” he commented.