Unique crafts a fixture at Smithville Jamboree
Over half the country will be represented at the craft portion of this year’s Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree.
Craft coordinator Emma Jean Dudney said crafters from Tennessee and as far away as Oregon, California and New Mexico have signed up and will bring a wide variety of one-of-a-kind items.
Among the many crafts will be items considered old-time Appalachian or pioneer crafts.
We have two people doing loom weaving,” said Dudney. “Mona Bever from Frankton, Indiana will bring a loom and demonstrate her weaving. Several crafters are doing hand-sewn clothing items. More than one crafter is making old-fashioned, hand-tied brooms. There will be a wide variety of hand-woven baskets of all types. Wooden items will be present from handmade wood bowls, trays, rustic wood furniture, cedar walking sticks, rocking chairs, rocking horses, wooden toys, doll furniture up to fancy wall shelves, display cases, jewelry boxes and finer furniture pieces. We have a number of people doing hand-thrown pottery items.”
There will also be general crafts and fine arts. Included are oil painting, watercolor, acrylic and charcoal. Artisans have painted on metal, wood, canvas, tee shirts, saw blades, glass, mirrors, switch plate covers and even feathers. There will be prints, picture frames shadow boxes and matted art.
Another standard craft available is leather work.
“We have belts for the whole family, buckles, wallets, saddle bags, Outback hats and holsters,” said Dudney. “The Alabama Rattlesnake Co. will have rattlesnake belts, wallets, hat bands, guitar straps and earrings.”
Jewelry will also be prevalent with such items as semi-precious stones, sterling silver, wire jewelry, old-coin jewelry, pearls, and beads of all kinds. There will also be Austrian crystals, hematite, turquoise, Cameo brooches, and earrings from butterfly wings.
A chain saw carver is scheduled to attend and there will be numerous other items such as bird houses, bat houses, butterfly boxes, bird feeders, cutting boards, benches, swings, gliders, cabinets, display cases, flag cases, rocking horses, doll furniture.
Musical instruments will be featured this year, as well.
With over 230 crafters exhibiting a wide variety of items, Dudney said “there is something for everyone in the family. Even Fido has not been left out. Two crafters have listed doggie treats and pet items.”