Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2019 - 41

FROM OUR READERS: More Great Crafters
As always, our readers were all over it
when we asked about recommendations of
craft artisans in the Southern mountains.
A few samples of their nominations follow
below.
To learn more about these unique products, please go to blueridgecountry.
com/handmade for a full directory of
websites.
➻ MOUNTAIN MULE HARDWOODS
"Our pieces are simple and streamlined,
really showing off the natural beauty of
the hardwoods. Our heirloom pieces are
low- or zero-VOC, and they are built to
last for generations."
➻ ANNE VAUGHAN DESIGNS
"Her jewelry is created by a small team
of artisans in the Blue Ridge Mountains
of Virginia. Her designs are found in over
300 stores in the country."
➻ BURCHETTE GUITARS
"Those who know guitars know Gray
Burchette's guitars. Played by famous
musicians throughout the country and
desired by many who do not own one!"
➻ HARRIS LEATHER
"'Mabelene's little side business' has
grown to employ about 30 people,
including the silver shop, leather toolers,
saddle makers and bridle makers. And
Harris Leather & Silverworks remains all
in the family."
to get ahead with the weeds that grow
in their own backyard," she says with a
knowing grin.
As the oldest of four children with a single mother, her family didn't have plastic
toys from the store. "But we had a chicken
coop. And mama scrubbed that thing inside and out so we'd have a playhouse. It
turned out to be the most popular one in
the neighborhood," Basket recalls.
In later years, she applied this resourcefulness into making baskets from pine
needles; helped revive the lost association
of basketry guilds; and ended up in South
Carolina.
"I came to the upcountry for the longleaf pine needles, to learn the stories of
respect, and find my Cherokee story. That
same year, hurricane Hugo hit. I went into
the land after the storm, and was just sick.

➻ SHADE TREE FARMS
"Laura offers a wide variety of natural
health and body products using goat
milk and botanicals from her farm or
local sources. The soaps are soft silky
lather with beautiful fragrances."

So I connected with the forest service, and
returned with their permission to harvest
fallen pine needles," she shares.
As Basket continued to create and learn
over time from the Elders "who hold and
harbor the knowledge," she wanted to
"continue to plant the seeds of respect."
For over 30 years now she has taught in
rural and inner city public schools. "My
medicine is to work with the younger

➻ CROSSNORE WEAVERS
crossnoreweavers.org
"Crossnore Weavers was created in 1923
to preserve the Appalachian art of handweaving, to give economic opportunity
to women and to promote Crossnore
School & Children's Home through the
sale of beautiful hand-woven goods."
➻ CHARLESTON FORGE FURNITUR
"Whether forging hot metal or handplaning a solid wood tabletop, you can
see and feel a 'sense of hand' in every
piece."
➻ CLORE FURNITURE
"One of the oldest businesses in the
country still owned by the original
family. Their hand-crafted furniture is of
the highest quality yet quite reasonably
priced."
➻ HIGH COUNTRY LAVENDER
"Many different varieties of products
that are locally grown and prepared. A
wonderful experience."
➻ BLUE RIDGE SOAP SHED
"Now making more than 130 varieties,
The Soap Shed offers one of the largest
varieties of handcrafted soap available in
the U.S."
➻ RELIC WOOD
"This company is veteran-owned and
manufactures 100% in-house gift boxes
for retirement, military, law enforcement
and firefighters, plus many other
occupations."
-KR

ABOVE LEFT: Nancy Basket, here in her
home gallery in Walhalla, South Carolina,
tells the ancient stories through her work
as a basket maker and fiber artist.
ABOVE CENTER: Basket's creative
talents extend far beyond baskets to
include lampshades, mats, masks, toys,
miniatures, replicas and even animal
shapes from oral traditions.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

41
http://blueridgecountry.com/handmade
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2019

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