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Brey Quality crafts

1830 Glenn Carlton Road, Boomer

Betsy Brey makes truly unique
baskets. She was raised on a large
dairy farm and moved to Wilkes
County in 1978. She is inspired
by her natural surroundings to
create elabroate and aesthetically
pleasing basket works.

In 2010, her focus shifted to
bark peeling; She combined bark
peeling with her extensive basket-
making skills to create a new kind
of basket.

Almost all of the material for her
baskets is sourced from her own
homestead. The 25-acre plot of
land provides her with yellow
poplar, cedar, hickory, white oak,
and hemlock.

Betsy enjoys visitors, and they’ll
find her working. Of course, if
the weather and season are right,
they may have to search a little
harder as she’ll be in the woods
harvesting bark.

Betsy also makes handmade
soap which she sells in her shop
alongside her baskets. She also
teaches soap-making classes.

Be sure to call ahead at (336)
921-2424, as she’s open by
appointment or email to
[email protected].

101 BLUERIDGECRAFTTRAILS.COM

Kogut Violins

3110 Lyndhurst Drive, Lenoir

Bob Kogut has certainly elevated violin making to an art. He produces beautiful violins that
sound almost miraculous in a cozy woodshop in Lenoir.
Bob grew up in Philadelphia and had no experience with fiddle music. He was 30 years
old when he attended his first bluegrass festival. Once Bill Monroe started playing, he was
hooked and learned to play.
He began making violins because he was frustrated. He’d tried countless fiddles, and none
gave him the sound he was looking for. Bob Bragg, his mentor, pointed out that he may not
find the sound he wanted unless he made it. That sent him down the figurative rabbit hole
and using trial and error and a LOT of wood. He did find the sound he was seeking. Since
then, he’s made hundreds of violins, and he operates with quite a waiting list. MerleFest
brought Kogut to our region. He lived in Florida, but after playing several MerleFests, he
realized he loved the area and moved here. Now he’s a sponsor of MerleFest, and they
auction one of his fiddles there each year. We love his fiddles so much that we featured one
on the cover of one of our issues!
Call ahead for an appointment at 828-493-4875 or email [email protected].

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Folk Keeper Gallery

902 West Ave NW, Lenoir

Charlie and Susan Frye are the proprietors of Folk Keeper Gallery & Antiques in Historic

Downtown Lenoir. This gallery is both a working studio and a shop selling art and crafts.

The couple has a real love of Downtown Lenoir and they work to keep it vibrant. Charlie is a

renowned folk artist, and when he married Susan, she had a long-standing dream to operate

an art gallery. 104

Together they created the unique
Folk Keeper Gallery. The shop
features many fine regional folk
artists with a wide range of subject
matter and styles. A unique aspect
of Folk Keeper Gallery is that Charlie
Frye, an internationally collected folk
artist, is in residence year-round and
Susan Frye, who is an up and coming
folk artist, is also in residence.
Charlie will likely be covered in paint
with a brush in his hand when you
stop in.

While Charlie’s primary focus is on
painting, Susan balances her time
between creating art, curating the
antiques and artisan crafts and
running the back end of the business.
She’s cultivated an extremely
pleasant environment that’s sensory
rich and feels like “the foothills.”

Charlie’s folk art is whimsical with a
solid foundation. His use of color is
exciting and bold. He’s quite good
at capturing the heart of something
then conveying it simply.

Frye says,“I mainly paint from
memories and my imagination. It’s
what I do every day. I get to paint the
visions in my head all the time. I’m a
lucky man.”

We appreciate the way he portrays
the mountains we love. We also
enjoy his penchant towards painting
on found objects instead of canvas.
Frye shows his work all over the
East Coast, participating in the
Fearrington Village Folk Art Show
(NC), Finster Fest (GA), and the
Kentuck Festival of Art (AL)

Be sure to stop into the Folk Keeper
Gallery. It has such a strong sense of
place, and that’s something Foothills
Digest will always celebrate!

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OSuzannah’s

130 W. Union Street, Morganton

OSuzannah’s is located in Downtown Morganton. Proprietor Susan McRae’s fiber journey
began at the young age of six with a miniature Singer sewing machine and a 2” pin loom.
She’s been fascinated by fiber arts ever since. In 2013, she opened a yarn shop, and almost
immediately, it became her working fiber studio.
If you’re looking for yarn, this store is a great place to buy it. While you shop, you may
see McRae weaving at an old-fashioned loom. She also creates indigo shibori. Shibori is the
Japanese art of binding and folding fabric in different patterns before dyeing, and indigo is a
deep blue dye. You may find her dyeing pieces in her indigo vat.

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She’s amassed a
lot of knowledge
about fibers, and
she’s happy to help
customers choose
the suitable yarn
for the project they
are working on.

You can also buy
beautiful shawls and
other handwoven
items, naturally
dyed and printed
items, unique
handmade wall art,
indigo shibori pieces,
and more crafted
by McRae in her
shop. Additionally,
she makes jewelry
using vintage beads
and pendants.

She also sells vintage
textiles and supplies
needed for knitting,
crocheting, and
weaving. Antique
baskets and textiles
decorate the space,
contributing to a
pleasant, decidedly
Appalachian feel.

Susan McRae also
offers knitting,
weaving, indigo
dyeing, and intuitive
stitching, boro, and
visible mending
classes. She’s always
excited to help other
people improve their
skills with traditional
textile arts.

This store is open
Tuesdays-Saturdays.

107 BLUERIDGECRAFTTRAILS.COM

Oak Hill Iron and Wood

107 S. King Street, Morganton

Dean Curfman started his artistic metal shop, Oak HIll
Iron, in the hills of western North Carolina creating
beautifully hand forged metal works. His passion
for tooling led to the creation of the Big BLU Power
Hammer. Big BLU is a power hammer used in each
episode of the History Channel’s “Forged in Fire.”
Oak Hill Iron + Wood is located in Downtown Morganton
and sells hand forged items. They have an ever-changing
line of products offered, available on site at their shop,
but they also sell beautifully hand forged products,
that are one of a kind and will enhance any home. The
business also sources live-slab wood, which is very
popular in home design. Visitors can look through a
huge selection of live-slab pieces to find the perfect slab
for their own space.
Oak Hill Iron + Wood employs a team of 8 highly
skilled artisans to create beautiful works that are also
functional.

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West Main Antiques To be held at the Taylorsville
Fairgrounds
Spring Vintage Market
170 Fairgrounds Road
Taylorsville, NC 28681

Friday, April 1st-1:0-5:00
Saturday, April 2nd-9:00-4:00

Come join us for a whole new shopping
experience: great antiques, vintage
items, home decor, plants & flowers,
food trucks & so much more!

For more information contact West
Main Antiques

294 West Main Avenue, Taylorsville, NC
828-352-9500

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Hamilton Williams Gallery and Studio

403 E. Union Street, Morganton

Hamilton Williams might have been an architect, except for a college pottery course that
changed the direction of his life. Since then, he’s been a potter, spending the first 25 years
focusing on functional pieces. Recently, he’s been working more on decorative pieces, working
out exceptional and almost architectural detailing. We’re fascinated with his work, so we asked
him what draws him to make pottery. He says, “In the early days, the draw was simply getting to
work with my hands and the immediate gratification of shaping a piece of clay on the potter’s
wheel. As I’ve matured into the craft, I realize that there are endless facets to ceramics and
pottery that keep me interested; the science of clay and glaze, design and functionality, the way
ceramics is interwoven with the development of civilization, and the myriad opportunities of self-
expression. There is always something new to discover and new ways to reinvent what I make.”
In addition to a studio that you can visit, the space holds a gallery that sells Hamilton Williams’
work, but also the work of other artisans. We asked why he decided to sell other artisans’ work
as well. He answered, “My own pottery work is pretty narrowly focused, so when it came to
opening a retail space in Downtown Morganton, I felt that the shop needed to have a greater
variety of handmade items on offer. This gives customers a greater chance of finding a piece
that speaks to them, but it also appeals to my sense of community by highlighting the work of
other local artists and supporting their creativity. Customers that tour western North Carolina
craft galleries take notice of the unique pieces here and tend to appreciate how grounded
we are in the creative resources of our own specific area.”

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West Union Art Studios

113 W. Union Street, Morganton

West Union Art Studios is home to 13 different artists. Owners Adam and Molly Mackay
set out to create a space that could help lighten the load for working artists and provide a
cooperating working environment.
They renovated a Downtown Morganton building, creating studio spaces and a gallery. The artists
create work in the space, and then they have a place to sell their goods. Artists consist of potters,
painters, and fiber artists. Additionally, music lessons are taught in piano, guitar, ukulele, and violin.
In the store, you’ll find functional pottery like plates, bowls, mugs, vases, and cups in each
artist’s own style. There are also lovely agate ware clay pieces in a multitude of colors. There

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is folk-style pottery, including face jugs, sculptural Natural
work like carved birds, and seasonal pieces both
thrown and hand-built. There are also paintings Elements
and other art available and musical instruments,
some of which are made by the in-house luthier. OfN o r t h
Carolina
Call (828) 403-4148 if you have any questions about
this unique collective. We curate
products for

a natural
lifestyle

Our products
include:
• A full-range of NC

CBD products
• Elderberry Syrup
• Organic vitamins

& supplements
• Honey
• Jewelry
• Essential Oils
• And more!

15 US Hwy 321SW
Hickory, NC 28602

828/729/9868

238 Morganton Blvd
Lenoir, NC 28645

828/929/2420

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Gee-Haw Whimmy Diddle

Have you ever played with a Gee-Haw Whimmy Diddle? Have you ever heard of one? Most of
us have never seen one of these clever creations, but there was a time when most mountain
kids had one carved for them by their dad or a family friend.

A Whimmy Diddle is carved out of two sticks of mountain laurel, or rhododendron. The
sticks need to have a particular bend to them. Then, notches are carved into one of the
sticks, and a propeller is attached to the end. Cherokee called this toy a Hoodoo Stick, and
sometimes it was called a Hooey Stick.

Now, the user uses the unnotched stick
and rubs it back and forth across the
notches. Experienced Whimmy Diddle
users will get that propeller spinning. If
it’s your first time, you may instead spend
several frustrating minutes trying to get
it to spin. There’s certainly a trick to it.

“Gee” and “Haw” are words you shout
at a horse to get him to turn right (gee)
or left (haw). The Whimmy Diddle’s
propellor can be coerced to spin
the other direction, and users are
encouraged to make it switch directions
and shout either “Gee” or “Haw.” Of
course, the toy isn’t responding to the
calls, but the fun lies in pretending.

It’s possible the Gee Haw Whimmy
Diddle would have faded from our
collective consciousness were it not for
a March 1960 article in the influential
Popular Science Magazine.

The article was titled “Folk Toys are Back Again.” The article boosted the folk toy industry
and allowed the wooden toy to survive the onslaught of plastic toys.

In 1980, folks at the newly constructed Folk Art Center on mile marker 382 of the Parkway
needed something to spark interest in the community. Roger McGuire, Assistant to the
Director of the Folk Center, came up with the idea to host the World GeeHaw Whimmy
Diddle Competition.

More than 40 years later, the annual festival is still going strong. The event is now the
centerpiece of the Center’s annual Heritage Weekend.

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The festival is MCed by Joe
“Colonel Buncombe” Bly, and
competitors are judged on
their ability to operate the
Whimmy Diddle. One category
tests the number of alternating
gee and haw rotations in
twelve seconds. Will Hines
is the current world record-
holder at 58! Behind-the-back
rotations, switched-hand
rotations, and “most creative”
whimmy diddle categories are
also judged.

Winners get a Moon Pie and a
T-shirt, and more importantly,
life-long bragging rights.

Use these QR codes to learn
more!

Learn to play

Popular
Science
Article

Hear a song

Buy a
Whimmy-

Diddle

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JOSH TURNER OLD CROW
GREENSKY BLUEGRASS MEDICINE SHOW

EMMYLOU HARRIS TRAMPLED BY TURTLES THE WOOD BROTHERS COLIN HAY

NITTY GRITTY DURAND JONES & WE BANJO 3 SAM BUSH
DIRT BAND THE INDICATIONS

JERRY DOUGLAS PETER ROWAN STEEP CANYON
BLUEGRASS BAND RANGERS

12 Stages of “Traditional Plus” Music

MerleFest.org • 111-6800-343-7857

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The Spirit of

MerleFest

Photography provided by MerleFest

MerleFest started as a celebration of the life of Merle Watson, son of legendary musician Doc
Watson. The festival started as a fundraiser, with monies going to build the Doc and Merle
Watson Garden of the Senses. Back then, no one expected it would turn into one of the most
important annual festivals for traditional music. But that’s what happened.

Don’t call MerleFest a bluegrass festival! It’s much more than that. Doc Watson said, “When
Merle and I started out we called our music’ traditional plus’, meaning the traditional music
of the Appalachian region plus whatever other styles we were in the mood to play. Since
the beginning, the people of the college and I have agreed that the music of MerleFest is
‘traditional plus’.”

MerleFest is a festival that inspires loyalty, both from performers and audience members.
At right you’ll see B Townes, the man who worked to start the festival and helped turn it
into what it is today. He’s standing with Doc Watson and Emmylou Harris. She played at first
MerleFest in 1988, pictured. But she also played in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997,
2003, 2006, and 2009, and she’ll be back this year!

At right, you’ll also see the first audience of MerleFest. Many of them have come back to each
of the subsequent festivals. Now, the festival regularly attracts 80,000 people each year! That’s
more than the county’s entire population, and the festival draws people from all over the
world. We asked some fans what they love about MerleFest

“I love that it is a true representation of our western NC! It’s full of music, food, and
community that provides non-profit funding that gives back to our community.”
-Sara Mofford

“I love the pomp and circumstance of growing up in the community where it takes
place. Artists visit local schools and play music, teachers incorporate something
about MerleFest into their lessons, and high schools send kids to volunteer and
work the festival. It was awesome growing up with that experience each year.”
-Kelli Osborne

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“Other than having a collection of talented, diverse musicians performing
just up the road from my home, I love that the security is efficient and
expeditious. Other festivals have come to MerleFest just to see how it’s done!”
-R Byron Stevens

“I love that it is such a historical music festival with deep roots in the
community. Offers an amazing variety of artists and bountiful choices of grub!”
-Janey Trivette Porter

“I love the transformation of a campus that encapsulates so many
musical genres that in turn generates the gathering of an international
cross-section who adore & value the archetypal artist’s achievements.”
-Kaylene Burcham

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As you can see, MerleFest is many things to many people. MerleFest changes year to
year, as all festivals do, but, interestingly, the heart of the festival never changes. The
line-up is different, but the festival feels the same, which is powerful. They say you can
never go home again, but they must not have ever been a regular MerleFest attendee.
Part of that continuity comes from a core of performers that return year after year. Sam
Bush is an example of this sort of performer. Sam was a founding member of New Grass
Revival, and he is known as one of the most innovating artists performing traditional music.
One easy way to see all of the “old-timers” play is to attend the “MerleFest Veterans Jam.”
Notice how much fun the performers are having and the easy report they enjoy. There’s
something special here, and audience members are lucky to be able to share that experience.
Another performance you should plan to attend is the Late Night Jam. Your ticket price
doesn’t cover this performance, but it’s worth the extra expense. The tickets sell out and aren’t
usually available the day of the performance, so be sure to order ahead of time. This concert
is packed with performers, and it’s considered to be one of the best MerleFest experiences.

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Other favorite MerleFest artists include Tara Nevins, bottom left, of Donna the Buffalo, Steep
Canyon Rangers (top left), Jim Lauderdale (above), and The Hog Slop String Band (below).

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MerleFest is one of the most quintessential foothills experiences. If you haven’t been, you
simply must. If you have, I suspect we’ll see you there this year too! Be sure to stop by our
table next to the autograph tent. We’d love to say hello, and we’ll be full of advice as well!

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MerleFest
Heritage

Crafts

It isn’t just traditional music
that you’ll find at MerleFest.
The festival is also known
for its Heritage Crafts area.

Everyone attending the
festival must walk through
the Shoppes at MerleFest
on the way to the stages,
and one large tent is full
of heritage crafts. There
are over 60 vendors in the
Shoppes, and about 24 of
them are heritage artisans.

All of the heritage artisans
give demonstrations
throughout the day and sell
their crafts. Everything they
sell must be handmade.

Customers seem to enjoy
the experience of watching
the craftspeople work and
then purchasing the item.

The artisans vary from year
to year, but there are several
regulars.

One notable artisan is Raleigh
Avery of Avery Knifeworks.
He has a working forge at the
festival and demonstrates
his art in front of interested
crowds. Raleigh is only 21
years old, but he has been
forging knives (see picture
at left) since he was 14,
and he’s very talented. He
opened his forge in 2016, and
he’s become a staple at the

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Heritage Tent. Avery was also
a regular on History Channel’s
“Mountain Men,” where he
was the apprentice of Eustace
Conway and Preston Roberts.
He spent a year learning many
of the traditional crafts and
the old ways of Appalachian
living. The Morganton native
now lives in Boone and says,
“I am in love with the work
I do,” Avery said. “It’s my
passion to make and create.”

Pete (shown top right) and
Kim McWhirter with McWhirter
Pottery are another set of
familiar faces. They bring
their potter’s wheel and throw
pots as audiences gather.
Their pottery is unique.
It’s mostly functional, with
unexpected decorative twists.

We asked why they keep
coming back to MerleFest.
They said, “To share what
we do at McWhirter pottery
with people of all ages, from
all over the world, while the
best music on the planet is
playing live has been an honor
and privilege. We always
look forward to visiting and
demonstrating while talking
art, craft, and music! MerleFest
and Wilkes Community
College feel like home!”

Whatever sort of craft you’re
looking for, you’re sure to find
it in the Heritage Area. There’s
a great variety, from Cherokee
artisans to glassblowers
and everything in between.

Be sure to stop by the
Heritage Crafts area as you
visit MerleFest this year.

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We believe Thursday
learning is
hands-on. A Very Murphy Christmas:
Saturday, December 4, 6 PM.
That’s why we stuff our kids
magazine full of activities that help 5 Wofford St, Murphy, NC
make learning more fun. Our goal
is to get our kids magazines in the All Jeep Christmas Parade:
hands of 3rd, 4th and 5th graders Saturday, December 4, 6 PM.
of western NC for free. You can 3374 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley, NC
help! Call 828.475.1323 or visit our
Facebook page to make a donation! Pilot Mountain Christmas Parade:

FridaySaturday, December 4, 5:30 PM.

124 W Main Street, Pilot Mountain, NC

Annual Valdese Christmas Parade:
Saturday, December 4, 3 PM.
100 Main St W Valdese, NC

Burnsville Christmas Parade:
Saturday, December 4.
Burnsville, NC

Starry Nights Christmas Parade:

MondaSy, Daecteumbrerd6,a6:3y0 PM.
801 West Ave NW, Lenoir NC

Morganton Christmas Parade:
Tuesday, December 7, 6 PM.
110 E Meeting Street, Morganton, NC

Tryon Christmas Parade:
Wednesday, December 8 112 N Trade

St Steet, Tryon, NC

SundayRobbinsville Christmas Parade:

Saturday, December 11, 1 PM.
Robbinsville Middle School, 301

Sweetwater Rd

Shelby Christmas Parade:
Sunday, December 19.
Downtown Shelby, NC

Parades not yet scheduled at time
of printing: Boone, Elkin, Beech
Mountain’s first ever Christmas Parade

52130

Get Ready for MERlefest

Each year we like to make some playlists to get us excited about
MerleFest. Use your smart phone to scan the codes at left. Each one
will pull up a playlist that features our favorite songs from each artist
scheduled to play on that day. The songs will be in random order.

History of MerleFest

Education NC recently highlighted
MerleFest with a documentary. Watch
an excerpt by using the QR code below.

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Top 2% in the Nation.

That’s where our 2021 Covid-19
Patient Safety score ranks Highest Safety Rating
among 4,542 hospitals
in America.

During this pandemic, our team has continued
to earn a place among the highest performing
hospitals. Patient Safety — and the safety of all
who work here and enter our facilities — will
continue to be our number one priority. We
are COVID-safe and we are grateful that you
place your care in our hands.

We are here for you, and we are committed to your safety.