Wheeler Munroe starts the day off with some light sanding, then moves steadily into the disassembly of an old chair—separating its parts one at a time with the care and consideration of a surgeon working on a very delicate organ. Measured and ginger, she suddenly slams into a join with her anvil—thwack! She knows when … Read More
Click, click, throw the yarn. Click, click, unwind the ball. Click, click, turn a row. My childhood was spent at the feet of my great grandmother, Hedwig. She in the overstuffed light blue La-Z-Boy, and me cross-legged on the old plum and purple oriental that covered the living room floor. I wanted to be close … Read More
If you have a finger on any part of the Asheville craft scene, then you most likely have heard of the website Etsy.com, where individual artists, crafters, and finders can sell their wares. It might not sound like a “local” retail option, but, in fact, it is. We have combed through more than 15,000 locally … Read More
This is the second in a two-part series about the art of letterpress. Click to see part one of Letterpress Love. When Lance Wille wasn’t in the studio, he could be found in a shadowy corner of Vincent’s Ear with a drink, linoleum cutting tools, and a block to carve. What began as a solitary … Read More
Letterpress Love is part one of a two-part article about the Asheville letterpress community and individual letterpress artists who have influenced its growth. Samantha Urbanick pulls a handful of wooden block letters from one of her hundred antique letterpress drawers and arranges them on the bed of her Vandercook press. She handles the blocks as … Read More
Asheville, you may have heard, has got some art. Whatever your taste—high or low; good or bad—the city probably has you covered. Its offerings are broad, comprising both tourist take-home fare and challenging street murals barely up for a month. Less familiar to casual observers, and even many locals, however, is the portfolio of artists … Read More
Fortunately for us, few towns are as rich with artistic resources as Asheville. In many places, Michael’s and Jo-Ann Fabric are the sole sources for fabric, jewelry making, and other handiwork supplies, and crafting potential is limited to the offerings of their shelves. (And yes, we have those, too.) Against that model, we stand out … Read More
The name of The Big Crafty says it all. It’s big, it’s crafty, and it’s fun for the whole family. We all have a soft spot for the small-town church bazaars and local street fairs where you’re sure to find fresh-baked pies, activities such as bobbing for apples and cake walks, and traditional handicrafts, but … Read More