Bakersville's Creek Walk
"...includes play areas, picnic tables, and a multi-purpose gazebo which is one of the sites of Bakersville's popular 4th of July entertainment. It is an ideal place for a small brass band, a barbershop quartet, and gospel singers....Small concrete benches made by a local artist adorn the grassy bank of the creek and beckon invitingly. Fishing piers (handicapped accessible) allow anyone to try their skill against the wiley native trout. Cane Creek is a designated catch-and-release stream." Located in downtown Bakersville.
Dellinger Grist Mill on Cane Creek "... was established by Reuben Dellinger in 1867. It has been in the Dellinger family for over 146 years... restored by Jack Dellinger ( myself ) in 1997-2000 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. I currently grind corn into cornmeal and grits utilizing the same time-honored methods and machinery my ancestors used..."
Rock Mine Tours
"... Nestled deep in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina lie many mines with hidden treasures never before offered to the public. We are offering our guests a new concept with an old twist, to actually dig in "REAL MINES!" See the remains of a Mica, Feldspar and Quartz mining site. All mines are above ground and are completely safe...."
Carolina Barn Dance Organization
"... Bringing you back to the Carolina you love... The Carolina Theatre in Spruce Pine, NC is home of the original Carolina Barn Dance that was broadcasted by radio live every Friday night during the 40s and 50s...many stars performed on stage in this little ol' town, and now new history is being made through the restoration of the historic theatre..."2008 Calendar of Events. Check out the History of this historic building. Volunteers needed. Located on Lower Street in downtown Spruce Pine.
Java Jam coffee house series
takes place the second Friday of every month from 8pm to 10pm at the Burnsville Town Center. "...Come join us for an evening of fun! Dust off your dancing shoes and come enjoy live music, decadent desserts made by volunteers, and organic gourmet coffee. (Of course, there will be a few decaf and non-coffee drinks as well.)..."
Youngs Mountain Music
"... seats 300 people, with heating and air conditioning. They feature 8 to 10 bands every Saturday night from 7:00pm to11:00pm. Pickin room also available. It is a Non-Alcoholic Family Facility. Smoking is permitted in designated areas. A snack bar is also available. Shirley and Bill rely heavely on the support and services of their volunteer group "The New Golden Eagles" to help in any way they are needed. Every month they have a large cake to celebrate all who have birthdays or anniversaries in that month. Young's and the Eagles have hosted many benefits for people in the area that are in need. They also provide flowers for the sick and for deaths in Young's extened family. During the summer months we bring you some of the "best of the best" Friday night shows anywhere in this area...."Click on events to see what's happening... including Karaoke Night! Located between Burnsville and Spruce Pine right off Hwy 19E. Directions to youngs mountain music
Hot Duck Soup Novelty Jazz Band follows in the footsteps of Ragtime and Dixieland bands of long ago with an admiring nod to the Hoosier Hotshots, Spike Jones' City Slickers and Weird Al Yankovik.
Hot Duck Soup was formed in the Dark Days of January 2005 by John D. Richards (Banjo) and his beautiful wife, Claudia Dunaway (Cornet). The word went out to any and all persons interested in playing the zany tunes of the teens, twenties, and thirties. Rehearsals at Yummy Mud Puddle Guest House soon took shape with as many as eleven participants present.
A wide assortment of characters & instruments attended every Wednesday night: Guitars, keyboards, drums, recorders, accordions, flutes, pots, pans, bottles, bells, fiddles, kazoos, slide whistles, washboards and one washtub bass. The "sound" was coming together. It was loud. It was silly. It was good.
By April Hot Duck Soup was down to five steady members: John and Claudia, Rob Levin (guitar), Tim Clark (washtub bass), and Joy Boothe (cacophonium). They were ready to play out. The local health center soon subjected its innocent patrons to the strains of "Sweet Sue" and other ancient tunes. The Burnsville Chamber of Commerce foolishly allowed the soup group to open its Open House and provide assorted noises for the sneak preview of the new Town Center. The Mount Mitchell Crafts Fair began with the band belting out "Enjoy Yourself" right after the National Anthem. The Hot Duck Soup poured over the crowd of unsuspecting listeners and still they wanted more. Either they were gluttons for punishment or they had no place else to be...
Who knows where they'll strike next? Maybe your place!
Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair
"... the oldest and largest crafts fair in the Blue Ridge Mountains. For the past several years, the Southern Tourism Society has selected this event as one of the top twenty to attend in the Southeast....The fair hosts well over 250 juried crafters, both local and from many states across the country that show and sell their own beautifully handcrafted work. On-going bandstand entertainment is free, featuring an array of traditional mountain music and dance groups, including bluegrass, folk, gospel, golden oldies, and traditional clogging groups. The food court features a wide variety of delicious food and a special "Kid Zone" will offer lots of fun things for the kids to do...." Usually the first weekend in August in the Burnsville Town Square. Free.
A Touch of Cass
"... wide variety of furnishings and accessories for the home. We are constantly on the lookout for unusual and artful pieces to add to our unique inventory... we have become known for our "mountain chic" or "lodge" look. Casual but class.." Located in downtown Burnsville
DK Puttyroot
"... is the exclusive retailer of Kobo Lanterns, original handcrafted Japanese paper lanterns by Hiroko. Uniquely fashioned of handmade watermark and botanical inlay Japanese paper, Kobo Lanterns are a wonderful decorative accent light for any room.... The upper level of our vintage building is home to The Orchid Tearoom a self-serve tea bar. Also sharing the "apartment" is a bedroom overflowing with imported handmade, decorative and art papers from around the world...." Located in downtown Burnsville
Troy's Greenhouse
This is a bit run down and full of mossy delights, but a fabulous place to get flats full inexpensive perennials, annuals and herbs. Tucked away on Cherry Street (watch for the sign on West Main Street near the post office), it's worth the hunt.
Yancey Crafted Tile
"... custom high relief and low relief hand made tile. Known as art tile, we offer our customers unique accent tile to use for kitchen back splashes, bathrooms, fireplaces; virtually any interior wall display. Our architectural tile is inspired by our natural surroundings in the Blue Ridge mountains of Western North Carolina. These designer tiles are focal points in custom-made kitchens and blend elegant and classical tastes with natural simplicity. Perfect for new home construction or remodeling, handmade tiles are permanent fixtures that are sure to impress owners or investors...." Located on Hwy 19 just East of Burnsville
Visit a Working Farm
Mountain Farm
"... a 24-acre lavender, blueberry and dairy goat farm in the Southern Appalachians of North Carolina. Our small herd, hormone and antibiotic free, includes registered Saanen, Alpine, and Nubian goats. Pick-your-own blueberries ripen June and July. Heavenly lavender blooms from June to September, and creates the natural border for the new meditation abyrinth.Romantic Blueberry Cottage rents from April through October. Visit a working farm: bottle feed kids in season, hike the trails, picnic at the pond, or sit in a chair in the lavender field and just inhale. Please call ahead...." Located in Burnsville. Participates in the twice-a-year TRAC tour.
Toe River Area Golf and Country Clubs
Grassy Creek Golf and Country Club
"... Beautiful rolling terrain and long- range views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mtns. makes this course one of the most enjoyable & picturesque golf courses in Western North Carolina. An 18-hole, semi-private course that offers small, fast bentgrass greens that are rather painstakingly maintained for your golfing pleasure..." Clubhouse with dining facilities for members. Located on Hwy 221 in Spruce Pine.
Mount Mitchell Golf Club
"... offers a variety of challenges to the visiting golfer. The course received a four and one half star rating in Golf Digest's "Places to Play." North Carolina Magazine ranked Mount Mitchell in the top ten public courses in the state. It features bent grass from tee to green, is virtually flat, has a pristine river flowing through it and awesome views on every shot..." Public course. Dining and luxurious accommodations on site. South of Burnsville, on Highway 80 south between Celo and Hwy 40. Map About 1 hrs drive from Asheville Google Driving Directions
Mountain Air Country Club
".... CNBC TV Reporter Mike Hegedus visits Mountain Air.... where residents can "fly in" on their private planes, the highest runway East of the Mississippi River. (Burnsville, 35 minutes north of Asheville)
Browse AshevilleBliss.com's Bookstore
Explore the Bliss of Teaching Yourself (or Brushing Up On) Fine Crafts Techniques via These Excellent Books
Books are great teachers! There always there when you need them... even at 3 a.m.! We personally think they make a great compliment to taking workshops. However, if you're REALLY short on cash , these books are a great 'second choice'... even available in most cases, used. Many of these books (particularly the Lark ones) feature South Toe and Asheville area artists and photography.
Contemporary Warm Glass: A Guide to Fusing, Slumping & Kiln-Forming Techniques *Glass Types and Forms *Supplies and Equipment; *Preparing the Kiln for Firing; *Keeping a Firing Log; *The Basis Fusing and Slumping Process; *Molds for Slumping; *Troubleshooting; *Fusing and Slumping Techniques; *Glass Polishing; *Finishing for Display; *Compatibility Testing; *More about Annealing; *Kiln Casting; *Glass Painting; *Making Your Own (devit spray, kiln wash, iridescent glass, frit, stringers); and *Master Firing Schedules
This comprehensive introduction features projects both beautiful and practical that are sure to appeal to all beginning glassworkers. It covers all of the fundamentals, such as fusing, slumping and draping, as well as some intermediate and advanced techniques, including pot melting, inclusions, mold-making and more. There’s also advice on decorative surface treatment of the finished piece... Nineteen exquisite projects, arranged by skill level, range from home décor items, like a wall sconce and fountain, to sculpture, and even an amber glass pendant.
This is absolutely the best resource for learning low-fire clay decoration.... covers everything you need to know in an easy to understand manner. Surface decoration techniques include slips, terra sigillata, underglazes, glazes, maiolica, china paints, decals, & lusters. Formulas for some of these are included by volume & percentage. Seven step-by-step projects that demonstrate use of slips, sgraffito, cutouts, decals, underglazes & maiolica help you to apply what you have learned. A glossary, cone-firing range chart, & resource list are a great bonus
From press-molded pieces to carved works showcasing spectacular surface treatments, these magnificent tiles will inspire beginners and professionals, as well as collectors and enthusiasts. Some of the larger handcrafted displays here were made to decorate public and private spaces; others use single tiles to interpret nature, tell a story, or make a bold cultural observation. As always in this acclaimed series, all the contributors are accomplished artists, renowned in the field.
No other volume has ever presented such a diverse and captivating collection of contemporary animal-themed ceramics.... the beautifully crafted works range from the representational to the abstract, from artful realism to provocative surrealism (including animal-human hybrids). Ann Marais’ image of a waterfowl painted onto a porcelain dish has a restrained, Asian quality. Sharkus’ painted and smoke-fired stoneware turtle could easily be mistaken for the living creature. Bova provides astute and illuminating commentary overall, with selected artists’ notes.
....richly illustrated with hundreds of breathtaking photographs.... the artistry of a finely tooled leather cover, embellished with traditional gold-leaf lettering; the intricacy of an exotic Ethi..... Jeanne Germani’s Cloudspeak showcases her own handmade papers, made from such varied materials as recycled denim, thistle, and other plant matter. Chris Bivin’s codex-style volume features curious, tiny, found objects. One of Laura Wait’s untitled pieces utilizes a handsome raised-cord binding to connect a pair of stained-cedar covers with abstract aluminum letterforms attached.
.. a varied, captivating collection of contemporary ceramics based on the human form... from leaders in the field such as Judy Fox, Kurt Weiser, and Andy Nasisse. Kay Yourist has produced female forms that are smooth, minimalist vessels with only the slightest hint of breasts and belly. The simple, rounded features of Diane Lublinski’s black-and-white figures possess a fun, clown-like whimsy. Michael A. Prather’s mournful ceramic portraits have frowning faces and pointed dunce-like heads in a muted color palette. Many come with detail images and illuminating artist’s commentary.
If you are a contemporary art glass collector, you will love the hundreds of photographs in this book. You might even discover a new artist whose work you covet! As a learning tool, however, this book leaves something to be desired. Other than the names of the artists and their techniques, plus the object dimensions, there is not a lot of information. It would have been nice to have examples and descriptions of how the techniques are accomplished. But then, the author - the daughter of one of the world's foremost glass artists - would have needed more than 396 pages.
"... was established by Reuben Dellinger in 1867. It has been in the Dellinger family for over 146 years... restored by Jack Dellinger ( myself ) in 1997-2000 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. I currently grind corn into cornmeal and grits utilizing the same time-honored methods and machinery my ancestors used..."
Troy's Greenhouse 
unique accent tile to use for kitchen back splashes, bathrooms, fireplaces; virtually any interior wall display. Our architectural tile is inspired by our natural surroundings in the Blue Ridge mountains of Western North Carolina. These designer tiles are focal points in custom-made kitchens and blend elegant and classical tastes with natural simplicity. Perfect for new home construction or remodeling, handmade tiles are permanent fixtures that are sure to impress owners or investors...." Located on Hwy 19 just East of Burnsville