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  • SPRING FESTIVAL BRINGS OUT THE CRAFTSMEN

     

    by STORMIE MCGEE

    There’s something a little different about the 33rd Annual Craftsmen’s Spring Festival. Not to be mistaken with the Craftsmen’s Christmas Festival, the spring edition “…connects the Craftsmen’s Festival with a small antiques and collectibles show,” explained Quincy Scarborough, the event’s coordinator. “We’re going to have at least 25 booths [of antiques and collectibles], maybe more, and we’ll have about 80 booths of arts and crafts.” The Eastern {mosimage}Carolina Craftsmen’s Spring Festival — which will open Sat., March 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sun., March 9 from noon to 5 p.m. — is a regional arts and crafts show that is designed to showcase the talents of the region’s many local craftsmen. More than 100 selected craftsmen, artists and collectors from the east coast have reserved booths for this festival. “About a third of the show is going to be new craftsmen and women who’ve never been with us before,” said Scarborough. He says that this is due to burnout that occurs after years of demonstrating your wares on the road. “But we’ll have a little of everything,” he laughed, “We’ve got several artists coming in who’ve been with me for years. One craftsman, by the name of James Parker — retired military — who did our very first show 33 years ago is still with us.” To {mosimage}Scarborough, what makes the Craftsmen’s Festival so unique is that “everything you buy is handmade by the person you’re buying it from, which makes it a little more valuable… and if you ask, they’ll tell you how it’s made.” The hands-on involvement is what makes these events so exciting to shoppers. At the festival, many of the artists and craftsmen will be demonstrating their specialty, and all will be displaying their latest creations and selling their work. There will be a veritable cornucopia of traditional crafts, decorations, home furnishings, antiques and collectibles; and with the exception of the antiques and collectibles, all items sold are handmade by each craftsman participating. The antiques and collectibles show will delight nostalgic shoppers with old furniture, gold and silver, porcelain dolls, rare books, primitives and much more. These items are great gifts for home decorators and treasure hunters alike. So whether you’ve got a weekend to bask in handmade goods and historic relics or you’re just looking for something to do, there is something at the Craftsman’s Festival to interest almost everyone. The 33rd Annual Craftsmen’s Spring Festival, combined with the Fayetteville Antiques and Collectibles Show, is one of the city’s top spring attractions. New exhibitors, new ideas and great original craftsmanship makes the Spring Festival a great family event where you can see original arts and crafts, great gifts, jewelry, collectibles, investments and bargains. “I guarantee you will enjoy this show,” said Scarborough. The Craftsmen’s Festival is open to the public. The daily admission for the two-day cultural and shopping experience is $5.50 for adults, free for children,and free for handicapped visitors. Everyone is welcome to come out and shop from thousands of unique and original handcrafted item and artworks, many of which are designed specifi cally as spring gifts.

  • The Fayetteville Ladies Power Luncheon will hold its quarterly event on May 12 at the Holiday Inn I-95 to provide local women an opportunity to network with other successful women in the community.

    “The FLPL mission is to ‘Inspire, Educate, Empower and Celebrate’ the women in our community,” said  Keri Dickson, the new director of FLPL.  Dickson is also the Marketing and Development Manager for F&B Publications, the parent company of Up & Coming Weekly.

    Although she is new to the director role, Dickson has been involved in FLPL for years and was serving on its advisory board when asked to become the director.  

    Since 2011, the FLPL has provided local women an opportunity to join and participate in a collaborative effort to support one another in building business, personal and professional relationships – all while contributing  to many local non-profit organizations.

    Luncheons are held quarterly with a dedicated goal to motivate and empower women from all walks of life.  Women meet to listen and learn from an inspirational keynote speaker while networking with peers, meeting new friends and shopping.

    As the FLPL continues to inspire, motivate and recognize successful women in the community, Dickson said her goal as the director will be to expand attendance.  She hopes to attract more women from all over the Cape Fear region and eventually have to move the lunch to a larger venue.  Currently 150 to 200 women attend the luncheons.

    “We want to get more attention for the event so more ladies can attend, be educated and inspired by speakers like Lorna Ricotta,” Dickson said.

    Lorna Ricotta will be the speaker at the upcoming luncheon.  Ricotta currently serves as the executive director for the Fayetteville Technical Community College Foundation.  She is also an accomplished singer, small business owner, community advocate, higher education administrator and a former Miss North Carolina.

    “Lorna brings a wealth of information and experience to share with women at our luncheon,” Dickson said.

    More attendees means more money raised for local non-profit organizations, Dickson said.  This year, FLPL organizers are focusing on the Cumberland County Literacy, Education and Character development program by supporting the Kidsville News and Literacy and Education Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit.

    “Our Truman Table recognizes educators in our community,” Dickson said.  Truman the Dragon represents Kidsville News!, a child literacy magazine.

    While the $35 ticket price to attend covers the cost of the meal, Dickson said FLPL relies on sponsors.  

    “If we didn’t have local business owners like Biz Card Express of Fayetteville, the UPS Store, Premier Cardiovascular, Omni Plaza, Bragg Mutual Credit Union, and Only NDoor willing to support, it wouldn’t be such a nice event,” she said.

    “Sponsors give up the ability to make it more affordable for more women to attend, and allows us to make it a better event for all,” she said.

    The next quarterly Fayetteville Ladies Power Luncheon will be held May 12 from 10:00 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Holiday Inn I-95, Exit 49.  In addition to the guest speaker, the event will also feature a Shopportunity Expo filled with local merchants, vendors and businesses. Vendors include business, clothing, jewelry, women’s health and fitness, beauty products and more.  Grapes & Hops of Fayetteville will provide a wine bar and tasting area as well. 

    For more information on registering as an attendee, sponsor or vendor, visit the website at FayettevilleLadiesPowerLunch.com.


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