Customer Reviews

Handcrafted in the Blue Ridge: Discovering the Crafts, Artisans, and Studios of Western North Carolina

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With critics calling Asheville, NC and environs the home of the largest community of THE most diverse,prolific, and eclectic artists other than Santa Fe, a guide book is helpful for even the vacationing or casual seeker/shopper. Given the numerous small mountain villages in which many of these artists and craftspersons have their workshops, studios, and showrooms or galleries, such a guide is mandatory.

One must acknowledge that, much like a phone directory, a guide like this which includes names, addresses, websites, opening hours, price ranges, products or styles represented by the artist, etc., is out of date before it is even printed. A caveat, then, for someone who doesn't have an abundance of time in which to drive the hairpin-turn mountain roads only to find a "MOVED" sign on the door they seek, call ahead, check the website, or otherwise confirm that your journey won't end in frustration.

That, aside, this is an invaluable resource, if only to whet one's appetite by its photos and descriptions. As the list above makes clear, there is an obvious attempt to both "promote" these artists/craftspersons and their wares, and that it does indeed. Even if all the details about each artist's workshop are no longer current, with name, phone number, and email/website details provided, it should be a simple matter to verify the information before setting out.

Even if you don't live in the area and have no imminent trip planned, browsing this book whets one's appetite. For me it has also served to alert me to many more areas of artistic endeavor: old, revived, and/or new means and styles of creating art. It also puts on proud display the expertise, talent, and skill of these creative folk and adds to a general understanding of the rich culture of the western North Carolina area.