Holiday Art and Craft Studio Tour Today in Spruce Pine

Dec 3 - 5   Head for Spruce Pine and the Holiday Studio Tour. Nearly 150 artists in this mountain community open their studios to public for this popular annual event. View the Map to the studios or   pick up a Guide at the Toe River Arts Council on Oak Avenue in Spruce Pine.

The Guide features 40 pages filled with colored photographs of artwork from each participant as well as a section featuring our local sponsors, who are supporting the tour. The TRAC Tour committee, a volunteer group of artists, works year-round to insure the success of the Toe River Studio Tours. This is one example of their years' of work.

Some locations host clusters of artists, a boon to those following the trail, where a visitor can meet more than one artist at each stop or vicinity. The tours are held the same time every year-the second weekend in June and the first weekend in December.

The 12 Days of Christmas at The Echo Gallery

The Twelve Days of Christmas

submitted by The Echo Gallery,  8 Town Square Blvd, Suite 160  Asheville, NC

Echo Gallery at Biltmore Park invites you to join us for an Artist Reception to celebrate the holidays and our December exhibit of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, by Leo Monahan. The Artist Reception will take place on Friday, December 10 from 5 to 8pm. The exhibit consists of twelve original paper sculptures that were created as illustrations for the book "The Twelve Days of Christmas", which is also on display.

Leo will also give a talk and demonstration of his incredible work on Wednesday, December 15, from 6:00 - 7:00pm.

In addition, Echo Gallery proudly presents the work of fine artists and craftspeople from around the Asheville area. When you visit, you'll also find work that includes functional and decorative ceramics and tile, decorative and wearable textiles, jewelry, ornaments, furniture, sculpture, paintings, encaustics, pencil drawings, plush toys, accessories, and more.

Don't forget! Biltmore Park has it all: Dinner...movies... shopping... and art! Come and spend the evening with us. (Please help us spread the word - - invite your friends by forwarding this email!) Directions from Asheville:
• South on I-26 to Long Shoals Road Exit 37
• Turn left at end of ramp
• Left past McDonalds (second light) onto Schenck Parkway
• 3/4 around the traffic circle onto Town Square Blvd
• Echo Gallery is on the right: Suite 160

Cloth Fiber Workshop - limited space!

Dec 11, 10 AM - 5 PM at Cloth Fiber Workshop  - Creative Collage: Fabric Cards with Heather Allen-Swarttouw. Working with a wide variety of one-of-a-kind handmade fabrics, you'll learn how to collage and layer them to make wonderful unique images. Like a mini sketch, cards are a wonderful size and perfect vehicle to experiment and explore creative ideas. Using embroidery you can add accents to your designs. With the simple techniques you'll learn in this class, and your left over fabrics, you'll be able to make postcards and cars sets for holiday gifts, special occasions, or frame them! Level: all levels, fee: $85 + materials.

 
This Workshop is almost full, register now to assure your space! For the complete fall schedule and workshop materials lists, please see the Class Description page on our website. To register for workshops call 828.505.2958; stop by the studio, Mon-Sat, 10 am - 4 pm, or register online.  Cloth Fiber Workshop is located at Cotton Mill Studios, 122 Riverside Dr., Studio D, Asheville, NC.

Ashe Count Arts Center Christmas Event

This Saturday, Dec. 4th, the Ashe Arts Center is the place to be! First, pictures with Santa (registration required, $2/child), story time with Ms. Claus, arts and crafts, and milk & cookies from 8:30-10:30am. Then, meet and greet the Arts Council Staff from 10am-4pm. And finally, take in the beautifully decorated Christmas trees, miniature paintings and handmade ornaments. Enjoy holiday refreshments and shopping. The tree and miniatures display is available through Dec. 29th, Mon-Fri from 9am-5pm and Sat. from 10-4. Call 336-846-ARTS to sign up for photos and for more info.