Handmade arts, crafts to fill shaded West Central Park One popular feature of Another Bloomin’ Festival is the broad assortment of hand-crafted products for sale in the shaded West Central Park area. From woodwork to crocheted designs to jewelry, these booths have items to thrill any age group. Sewing, knitting & crocheting Hand-sewn baby blankets and aprons will be sold by Lindell Hall (Booth #105). Crocheted baby afghans, cloth books and more will be offered by Annette Toews and Martha White (Booth #116). At booth #134, Georgian Mullins of Statesboro will have hand-towels, detergent aprons and wooden crafts. She has been participating in festivals for 20 years and first started in her craft in Edwardsburg, MI, in 1981. For monogrammed bath and beach towel sets, onesies and tutu dresses, visit The Purple Dotted Zebra Boutique (Booth #138). Anasia Hixon of Statesboro started the boutique as she developed an interest in making adorable items for her two children. Thanelia Collins of Metter will have crocheted hats, scarves and more at her booth (#140). Laila Hendricks Norton of Metter (Booth #145) will have crocheted afghans and more. She has been taking part in festivals for over 60 years. Georgia fans will want to visit Booth #147, where Terri Parlante of Augusta will have Georgia Bulldog items and more. Ginger Conley of Lawrenceville (Booth #150) will have crocheted pieces as well as hand-sewn pieces, such as caryon rolls and hair bows. Jewelry & accessories If vintage jewelry is what you’re looking for, visit Bobbie Tucker (Booth #101), who will have an assortment of antique jewelry -- and small antique pieces. Jewelry pieces, as well as knit items, will also be sold by Dana Davis (Booth #111), who began exhibiting a year ago. Handmade hairbows and headbands will be sold at Booth #124 by Kristin Durrence of Hinesville. A stay-at-home mother, Durrence took up this craft as a hobby in 2010 and has been exhibiting in festivals for over two years. For a unique spin on jewelry, with creations crafted from antique silver plated spoons and forks, visit James Ledbetter’s booth (#125). Ledbetter, of Opelika, AL, learned the trade from his father and has been taking part in festivals in Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama for ten years. He purchases the silverware at estate sales and auctions. Hair bows, along with children’s clothing, wreaths and solar lights, will be sold by Kitty Dix of Hawkinsville at Booth #126. She first began participating in festivals in 1995, when she exhibited at the Possom Hollow event in Dexter. Renee Williams (Booth #128) will offer handmade scarves, along with hair accessories. Jennifer Ferguson of Hephzibah will offer bracelets, necklaces, watches and belts, handmade from paracord and using different types of beads. Ferguson has been making these paracord items for about three years and has taken part in a number of area festivals during that time. For Southwestern style jewelry, visit Cobbtown Country Girl (Booth #133), while Debbie Whitlock (Booths #135 & #136) will have wirewrapped pendants and matching earrings. Personalized tote bags and more will be offered by LaRaine Blitch of Windsor, S.C. (Booth #139), who has participated in festivals for 20 years now. Woodwork Shady Bluff Special Creations (Booth #102) will have small wooden pieces, including trays and sconces, while Ben Delacruz (Booths #103 and #104) will offer wood carvings from acacia wood, including birdhouses. He begins his carvings with chainsaws, finishing off the detail with chisels. For larger items, such as swings and arbors, visit Jimmy and Sue Fuller’s booths (#106, #107 & #108). At Booth #115, Greg Aksdal of Pembroke will have such wooden items as ornaments and candleholders, while his wife will be displaying beaded jewelry and paracord bracelets. For wooden children’s furniture, such as rockers, desks and toy boxes, visit David’s Woodworking (Booth #121). Cedar crafts and maple crafts, including benches, tables, candle holders and more, will be sold by Brian Cesario (Booth #131). At Royal’s Wooden Creations (Booth #137) you will find wooden swings, porch rockers and adirondack furniture, along with outdoor furniture. At the Art With Wood booth (#142), Jeanie Merritt of Moultrie will have hand-cut and handpainted wood designs crafted from wood taken from fences, barns and old cabinet doors. Elmo Sr.’s Boards (Booth #144) will have cutting boards, cheese boards, bread boards and assorted wooden items. Unique specialties Debuting at Another Bloomin’ Festival this year is Carmella Brown of Metter (Booth #109), who has been taking part in area festivals for about three years with her “reborn baby dolls.” Her dolls are painstakingly crafted to give that life-like look. Once again, the Lollypop Lady (Booth #110) will come to Metter from Central, S.C., to bring her hand-crafted lollypops and lollypop arrangements. Joe Sasser of Millen (Booths #112 & #113) will bring his hand-woven wild grapevine wreaths. A self-taught crafter, he made his first wreath in 1985. Each design, he says, is one of a kind. Paracord survival bracelets and gun slings, along with hand sewn crafts, will be offered at the Crafts by Sue & Zoie/Paracord Survival Creations booth (#114). The paracord items are made on site. At Hodge Podge Crafts (Booths #117 & #118), you can find gourd art, including birdhouses and baskets, among other items. Additional painted gourd crafts, carved and woodburned, will be offered at Booth #141 by Mary Turner of Savannah. Turner began her craft PAGE 11 in 2002 when she joined the Georgia Gourd Sprouts Patch in Springfield. She is also a member of the American, Georgia and Florida Gourd Societies. For “terrific” caricatures, visit Dave Washburn of Lawrenceville (Booth #119). “I draw like a house a’fire,” he says. “I draw fast, accurate caricatures of live models.” Bonsai enthusiasts will want to visit Mervyn Greenberg’s booth (#122) for pre-bonsai and bonsai plants and supplies, as well as instructions and demonstrations on the care of the bonsai. A ceramic tile installer, Greenberg has studied this Japanese/Chinese tradition for over 10 years. At Booth #127, Mickey and Joe Huber of Palm Coast, FL, will offer hand-made activity bags for children, as well as flopper hats and bags for adults and children alike. At The Cottage Doors (#130), home decor items are the order of the day, as coat racks, fabric covered boxes, and decorative cupboards will be offered. For kids’ tree swings, yard signs and more, visit Norman Conrad’s booths (#148 & #149). Jams, jellies & more Homemade jams and jellies, pickles, vegetables and more will be offered by Joyce Prescott and Elaine Ferrell (Booth #123). At Studier’s Honeypot (Booth #129) you will find a selection of Tupelo honey, orange blossom honey, gallberry honey, beeswax lotion, body butter, scrubs and much more. Owner Kimberly Kidd’s family has been in the beekeeping business since 1940 and she enjoys experimenting with products from the hive.