Pam Dudding-Burch
Contributing writer
Beauty, creativity and unique flairs of crafts and individual items recently decorated Market Street as local crafters displayed their individual talents and flea marketers brought out their personal items for sale.
People dropped in all day to bring a successful show during Jasmine Brown’s first arts/crafts/flea market festival at the old Abbott Lumberyard.
Several citizens from Craig County gathered together on Saturday, August 25, for their first combined Craft Fair and Flea Market. Though it did not open until 9 a.m., people arrived early in hopes of picking the cream of the crop treasures.
Jasmine Brown of the Craig County came up with the idea and organized the event.
“I knew that the fall festival was coming up soon and remembered that we had a large field in the front of our property. I thought that it would be a perfect place for a craft fair/ flea market,” Brown said. “I have some of everything that I need to sell so I figured that someone else would too.”
As people drove into the old Abbott’s Lumberyard, it was clear that Jasmine was right, as she had 18 people respond and set up their individual booth areas. The cost was $15 for a 15 by 15-foot spot. The funds are expected to go towards improving the property as well as future events.
Brown tried to accommodate everyone with room between booth areas.
Kathy Walczuk said she was pleased to hear of the opportunity to sell her items she gets from Nordstrom.
“My dad has been ill for a while, so this is the first time in two years that I have set up,” she said.
Many, including Karen Payne who was set up, noted, “We couldn’t have asked for a better location and day.”
Brown, who also has a Thirty-One business she plans on continuing promoting, added, “For this event, I was looking for everything due to the fact that I wanted to include everything. Some people brought both their crafts and flea market items to display at their booths. I personally have both so I would not want to limit others.”
As people walked around, there was everything from unique handmade gifts and decor, baby items, all ages of clothing, toys, home décor and tools, ladies purses and makeup. There was even a special stone cooked pizza. Many brought their families and made a day of it.
Kristin Miller said she saw the event on Facebook.
Rachel St Pierre added that she had tried to take her children’s clothes to Once Upon a Child, but didn’t get very much in return. “I am very happy about this event,” she stated as she had just sold five bags of clothes to one attendee.
“I bought way too much,” one local said with a smile. “But I couldn’t resist the great deals.”
At the end of the day, Brown shared that she was more than pleased with the turnout for her first event. “Many of the crafters said they were happy about the event and asked when the next one could be held,” she said.
With this in mind, she is thinking of having another one the day of the Fall Festival, which will be October 13. People interested may contact Brown at (540) 580-0403, by Facebook or by sending an email to southernmother07@gmail.com.
“I just want to thank everyone that came out and helped to make our first ever festival a success,” Brown said.
