MATTHEW BURNETTE

Staff Writer

Foothills Crafts and Gift shop is inviting all to come and share a little Christmas magic at the store from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 7 as part of their annual Holiday Open House.

Attendees are encouraged to explore a wonderful variety of unique handmade gifts, beautifully handcrafted treasures and festive holiday décor. The store offers everything from thoughtful gifts for everyone on your Christmas list to special decorations that bring warmth and charm to your home.

Children in attendance will get the chance to meet Santa and share some Christmas cheer. There will also be face painting available for all ages throughout the day.

Door prizes will be announced throughout the day as patrons are encouraged to try their luck. Refreshments will also be available.

“It’s just a fun way to start off the Christmas season,” said Foothills Volunteer Cathy Green. “It’s really festive and a lot of fun, and we see people that only come in once a year.”

Green says that the crafts in the store are a reminder of a bygone era of the holidays.

“It goes back to olden times where everything was handmade and there was pride taken in each item that was made,” she explained. “A lot of times is put into a lot of these items, and they are very unique.”

Fellow volunteer Sheila Wiser noted that she enjoys the open house because of the familiar faces that she gets to see.

“Our repeat customers are a hoot,” she enthused. “We’ve got some that that’s the only time we see them is for the Christmas Open House. It’s like friends are coming back.”

Foothills Newcomer Kris Boal noted that he’s excited to experience his first open house with the group.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing how many people turn up,” he said. “I wanna see what people are after this year and what sells.”

Boal, a leatherworker who currently makes keychains and knife sheaths and hopes to move into larger items like bags, explained that he found the group when he was looking for a place to sell his wares.

“I wanted to go to craft shows and other things but with my family and everything, I don’t really want to be travelling that much,” he said. There’s a lady named Pam that was here that said that they’d love to have me make some things and bring them to the shop.”

Don’t be concerned if the parking in front of the store looks full. There is additional parking in the rear of the store.

Foothills opened back in 1981 in its current location on Woodbury Highway and recently celebrated its 45th anniversary. The shop is operated by the Coffee County Crafters Association, a local nonprofit who operates the store on a volunteer basis.

The association also contributes items such as quilts to local organizations for people in need, walker bags for nursing homes and book bags for a local reading program. They also have a scholarship that they offer to a local student interested in pursuing the arts.