Matthew Burnette, Staff Writer

The holiday season is fast approaching, and Foothills Crafts and Gifts is offering an early glance at the Christmas with their annual Holiday Open House on Saturday Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Over 60 vendors will have their handmade crafts on display during the open house that will also feature refreshments, door prizes and the opportunity to meet some of the local artisans.

Crafts for sale at the store will vary in media and include paintings, woodworking, floral arrangements, jewelry, mixed media, pottery and sewing crafts.

Foothills member Cindy Raybern explained that the open house originally started as a craft show at the Coffee County Manchester Conference Center before moving to a school for a couple of years before moving back to Foothills after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s went over very well and that’s why we continue to do so,” she said.

Foothills opened back in 1981 in its current location on Woodbury Highway. 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. Thy also have a scholarship that they offer to a local student interested in pursuing the arts.

People from all over the United States as well other countries have visited the shop.

Member Wendy Wolff, a painter, says her favorite part of working at the store is meeting the people.

“Even on a normal day you meet different people,” she said. “They go down the highway, maybe from out of state, and they start sharing stories. It’s fun.”