By Jessica Smith ENGL 336.003
The Appalachian Festival at Frostburg State University was brewing with creativity this year. Artists from every corner of the four-state region gathered to demonstrate and display their unique talents.
Artisans from every craft were congregated under a large tent, displaying and selling their work. Connie Stark was one of those artisans. Her line of herbal products, called “Herb Sampler,” provides a natural way to remedy sicknesses and promote relaxation. Stark has been offering herbal products through this line for 25 years. “I like working with herbs because they smell good and they are very useful plants. There are so many things you can do with them,” said Stark. One of her most popular products is a flax seed eye pillow. The herbs contained in this eye pillow help curb headaches and encourage relaxation. “People swear by these for migraines,” claims Stark. Stark also makes herbal body warmers that contain rice and an assortment of aromatic plants that, when heated, help soothe stiff joints. The “Herb Sampler” line also contains “Dream Pillows,” small lavender scented pouches that can be placed in a pillow to encourage sleep, and lavender scented bath salts. “Everybody seems to like lavender,” Stark said. Stark’s products are available at www.honeybugbears.com.
“Imagined,” a mother-daughter jewelry team, also had a station at the Appalachian Festival. Nancy and her daughter Avalon have been creating unique jewelry pieces for eight years. “I started out as a basket weaver and expanded from there. With jewelry making, I’m basically self-taught,” said Nancy. She creates wirework and craft wire pieces, hand beaded jewelry, and can even bend anyone’s name into a piece of wire, giving them a custom necklace. For $56, Nancy was selling antique shell portrait pendants from the 1920’s that she added her own touch to by attatching curlicues of wire in varying shapes and sizes around the pendants. There were also skull and pirate pendants for sale, which, Nancy said, “provide an unexpected twist.” Avalon makes more contemporary jewelry, geared toward a younger crowd. She makes wallets out of colored duct tape, and necklaces and earrings made from guitar picks. Avalon stated that she buys a case of assorted guitar picks and simply drills tiny holes in them to make the earrings and necklaces. Though it seems Avalon’s sector of “Imagined” would appeal to pre-teens, teens, and young adults, Avalon stated, “I do get quite a lot of older people. It’s really surprising. The more outrageous stuff is what older people buy.” “Imagined” is based in Accident, Maryland.
The Appalachian Festival featured far more than just craftsmen. Music seemed to be the heart of the event. The Lickety Split Banjo Boys were one of the many talented bands to perform at the festival. This four man band performs classic bluegrass, gospel, and “honkey tonk” music. Frostburg State University alumni Frankie Revell sings and plays the banjo and guitar in the band. “I was seven when I started playing the banjo,” said Frankie. “My dad taught me string for string.” Frankie’s father, Fred, and his uncle, “Uncle Junior,” are members of the band. Frankie’s friend, Dennis Crolley, completes the Lickety Split Banjo Boys. Though the band only formed one year ago, Frankie says, “We’re beginning to develop a fan base of middle-aged people whose parents or grandparents would have listened to this type of music.” The Lickety Split Banjo Boys are based in Berkley Springs, West Virginia, but they perform all around the region. Frankie said, “We play in bars, churches, coffee houses.” “And strip clubs!” joked Dennis.
Since I had missed the chance to see their performance, the band was kind enough to play an impromptu show for me in a parking lot. They played an upbeat bluegrass song, “Trail of Sorrow,” a slow “honkey tonk” song, “Dim Lights, Thick Smoke, Loud Music,” and many other bluegrass and gospel favorites. Frankie had the voice of a born country crooner, and the other band members were all incredibly talented in playing their given instruments and harmonizing. Any fan of this genre of music should not miss an opportunity to see these banjo boys play. The band’s schedule is available at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Lickety-Split-Banjo-Boys/181289677232.
The Appalachian Festival was a very enjoyable event. The crafts, music, food, and overall atmosphere of the festival all told of the history of Appalachia in an entertaining way.
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