Made in the Mountains

Beal Center venue for event

  • Becky Long • Clay County Progress Susie Brechbill continues to crochet items while working at her booth during the Made in the Mountains event where local vendors could sell their wares from the historic courthouse on Black Friday.
    Becky Long • Clay County Progress Susie Brechbill continues to crochet items while working at her booth during the Made in the Mountains event where local vendors could sell their wares from the historic courthouse on Black Friday.
  • Becky Long • Clay County Progress Jim Crabtree mans the “G’s Bees Apiary booth during Friday’s Made in the Mountains market at the Beal Center.
    Becky Long • Clay County Progress Jim Crabtree mans the “G’s Bees Apiary booth during Friday’s Made in the Mountains market at the Beal Center.
  • Becky Long •Clay County Progress Robyn Brechbill creates a set of holiday theme earrings during Friday’s Made in the Mountains event for local vendors at the Beal Center. Brechbill reported good attendance from shoppers.
    Becky Long •Clay County Progress Robyn Brechbill creates a set of holiday theme earrings during Friday’s Made in the Mountains event for local vendors at the Beal Center. Brechbill reported good attendance from shoppers.

    By Becky Long

    Publisher

     

    Hayesville was abuzz with activity and sales on Black Friday thanks to many shoppers throwing their support and dollars to local businesses.

    The Historic Courthouse/ Beal Center served as a venue for unique gift items during Friday’s Made in the Mountains market. Early rainfall delayed crowds for awhile, but sales were brisk, according to several vendors.

    “It started show, but when the sun came out, so did the people,” noted Susie Brechbill from her booth that featured an array of her crocheted items.

    Brechbill said she has been crocheting all of her life. “My  grandmother taught me when I was 5 years old.”

    Her most popular items? Hats and dish cloths. “I sold out of the dishcloths quickly,” she said.

    Lending a bit of natural sweetness to the market was G’s Bees Apiary from Young Harris, Ga.

    Jim and his wife Guylaine Crabtree own the business which includes caring for 30 hives, which Jim anticipates will grow to 50 in the spring.

    Jim manned the booth that included local raw honey, creamed honey and honey products including candles, beeswax blocks, taffy, creamed honey and of course their most popular honey, sourwood.

    The couple became certified beekeepers through the University of Georgia Bee Institute. Jim says his wife Guylaine makes all the products. She is also a full-time nurse at Union General Hospital.

    G’s Bees is named after Guylaine. People had a hard time pronouncing her French name, so she was nicknamed “G.”

    Their business is located on Goldmine Road in Young Harris. They can be reached at (706) 745-4628.

    Other booths included renowned wood carvings, handmade knives, local authors promoting books, jewelry, varied gift items and sweet treats.

    Dorinda Sorangelo who works from home stood next to empty shelves and a near empty booth after selling out of cookies.

    The owner of Dorinda’s Day Off Home Baked Goodness said her holiday themed and chocolate chip cookies sold fast.

    “I had a table full of cookies and as you can see, they sold out,” she said, noting this was her first year participating in the event.

    For more information visit: www.mycustombakes.com/dorindasdayoff or call (954-292-0807. She said she needs at least seven days for an order, depending on the quantity.

    “It was awesome,” said Sorangelo who lives in Hayesville. “The other vendors are incredibly helpful.”

    Sorangelo’s comments were echoed by many vendors. Tusquittee resident and nursing supervisor, Robyn Brechbill who creates handmade jewelry, participated in the inaugural Made in the Mountain event in 2021.

    “This is my second year and we did really well both years,” she said.

    Twenty-nine vendors participated in the event. Made in the Mountains is sponsored by Clay County Communities Revitalization Association.