Asheville NC Vacation

Home of 750 juried members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, the Folk Art Center, located on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost #382, is an amazing place to shop for a diverse selection of awesome one-of-a-kind handmade crafts, see live demonstrations & explore the incredible 3 galleries.  The offerings are always changing with a wide variety of art from basketry, jewelry, pottery, quilts, hand-woven clothing, glass work, paintings, wood carving, printmaking, metal sculpting and so much more!  If you want to bring home a souvenir from Asheville, this is the place to shop! 

The buildings are shared by the Southern Highland Craft Guild, the Blue Ridge Parkway Information Center and the Eastern National Bookstore.

For more information, contact the Southern Highland Craft Guild

Ø  Phone:  828-298-7928

Ø  Email:  shcg@buncombe.main.nc.us

Ø  Website:  www.southernhighlandguild.org

Ø  Directions:  From any of the Asheville entrances to the Blue Ridge Parkway head north to Milepost #382 (Near the junction of US 70)

Ø  Address:  Folk Art Center, 382 Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville NC  28805

Ø  Open:  Daily except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Ø  Hours: Jan – March: 9 AM – 5 PM, April – Dec 9 AM – 6 PM

Ø  Admission:  FREE

While visiting our Blue Ridge Parkway and Asheville areas, you are invited to stay at one of our deliciously luxurious vacation rental homes complete with hot tub, massage chairs, king beds with sumptuous bedding, delightful surroundings and so much more!  BILTMORE HOUSE TICKETS:  We are authorized Biltmore Estate ticket distributors.  Buy your DISCOUNTED Biltmore tickets from us to save on gate entry price, avoid waiting in ticket lines, tickets upgradeable to season passes, free wine tasting tickets  and best of all, tickets are good for TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS instead of just one day at their higher one day price!  Contact us at 828-274-9777 or email us at Joyah@aol.com or see our website at www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com  

Wearable Art Store is highly recommended to our Asheville & Hendersonville NC vacation cabin rental guests.  It will make you smile!  “Mona! The Cottages”, 308 Davis St, Hendersonville, North Carolina 28739, (828) 693-1611, www.monapaints.com, Open 11 AM to 5 PM Tues – Sat. 

Darling Mona! Cottage in Hendersonville, North Carolina

 Kooky, Funky, Fun, Unexpected are the words that some to mind when I first visited Mona! wearable art (and more) store.  As soon as you see the cheerful wildly painted exterior of Mona’s Cottages, not to mention the brightly painted vintage car outside, you’ll know the whimsical, colorful and eccentric treasures that await you inside!  Everything you can wear on your body…clothes, jewelry, shoes, handbags, accessories….is full of bright color and whimsy.  What you find here is original wearable art….I mean VERY original art! Bring home one-of-a-kind gifts or indulge in something totally unique for yourself!

One of the cheerful rooms in the cottage

 Mona, creating another master piece in a small area at the back of the store, greeted us with an offer of fresh popcorn and chatted away about her creative work.  She pointed out the unusual sweaters she stylishly created from recycled clothing.  There is a huge wall of distinctive hand-painted shoes and more wearable art that can be seen in one stroll around the cottage. 

So, wander around again from room to room to take it all in!   You might call ahead for directions or check a map.  Although the cottages are close to downtown, they are in a vintage neighborhood a few blocks back from Hwy 25 at the south edge of downtown Hendersonville…just past the Fresh Market.  It’s worth finding this out-of-the-way treasure.  It will make you smile!

Reviewed by Stephanie Joy Johnson from www.AshevilleVacationHomes.com where you will be deliciously spoiled with all the luxurious amenities at our cabins, cottages, chalets and homes.