Christmas and Crafts at the Tabor House

A beautiful, Victorian home will be decorated in turn-of-the-century style and volunteers will be in period dress and provide live music.

This is the first annual “Christmas and Crafts at the Tabor House History Museum.” The event will be held Saturday, Dec. 6, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at 138 Spring Street.

Artisans will have their craft displays that include Cherokee baskets and belt weaving, and quilters are also being invited. Demonstrations will consist of “early settlers” using a pedal sewing machine, a treadle spinning wheel, the making of ‘leather britches’ (drying string beans) and other kinds of food preservation. There will be crafts for children to participate in and take home.

“Tom and Denise Cox will be playing dulcimers for us; they are longtime volunteers at the Tabor House who are related to the Cox family of Ellijay,” said Doug Piette, president of the Gilmer County Historical Society. “We’ll also have Lucinda Teagarden, who is local, doing the sewing machine. She is a photographer and artist who also does crafts. She’s pretty amazing.”

Laura Walkingstick will have cornhusk dolls, Cheryl Wolfinger will display Cherokee baskets and a honey maker, and Nancy Pheasant will also have baskets she has created. Santa and Mrs. Claus (Bill and Julie Long) will be special guests. The Longs will also appear as the jolly couple in the Merry Mountain Town Christmas Parade in downtown Ellijay on the day after Thanksgiving.

Karen Vitelli, a Tabor House volunteer, noted this will be the last open house of the year before the museum closes until next March.