[piano intro] - Next on "North Carolina Weekend," we're celebrating teapots and other treasures from Cedar Creek Gallery, including the Folk Arts Center, a bakery in Wilson and repurposed shipping containers in Polk County.

Coming up next.

- [Announcer] Funding for "North Carolina Weekend' is provided in part by Visit NC, dedicated to highlighting our state's natural scenic beauty, unique history and diverse cultural attractions.

From the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains, across The Piedmont to 300 miles of barrier island beaches, you're invited to experience all the adventure and charm our state has to offer.

[lively upbeat music] ♪ ♪ - Welcome to "North Carolina Weekend" everyone.

I'm Deborah Holt Noel and this week we are celebrating teapots and other treasures right now and at Cedar Creek Gallery in Creedmoor, one of my favorite places to visit.

Every three years, Cedar Creek hosts a national teapot show that brings an artist and collectors from around the world to showcase these whimsical works of art.

We'll explore more of these amazing teapots throughout the show, but first, let's head to the mountains to another state treasure, the Folk Art Center in Asheville.

[gentle music] - [Narrator] An organized folk art initiative began in our state in 1895 from a cabin about 40 minutes north of Asheville.

Its founder was an artisan herself from New York who moved to North Carolina, Francis Goodrich.

- And she helped the mountain crafts people bring their quilts, their baskets to this small cabin.

- [Narrator] She called it Allanstand Cottage Industries.

- Her purpose was to help mountain crafts people provide a marketing outlet for these people who were very poor, to give them an opportunity to market, whether it's their quilts, their baskets, whatever they were making, pottery, clay.

- [Narrator] Fast forward to 1930 when Goodrich and others formed the Southern Highland Craft Guild.

- [Tom] Today we represent 800 members.

They have to live in the 293 counties that boarded the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

It encompasses nine states, all the mountains, all the way from Maryland down to Alabama.

- [Narrator] Nearly 50 years later, the Guild located their headquarters in Asheville on 16 beautiful acres donated by the National Park Service, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway and on the mountains to C Trail.

They called it the Folk Art Center.

- [Tom] The building is a 30,000 square foot building.

It houses a 270 seat auditorium.

We have an information desk, bookstore there for any kind of questions they have about the parkway.

- [Narrator] And it's all handicap accessible.

- Not only are there ramps, which is awesome, all of the displays are spaced well enough that someone in a wheelchair or using a walker can see everything without tripping or bumping into anything.

- [Narrator] Francis Goodrich gave Allanstand to the Guild and it's at the heart of the Folk Cart Center where the work of its members is available for purchase.

- Oh my goodness.

It's a feast for the eyes.

- [Tom] It is the oldest running craft shop in the United States and the Southern Highland Craft Guild is the oldest craft guild in the United States.

They go through a very rigorous standards during process.

- By other crafters, by your peers and so to be juried in was an honor to know that these other crafters, they found my work was up to par to be a member.

- [Narrator] Those artisans also provide live demonstrations from March through December.

- [Tom] You can see pottery being made, brooms being made, jewelry being made, quilts being made.

- I talk quilts all day with folks.

I help them give them ideas what they can do if they have a quilt that's falling apart.

- [Narrator] That is on the first floor.

Upstairs, the Folk Art Center has three gallery spaces.

- The felted birds that were down there just were adorable and the artistry in the furniture that we just walked through was stunning.

- [Deborah] It's also where their permanent collection is located.

- A lot of old, historic handmade craft can be found here and we also have adjacent to this space, probably one finest craft libraries in the country.

- [Narrator] At the root of it all is education.

- Not only on our history, but to educate them on how fine handmade craft in the United States is made from beginning to end.

- [Narrator] And why it's so important to continue the work Miss Goodrich started all those years ago.

- [Tom] And we're helping to perpetuate that and encourage these creators, these craftspeople, to continue to do what their passion and what they do well.

- The Folk Art Center is at Milepost 382 on the Blue Ridge Parkway just outside of Asheville and they're open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

For more information, give them a call at [828] 298-7928 or visit them online at southernhighlandguild.org.

I'm with Evelyn Ward, one of the artists in the National Teapot Show.

Evelyn, tell me about your teapot.

- Well, it's called Teapot with Red Circle.

I really love the the red, bold, simple design on the brown clay.

I think it really pops.

It's just wonderful to be among all the wonderful artists from across the country and to have my work represented.

- Next, let's head to Wilson to Treat Yo' Self Bakery, a business created by a young couple that decided to risk it all to bring their vision to life.

For their customers, this bakery offers the community far more than their favorite sweet treats.

- [Greg] The vibes and the feeling of this place, a lot of people walk in, they're like, "Are you sure this is Wilson, North Carolina?"

- It's just so bright and welcoming, so it gives you a really happy feeling when you first get here.

They sell several different kinds of cookies.

The blueberry lemon is the best.

- They have brownies, they have cupcakes, they have cakes, they have cheesecakes.

- [Blair] They also have specialty coffee they can make you.

So it's just a really well-rounded place to come and kind of get anything that your heart desires.

- We are a specialty artisanal bakery here in Wilson.

We offer traditional bakery items but we also go into depth with specialty cakes, birthday cakes, anniversary cakes.

A lot of people use different buttercream and stuff like that.

With us, I would say our specialty is more mousse styled cakes.

They're not too sweet, they're not overly heavy.

- When I see the stuff that Greg creates, it really just blows me away.

I really admire his process of being able to take an idea and kind of turn it into this creation that not only like looks beautiful but also tastes just out of this world.

- And he's really the heart and soul of his whole operation.

He inspires me to be the best version that I could be.

- And they change their cupcakes every month.

So they're constantly coming up with new specialty flavors and if there's one in February that's the bestseller, they'll bring it back next year and people get excited about that and the anticipation of waiting 12 months for your favorite one to come back is fun, makes it taste better when you have it.

I would say it's an amazing bakery, but it's a lot more than that too and it's kind of become a staple in our community as somewhere that's a safe space for all types of people.

I think you really feel like you matter when you come here.

- We have this amazing business here in Wilson, but more important than our business is our community and the impact that we're making on our community and the connections that we're forming.

We both grew up in small towns.

We moved to Wilson from outside Chicago.

We went to school in Providence so we're used to living in big cities.

- Visiting Wilson, it very much reminded us of growing up in that small town and we love that sort of atmosphere and that community focused and opening our bakery here, we've gotten that.

And so when we had found this place, it needed a lot of work, but the location was really great.

We were learning how to build the countertops and- - Tiling.

- Tiling.

- Lots and lots of tiling.

- Lots of tiling.

- [Greg] But, it really does make you appreciate it a lot more, knowing that you can do it.

- I think you can find a lot of people who are willing to be in complacency and to just get through.

But I really do admire Greg and Alex 'cause I think they're risk takers, but the way that they take risks, it looks so effortless and fun that they do it in such a way that makes it feel possible almost to do the same thing yourself.

- They've become invested in a community in which they didn't even grow up and growing up here, I can say that they've made it better.

They're the ones who began our Wilson Pride Event.

Those of us who volunteered are just overwhelmed at how many people come and how many older people have said, "This is so wonderful to see our community having this."

- Our first pride event, we are like, "Uh-oh, it's eight o'clock, "is anyone gonna show up today?"

We were like, "No one's gonna show up "because no one wants to be involved in this "and no one wants to attend something like this."

- We had over 700 people on our first pride- - Come through that day.

- [Greg] For me, even the motto of the bakery, Treat Yo' Self, I just feel life is just so short and we all just need to just embrace all the moments and not let anything hold us back and I feel like if you don't take those risks, you're never gonna really fully evolve and really experience what you want to experience.

- Treat Yo' Self Bakery is at 419 Goldsboro Street South in Wilson and they're open Tuesday through Saturday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

For more information, give them a call at [252] 674-1194 or visit them online a treatyoselfbakery.com.

[upbeat music] I'm here with Jennifer Dolan, the curator of the National Teapot Show here at Cedar Creek Gallery.

Jennifer, these teapots are just amazing.

How did this entire idea originate?

- So, Sid Oakley, the founding father of Cedar Creek found a way to have his friends, they were all artists, express a common sculptural form that they could all compare their creativities in a positive way.

You could come in and see the extent of what can happen when you take a spout a body and a handle and what it can turn into.

- [Deborah] What has been the response to this national show?

- [Jennifer] Well, we are really excited.

We opened Friday with a preview, both online and in the gallery, and you can't really tell what's happening online, but the number of people that showed up just to see the preview was in incredible.

- [Deborah] Why do you suppose people get so excited about teapots?

- It's not just about whether it's a functional piece or not, it's a piece of art.

It's a piece of sculpture that they can go home.

Everybody can identify whether they're in a formal situation and love high tea or whether it's one-on-one with friends or a having a cup of tea next to reading a book.

It's identifiable and it's fun.

Deborah, lemme show you this teapot that's made of metal but it has hidden details that you can't see from the outside.

So if I open up the lid, he's routed a groove to actually set the lid in, but on the inside there's a face that he's carved into it.

So, Deb, this is a teapot that's not functional but it has all the elements of a teapot and identifiable.

It was made by a Raleigh artist, Susan Farrah Parrish.

It's tea while thinking of Africa.

So here's the lid, the handle and the spout.

So, again, it's what can an artist do in their medium with a theme?

- Well, Jennifer, this has been so much fun.

I can't wait to check out the other teapots and the rest of the gallery.

- Well, we'd love to have you come back.

We get new work all the time.

We carry pottery, glass, jewelry, wood, we have plants, you can roam the gardens and sit outside and picnic.

It's a little bit of everything.

- The National Teapot Show at Cedar Creek Gallery runs from May 20th to September 10th, 2023 and you can purchase the pots online or in person.

Cedar Creek Gallery is at 1150 Fleming Road in Creedmoor and they're open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

For more information, give them a call at [919] 528-1041 or go online to cedarcreekgallery.com.

Right now I'm with Jennifer Stas who's created a really fun teapot.

Jennifer, tell me what material this is made out of and how did you create this?

- This is clay.

It's made out of clay and it's made out of two slabs that is hand building.

It's different than what we usually think of as pottery on the wheel and so it's two different slabs that are put together and the separate parts or the the spout and the handle are all added separately and then it's fired in the kiln a couple of times and painted this guy on there and it still is exciting every time that I get selected to be among these other 200 teapots.

- Here at Cedar Creek Gallery, you can find lots of fiber arts as well, like this beautiful hand painted silk.

You know, the textile industry has played a vital role in communities, especially in the Foothills.

But with the closing of many factories, the legacy of the textile industry lives on now at the Yadkin Valley Fiber Center.

[upbeat guitar music] - [Deborah] In 1877, the small town of Elkin was a force in the textile industry, employing thousands.

The famous Chatham blanket was known and distributed around the world.

In 1988, the plant changed ownership, eventually closing, leaving the factory buildings empty and silencing the familiar clacking sounds of the looms.

Today those familiar sounds can be heard again.

[loom clacking] - I love the feel of this place.

It gives a feeling of community and depth.

The idea that it used to be mill, how many people earned their livelihood here, how it's a part of the town, the history.

- [Deborah] In 1942, the company built the Gilvin Roth YMCA.

It was the center of community activity for decades.

Now, thanks to the vision of the Foothills Arts Council, it's well on its way to transforming this historic building into a school of craft.

- Everybody's really excited as we are to be here in the building and to be slowly bringing it back to life.

It's kind of sat here neglected for a number of years and so as we're going through the building and reactivating spaces as galleries and classrooms and getting students and instructors into the space, it's really just developing a life again.

It's really exciting both to us and the community.

- [Deborah] Considering the building's history, it made perfect sense that the pilot program was teaching fiber arts, something very familiar to this community - With Chathams, a lot of people, their parents and their grandparents grew up working here in textile manufacturing and though weaving was a job to them, now their grandchildren and their kids, they can still learn that craft and preserve some of that family heritage.

- They're very rooted in the textile history and they have a very positive attitude about the fiber arts.

I think this is incredible, what they're doing here and you get, should I say vibes from, you know?

There's a feeling here that you can plug into a little bit.

It's like a weaving tool.

If somebody gives you a weaving tool that somebody else has used, there's some life that comes with that.

- [Deborah] On this particular day, the Fiber Center is hosting an entry level tapestry class.

- You're gonna see them using a very simple school type loom and they're learning all your basic techniques.

So joining, hatching, making curves, they're also looking at twining, which is another technique of weaving and one of the things that we do is we offer the use of all equipment and materials.

So someone can come in if they have an interest, but they don't have to make an investment until they've actually learned how to weave and know that it's what they want to do and pursue.

- I just really enjoy the process of weaving.

The calmness it brings.

It makes me feel rooted to the past and to my heritage.

- It is something that is fading.

I think that the more people know, now that I know this is here, I'm going to definitely let folks that I come in contact with, know it's here, to come check out the gallery.

Maybe if you're in the area for a time, come take a class.

- If anybody has an interest in fiber arts and the threads and how things are created, you can't really pinpoint exactly what someone's gonna learn.

But I know that they're gonna learn something and they're gonna walk away with a richer background than they came in here with.

They're gonna grow from their experience here.

- The Adkin Valley Fiber Center is at 113 West Main Street in Elkin.

For more information about weaving classes, workshops and other events, give them a call at [919] 260-9725 or go online to yadkinvalleyfibercenter.org.

I'm with John Martin, an artist here, who has a very unique concept for a teapot.

Tell me how this came together.

- Well, I traditionally have made the crystal and glaze pots here for many years and I have also been in charge of the lamp station here, putting together lamps.

So at some point with the teapot show, I just decided to make a lamp that looked like a teapot.

- [Deborah] Tell me a little bit more about the glaze.

- The glaze has an excess of zinc oxide in it and during the firing process, if you control the temperature just right, the crystals sort of form on their own, just like frost will form on a window pane if the conditions are just right.

- Well, we certainly appreciate you sharing more about how this came together.

Sometimes it's where you stay that makes a vacation special, which is why unique lodging is becoming more and more popular.

Producer Clay Johnson and videographer Eric Olson, take us to a unique vacation rental property in Polk County that is designed to make your stay most memorable.

[lively upbeat music] - [Narrator] The entrance to the Green Creek Shipyard gets your attention.

How could there be a shipyard more than 200 miles from the ocean?

The name really refers to these shipping containers turned into vacation homes in the Polk County community of Green Creek.

- [Heather] It's our home and we think it's special and we love be able to create projects like this here.

- [Narrator] Siblings, Heather, Landon and Reece Schilabach.

are the creators.

Heather and Landon run a business called B&B Breeze that manages nearly 80 vacation homes in 14 states but they wanted to create less traditional rental units and saw potential in shipping containers.

- I remember, me recently and Landon were just talking on my parents' back porch one Sunday afternoon and we were like, "Hey, we believe in this idea.

"We think it has a lot of potential.

"Let's just do it ourselves and prove that it works.

So we did.

- [Narrator] They bought a container from a company that sells them in nearby Spartanburg, South Carolina.

They sent the company a design they had sketched out.

- [Heather] We sent them our design.

They were able to cut out all the windows for us, paint the exterior and deliver it on site.

- [Narrator] Reece and a friend cleared the three acre site, graded it, prepped a foundation and used a crane to lower the container in place.

Landon got the permits needed to convert the container into a livable space.

- Definitely a challenge to get the permitting part of it with the city and, "Hey, do you guys know what these are "and how to do all of that?"

That can be a little bit of a challenge 'cause it is somewhat of a new style of build, although it is a solid home just like any other home.

They're not going anywhere.

- [Narrator] Landon hired contractors to do the interior framing, drywall, electrical and plumbing work.

Heather did the interior design.

- We had a vision for what we wanted the interior to look like from the get-go.

- [Narrator] It has a modern feel.

There's a bedroom with a mini loft, a bathroom with a glass rain shower [garage door creaking] and the living, dining and kitchen area opens out to a patio through a glass garage door.

A large deck over the container provides an outdoor living space and covers half the patio, which includes a hot tub and fire pit.

- Once the first container was finished and just to see how successful it was, we were like, "Oh, yeah, we're gonna do a second one."

So we started that one almost immediately after the first one was completed.

- [Narrator] They took advantage of the sloped landscape and cantilevered the second container out from the slope and added a deck, that provides an overhang for a swinging day bed underneath that sits over a pond at the base of a waterfall.

The deck features a built-in hammock over the waterfall.

There's an adjacent patio with a fire pit and hot tub.

- [Heather] And Reece really is the one who came up with a lot of the design for the exterior of the second container.

He has great insight with that and kind of our hands on guy.

So he's able to come up with some of those exterior ideas and it just turned out beautifully.

- I like going all out with the exterior and I'm like the more amenities that you can create outside, the better the overall experience is.

If you can create an outdoor living space, it makes the overall feel of the space actually feel so much bigger.

- [Narrator] The interior of container two has a rustic Southwest feel.

It features a full length sofa in front of a flat screen TV and a custom-built five-foot wooden bar in front of a large picture window.

Guests can also gaze out a large picture window from the unit's king sized bed.

There's a glass rain shower in this unit too.

The two container homes are far enough apart with trees and foliage in between to give guests privacy.

- People want different, they're used to staying in regular homes, but they wanna go try something different and experience that and the reviews that we get from guests, It speaks for itself.

People love it and really enjoy it.

- [Narrator] The Tryon International Equestrian Center, wineries, outdoor recreation and quaint towns are all nearby.

But the Schilabachs want the Green Creek Shipyard to be its own destination for their guests.

- [Reece] We want them to have a great time alone to think, to be in nature, to reconnect.

If it's a couple coming, reconnect with each other, to have a great time to take home memories that can last a lifetime.

- [Deborah] To book your stay at Green Creek Shipyard in Polk County, go to greencreekshipyard.com.

Well, that's it for tonight's show.

We've had so much fun exploring Cedar Creek Gallery here in Creedmoor and remember, the National Teapot Show lasts until September 10th, so there's still time, but don't wait too long and if you've missed anything in today's show, remember you can always watch us again online at pbsnc.org.

Have a great North Carolina weekend everyone.

[upbeat music] ♪ - [Announcer] Funding for "North Carolina Weekend" is provided in part by Visit NC, dedicated to highlighting our state's natural scenic beauty, unique history and diverse cultural attractions.

From the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains, across The Piedmont to 300 miles of barrier island beaches, you're invited to experience all the adventure and charm our state has to offer.

♪