Handcrafted Holiday Market at TACS

At the beginning of the century, Tryon fiber artist Ellen Davison fell in love with silk — more specifically, painting on it. Ever since, she has spent every spare tendril of time painting wearable silk scarves with designs inspired by birds, trees, flowers, planets, stars, and whatever else catches her attention. “Sometimes when I’m praying or walking in the woods or gardening or even doing housework, a design pops into my mind,” Davison tells Asheville Made. “Life is inspiring. God is inspiring. It all blends together and is beautiful.” This Christmas season, the artist is selling a curated selection of her silk and felt scarves during the Handcrafted Holiday Market at the Tryon Arts & Crafts School. Described as a “one-stop shopping trip for all your holiday gift-giving needs,” the market features a rotating inventory of original works by regional artists. According to Davison, these unique goods make perfect presents for loved ones. “Holidays are special days that are set aside for something important,” she notes. “Often, handmade things are also set aside for something or someone important.”