Ms. Lafferty of Canton, owner of Knitsnbolts, will have her first opportunity to show off her hand-dyed talents to Riverfest patrons at this weekend's festivities in Boling Park.
The two-day art show presented by the Service League of Cherokee County, which raises money to help Cherokee County children in need, includes 200 exhibitors, all-day entertainment, a children's area with inflatables, rides and games and a concessions food court.
Recognizing Riverfest's significance, Ms. Lafferty said she's labored all week to perfect the creations she will have on display.
"I've put a lot of effort in to these things," she said. "I'm truly excited."
Ms. Lafferty will feature handmade fall and winter-themed seasonal items such as witches, pumpkins, snowmen and "whimsicals" all for people to purchase. Each item is made of hand-dyed wool and fabric.
She's hoping to have more than 100 items on display for Riverfest patrons, and so far has finished between 60 and 70 of them.
"I'm pushing it this week to get things done," she said.
Amy Graham of Canton, arts and crafts chairwoman of Riverfest, said she chose Ms. Lafferty to vend at the annual festival because of her talent and local connection.
"We're really excited to have her at Riverfest," she said.
As it is a juried show of fine arts and crafts, artists must submit photos of their pieces of work to make sure the items are all handmade and have the highest quality for the festival.
Mrs. Graham said Ms. Lafferty's work was unique because of the material she uses. "We were really impressed with the craftsmanship of her different items," she added.
Knitsnbolts is what Ms. Lafferty refers to as a "hobby." The art of creating crafts with her hands was passed down to her from her grandmother.
"I've always been a crafty person," she said, adding she was the only girl in her family who adopted artistic abilities.
As a child, her grandmother made all her clothes for her. While she was growing up, Ms. Lafferty learned to make items such as pillows and ornaments for Christmas.
"Everyone was expecting something every year," Ms. Lafferty said.
Along with seasonal items, Ms. Lafferty also creates felted purses, but those will not be for sale at Riverfest.
Ms. Lafferty said she's always wanted to present her items at a local show, but never had a chance to present at Riverfest.
Last fall, she participated in the Harvest Festival in Alpharetta.
Ms. Lafferty, 49, is a full-time medical technologist for McKesson Corporation.
When it comes to her crafts, Ms. Lafferty said she knows her creations are unique.
Not only do they have a lot of "personality," they also are made with top-of-the-line material she personally seeks out herself.
While she said she is nervous about presenting at her first "big" festival, Ms. Lafferty said she's definitely looking forward to the experience.
She said she also hopes other local artists will seize the opportunity and put their items out there for the world to see.
"They should just get out there and show everyone what they can make and create," she said.
WHAT: Riverfest arts and crafts festival presented by the Service League of Cherokee County
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday
WHERE: Boling Park, 1200 Marietta Highway, in Canton. Parking by the Boy Scouts is next door at Cherokee High School.
COST: Admission is $5, and children 10 and younger are admitted free. Proceeds are used to help Cherokee County's needy children.
DETAILS: The juried art show includes 200 exhibitors, all-day entertainment, a children's area with inflatables, rides and games and a concessions food court. New this year: a car show on Saturday, performances by a magician from 1 to 2 and 3 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, a Cherokee County Historical Society photo exhibit all weekend and a raffle of an 8-by-10-foot children's playhouse.
INFO: To buy raffle tickets, call (770) 827-1375. To participate in the car show, call (770) 378-6945. For general information, call (770) 704-5991 or see the Web site at www.riverfest.org
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