CONTRIBUTED

Christmas will be in the air Friday, Nov. 18, and Saturday, Nov. 19, as Art in the Pines, a celebration of North Carolina art and fine crafts, returns to Moore County at the Southern Pines Civic Club.

The show will provide an opportunity for local shoppers to purchase one-of-kind gifts from the artists and fine craftspeople who create them. Art-lovers are also invited to an opening reception with light refreshments that Friday evening from 5 to 8 p.m.

Art in the Pines was founded in 2006 by four local artists, and early shows were held in the Pine Grove Village Clubhouse. Three of the original organizers, Amy Smith, Kathleen Miller and Jean Skipper, remain, and they're joined this year by Aberdeen artist Jodi Ohl. All share a passion for creating and a desire to promote the work of their fellow North Carolina artists.

Art in the Pines is an invitational show, and each of the exhibitors has been handpicked by the organizers.

Organizer Amy Smith creates mixed media paintings and painted canvas jewelry.

"While our show is small, it represents the best work available in the area," Smith says. "We're pleased to offer visitors an opportunity to buy local and handmade items for Christmas this year as an alternative to the malls and chain department stores. There will be a wide variety of handmade goods to choose from in the show, including pottery, jewelry, stained glass, woodworking, decorative painting, handbags, accessories and mixed media artwork."

Kathleen Miller has been a decorative painter for more than 30 years. She studied with several nationally known and published artists and designers as she moved to many different areas of the country. >Miller transforms unfinished wood items and furniture into one-of-a-kind works of art in a variety of styles and re-purposes vintage items into artistic treasures using acrylic paint. >Miller's decorative Christmas ornaments and artwork are perennial favorites.

Until September, Jean Skipper represented more than 75 North Carolina artists as the owner of Artist Alley, voted the Best Art Gallery in Moore County for three consecutive years. She left the gallery to dedicate herself to her craft, and says she's excited to reunite with her fellow artists and friends at this local show. Skipper has been diligently working to expand her line of whimsical and sentimental mixed media jewelry, and says she is excited to unveil the latest additions to her collection at this show.

Mixed media artist Jodi Ohl's artwork has been widely published in national publications, including Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine, Somerset Studios magazine and Artful Blogger magazine. Ohl is also a contributing artist in a book called "Art at the Speed of Life," published by Interweave Press. Her artwork is richly layered and features elements of fantasy and whimsy.

Debbie Keen, a lampwork glass bead artist and original founder of the show, will be returning to Southern Pines for this year's show. Keen's wildly popular handmade beads and glass-beaded jewelry are a favorite of collectors in Moore County, and this show will provide an opportunity for local shoppers to view her full collection while visiting with her in person.

Local fans will also be thrilled to learn that the "Swank Girls," Jessica Harrelson and Petra Keith, will be joining this year's show. For the past four years, these women have owned and operated Swank Coffee Shop and Handmade Market in Southern Pines, and at Art in the Pines they'll be sharing their individual work. Harrelson will be featuring her hand-stitched home accessories for the show. Keith will be bringing her stained glass and tooled leather jewelry.

These artists will be joined by seed bead jewelry maker Rita Dixon-Kent; Chris Jepson, who makes mixed media birdhouses of natural materials; Patti O'Day, crafter of fine bags and accessories; woodworker Regis Sholtis; potter Maegan Russell; and stained glass artist Jean Rogers. And, for a delectable homemade treat, Rae Anne Kinney, of PineScones, will also be present throughout the weekend.

Hours are from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19.

The show will be held at the Southern Pines Civic Club in downtown Southern Pines, at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Ashe Street.

For more information about Art in the Pines or the individual artists who will be participating, visit http://www.facebook.com/ artinthepines, email artinthepines@hotmail.com or call Amy Smith at (910) 528-2110.