ROGERS — Jamie Cornett may have had one of the more unique items at the arts and crafts show at the John Q. Hammonds Center.
Cornett turns old musical instruments into lamps.
“I first made one for a band director about five years ago and she liked it,” Cornett said
At A Glance (w/logo)
Craft Shows
Today
w Spanker Creek Farm Arts & Crafts Fair, 8464 W. McNelly Road, Bentonville, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Frisco Station Mall Arts & Crafts Fair, 100 N. Dixieland Road, Rogers, noon–4 p.m.
• War Eagle Mill Arts & Crafts Fair, 11045 War Eagle Road, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. booths open, breakfast starts at 6:30 a.m.
• The War Eagle Fair, 11036 High Sky Inn Road, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Sharp’s Show of War Eagle, on War Eagle River off Arkansas 303 and Arkansas 12, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Source: Northwest Arkansas 2013 Craft Fair Guide From The Bentonville And Rogers Convention And Visitors Bureaus
Saturday morning while surrounded by old musical instruments now serving as lamps.
Cornett was one of the vendors at the Ozark Regional Arts and Crafts Festival.
Several people ventured around Cornett’s booth and some told him how unique his lamps are.
An old bassoon, now a lamp, immediately caught passers-by’s attention.
Cornett said he used to sell the lamps when he lived in New York City, but it was his first time selling the items at an arts and crafts show in Northwest Arkansas.
“I love getting the feedback and reaction from the public,” Cornett of Fayetteville said.
Cornett said he gets the old instruments from estate sales or eBay and he also has friends scouting for instruments for him to use.
He only uses instruments that can’t be played. “I don’t want to use anything that someone else can play,” Cornett said.
Two of his pieces — a French horn and trombone — can be turned on with a simple touch.
Cornett said it takes him about 90 minutes to transform an old instrument into a lamp. The time frame includes making a shade for the lamp.
Christine McCrory of Vilonia was one of the numerous people to stop by Cornett’s booth and admire the lamps.
McCrory, along with her sister and a friend, comes each year Northwest Arkansas to attend the craft fairs. They have been coming for the past 10 years.
“It’s a great way to start Christmas shopping,” McCrory of Lowell said. “It’s just a fun day for us.”
Walter Brach, who was also at the Ozark Regional Arts and Crafts Festival, also said the craft shows are a great way to start Christmas shopping. Brach attended Saturday show with his wife and mother-in-law.
“We like to see the different crafts,” Brach said. “We occasionally buy things, but we don’t buy everything we see.”
Cheron Brown of Rogers usually attend the small shows, but this year she ventured to War Eagle and the Ozark Regional show.
“It’s been a lot of fun, but cold,” Brown said. “We spent all day yesterday (Friday) at War Eagle.”
Brown was at the Ozark show with her sons, Darden Kiesell, 13, and Duncan Kiesel, 15.
Darden said he likes to attend the shows to and see “guy stuff.” Darden said he then returns home and try to make it himself.
Phyllis Saunders of Centerton attended Saturday’s show at the Frisco Station Mall.
Saunders said she likes to walk around and look at all of the items. She also likes meeting new people at the shows.