CULLMAN, Ala. – St. Bernard is preparing to host its 35th annual Bloomin’ Festival Arts and Crafts Fair April 6-7. The juried event, which requires each potential vendor to be evaluated before admission, draws a variety of talent a step above the average community craft show, making the festival one of the most highly rated of its kind in the Southeast and landing it on the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 list on multiple occasions. This year, approximately 150 crafters and vendors will occupy 180 booth spaces (some of them are bringing a lot of stuff!) on the Abbey grounds for St. Bernard Prep’s big fundraiser, and the world-famous Ave Maria Grotto will offer discounted admission.
Live music
St. Bernard’s music ensembles will provide live entertainment on the grounds, and Nashville-based retro rock band Incognito Cartel will perform its take on early 60s pop influenced jangle rock at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, visit www.incognitocartel.com.
Eat while you’re there
The onsite festival menu will include smoked chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, Polish sausage and lemonade. Wandering among the vendors, you’ll also find treats like toffee, fudge, roasted nuts, cheese straws, kettle corn and more. And don’t forget the Monks’ Bread!
A tradition of quality
The Bloomin’ Festival has become an annual tradition for many people from all over this part of the country. They return year after year to shop their favorite vendors, discover some new treasure, make a mini pilgrimage to the Grotto and take in a little local culture.
Event Coordinator Joyce Nix explained, “First of all, they know it’s a quality show. If you go on our Facebook page and just read some of the comments, I mean it’s very enlightening and uplifting to me as the promoter to read the kind comments that they leave about our students and our volunteers. But they also are very complimentary of the quality of workmanship that each one of the booths provide.
“We strive to keep everything handmade. Sometimes- you know, we’re not professionals- sometimes stuff slides in, and we try to make an attempt to make the person aware that that’s not handmade, that’s not acceptable, and we try to resolve those kind of situations.
“But, for the most part, our stuff is all handmade. It’s quality materials. The food, the environment, everything about Bloomin’ Festival is geared toward family. It’s geared toward fun!
“And, you know, we can all learn something. We have so many demonstrators here. George Jones comes from Florence, Alabama. He’s a broom maker; he actually grows his own straw that he makes for his brooms and he dyes it. And then he sits out here during the festival and will tie it all together. Allan Kress is a local blacksmith from Baileyton. He has his forge set up, and he makes all kind of shepherds’ hooks and wrought iron plant hangers, and just whatever you want. We even have an aluminum/tin (crafter): the Davenports; and I think they come from (Michigan). But they take aluminum cans and press them together and turn them into decorative plates; it’s the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen.
“We have book authors coming this year. One of our very own will be amongst them: Br. Benedict Dyar, who is also the bread maker in the monastery. He will be signing copies of his newly released book ‘The Flame of Telbyrin.’ Young people all over Alabama have been enjoying that book.
“We’ve got plenty of flowering plants; we’ve got bonsai plants. We’ve got all kinds of jewelry, from steampunk to spoon to coins. Our birdhouses, our stained glass, concrete art: we’ve got concrete statuaries that will be here; all kind of wood furniture, cypress lawn furniture, pottery.”
This year, Nix herself has teamed up with her daughter and a friend to share a booth offering woodworking, quilts and other goodies.
Said Nix, “My mom always told us, ‘If you hang around smart people, maybe they’ll rub off one you.’ So, I’m hoping hanging around some talented people, I’ll learn something, too!”
Prizes
For a fortunate (at the Abbey, might it be ‘blessed?’) few, the Bloomin’ Festival will be memorable for the impressive prize they take home from the Sunday afternoon raffle. This year’s prizes include:
- Weather radio from the Cullman Electric Cooperative
- Apple AirPods from St. Bernard Prep
- Apple Watch Series 3 GPS from St. Bernard Prep
- Four-night Orange Beach vacation from D&J Retreat Rentals
The big prize this year will be a red 2019 Jeep Renegade from Cullman Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram. Entrants do not have to be present to win.
Nix shared, “It’s candy apple red, and I think most anyone in Cullman County would look good in it! But you don’t have to be from Cullman.”
Exhibitors
The festival draws exhibitors from around the country, but the 2019 list of vendors and craft demonstrators includes a good amount of local talent, including:
- Sandra Abbott (Cullman) – Pottery
- Sarah Benefield (Cullman) – Canvas paintings
- Joyce Branch (Hanceville) – Hand painted signs
- Ann Brown (Vinemont) – Knit, crochet, sewing
- Talmadge Butler (Vinemont) – Wood furniture
- Larry Couch (Cullman) – Woodworking
- Cullman County Master Gardeners (Cullman) – Plants
- Anna Belle Hazard and Joyce Nix (Cullman) – Wood signs/bowls/shelves, quilts, bowl cozies and dog bandanas
- Tammy Hill (Cullman) – Handmade furniture and accessories
- Allan Kress (Baileyton) – Blacksmith
- Leldon Maxcy (Cullman) – Woodworking
- Chad Nelson (Cullman) – Pottery
- Gary Reid (Cullman) – Leather items made from boots
- Liz Smith (Joppa) – Photography
- Jarrod Smitherman (Cullman) – Woodworking
- Cheryl Thompson (Hanceville) – Bath and body products
- Dee Washburn (Cullman) – Artist/musician
From around Alabama:
- Shirley A. Aaron (Lanett) – Author
- Heather Adams (Decatur) – Polymer clay jewelry
- Jessica Allen (Kimberly) – Pallet picture frames
- David and Jan Anders (Cottondale) – Hand-painted ceramic pottery
- Deborah Ashcraft (Bessemer) – Hand lettering
- Debra Ashworth (Gardendale) – Children’s clothing
- Rami Awwad (Tuscumbia) – Hand-carved olive wood nativity sets, ornaments
- Robert and Jimmye Bain (Rainbow City) – Children’s art boxes and small fabric items
- Chris Barentz (Leeds) – Hand-painted art on canvas, wood and various textiles
- Jimmy Bendall (Northport) – Silver spoon jewelry
- Terry Benefield (Heflin) – Wrought iron and birdhouses
- Sandi Billings (Huntsville) – Herbal soap, tea, salves, plants, deodorants
- Tammy Blackburn (Skipperville) – Artwork
- Cary Bone (New Market) – Handcrafted pens, seam rippers, etc.
- Sandy Brady (Steele) – Wood, soft sculpture, sewing
- Jim Braun (Decatur) – Papercrete, cement, glass, jewelry
- Brenda Bridges (Hueytown) – Children’s applique shirts and clothing
- Dylan Britt (Higdon) – Leather
- Tracie Bryant (Athens) – Ragdolls, pillows
- Emily Busby (Guntersville) – Pottery
- Cheri Button and Carol Greenhille (Hartselle) – Button magnets, jewelry artwork
- Mechele and Steve Carter (Haleyville) – Driftwood art
- Larry Childers (Toney) – Woodworking
- Mary Childers (Toney) – Sewing, crochet and plastic weave
- Kay Cornelius (Killen) – Hats
- Janette Cramer (Danville) – Ceramics
- Norris Crawford (Greensboro) – Leather
- Mike Davis (Brantley) – Pottery
- Donna DiGiorgio (Hoover) – Bottle cap art
- Stephanie Dingler (Mobile) – Woodworking
- Ray Dutton (Moulton) – Birdhouses and feeders
- Deborah Elliott (Birmingham) – Art
- Debra and Bobby Farley (Pelham) – Jewelry
- Steven Febres-Cordero (Centerpoint) – Woodcarvings
- Bill Finklea (Columbiana) – Kettle korn
- Deborah Foster (Prattville) – Glass
- Dean Gerrard (Birmingham) – Nursery items, baby essentials
- Paul Glenn (Birmingham) – Woodworking
- Billy Goodman (Anderson) – Birdhouses
- Mike and Sara Goodson (Leeds) – Wood hanger and yard signs
- Brian Greer (Falkville) – Jewelry
- Mike and Molly Gregory (Ozark) – Corian trivets and cutting boards
- Beth Harrison (Elkmont) – Handmade soaps, bath and body
- Edward and Patricia Heerten (McCalla) – Wood
- Theresa Heffner (Hayden) – Stained glass
- Heaven Hight (Piedmont) – Handmade bags
- Marcus Hilden (New Market) – Forged iron and copper
- Mechelle Hodgens (Arley) – Artist
- Billy and Tammy Howell (Gardendale) – Metal art
- Georgia Hulbert (Gurley) – Wood, pillows, planters
- Connie Hulsey (Decatur) – Recycled art
- Amanda Hunter (Huntsville) – Unique succulent arrangements
- George Jones (Florence) – Broom maker
- Bryan and Laura Jordan (Hoover) – Pottery
- Julie Kelley (Jasper) – Candles, wax melts
- Regina and Kim Kimbrough (Killen) – Hand-painted wooden door hangers
- Marypat Klee (Huntsville) – Wreaths
- Kim LaRock (Huntsville) – Pottery
- Kerry Leasure (Hoover) – Jewelry
- Joy LeDvina (Vestavia Hills) – Hand dyed and sewn clothing
- Johanna Littleton (Decatur) – Paintings
- Darlene Lovelady (Ashland) -Cheese straws
- Paulette Lucas (Bessemer) – Handmade wooden music boxes
- Robert Martindale (Russellville) – Pottery
- Marty Maughn (Orange Beach) – Fancy ceiling fan pulls
- Jeanne McCostlin (Athens) – Driftwood art, handbags, turned bowls, jewelry
- Roger McGuire (Falkville) – Wood craft
- Jackie Miller (Huntsville) – Quilted items, art
- Brenda Mitchell and Susan Coulter (Huntsville) -Handmade bags, bows, doll clothes
- Tracy Moore and Deborah Goodwin (Springville) – inspirational clothing, paintings
- Anthony and Tracy Murcks (Decatur) – Chair caning
- Roni and Delores Norbut (Arab) – Burlap door hangers, hairbows, bags, crochet items
- Melanie Poole and Denise Poole-Cabela (Montevallo) – Hats and jewelry
- Lori Rhodes (Pinson) – Handmade jewelry
- Ken Riddle (Birmingham) – Metal art
- Kelly Roberts (Hartselle) – Painted ceramics, clay
- Ellen Rodgers (Gulf Shores) – Jewelry
- Mary and Linda Rogers (Union Grove) – Jewelry and pottery
- Phyllis Sauls (Gadsden) – Ladies Clothing, spoon jewelry
- James Sebastian (Huntsville) – Woodcarving and chainsaw art
- Tim Sebastian (Huntsville) – Sculptures and casting
- Charles Schodorf (Elmore) – Wood work
- Thomas Simmons (Remlap) – Belts, gun slings, and bullwhips
- Dawn Sparks (Arab) – Whimsical art
- Beverly Stephens (Falkville) – Children’s clothes and toys
- Tony Thornock (Athens) – Western author
- Thomas Troup (Guntersville) – Windchimes
- Marvin and Maureen Wallace (Decatur) – Monogrammed items and wood plaques
- Pam Weaver (Vestavia) – Buttnaked Candles
- Leonda Whetstone (Huntsville) – Handwoven baskets
- Annette White (Butler) – Hand-painted slates
- Lynn Woolf (Birmingham) – Toffee
- Paul and Carol Woodham (Ozark) – Welded and recycled metal crafts
From across the country:
- Alejandro Amezcua (Nashville, TN) – Jewelry
- Matt and Linda Barry (Sewanee, TN) – Plants
- Sally Batson (Murfreesboro, TN) – Floral and painted items
- Stacey Beasley (Monroe, GA) – Handcrafted scented soy candles
- Christina Bowles (Gulf Breeze, FL) – Customized yard signs
- Ron Brooks (Gaffney, SC) – Caricature artist
- Randy and Bev Bullard (Smyrna, TN) – Hand-painted gourd birdhouses
- Chris Bussler (Fayetteville, TN) – Fine art
- Dan Davenport (Millington, MI) – Hand hammered aluminum giftware
- Ruby Ellison (Memphis, TN) – Doll clothes and accessories
- Laura and Lorenzo Estrada (Temple, GA) – Concrete statuary
- Wade Fleshman (Miramar Beach, FL) – Fused glass
- Dave Geyer (Columbia, TN) – Ladies clothing
- Bob and Shelly Giles (Fort Meyers, FL) – Metal art
- Glenda Giles (Chattanooga, TN) – Fiber art
- Lance Gracy (Fayetteville, TN) – Honey
- Carol Hyde (Swansea, IL) – Whimsical succulent gardens in glass globes
- Liping Jackson (Clanton, MS) – Clay art and jewelry
- Lucy Jones (Navarre, FL) – Marbling silk scarves, pottery
- Jerry and Jane Lashley (Lithia Springs, GA) – Cypress outdoor furniture
- Huiying Lee (Conley, GA) – Bonsai trees
- June Lusty (Franklin, TN) – Leather
- Lynn Lusty (Old Hickory, TN) – Pottery
- Jack Marshall (Metaire, LA) – Cinnamon roasted nuts
- Francis Martin (Cantonment, FL) – wooden toys
- Jeff and Maggie Mayfield (Pulaski, TN) – Pottery
- Heather McDurmon (Rome, GA) – Hand dyed clothing
- Brandy Nevins (Hamilton, MS) – Yard art, decorative home accessories
- Adam Nicholson (Murphy, NC) – Traditional longbows
- Mary Prim (Graceville, FL) – Pottery
- Cathy Probst-Walker (Crossville, TN) – Gourd art
- Tim Reid (Chattanooga, TN) – Wood turner
- Pat Rike (Bristol, VA) – Window clings
- Shirley Russell (Grand Blanc, MI) – Folk art (woodcarving), primitive-style
- Jimmy Rutherford (Shannon, MS) – Metal art
- Sara Rutherford (Shannon, MS) -Jewelry
- Darlene Seals (Holly Springs, MS) – Hair bows
- Dan Skinner (Nashville, TN) – Herbal wraps
- John Sperry (Maysville, GA) – Folk art paintings
- Lenora Thomas (Magnolia, AR) – Vintage linen clothing
- Bruce Washington (Anderson, SC) – Skin care/soaps
- Anita Watson (Columbia, TN) – Fudge
- Dennis Williams (Tallahassee, FL) – Wooden toys
- Susan Williams (Abbeville, MS) – Ceramic, wood and goat milk soap
Many vendors have returned yearly to become staples of the festival.
Nix explained: “They love Cullman and they love St. Bernard. They talk about how wonderful our community is. They talk about how friendly our public is, and they love the fact that we go over and above what’s expected to make them feel welcome.”
From a festival veteran
Nix has been part of the Bloomin’ Festival for all 35 years of its existence.
Thinking back, she shared, “I’ve been part of the growing process, and I think this year’s festival is, by far, going to be one of the best you’ve ever seen at St. Bernard. But it is absolutely not possible without the support of our students, our staff, our employees; it take every one of us to pull this thing together.
“And I am so proud of the way our athletes have taken on the parking situation. Our little cheerleaders take over the kids’ side. Our parents are here to work in the concession stands; their kids work alongside them. Our students are fabulous, and we’re so proud of the work that we do, and we just want to share it with the world. And what a great way of sharing good food, good fun, good fellowship!
“Our vendors help us spread that good news. And without them, of course, there would be no Bloomin’ Festival. So, we are so appreciative of our sponsors to the show. We have had so many wonderful new businesses join our sponsorship list, and their support helps us keep doing what we do.”
Sponsors
- Cullman Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram
- Applebee’s Grill and Bar
- Byars Wright Insurance
- Dodge City Petro Stopping Center
- Hendon+Huckestein Architects PC
- Integrated Transportation Systems LLC
- Leaf Filter Gutter Protection
- Nanny’s Old-Fashion Lemonade
- Pepsi
- O.F. Richter and Sons, Inc.
- Stanley Security
Plus: Buenavista Mexican Restaurant, Cook’s Pest Control, Cullman-Jefferson Gas, Cullman Regional Medical Center, Kassouf & Company, Merchants’ Bank, Richard Neese/Weichert Realtors, Southern Sash, The Space Place, Wal-Mart Distribution Center #6006, Wes Warren/Happy Homes Real Estate
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/bloominfestival/.
At a glance
2019 Bloomin’ Festival
April 6-7, 2019, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
St. Bernard Abbey, 1600 St. Bernard Dr. SE, Cullman
Admission is $5; children younger than 5 get in for free
Grotto admission $3
Handicapped parking available
No pets, please
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