Don Penny's ceramic vases

Local art enthusiasts will find everything to make their Thanksgiving weekend all the more satisfying at the 39th annual Happy Valley Pottery and eighth annual Chappelle Gallery holiday open houses and sales. Both events will feature unique crafts and handiwork from locally, regionally and nationally renowned artists.

Co-owner Kathy Chappelle says work by roughly 18 artists will be on display at Happy Valley, with various pieces and products up for sale such as pottery, woodwork, candles, jewelry and bath products. Happy Valley is also the site of all the weekend's art demonstrations, including several glass and fiber demonstrations. Perhaps the most interesting, Chappelle says, will be the demonstrations in raku, an ancient Japanese pottery technique traditionally used to make items for ritual tea ceremonies. Happy Valley will also showcase three new exhibiting artists this year: painter Laurel Genteman and fiber artists Suzanne Reeves and Jorma Loss.

The Chappelle Gallery, located in Watkinsville's historic Haygood House, will have even more to choose from, product-wise, with 125 artists exhibiting their wares. Everything from the aforementioned pottery, blown glass, candles, jewelry and bath products to photography, fused glass, drawings and Judaic art will be on display and for sale.

And if anyone is still hungry after Thanksgiving dinner, bargain hunting for art won't set them back a meal. Inexpensive home-cooked BBQ will be available on site at Happy Valley, and gallery-goers can snack on refreshments at Chappelle's.

Happy Valley Pottery and Chappelle Gallery will host their annual open houses and sales from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. All events are open and free to the public. Call Happy Valley at 706-769-5922 or Chappelle Gallery at 706-310-0985 for more information.