Webb show a huge success

Weather, economy, gas prices, the encroaching holiday season ... Bell Buckle alderman and Chamber of Commerce spokesman Jenny Hunt doesn't know why the Webb School Arts and Crafts Fair was such a success this year -- but she's not complaining.

"Sometimes, you just say 'Thank you!'" she said. "I believe this is the smoothest the show has ever gone."

The show committee had concerns prior to the big weekend.

"You plan and you plan and you plan -- but how can you plan for the big slide the economy took two weeks before the show? We've been kind of holding our breaths," said Hunt. "But the show must go on."

Hunt said early estimates indicate the crowd was even bigger than last year's. But a bigger surprise was how the visitors were shopping.

"It seemed this year people were going more for the finer, high-end things at the Webb show than the low-end items found at other sites. You just never know," she said.

Michael Morgan, the new director of alumni and development at Webb, was also pleased with the show.

"I haven't been down there in years -- a lot has changed," he said. "I went down there Saturday and there was a big crowd. On Sunday, it wasn't as big. It was the perfect weather for it, that's for sure."

The local groups who park cars as fundraisers, such as the volunteer fire department, did well, she said, and because all parking lots had prices clearly marked, there was less confusion and smoother traffic than in previous years. She did note more carpoolers this year than before.

The exhibitors were also pleased with the show, said Hunt.

"One woman was at a show in Mississippi last weekend," she said. "She told me by noon Saturday, she'd exceeded her sales from that entire weekend."

Another regular exhibitor, Barbara Coffelt, was especially glad she came to the Webb show this year. The stained glass artist had been on a waiting list for another prestigious show in Arkansas for the same weekend and when a slot opened up, she had to choose. Because she has always sold well at Bell Buckle, she came back to the Webb fair -- and won Best in Show with a landscape piece.

"She's always won awards," said Hunt. "Always a bridesmaid, but this time she was the bride!"

The show granted $1,400 in prizes this year. The Headmaster's Choice went to painter Jason Helms and the Webb School Collection award went to Jodi Reeves, also a painter. Both winners were first-time exhibitors at Webb. Reeves' painting "Whisper" will go on display at Webb.