As you drive into the rolling hills of Brasstown, you’ll find yourself at the John C. Campbell Folk School, greeted by craftspeople as you make your way onto the footpath. Passing by Keith House, Morning song serenades students and instructors as they fill their mugs with coffee, escaping the chill of the morning air.  

For many, the Folk School serves as a creative retreat, an educational sanctuary where folks come together on a journey of creative expression while sharing non-competitive spaces to grow, experiment, and create. This is the case for Wanda and Phillip John, a married couple who have experienced a multitude of Folk School sessions, often sharing their time on campus with each other and loved ones.  

“It’s become a family thing now. Whenever possible, there’s six of us that come. Then I have another son who would like to come, but it hasn’t worked out well for him yet,” Wanda said. “We’ve been bringing family members for probably 10 years.” 

Wanda and her husband, John, have shared the magic of the folk school with their family, friends, and their children, truly embodying life-long learners. Over the years, the two have curated a diverse collection of handicrafts.  

 “Our house looks like a museum,” said Phillip John. 

From Tamari balls, intricate weavings, and functional pepper grinders, the Johns have an array of one-of-a-kind artifacts, each with a story, made with their own hands. The pair are from Bristol, Tenn., journeying to the folk school on a semi-annual basis. Most recently, Wanda returned to the woodturning studio for Fabulous Turned Gifts Galore, as Phillip explored Artisan Cheesemaking.  

“The last time we went, my son-in-law and I took wood turning. So, when we got home, I pulled out the wood turning from my earlier classes and seriously impressed my son-in-law because we had done quite different things this past trip. I’m proud of him,” said Wanda. 

Throughout their dedicated educational endeavor, Wanda and Phillip have experienced the magic of the Folk School over and over again. They’ve visited every season, enjoyed Fall Festival and attended sessions during holiday-themed weeks making ornaments and gifts of all kinds.

“I mostly just take a class and have a good time at it, and some of them I might come home and make stuff,” Wanda said. “It’s the atmosphere, just learning to do different projects I might not have found, and the sociability of working in the same style of projects. Some classes are really good about the comradery.”

Loving the atmosphere in the valley, and how it permeates with hospitality is one of the many factors drawing the John family back to North Carolina. As they continue to share and learn with folks new and known, they find inspiration for their next adventure, and who they may bring next.

“It was interesting to see what people did; some were a little more advanced. If you were trying to take something, to build on your own experience, it was to define something. So, you come for the fun. It’s just fun,” said Wanda.

The Folk School brings together not just strangers for a week of community, but provides a place for families, friends, and relatives to gather and learn in a shared environment. Together, generations of hands tinker to form something new, a product of time, effort, and commitment.

“There are all kind of interesting people there who have done interesting things and are still doing interesting things. Keeps you young,” said Wanda.