Home and Garden

Would you like to spend an elegant evening in support of the arts?

On Saturday, Feb. 2, the Lancaster County Council of the Arts will host its biggest fundraiser of the year.

The 18th annual LCCA gala, entitled Art & Soul, promises an evening of dancing with silent and live auctions to support Lancaster County’s art programs. The black-tie-optional event begins at 7 p.m. in the Bradley Arts and Sciences Building on the University of South Carolina Lancaster campus.

Nestled in the woods of Van Wyck, Carol Leedy weaves a basket in the shop across the driveway from her home.

For nearly 30 years, the 68-year-old Ohio native has been handcrafting reed baskets – from extra-small key holders to a three-basket storage unit – with homemade black walnut stain, her own dyes and embellishments like buttons and feathers. Her prices range from $12 to $100.

“Busy hands are happy hands,” Leedy said. “It’s a stress-breaker, and it keeps me from kicking the dog. I’ve always been very crafty.”

When it comes to decking the halls in advance of a holiday party, there’s nothing quite as festive as creating homemade decorations with the family.

From handmade ornaments to shimmering trees, your party guests will catch that holiday spirit when they see the special décor created just for the event.

To help get you started, the inspiration experts at the Jo-Ann Craft Stores have shared the following holiday craft ideas.

“I’ve got my menu planned for the next two weeks,” smiles home cook Nikki Smith, “Pork on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Boy, that was easy.”

Nikki is one of the thousands of devoted pork lovers who are gleefully sharing their enthusiasm – and recipes – with all of us lucky cooks at www.justapinch.com.