Western North Carolina's master craftsman Eddie Bell (father of Mariedith Appanaitis) blends fantasy and reality with this handcrafted clock. Designed with Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in mind, Bell incorporated the moon as not only a luminous, passive watcher in the night sky, but as a powerful force. The moon has an intoxicating effect on all the characters in Shakespeare's story and seems to incite bizarre and illicit behavior. In the story, the dramatic action takes place during the light of day, and in fact, the "cock's crow" is like a bell tolling an end to all the wild festivities the night presents. This piece(clock) is made from a cherry tree that fall on the land of Mariea Tountasakis (Eddie's niece and Mariedith's first cousin) in Bakersville, NC, willow (from salvaged wood from Avery
County, NC) and wenge (an exotic wood imported from Africa). Bell's Crafts and Creations is owned and operated by Eddie Bell in Spruce Pine, NC. Eddie has enjoyed working with wood all of his life. He attended NC State and Western Carolina Universities where he obtained degrees in Industrial Technology Engineering and Design with concentrations in furniture manufacturing and Education. He holds a Master's Degree in Trade and Industrial Engineering Education. Eddie's work experience includes teaching Industrial Technology and Trades at Highlands School, Bowman High School, and Mitchell High School. His crafts and creations include hand-turned bowls, trays, vases, vessels, and custom-made whimsical pieces. He also makes Arts and Crafts picture frames utilizing
Mortise and Tenon joints. Eddie Bell has a Woodworking Shop in Spruce Pine, NC and can be reached at [email protected]