BELLEFONTE — David Webster finds that the more he throws his stoneware clay pieces on the pottery wheel, the more creative he becomes.

“Sometimes mass production spawns creativity,” he said of his functional pots and wall hangings.

Webster, of Athens, made the three-hour trek to Bellefonte to join the more than 100 other artisans participating in the Bellefonte Arts and Crafts Fair.

The two-day fair, which concluded Saturday, provides a stage for the artisans and includes live music and kid-friendly activities.

Webster said he decided to return to Centre County after finding success at the Boalsburg People’s Choice Festival of Pennsylvania Arts and Crafts last month. He said his first impression of the festival was a positive one and he will likely return next year.

Molding stone

Don Kensinger attends about 25 arts festivals annually but said Bellefonte is a spot he looks forward to every year.

Kensinger, of Palmyra, said he is treated better at this fair than the others and just enjoys coming to the town in general.

“Bellefonte’s a really cool town,” he said.

His artwork consists of taking many different types of stones and crafting them into usable pieces such as lamps with handmade lampshades, candles and even clocks.

He began making the creations as gifts for family members 10 years ago and the self-proclaimed “rock hound” has not looked back since.

Kensinger said he enjoys “being able to make something functional that gives great satisfaction.”

Country living

Owning a flower shop can sometimes result in slow business and downtime.

That is why Melinda Semelsberger, of Patton, began crafting ornamental country home decorations out of old barnwood and grapevines.

Semelsberger, a first-time attendee of the fair, said her first impressions were positive, but described the Bellefonte crowd as “more lookers than buyers.”

She has been making the decorations for five years and said she attends about one art festival a month.

Matt Morgan can be reached at 235-3928. Follow him on Twitter @MetroMattMorgan