Newton Citizen

This swing made by C.H. Brown will be for sale at the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival.

C.H. Brown started his woodworking business 32 years ago when he repaired his then 2-year-old grandson's child-sized chair. His neighbor admired the chair and asked if Brown would make her one just like it. He obliged.

"The next thing I knew, I was flooded with orders for children's furniture and toys," Brown said.

Brown is a mainstay at the Cherry Blossom Festival, where he'll be selling his handmade wooden furniture and toys again this year (at booth No. 372). He said he's been with the festival since its beginnings 31 years ago.

The 85-year-old Brown builds his wares in a backyard workshop of the Lithonia home he's lived in since 1947.

His specialty is children's furniture, and he prides himself on reasonable prices.

A child's rocking horse sells for $45, step stools for $12, a toy chest for $125 and doll-sized furniture such as a cradle, a swing and a high chair, range from $12 to $20.

Brown also crafts adult furniture including porch swings, corner shelves, pet dish holders, fishing pole holders and trash boxes.

He makes a total of 37 items, created from patterns he's found in books as well as examples he's seen at yard sales. All pieces are made from either pine or yellow pine.

Over the years, Brown has sold his goods at other events, including the juried Yellow Daisy Festival at Stone Mountain, but Conyers Cherry Blossom holds a special meaning for him.

"I value the Horse Park's Cherry Blossom Festival as my favorite," Brown said.

On March 24 and 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the annual Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival will take place at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers.

The festival features more than 200 booths operated by artisans, nonprofits, civic organizations and children's activity presenters.

Visitors can peruse arts and crafts like handmade jewelry, toys, clothing, accessories, yard art and furniture as well as visual art such as paintings, photography, pottery and woodcarvings.

Two entertainment stages offer performances including traditional Japanese dance and drumming, Indonesian dance, American Indian dance, drum and flute, Latin American folkloric dance, clogging, country singing and martial arts demonstrations.

Strolling entertainers such as magicians and puppeteers will circulate through the festival, and audiences will be treated to amazing canine tricks during the Ultimate Air Dog Show.

Families can take a break from the action at any number of food vendors and then head off to play on the moonwalks, rock walls or obstacle courses.

Festivalgoers are encouraged to "Pink Out!" by wearing as much as pink -- the festival color -- as possible and if they "get pinked," they could win a prize.

Admission to the festival is free; cost for parking is $5 for one day or $8 for a two-day pass. For more information, visit www.conyerscherryblossomfest.com.