Every year the Bluemont Fair Crafts Jury selects one artisan from the more than one hundred winning juried crafters to be our First Place winner. This artisan is judged to have the most unique craft as well as overall best exhibit during the Fair and is awarded a blue ribbon and a free space at the following year's Fair. Beginning with the 2003 award recipient, the award also now includes one-year of free advertising on our Bluemont Fair website.

In 2004, our first place winner was Brailand Coppersmith. Paul & Julie Clevenger are the duo that make up Brailand Coppersmith. They’ve participated in the past three Bluemont Fairs and they say that "the Bluemont Fair is by far one of our favorite shows". They particularly enjoy the atmosphere and attendees as well as the promoters who run the show. By mutual admiration, we both plan on them being regular artists at Bluemont.

The Clevengers started their Brailand Coppersmith business officially in 1998, but Paul's obsession with metal started as a young teenager working with his father. He discovered his "creative" side after working for years in the heating & air industry. Paul's history in metal spans back to his father's father and each passed their experience down through the generations. Paul and Julie fully plan on apprenticing their own two sons and daughter to learn the trade (if the interest is there, that is) and, they hope, carry on the family's business.

Their business got its start when, back in 1998, a good friend of theirs wanted a rustic hanging rock fountain and Paul created a neat design using Tennessee sandstone and copper. Almost seven years later they've expanded their business to a full 2,200 sq foot workshop, showroom and office, but are intent on keeping their business small. Their shop is located in Middletown, Virginia, just two miles from I-81 interstate and one mile from the oldest motor lodge in the country, the famous Wayside Inn. Although they average around two dozen shows a year, they also thoroughly enjoy creating custom orders and delight to have clients come out to their property for a nice visit and tour of the shop and studio.

Paul and Julie are proud that each piece of their artwork is original. Their designs are not copied, and are handmade, hand-cut, torched, shaped and sculpted by either Paul or Julie. Their larger pieces are signed and dated as well. They work exclusively with non-ferrous metals -- copper and stainless steel are their two favorite choices.

Over the years they've had several television celebrities, a senior government cabinet official as well as designers for famous Hollywood celebrities all purchase pieces from them. They’ve had seven wonderful years in business and hope their creative ideas will continue to just keep popping into their heads.