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Artisans’ Holiday Market to display homemade gifts

Andy Bockelman
Delina Miller, of Craig, looks over pieces by local ceramic artist Jean Jones during the 2011 Yampa Valley Artisans Holiday Market. This year's event takes place Friday and Saturday at The Center of Craig and features works by 30 area residents who have created homemade jewelry, woodwork and many other kinds of crafts.
Courtesy Photo

When it comes to holiday gifts, it’s the thought that counts. However, some believe the level of thoughtfulness is much more apparent when someone is handed a present that doesn’t look like it just rolled off a conveyor belt.

Those looking for unique, handmade specialty items for people on their Christmas lists can find those gifts this weekend at the fourth annual Yampa Valley Artisans Holiday Market. Hosted Friday afternoon and all day Saturday at The Center of Craig, the event promises plentiful products sewn, woven, carved or otherwise prepared by artists of Northwest Colorado.

There will be 30 vendors on hand selling pieces of art, photography, jewelry, woodwork and all kinds of crafts hailing from the area. Though the show was previously open only to people from Craig, artisans from Meeker, Hayden and Steamboat Springs also will be in attendance.



“There’s a lot of talent out there, so we decided to make it a regional thing,” co-organizer Jean Jones said.

Jones and collaborators Susan Erikson and Roberta Hawks helped start the event in 2010 as a way to promote the Northwest Colorado arts and crafts scene. Since then, the market has grown bit by bit as a favorite part of the holiday season.



One change this year is the switch from mid to late November to early December, which the trio hopes will catch people at just the right time.

“I think people are more in the mood to do their Christmas shopping now,” Hawks said. “They’ve got all their lists ready, and they know a little bit more specifically about what they would like to get.”

The Holiday Market also is meant to counter the hectic nature of the shopping season, Jones said. In the past, elements like soft Christmas music, tasteful decorations and sumptuous snacks set out by vendors add to a more personal touch.

“It’s got a real down-home feel to it,” she said.

Jones, Erikson and Hawks will be among the people selling their wares throughout the two days, each of them specializing in pottery and taking pride in every individual piece.

“A piece of art isn’t like something mass-produced,” Jones said. “Everybody wants to give something unique as a gift.”

Andy Bockelman can be reached at 970-875-1793 or abockelman@CraigDailyPress.com.


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