by Noella Noelophile®
(Pomona Harvest Festival. Photo courtesy of the Harvest Festival, and used with permission.)
Remember how, when you were a kid, Grandma brought out a huge plate of Christmas cookies and candy? And Mom allowed you to take one or two, at most?
Funny how that comes to mind here.
Here is a listing of some of the upcoming indie crafts markets you might like to consider, for your Christmas shopping. I’m posting them early, so you have time to make up your mind–because it seems like Saturday, December 6th, is a popular day!
(Image courtesy of Handmade in South Bay, and used with permission.)
On Saturday, December 6, Handmade in South Bay will be having their annual “Holiday Boutique” at CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles. (And Happy Anniversary to them! Can you believe their fantastic, indie-crafter-supporting organization is now a year old?)
Their handmade-only show will include more cool stuff than we have room to describe here, but we’re curious to see Gale Rugnetta’s “Viking Knit” jewelry through her small business, Angel Art Dreams. Not to mention Susan Springer Anderson’s hand-stitched leather notebooks, which she sells as The Delicate Utility. And of course, we’ll be saying “hi” to a lot of previous favorites–and “congratulations” to Barb Lieberman, of Seeds of Inspiration, who, in addition to her other talents, is a just-published author!
One other note before we leave this particular show–Handmade in South Bay gives back by supporting a different charity, every time they do a show. This time, they’ll be raffling off gift baskets and donating the proceeds to Fort MacArthur Cub Scout Troop.
Handmade in South Bay’s Second Annual Holiday Boutique takes place Saturday, December 6, from 11 am to 6 pm at CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles, 112 East 22nd Street at Miner, in San Pedro.
(Image courtesy of Artisanal L.A., and used with permission.)
That same day, Artisanal L.A. hosts their “Holiday City Market”, throughout Old Pasadena.
This one’s BIG–they list their venues as “Holly Street and beyond”, and their promotional material advertises that they’ll have 150 makers there! While a specific address isn’t given, they say visitors can browse independent businesses throughout Holly Street, Mercantile Avenue and Mills Place. I’ll update this as more information becomes available, but this first Old Pasadena “Artisanal” promises to have something for every “foodie” on your list, as well as unique wearables, home items and jewelry. Artisan coffees, preserves, fresh-baked bread and some to-die-for chocolates all made our “favorite” list, at the most recent Artisanal L.A. we attended.
Artisanal L.A. hosts their “Holiday City Market” in a first-time partnership with the City of Pasadena and Old Pasadena Management District on Saturday, December 6 from 11 am to 10 pm, throughout Holly Street, Legge Alley and the surrounding areas. Look for the white tents; they say they’ll be located in six separate areas of Old Town Pasadena.
(Photo courtesy of the Harvest Festival, and used with permission.)
And, just to give you even MORE choices, the Harvest Festival® Original Art and Craft Fair is happening the same weekend, at Pomona Fairplex! They’re actually a three-day event, with more than three hundred artisans showcasing their work. Blown glass, wood carvings, hand-woven wearables and children’s clothing will be just a few of the treasures on hand. And this is going to be a party: crafting demonstrations, entertainment, strolling performers and contests will all be a part of their festivities. They’ll also have an interactive “Kidzone”, where the youngest festival goers can create their own Christmas ornaments and more, in a free “make and take” area.
There is an admission fee for this one, and they’ll give you a discount if you bring canned goods to donate to the Foothill Family Shelter. You’ll find more information here.
One other footnote: does your family need a new member? This may be your chance to give a loving cat or dog a forever home; no-kill animal shelter Priceless Pets will be on-hand for pet adoptions.
(Graphic courtesy of the Harvest Festival, and used with permission.)
The Harvest Festival® Original Art and Craft Show, currently in its 42nd year, makes a Christmastime stop at Pomona Fairplex, Building #4, 1101 West McKinley Avenue, Friday, December 5th through Sunday, December 7th. Hours are 9 am to 6 pm Friday, 10 am to 6 pm Saturday and 10 am to 5 pm Sunday.
But, the special events in San Francisco promise to keep you traveling, as well. December 6 also brings a touch of Sweden to the Bay Area, with the Swedish Women’s Educational Association’s annual Christmas Fair!
This one really sounds like a don’t-miss event, with all-Swedish shopping (handmade textiles, ceramics and glassware!). They’ll tempt you with traditional Swedish food (those sandwiches on their Facebook page look beyond delicious!) and entertain everyone with their special “Lucia processions”, four times daily, featuring local school-age “Lucia maidens” and tomten (gnomes). Their flyer warns you, get a seat early-this is a popular Christmastime treat!
SWEA’s Christmas Fair happens Saturday, December 6th, from 9 am to 4 pm at St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1111 Gough Street, north of Ellis, in San Francisco.
AND…if you happen to be in Northern California, don’t forget what opens this Saturday…
(Graphic courtesy of Great Dickens Christmas Fair.)
(Can’t wait to tell you more firsthand, but every Great Dickens Christmas Fair we’ve ever attended has had some unique and imaginative crafts. Not to mention all the Dickensian food, entertainment and dancing.)
The 36th annual Great Dickens Christmas Fair opens tomorrow morning, Saturday, November 22nd, at 10 am, at the Cow Palace Exhibition Halls, 2600 Geneva Avenue near Calgary Street, in Daly City. The Dickens Fair runs for five weekends, through Sunday, December 21, from 10 am to 7 pm.
Enjoy–and keep the weekend of December 13th open if you can. That’s when San Francisco welcomes the Christmas version of Bazaar Bizarre, and the Renegade Craft Fair comes to Los Angeles!