If friends and relatives are getting sick of the Christmas scarves you knit them every year, maybe it’s time to check out what some highly talented local artisans are creating at this year’s Second Annual Downtown Holiday Artisans Fair. This event is more than a chance to get an early start on some unique gifts—it’s also a way to see what local crafters are making and to support them.
Crafty thinking
If friends and relatives are getting sick of the Christmas scarves you knit them every year, maybe it’s time to check out what some highly talented local artisans are creating at this year’s Second Annual Downtown Holiday Artisans Fair. This event is more than a chance to get an early start on some unique gifts—it’s also a way to see what local crafters are making and to support them.
The fair will feature over 50 booths where local artisans present their crafts for sale to the public. A wide array of handmade creations will be on display, from fancy soaps to goofy T-shirts.
“It’s almost like a farmers market,” said Merritt Massuch, co-organizer for the event.
The fair is put on by NW, a cooperative community of artisans living in the Pacific Northwest. Massuch co-founded the company with Jackie Imdahl two years ago, and they have since sponsored a number of artisan fairs.
At the fair, they will be working with p:ear, a nonprofit organization that mentors homeless and transitional youth. A portion of sales from the event will benefit p:ear’s programs, which focus on promoting positive change in youth through the arts.
Just as p:ear fosters relationships with homeless youth through the arts, so does NW help artisans foster relationships with the community and customers. requires that each artisan be present at his or her own booth for the fair.
“You actually get the story behind that particular item [that an artisan is selling],” Massuch said. “You know why the person is making that item and how they made that item, which is what you can’t get when you’re buying products that have been shipped from Taiwan.”
Aside from having a personal touch, crafts at the Artisan Fair will also provide some cheaper options for the holiday season. A number of items will be in the $5 to $20 range, while others will be pricier. Viewing the booths is free, anyway. In addition to providing you with free pastries and coffee as you navigate the fair, the booths might even supply you with ideas for making your own crafts.
The types of crafts vary with each vendor, and there is some seriously creative loot. Aside from common crafts like hand-bound journals and knitted hats, expect to find some unusual fare like bamboo bicycle racks, wool coffee cup sleeves and bracelets made from broken camera lenses.
The Downtown Holiday Artisans Fair is the first of four holiday events NW will be putting on this season. Another fair is in the works, as well as two arts bazaars. These too will provide more opportunity to check out local artisans.
