Sewn and clay monsters, space-age comics, jewelry made from every material imaginable, tee-shirts, hats, and dresses, precious objects knitted, crocheted, turned, or assembled … ‘Tis definitely the season for DIY craft fairs and art sales.
Where else but Baltimore can you find such remarkable handmade holiday presents—all original and affordable—while chatting with artists, finding a common cause with neighbors, and avoiding the mall?
Saturday, the Charm City Mafia presented Holiday Heap at 2640. Forty-six venders and an enthused crowd of shoppers shared in the fun. You could buy (and I did!) an amazing range of gifts: a wallet made out of a bike tire from VAYA; a zippered pouch with felt bird appliqués from Jennifer McBrien; a red beret and other hats made from soft, warm fabrics from Endless Hats; a cuddly red monster with pink teeth and impossibly long arms from Cotton Monster; polyester grocery totes from Bake Sale Designs; an apron that could have appeared in my mother’s 1950s kitchen from City Sparrow; and a water bowl for a cat or dog, complete with googly eyes and a thirsty tongue draped over its side from Clay Monster.
Sunday, undaunted after a good night’s sleep, I moved on to Creative Alliance’s Merry Mart with 42 booths, some even manned by artists I had encountered the day before. Their energy and imagination seemed endless. From Devin Mack, I purchased a dragonfly pin made out of chrome wire and a back-scratcher made from a bamboo shaft with a red-wire hand. From Mark Supik , I purchased two elegant wine stoppers made of turned-wood.
Buying at Merry Mart and other craft fairs and art sales assures unique, meaningful gifts; supports our local artistic economy; and is likely green, too. Artists and crafts people often use recycled materials—misguided printouts from offices, unused wallpaper, excess wood from larger projects, shattered dishes and cups, and mysterious items found on the street. And they don’t overdo it on the packing materials. To truly get in the spirit, bring your own recyclable bag.
The best sale of all!
Every December, I stock up at MICA’s Art Market on gifts to give year round for every occasion. Last year, my most memorable find was a ruler that measured emotional states as well as physical distance. All books, scarves, prints, and other treasures at the Market are made by MICA students, faculty, staff, and alums—the most art-full crowd around. The Market will be at the Brown Center on Wednesday, December 9, through Saturday, December 12, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. I wouldn’t miss it for the world!
More must-see shopping stops
Don’t miss the Last Minute Stocking Stuffer Sale on Saturday, December 12 at H & H Whole Gallery. Handmade crafts by local artists will be on sale from noon to 5 p.m.
Then on Sunday, December 13, check out School 33 Art Center’s Last Minute Maul from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More than 25 local vendors will be on hand, showcasing handcrafted beadwork and glass jewelry, scarves, sculpture, letterpress paper goods, original watercolors, semi-precious stones, wirework, mosaics, ceramics, and more.
Sign up for emails about future local craft events at BEST, the Baltimore Etsy Street Team. It’s a group dedicated to promoting, sharing, teaching, and making crafts in the Baltimore area.
Doreen Bolger is always on the move because she can’t stop seeing, supporting, and writing about the arts in and around Baltimore City. Her lengthy love affair for the arts began in Long Island when her father, an executive in the textile industry, brought home breathtaking fabrics every night from the heart of the garment district. 