Telluride Arts: 2013 Holiday Bazaar This Weekend

02 Dec Telluride Arts: 2013 Holiday Bazaar This Weekend

One down. Two to go.

Just about everywhere, the parade of cooking, shopping, and wrapping just picked up a new head of steam. While it is true that scribbling cards each year brings us closer to people we only get to see from time to time, heartfelt missives are just the beginning of the fun and games. As a contact sport  that challenges your endurance, there is nothing quite like the four weeks before Christmas. But what with chestnuts to roast and eggnog to toast, with all the seasonal revelry, who has time to play Santa? What’s worse, your tryptophan haze from Thanksgiving had you couch-bound and mindless so you missed Black Friday. You also passed on Cyber Monday. Now what?

Lucky for you, the unofficial opening of the winter season in Telluride takes place this week: Noel Nite 2013, Wednesday, December 4. That is a great day to meet and greet friends back from off season and shop ’til you drop for great discounts. (See related story by Suzanne Cheavens for further details.) And for gifts from the heart , there’s no place like Telluride Arts‘ Holiday Bazaar, the continuation of a Christmas shopping event established over 40 years by a crafty group of local talents known collectively as the Telluride Artisans Guild. (Patty Denny’s Telluride Truffles is a TAG- to- riches tale.)

The Holiday Bazaar takes place this weekend, Friday, December 6, 5 – 8 p.m., Saturday, December 7, 10 a.m.– 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 8, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Telluride High School cafeteria. As every year, the 2013 event features a wide variety of high-quality, handmade items from over 30 local artists and artisans, including 10 new vendors and long-time favorites such as Kathy Green (handmade scarfs and bags), Denise Weaver (Smart by Nature, handcrafted soaps and body products), Cheryl Loebe ( Piece of Cake, handmade sweets) and Jennifer Floyd (Cartwheel Clothing). Vendors should have something for everyone, such as:

Accessories: Totes and reusable, re-purposed bags, hats, silk dyed scarves…

Body products: Hand-crafted soaps, lotions, bath salts

Head warmers: Handmade knit and sewn hats and caps

Candles: Hand-dipped beeswax candles

Ceramic art & mosaic art: Heirloom quality housewares

Clothing: Hand-dyed silk, artisan knits and felted scarves

Edibles: Gift-packaged food, candies, artisan tea and chocolates, local organic jams and jellies

Holiday ornaments & decorations

House-wares: Kitchen crafts, pillows, pillow covers, candlesticks,

Jewelry: Handmade in silver, gold, and gemstone

Kids & baby gifts:  fairy wings, tutus, stuffed animals, quilts, clothing, wooden toys

Stationery & holiday cards

Stocking Stuffers, including for pets

This year we will also host a number of charity organizations selling gift items in order to raise money for school groups, ski programs, and leadership clubs. Buy local and handmade this holiday season and feel good about giving gifts that give back, said Kate Jones, executive director, Telluride Arts, a grassroots community arts organization serving Telluride since 1971.

For information, contact Telluride Arts, located the Stronghouse Studios + Gallery at 283 South Fir Street: 970-728-3930 or info@telluride arts.org.