Happy Holidays Gift Store

The Happy Holidays Gift Store is filled with local artisans' handmade creations and vintage collectors' finds. Don't fight the crowds on Black Friday, get a jump on shopping small and supporting artists from the metroplex in this pop-up holiday shop. You will be waited on by some of the artisans whose goods are for sale so you can ask questions and get in depth information about your purchases. This shopping experience should be much more enjoyable and personally tailored to your needs than the hustle and bustle found in the big box stores.

You will find my photographic art and jewelry along with ceramics, mardi gras masks, fused glass, mixed media art, holiday decor and much more. The photos in this post (click to enlarge) are from this year's store so you can get a glimpse of some of the things that you will find. (It's been open since Nov. 8 and it will be at the Arlington Museum of Art through Dec. 28.) Whether it be for someone on your gift list or your own personal wish list, unique finds await.

Fabulous Finds for Last Minute Shoppers

Really unique gifts can often be found by “shopping small”. This concept should not be reserved only for Small Business Saturday. Those of you still looking for that special gift would be wise to check out local mom and pop stores, craft shows and other local shopping opportunities.

Once such place in the DFW Metroplex is the Happy Holidays Gift Store that is part of the Festival of Trees Exhibit at the Arlington Museum of Art. It will be open Saturday, Dec. 21 from 10 am – 5 pm and on Sunday, Dec. 22 from 1 pm – 5 pm for you to search for that special gift and enjoy the festive holiday decorations and Santa art in the rest of the exhibit. Fifteen local artisans have their work on display along with a few vintage finds. You can shop for wall art, jewelry, pottery and much, much more. In addition, on Saturday, Dec. 21, one of the store’s artisans will be demonstrating her work with encaustics.

After Christmas if you are lucky enough to be flush with Christmas cash and are looking for a fabulous find for yourself, come back and browse Thursday – Saturday, Dec. 26 – 28 from 10 am – 5 pm and the final day of the exhibit, Sunday, Dec. 29 from 1 pm – 5 pm.

Where in the Metroplex will you find EclecticDesignChoices this Holiday Season?

About this time of year I begin sharing the locations of the different craft shows that I will be participating in case you want to see me and my work in person. This year I’m going to share a slightly different venue with you.

My alter ego to EclecticDesignChoices, 817ArtsAlliance, is partnering with the Arlington Museum of Art (AMA) to bring three different opportunities to local artisans and the public who like to support local artists. Two of these will also include opportunities for collectors and lovers of vintage items. Collectively, these opportunities are known as Happy Holidays Happenings. The Happenings consist of the Happy Holidays Gift Store, Happy Holidays Artisan Demonstrations and the Happy Holidays Gift Market and will be part of the museum’s Mitch Wilson Memorial Festival of Trees Exhibit.

EclecticDesignChoices will be part of the Happy Holidays Gift Store. The holiday store will be open during the entire Festival of Trees during regular museum hours. Several local artisans and collectors will have their wares available for purchase in the store which we will staff. This means that while you will be able to see my work in person for an extended period of time, I won’t always be there.

The Festival of Trees, including the Happy Holidays Gift Store, will open for the AMA member’s reception Thursday night, Nov. 7 but will open to the public on Saturday, November 2 and continue through Sunday, December 29. The museum is open from 10 am – 5 pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays and 1 pm – 5 pm on Sundays. I hope you get a chance to check out the festive trees and Santa art on display during the Festival of Trees at the Arlington Museum of Art as well as the Happy Holidays Happenings.