With some family support, I, or rather Eclectic Design Choices, will be able to be at two events at the same time on Friday, December 1.
The event beginning first on Friday is the annual
Olde Town Christmas craft show at the
Dottie Lynn Recreation Center. We set up in the morning and the show opens to the public at noon. I will have a good selection of my jewelry and photographic art prints, note cards and bookmarks, along with a small selection of my ready to hang artwork. Olde Town Christmas remains open to the public until 7 pm on Friday and resumes on Saturday at 9 am and runs through 3 pm.
The second event on Friday is a
ribbon cutting, which begins at 4 pm, hence my need to be in two places at once. My supportive family member allowed me to twist his arm to hold down the fort at my Olde Town Christmas booth so that I can attend.
What does a ribbon cutting have to do with my creations? It is a ribbon cutting and grand opening for both
CenterSpace and a business that offices in their expanded location,
Cadmus Dental. You have read about my involvement with both of them. As 817ArtsAlliance, I have partnered with CenterSpace to give artisans who do not have a brick and mortar presence, a way to display some of their work where people can come and view it in person during work hours. They can even purchase it and take home a piece of art if one speaks to them. I wrote recently about the dental art
challenge presented to me by Cadmus Dental. I definitely wanted to be there to show my support for these companies and their founders. After the ribbon cutting, there will be a grand opening party.
Three of the artisans on display in CenterSpace will be there with more of their work and to talk about their creative process. I will stay until I have to head back and help close down my booth at Dottie Lynn.
I hope to get a chance to see you this weekend. If not, my Happy Holidays Pop-Up Market will open for a two week run on December 9 in Downtown Arlington so you will have another chance to see my creations and those of other local artisans. More on that next week.
The following weekend, I will be with over 50 artists, crafters and collectors and their wares at Happy Holidays Gift Market at the UTA Maverick Activities Center. There will also be live and recorded music and DIY crafts. In addition to providing a DIY craft, the Greater Arlington Lions Club will have a drop off box for you to donate your old, out of date prescription glasses. They will use them to provide free eye glasses to those in need.
If you are looking for a unique gift or two or three this holiday season, set your sights on attending the Olde Town Christmas Craft Fair December 2 – 3 at the Dottie Lynn Recreation Center. Shop on Friday from noon – 7 pm and on Saturday from 10 am – 3 pm. I will be back as a vendor for the second year with items from both of my online shops, EDCCollective and EclecticSkeptic, and more. There is also still time to come by and talk with me about creating a custom item for that perfect, one of a kind gift.
More festive, holiday fun can be found Saturday night, December 3 in downtown Arlington. Come out and watch Arlington’s Holiday Lights Parade. A local, independently run team of Etsy shop owners, Etsy817, will be walking next to their parade entry to let you know how you can get your hands on even more great handmade or vintage goodies at their Handmade Holidays – Arts, Crafts & Vintage Marketplace, December 9 – 10. (I am a member of this great team.) After the parade you can watch the lighting of the Christmas tree at City Hall and/or get your picture taken with Santa at the Levitt Pavilion. 
