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Holiday Market – post mortem

TLDR: I won’t have a booth at the Charleston Holiday Market in 2022.
This was only my second time participating as a vendor in the Holiday Market at the N. Charleston Convention Center, though I was a customer for several years before that. It was cancelled due to COVID-19 last year. I know the world is only just beginning to emerge from the pandemic (maybe a bit too soon?), so that might explain why this year’s market was a bit of a disappointment. There were nowhere near as many vendors or patrons as usual. Unfortunately, the show organizers allowed a lot of mass market vendors in, which really lowers the interest for a show that you pay admission to attend (as a patron). My booth was across from a gel ice/heat pack product and another booth with shoe insoles. Not that those products aren’t useful, but my pieces just don’t mix with the type of product that you normally buy at the pharmacy. Nor would I want to pay $8 admission to view products that I can buy at the pharmacy. On top of that, the booth fees went way up for next year for vendors.
Other than that, the show was well organized and the new parking garage makes logistics so much nicer. I hope that the show can improve once the pandemic eases. I will re-assess after next year. In the mean time, there are several new City of Charleston related vendor shows that have started, so I will look into these opportunities and see if I can find one or two that is a better fit for crafts vendors. Stay tuned!

My booth in 2021

Holiday Market – This weekend!

My booth is ready to go and the Holiday Market starts tomorrow morning at 10am. Come by and visit!

Booth 2605 near the concession stand – turn left when you come in the entrance to the show.
Print for a $1 discount on admittance for the weekend.

Holiday Market!

The Charleston Holiday Market is less than two weeks away! I’m looking forward to having a booth there for the second time (the event was cancelled due to COVID last year). It will be held within the Convention Center at the N. Charleston Coliseum Complex. Hours will be:

Fri 10am – 8pm ~ Sat 10am-6pm ~ Sun 11am- 5pm
Enjoy All Three Days with FREE Return Pass!
Adult tickets through 11:59pm, Nov. 18 Online – $6 (+fee and tax)
Adult tickets Nov. 19-21 Online – $7 (+fee and tax)
Adult tickets at door – $8 (+fee and tax if paying with credit card)
www.HolidayMarket.com for more info!

Beachy Batch

I started these a few weeks ago, but had to wait for the ornament hangers, then had to glue them in place and let it dry. This weekend was my first opportunity to finish them by taping the backs with painter’s tape, pouring the resin and decorating. The molded suncatchers / ornaments only have the first layer of resin poured (today) and will require at least a second layer.

Beachy batch – the blue painters tape will be removed from the glass ornaments / suncatchers after the resin cures.

The last time I made these smaller starfish / sand dollar ornaments / suncatchers, I believe I glued the sand for the beach in place before pouring the resin, so I did that again this time. I still ended up adding some sand here and there after I poured the resin this time. I’m not sure the extra step of gluing the sand in place in advance is needed at all. I likely will skip it the next time I make some of these.

Winter Reveal

Here are some snapshots of my latest batch of winter themed pieces / suncatchers / ornaments. This week’s beach-themed ornaments are still a work in progress; hopefully I will be able to finish them over the weekend.

Winter Scene with evergreen trees, snowman, cardinal. Approx 10.5″ x 6.5″.
Happy Snowman with cardinal panel, approx. 6.25″ x 8″
Stained glass cardinal (embedded in resin) suncatchers / ornaments with mica flakes.

Holiday Market!

My booth in 2019

I will have a booth at the Holiday Market at the North Charleston Convention Center. This event was cancelled last year due to COVID-19. The hours are:
November 19, 2021 – Fri. (10am – 8pm)
November 20, 2021 – Sat. (10am – 6pm)
November 21, 2021 – Sun. (11am – 5pm)

I haven’t seen the admission price for this year on the event website yet, but in the past, tickets were around $5 for access to all three days of the event, and you can usually get a coupon for a discount at the above link a couple of weeks before the event. The new parking garage should make getting in and out a breeze!

I will have hand made items from suncatchers and ornaments up to large mosaic windows, and a special $400 “Seasons” gift set that includes a display stand. Get all of your holiday shopping done before Thanksgiving and be able to really relax for the holidays! Check out some of the items that I will have in my booth at this link. There will even be some hand made pendants / necklaces. I hope to see you there!

  • Winter Scene
  • Happy Snowman
  • Suncatchers / Ornaments
  • Ornaments / Suncatchers
  • Red bird w/snowballs
  • Seasons Set
Pendants, made by a friend of mine in a similar fashion as my glass pieces.

Pouring resin

Yesterday I poured / decorated the resin for the winter scene and snowman, as well as added a second resin layer to four molded ornaments. Hopefully I will be able to get finished pictures of them this evening!

Resin curing on Winter Scene
Resin curing on Snowman
Second resin layer poured / curing

Winter Scene

I’m still busier than usual at work, so my weekends are my best time for crafting. Today I finished cutting out and gluing the glass for a little winter scene and a small snowman panel (not pictured), as well as laid out the “beach” for some starfish and sand dollar ornaments.

Laying out the pieces / gluing in place.
Everything glued – waiting for the glue to dry.
Gluing the sand for the “beach” on some ornaments.

Of course, I had to cut the backer glass and sand the edges for all of these before decorating could begin. Hopefully the sand will stick well and I won’t have to add another layer before I can pour the resin, but I have a feeling I’ll need a bit more sand once the glue cures. I plan to make these into mini starfish & sand dollar ornaments / suncatchers.