You may clock a mile or two traveling between the four handcraft gift sales in Montclair and Glen Ridge this Saturday, December 4, but even though you won’t be leaving Baristaville (let alone the USA), we recommended that you get a passport.
In the spirit of artisan cooperation — rather than competition — The Holiday Shop Hop links the four events with a “passport,” available at any of the venues. Passports will be stamped upon entry of each location, with or without purchase. When shoppers visit at least three of the four sales, they will be entered into a drawing for four grand prizes — gift baskets created from merchandise from vendors at each location. Some baskets may also include gift certificates and coupons toward future purchases.
The joining of the four events was organized by Claire Baker, owner of the former Montclair shop Copabananas. “It’s important to support local artists because it encourages and nurtures creativity, tradition, and community,” said Baker, who will be exhibiting her work at Rock Paper Scissors and will have a sales booth at the Creative Women’s Collective Artisan’s Gift Market.
“I’ll have my gLove Story Dolls as well as lots of brand new products,” said Claire, whose dolls made from “orphaned gloves that are recovered, washed, and brought to life with button eyes, yarn hair, and just the right amount of stuffing to help them find their legs” have developed a kind of cult following. “gLove Story Dolls redefine what a toy can be and inspire you to look at lost handwarmers in a whole new way,” says Baker on her web site.
These are the participating events (items pictured don’t necessarily correspond with adjacent venue):
18th Annual Holiday Art and Craft Show
10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Salvation Army, 13 Trinity Place, off Church St., Montclair
This show, which is a fundraiser for the Salvation Army and HOMECorp of Montclair, will feature work by crafts people and fine artists from Bloomfield, West Orange, Glen Ridge, Montclair, and Verona, as well as other towns in New Jersey, including jewelry, knitted and hand painted scarves, sophisticated and funky hand bags, pottery, journals, frames and accessories, floral designs and wreaths, origami ornaments, quilts and table runners, paintings, collages and photography.
Rock Paper Scissors Holiday Boutique 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
15 Bloomfield Ave, Glenmont Square (near Panera), Montclair
Featuring around 10 local women artists from Glen Ridge, Montclair and Bloomfield, items for sale will include jewelry, paintings and paper art.
Creative Women’s Collective Artisan’s Gift Market
10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Glen Ridge Congregational Church
195 Ridgewood Avenue, Glen Ridge
This show, now in its seventh year, will feature an eclectic mix of around 30 local artists, artisans, and crafters from Clifton, Lyndhurst, Montclair, Bloomfield and Glen Ridge. Artisans work in a variety of mediums. Items for sale will include jewelry, papercrafts, crochet and other fiber art, decorative frames and many others. Refreshments will be available.
It’s Only Fair! Holiday Sale
12 p.m. until 4p.m.
First Congregational Church
40 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair
Fair Trade & Handmade items including nativities, ornaments, clothing and art from artisans in Peru, Haiti, Kenya, South Africa, India, Nicaragua, Ghana & the US. All proceeds will provide scholarships for college students in Nicaragua.
Grand prizes will be randomly selected from all properly completed passports. Winners will not have a choice of which prize they win.
