Feel the Love Tonight

Can you feel the love tonight? If not, make your way to The Alchemy Initiative Handmade Holiday Festival this Saturday and Sunday, December 6th and 7th for the first stop in the December line up to shop local and handmade.  The modern craft fair is curated and features nearly 50 contemporary makers, artisans, designers, and food producers.

There will be loads and loads of "Good Things Made by Good People" and one of those Good People is our very own darling, Wendy Darling. A beloved Berkshire favorite, Wendy delights us all with her warm messages of Peace, Love and Understanding. It’s always heartwarming to stop at her booth and say hello and soak up all the love. She’s sure to leave you feeling twinkly all over, and isn't that what Christmas is all about?

Warm and fuzzies aside, Wendy makes some seriously amazing jewelry and it’s no wonder...she’s worked behind the scenes/stage with a number of stars, including Minnie Riperton, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Alice Cooper and Joan Rivers.  It’s always fun to talk about the meaning of stone with Wendy and she’s sure to point you to the right rock to go with your current disposition. She also designs clothes, sells vintage and up-cycled items, and works as a stylist-costume designer. No matter what’s she’s doing, “it’s all about the love” and you’re sure to feel it when Wendy’s nearby. 

The Alchemy Initiative Handmade Holiday Festival takes place Saturday, December 6th 10am-5pm and on Sunday, December 7th 10am-3pm at the Paterson Field House at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield, MA.  Click here for details and a map. Click here, to learn more about Alchemy Initiative

A Lasting Imprint

One of the many things I love about Shire City Sanctuary's Holiday Shindy is wandering the aisles with my 10 year old son. The abandoned church has been 're-purposed' for the community. Each year it is brilliantly [and respectfully] transformed into a holiday festival of artisans and admirers, jam-packed with "good things made by good people". As my son soaks up the spirit, he mingles with friends and enjoys visiting with different vendors. I'm not the only one ogling beautiful objects.  Allott spends A LOT of time looking through the "secret books" made by Michael Vincent Bushy and treats them like treasures for ever after. His collection is growing as he selects one very special book each year.  

What makes the whole experience even more twinkly is that Michael Vincent Bushy takes the time to talk to my son about the techniques and tools he uses to make a wide variety of designs. It isn't a lecture. It's a gentle conversation that sprinkles a gift with meaning. This kind of interaction doesn't happen every day. I sure wish it did, but I suppose if it did, then the spell might be broken. This Christmas, bring your kids to some holiday markets in your neck of the woods and see what magic they get up to! 

Go On, Good Girl, Go to Market!

Good Girl is getting ready for Christmas and the holidays and a very special wedding, too. Nothing makes gift-giving more special than when we buy our loved ones good things made by good people. 

Not only are hand-made gifts beautiful and unique, they support local economies and inform communities of the many sustainable choices we can make every day of our lives, not just at Christmas. In the lead up to Christmas, Good Girl will highlight wholesome, healthy, ethical gift ideas as she adds them to Good Girl Go to Market, a new on-line gallery that features good things made by good people. 

No matter where you live on this beautiful planet, try to spend more time shopping at local markets and less time shopping on line. It's a personal choice that is sure to make this holiday season even brighter for you and all those you love. Go on, Good Girl, Go to Market!