Handmade Holiday Market pops up in Creemore

Hot on the heels of the very first Handmade Holiday Market, the pandemic stymied Anna Pigden’s efforts to bring together an eclectic mix of artisans and connect them with buyers, until now.
The Handmade Holiday Market has returned for a second installment, this time as a pop-up show within a Creemore business. The market is open this month, tucked into a main street hair salon, featuring a dynamic mix of 14 vendors who make and craft textiles, ornaments, paper, wood, pottery, jewellery, stained glass, metal and other artistic pursuits.
Pigden said following the success of the first holiday market held at Avening Hall in 2019, people from her network of artisans from Simcoe, Grey and Dufferin counties began looking for an outlet for their creations and Pigden was happy to find a solution in the form of a the pop-up.
“I’m just happy to be able to do it again,” said Pigden. “It would be ideal to have people face to face with the makers, but it’s nice to do something.”
She said that’s what really motivates her to host the market, to connect the community to the people who make the product, so they have a chance to talk about the craft and the stories behind it, in support of the shop-local and sustainability movements.
As for Pigden, she is the crafter behind Salvaged. Based in Lisle, Pigden uses up-cycled materials to create useful items. For example used T-shirts become dog toys, and unused yarn becomes crocheted bowls, reinforced with yarn made from fabric, such as denim.
Pigden said she spent her childhood on the craft show circuit with her mom, Nancy Pigden, who is also very crafty and markets under the name of Handmade by Nan.
Pigden said she is still honing her skills but she stitches hats, rugs, makes rice bags and painted ornaments.
She has welcomed quite a few upcyclers into this year’s market, including her mom’s wool critter ornaments.
Pigden said two of the vendors are donating a portion of proceeds to support food banks fight food insecurity. River House Market donates 10 per cent of sales and Pat VanRyn, of Stuff from the Second Line, donates 100 per cent of proceeds from her mitts made from salvaged sweaters and her aunt-in-law’s knitting to food banks and shelters.
The Handmade Holiday Market pop-up shop is located inside the Colours of Creemore Hair Studio at 146 Mill Street. Open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until Dec. 31. There are a few vendor spaces still available, please email thehandmadeholidaymarket@gmail.com for details. Pigden said she is especially keen on finding someone who makes toys.
For more about the vendors and their stories visit @thehandmadeholidaymarket on Instagram and www.facebook.com/thehandmadeholiday.