In the spirit of creating and supporting community, many Boulderites ignored the Black Friday buzz and made the decision to allocate their gifting dollars to local businesses and artists this holiday season. In an effort to foster commitments like these and to promote community and simplify local holiday shopping, Firefly Handmade is again offering the Boulder community a one-stop, local shopping experience.
The 2nd Annual Firefly Handmade Holiday Market is coming to the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art Dec. 9–11. Firefly Handmade brings to the BMoCA more than 70 Front Range “handmakers” who specialize in creating high-quality, indie-style crafts, ranging in price from $2 to $200.
Kristin FitzGerrell, one of Firefly’s “flygals,” a title that the three owners lightheartedly use to refer to themselves, explains that the word “craft” shouldn’t deter anyone from stopping by and making a dent on their holiday shopping list.
“This is not your grandmother’s craft sale,” says FitzGerrell. “It’s really fresh, top-notch, high-quality craftsmanship, and you’re sure to find something for everyone on your gift list, at every price point.”
Firefly’s Holiday Market will showcase a variety of small-batch goods, ranging from art to accessories and stitches to stationery, all offered directly from the maker.
The first 50 shoppers each day will receive a special gift, and all attendees can enjoy a kids craft area, a self-serve wrap station, specialty drinks and sweets, as well as participate in a raffle to benefit Firefly Autism, a nonprofit with a mission to inspire bright futures for children with autism from the ages of 18 months to 18 years.
“At our Firefly market, holiday shopping is fun again,” says FitzGerrell. “We hope people will come out and join us for a great time and for handmade gifts that they’ll feel good about buying and giving.”
Three local artists, FitzGerrell of Studio 22, Allison Bozeman of BirdDog Press and Holland Seydel of Haute Nature, started Firefly Handmade just over a year ago. The three women began the company with the vision of creating an opportunity for local artists to connect with Boulder County patrons. So far, the response from the artisan and patron communities has been overwhelmingly positive, and the flygals have been thanked for bringing this opportunity for artists and shoppers to Boulder.
“We’re excited,” says FitzGerrell. “Boulder is ready for something like this. There is so much creative talent in the community, and we’re excited about creating a supportive environment for handmakers to make a go of it.”
The BMoCA will be presenting Firefly Handmade’s handmakers and their goods from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 9 and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 10 and 11. There is a $2 admission cost to benefit BMoCA.
Check out some of the goods in advance online at http://www.fireflyhandmade.com/gallery/gift-guide-2011.
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