Buy Local, Buy Handcrafted, Buy Beautiful: A great way to support artists on the way to Christmas

My good wife (Phaedra Jean) is participating in a really fun event this weekend. It's called The Rock & Shop Market, and if you're within driving distance of Durham, do check it out. What's the Rock & Shop? The short version is that it's "a hip shopping event that features over 75 juried emerging artisans and makers from the Southeast and beyond. These artisans sell their wares alongside bands, djs and food trucks." The middle version is this:

"The Rock & Shop Market is a one-of-a-kind shopping experience; an indoor fashion, art & music flea market featuring emerging, independent local and national designers selling their wares plus live music by local performers. Started in 2004 by Michelle Smith, a local designer and online boutique owner, Michelle wanted to create a local market that would help support and celebrate the burgeoning indie arts scene of professional designers, artists and musicians in the Triangle and beyond. Inspiration for the Rock & Shop Market comes from similar fairs around the country including The Renegade Craft Fair, Bizaar Bazaar, Portland Oregon’s weekly markets and Feria Urbana."

Here is the long version. Here are directions to the place.

And here are some of the things that Phaedra will be selling:

1. Hand-embroidered Christmas ornaments
2. Modern quilted table runners
3. Christmas pom-pom garland
4. Tolkien quote tea towels
5. Tolkien and CS Lewis quote prints
6. Modern motivational prints
7. Giclee prints of paintings in three sizes
8. Hand-pulled linocut block prints
9. Small encaustic paintings
10. Vintage reproduction Christmas cards
11. Blank cards of my own design
12. And, yes, more.

Come on by, y'all.