The Barrie Artisan Market returned to the city, this time as a Christmas edition, at the Allandale Recreation Centre on Saturday.
The market has become a staple in the community over the years, connecting creative-minded folks as well as supporting local artists and businesses from the city and farther afield around Simcoe County.
Local artisans showcased handmade crafts, featuring Christmas ornaments, knitted items, food, jewellery, painted artworks, and much more.
Abigail Hay of Emerald Artworks offered many impressive examples of preserved flowers as jewellery, such as earrings, pendants, and more.
“I pick all the flowers myself, I press them, and then they’re enclosed in resin so they last forever,” she tells BarrieToday at the event, as she holds up her wares for customers to see.
She says she uses around 50 different types of flowers.
“I found most of them around the Simcoe County area, and the daisies seem to be the most popular,” she adds.
Innisfil author Beverley Neilson was on hand selling copies of her books, which are murder-mystery tales about Alicia Anderson, a fictional police officer in Barrie who becomes a detective.
There are currently three books in the series, with a fourth one on the way.
She draws her inspiration from “television, Facebook, and from craziness going on in my head,” she adds.
Art therapist Sarah Smith, of Soul-full Art Therapy, led a free art therapy workshop which provided a therapeutic, creative space for visitors to the market to express themselves through art.
The event offered up many opportunities for customers to fill their bags and check people off their Christmas gifts lists.
