Holiday shoppers who appreciate handmade pieces, fine-quality artwork and tasty baked goods will have the opportunity to check items off their Christmas buying list at the variety of arts and crafts shows scheduled in the area in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Area artists from southeastern Ohio and northern West Virginia will check in and unpack their artist goods at the Lafayette Hotel Nov. 16 and 17 for the Local Artist Show and Holiday Sale.
The show's featured artisans include painter Beth Nash, potter Margaret Lazer, tile artist Marlene L'Abbe and decorative iron worker Betsy Cook.
Article Photos
SHARON BOPP The Marietta Times
Claire Bogard, a Marietta paper goods artist, works in her studio Friday hand crafting items she’ll sell at the Local Artist Show and Holiday show at the Lafayette Hotel Nov. 16 and 17.
Items will include needle felting, wood carving, calligraphy and stained glass, said Sharon Hanse, event organizer.
"It's high quality, really fine arts and crafts," she said.
For L'Abbe, who is showing her work at the show for the fifth time, the show has always been "very successful."
Fact Box
If you go
Local Artist Show and Holiday sale
- When: 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 16; 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 17.
- Where: Lafayette Hotel, Marietta.
Marietta High School band boosters 20th annual arts and crafts show
- When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 17.
- Where: Washington County Fairgrounds, Junior Fair Building, Marietta.
Peoples Bank "Fighting 4 Life" Relay for Life team craft and vendor show
- When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 17.
- Where: Gilman United Methodist Church, Marietta.
Annual Craft & Bake Sale
- When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 1.
- Where: O'Neill Center, Marietta.
Betsey Mills Club annual Christmas Village craft show
- When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 1.
- Where: Betsey Mills Club, Marietta.
A $2 donation will be taken at the door.
"I love the people, the ambiance and great energy," she added.
L'Abbe said she is using a new sublimation technology process to print her original hand-painted designs on tile.
Paper goods artist Claire Bogard said she always looks forward to displaying her pieces at the show.
"It's usually a very good show," she said.
Bogard's described her artwork as "very novel" for the area.
"Nobody else does this unless you're a calligrapher. (My designs) are never exactly the same because they're all hand done," she said.
That same weekend, those looking for goodies for placing beneath the holiday tree can visit the Marietta High School band boosters 20th annual arts and crafts show.
Items available will include baked goods, primitives, apparel, jewelry, photography, holiday decor and fiber craft, said show coordinator Beth Spaziani.
The arts and crafts show will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Junior Fair Building at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Marietta.
Concessions are available during the show. Strollers are welcome.
Third on the roster for the weekend of Nov. 16 and 17 is Peoples Bank "Fighting 4 Life" Relay for Life team craft and vendor show.
Scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 17 at Marietta's Gilman United Methodist Church, show proceeds will benefit Washington County Relay for Life.
Get ready to wrap up the last of your Christmas shopping on Dec. 1, when the O'Neill Center hosts its Annual Craft & Bake Sale and the Betsey Mills Club has its annual Christmas Village craft show.
More than 20 crafters and some of the best bakers in Washington County will be selling their goods at the O'Neill Center's sale.
Handmade items will include jewelry and knitted and crocheted articles.
Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. by RSVP of Washington County.
Crafters from as far away as New Martinsville and Zanesville will show their works at the Betsey Mills Club annual Christmas Village craft show, running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The annual event has been done "for well over 35 years," said event organizer Christine Wark.
Wark said she expects there will be 45 to 50 crafters at the show, which is overseen by the Betsey Mills Club Girls Council.
Featured crafts will include jewelry, knitted pieces, baby clothes, homemade brooms, guilts, stained glass items and repurposed pieces.
"We've striven to keep it to homemade crafts," said Wark.
A light lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A $2 donation will be taken at the door. All proceeds will be used to keep the Betsey Mills Club going and be placed toward bills and repairs, Wark said.
