This stunning view from the top of the Brady Sullivan Plaza parking garage looking out on the downtown Manchester nightscape makes me feel lucky to have had to park on the top level on the busy weekday Thursday Holiday Markets. I show this view that I snapped at the end of the day last Thursday because when I parked at the top for the first time one Thursday morning I thought there was a hurricane or something………..but a helicopter was landing!!!!
I was so surprised and of course, sorry I couldn’t take a picture so I walked into the elevator lobby and then I heard it going to take off! Well, I fumbled kind-of frantically through my bag, found my camera, threw down the bag and snapped these pictures as it was taking off.
The Holiday Market for 2018 has also taken off and is gone until the holiday season 2019. For DiZigns it was a fun and successful market in which I participated in all 5 of the market days this year. With all the vendors set up so festively in their booths and the Plaza lobby corridor being so welcoming, it is a wonderful atmosphere.
view from DiZigns booth
I hear many heartfelt stories because of my choice of using the heart shape to inlay. Jane had to go out to her car to get cash (I don’t have credit card capabilities) to purchase my Mahogany heart with a heart-shaped opening and a jewel attached to hang in the opening. She told me that when her daughter was very young she taught her about different shapes by relating special meanings, and the heart shape was taught because, she said, she would always have love for her. So she buys her daughter a heart for Christmas every year and I feel privileged to have made the heart for this year (I don’t have a picture of that heart).
Thank you so much Jane!
A customer who preferred not to be photographed bought this 5” Cherry heart with an Ebony and a Purpleheart heart inlay. I told her my mission with my art and her own heartfelt story about why she was buying this heart made me fight back the tears. This big heart with the imperfection in it made it more beautiful, and that was what she felt about the receiver of this gift.
I want to thank the many customers who went out of their way to get cash for their purchases from me. It probably sounds ridiculous to all the cellphone users, but I was a receptionist for many years and I hate the phone. So somewhere down the line I will maybe get an iPad and purchase a plan to do credit transactions. But until then…..many thanks to my Cherry heart customer; the out-of-breath woman who purchased my Redheart 3-heart hanging piece; and the incredible gentleman who purchased the ever-popular boxwood tree in glass container; all of whom had to travel to the opposite end of the lobby corridor for cash. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Redheart 3-heart hanging piece with Golden Mother-of-Pearl heart inlay and beads
The gentleman who purchased this boxwood in glass saw me making one and he liked it, but was still shopping. By the time he came back I was making another one that was already sold. So, he said he’d be back….when he came back he realized I didn’t take cards. When he came back the final time, he did purchase it and he said it would be the first Christmas tree he’s had in 12 years I think he said. I think it will do the trick for him.
The popular boxwood tree arrangement in glass with one of my favorite customers, the beautiful Lisa, modeling it for me
I love doing my blogs, but I have to be satisfied with that love because I sometimes wonder who takes advantage of my thoughts and photos on all the different shows and vendors, and actually reads my posts and blogs. But I was so happy to find out that I brought a few shoppers to the Holiday Market from my last posts and that was one of my favorite people from my life, Dee, and her sisters Donna and Doreen. They are a fun-loving group and Dee purchased a log basket which was on sale for my last show.
Thanks Donna, Dee and Doreen!
log basket
I try to vary the vendors that I highlight each blog post, and there are always new ones, but there are always some vendors that sell at the Market every year and here are their beautiful, smiling faces from my past posts and their contacts for more information if I have them.
Gertrude of Austrian Christmas Tree ornaments
Paintings by Gisele D. Thompson https://www.facebook.com/Paintings-by-G-D-Thompson-1483743938559149/
Amy and Gunther
Gunther’s Goodies https://www.facebook.com/gunthersgoodies/
Kevin of KRM Chocolates https://www.facebook.com/KRMChocolates/
Theresa from Riff Raff Glass https://www.facebook.com/riffraffglass/
Jeanne Pride of Hazel & Deene