Gifts from the Heart
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Gifts from the Heart

Shoppers, crafters, artisans return to Herndon show.

"I like working with wood. I have salvaged and repurposed almost everything on my table. I can probably tell you a story about each item that I've made. The Herndon Holiday Arts & Craft Show is a wonderful show with great people."
Michaela Madsen (right), shopper, Herndon
"I noticed the beautiful wooden spoons, and he started to tell me how the wood is locally sourced and the types of wood. I'm shopping for Christmas presents."

"I like working with wood. I have salvaged and repurposed almost everything on my table. I can probably tell you a story about each item that I've made. The Herndon Holiday Arts & Craft Show is a wonderful show with great people." Michaela Madsen (right), shopper, Herndon "I noticed the beautiful wooden spoons, and he started to tell me how the wood is locally sourced and the types of wood. I'm shopping for Christmas presents." Photo by Mercia Hobson.

— The Town of Herndon Parks and Recreation produced their annual Herndon Arts & Craft Show Sunday, Dec. 3, at the Herndon Community Center, 814 Ferndale Ave. Staff reports the daylong event attracted approximately 1500 shoppers and featured more than 80 vendors. Patrons began arriving well before the doors opened, ready to snag that something special for a loved one or themselves. So why did they come?

Shoppers were asked: “Why shop at a craft fair if there is Black Friday, Cyber Monday and brick and mortar stores, as well as online shipping?”

Crafters and artisans were asked: “How do you compete with Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and brick and mortar stores, as well as online shipping?”

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Barbara Torrey, shopper, of Herndon "The items at a craft fair are unique... I'm shopping for myself. I'm looking for peanuts. I really shouldn’t buy anything else."

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Margot Olenik, owner of C & C Creations, Ashburn “My husband Joe and I have always believed in crafting our products with the intention of ‘pricing to sell.’ When we buy our materials, we look for the best quality for the price. We also know that people like to see and feel what they are buying, and we build relationships with our repeat customers. We have participated in the Herndon event for at least 8-10 years and this, along with a fine arts festival in New England, are our highest producing events."

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Karl Kessinger owner of Unique Leather Designs, College Park, Md. "That's a good question. My thought is that this is more an entertaining experience, more family oriented. You are not going to get that on the Internet. The other big thing is the feel and touch of the products. It's a necessity."