Spring market highlights local artisans

The Prairie Song Springtime Market Day on Saturday, May 22, featured artisans from the Bandera area and was hosted by Lynn White of Prairie Song Custom Sewing.

Perched on the side of a hill, the market drew visitors and shoppers to see the many hand-crafted artisan produced items from the ten vendors who participated.

Postponed from May 15 due to weather, the Market enjoyed a cool cloud-covered morning that made browsing outside pleasant and drew shoppers early to the event.

Host Lynn White said, “Like our December Market Day, we expect this Springtime Market Day to be over the top. I wanted to give Bandera a chance to meet some of its local artisans. We really care for the vendors. The last year has been hard on them. This show is more about camaraderie with the vendors and the community.”

White says plans are in the works for another Market Day at the end of September or the beginning of October. As always, the Christmas Market Day will be held on the second Saturday in December, she reports.

Nicole Wheeler of Ahkayah, Gaia Inspired Jewelry was a first-time vendor at the Market Day. Shehad custom shopping bags, jewelry, and décor in her booth.

“This is just my first year producing jewelry, so I am relatively new,” she said.

The air around the Hill Country Esscents booth was perfumed with the essence of hand made scent bead air fresheners. The cheerful display of sunflowers and other springtime items showed that air fresheners could smell good and be beautiful.

Denise Hamilton’s booth, Mythical Creatures from Hamilton’s Glen, was full of tiny whimsical sculptures of gnomes and other fantasy creatures.

“This is what you do after you retire,” she commented, smiling.

Beautifully decorated cow and deer skulls were available from Jill Timberlake’s booth. She also had handmade crosses for sale. The decorated skulls were unique and sparkled with crystals of all kinds. They were perfect as a unique piece of rustic décor for an upscale ranch house.

Heather Jones of Zoka Jo’s had a wide array of unique home and garden art made from reclaimed pieces. It was clear that salvage art was a passion of Jones as she spoke about her art and touted another upcoming market day for artists under age 20 at the Riverfront Motel.

For unique, handmade gifts by local artists, the Prairie Song Springtime Market was the place to be in Bandera.

For more information about becoming a vendor, contact Lynn White at Prairie Song Custom Sewing and Upscale Resale, located at 280 Hwy 173 North in Bandera, at lynnwhite1944@yahoo.com or at (210)310-8550.