It’s once again time for another Handmade Holiday event! After years of success with the winter makers market, Wheeling Heritage is excited to host its spring market for the third year – just in time for Mother’s Day! Browse more than 40 unique vendors, with everything from knitwear to woodwork, to find the perfect gift for your mother. Or, just treat yourself to some fabulous local art. Starting at 10 a.m. this Saturday, and going on until 4 p.m., there is plenty of time to get some shopping done.
Handmade Holiday is well known throughout the community for providing unique gifts and goodies at the annual winter market. This sale, though, promises to bring in different goodies with a fun spring twist. There will be clay flowers, reminiscent of May blooms, and brightly colored earrings to cheer you up during spring showers.
There will be some returning favorites from previous Handmade Holiday vendor markets. Primal Pickles will once again be there offering their delicious small-batch pickles. Apartment Two Art once again invites you to make your home smell just divine with their soy wax candles and wax melts. Lone Stone Designs returns to offer you delicate and beautiful sterling silver wire-wrapped crystal and gemstone jewelry.
Another fan favorite returning to Handmade Holiday is Stone Cottage Apothecary, which offers candles, room sprays, wax melts, and perfumes. Jamie Ward, owner of Stone Cottage Apothecary, says she is always “blown away by the response from local shoppers” at this event. “People really like to get out and support small/handmade businesses and I couldn’t be more grateful.” Many vendors seem to agree that there is such lovely community support at this market. From the customers to the fellow vendors, connecting with the community is one of the highlights of the event, according to Jamie.
While there are several returning vendors, there will also be some newcomers that shoppers can check out! Retrouvez Studio is one of those vendors who will be at the market for the first time. Emily Teachout, the owner of Retrouvez Studio, designs beautiful collages featuring mages from vintage magazines and books. New vendor JKB Pottery is a self-taught ceramic artist specializing in hand-painted mugs, pots, and kitchenware, with West Virginia-centric motifs. Cat’s Paw Art Studio sells art around town, but will bring the vibrant and cool-as-heck paintings they are known for to Handmade Holiday: Spring Market for the first time.
So, take some time this Saturday to come and support local artists. Keep your mom at the front of your mind – maybe she’d like a lovely candle or new perfume! Make sure to swing by the Wheeling Heritage welcome table to grab a punch card and enter for a shot at winning a $50 gift card to the Wheeling Artisan Center Shop. Shoppers who make purchases at 5 or more vendors qualify for the raffle.
Handmade Holiday: Spring Market will be held this Saturday, May 4 on the third floor of the Wheeling Artisan Center, located at 1400 Main Street in Downtown Wheeling. Doors open at 10 a.m. and the market will continue until 4 p.m. To see the full list of vendors, visit wheelingheritage.org/handmade-holiday-spring-market or check out a selection of vendor spotlights on Wheeling Heritage’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
• Makayla Carney, a Wheeling native, is the 2023-2024 AmeriCorps member for Wheeling Heritage, where she will get to write all about the history and culture of her hometown. She has a B.F.A. in Film and Television from DePaul University in Chicago. She adores all kinds of art, a lavender latte, and the occasional performance on the Towngate Theatre stage.
