Susie's Bags & Tags Available Saturday @ the Holiday Craft Sale

Now that the garden is in and the berry bushes mulched for spring, our attention is turning to a number of upcoming Holiday Craft Sales. Tomorrow Susie will have a table at the Holiday Craft Sale inside the Holy Rosary Campus Gym, 2801 E. 4th Street, here in Duluth. Admission is free. If you are out and about at some of the other sales taking place Saturday, or the AICHO Open House at Positively Fourth Street Market, then make sure you drop by.

Jewelry, ceramics, glass, soaps, garden items, photography, water colors, books, clothing, glass art and cards are some of the items you will likely find available from various vendors. In my opinion, you can never buy enough cards from local artists. Yes, it's nice when your Facebook "friends" wish you a Happy Birthday, but nothing says it like a card or gift, especially original, hand-made-with-creativity-and-love kinds of cards and gifts.

I don't know everything that will be on display there, but I do know there is usually something for everyone. Susie's gift bags and tags are just one more way to personalize your Christmas giving.

Susie's Gift Bags

EACH GIFT BAG HAS

A STORY TO TELL

Some bags use colorful print feed sack material from the 1930s. Others use B&W prints from old family photos. Many use Susie's hand-painted paper and block-print designs. Each is individually crafted and unlike any other.

Gift Bag Themes include:
-- Baby Showers & Kids
-- Wedding Shower themes
-- Gifts for a guy
-- Christmas
-- Women's Friendship
and more...

WE ALL KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE how much fun it is when someone walks in with a gift. Unlike wrapping paper, which is often torn off and thrown away, gift bags can be used again and again. I'm thinking here of wine or culinary delights. Gift bags are a great way to hold several smaller gifts, like a year-round Christmas stocking. Eyes light up when you walk into the room with a gift bag...

Gift bags are handy, too, because you can place your card right in the bag so you don't forget it in the car, or on the counter when you leave for the party or luncheon.

For the record, she also has some new things in the works that are especially cool to me. Maybe you should come and see.

SPEAKING OF CARDS, Susie also makes original cards with Art-velopes, each a unique down-home creation.

Here's a Tip: When you go to arts and crafts fairs, buy extra cards to have on hand for the many occasions where you need a card at the last minute. Birthdays, graduations, holidays, sympathy and friendship cards... Cards are also memorable way to expressing gratitude.

Here's Another Tip: If you have blank cards with no message inside, Google can help you find words that capture the feeling you are striving to convey.

This blog post is essentially a continuation of yesterday's
Blog Post About November Arts Happenings.

OTHER REMINDERS INCLUDE TWO JAZZ RELATED EVENTS.

TONITE FROM 6 - 8 is the Grand Re-opening of Duluth Fine Pianos in its new location at 331 E Superior Street. They will begin their Monthly Jazz Concert Series. Ryan Frane, an accomplished Jazz musician and UMD Professor, will showcase his improv abilities on a Yamaha Grand Piano. He will be joined by Matt Mobley, bass, and Randy Lee, reeds. Come for the music, or to browse the artwork of certified Zentangle teacher and pattern artist Esther Piszczek. This event is free and open to the public.

Next Weekend Bruce Henry is back, Cookin' at the O. Ryan Frane and Matt Mobley will be back as well. Here are some details. You'll need reservations.... The venue is intimate, the food is stellar.

Meantime life goes on all around you. Get into it.