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Getaway to Christmas at Boston’s Seaport World Trade Center
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Fine beadwork and implements
Tour a village of gingerbread houses created by Boston chefs and get a start on holiday shopping at glittering booths showing the artistry of more than 100 fine craftspeople, this weekend only, at the Seaport World Trade Center.
Spectacular handwork from as far away as Thailand and as near as Quincy represents a good mix of techniques and media, from fabric arts to glass and metal, with an entire center aisle devoted to foods. There is jewelry here for every taste. Among the most eyecatching are the necklaces, bracelets, earrings and watches made by Brenda Morrison of Quincy, under the name of Jasmine Keane. (Be sure to ask who Jasmine Keane is.) Each bead is handmade and one-of-a-kind; the colors are stunning.
Jewelry from a rare stone
The Colors of the Sea booth seems like a stretch of Caribbean beach, with starfish, shells and coral displaying silver jewelry set with larimar, a sea-blue gemstone known to exist in only one place, high in the mountains of a Caribbean island. While the jewelry designs are traditional, the stone’s lustrous blue is unique.
Neckfluffs are a different kind of jewelry, just right for women who travel a lot. These necklaces, which weigh almost nothing, are made from tactile combinations of novelty yarns that form a soft frame that can dress up a plain or turtleneck shirt. Although the colors at the show cover the entire fashion rainbow, fiber artist Louise Paul will create custom combinations to bring together an outfit.
Women’s weaving co-operative
From Thailand, via Northampton, comes a collection of the most luscious handwoven indigo-dyed scarves on the market. Who knew there were so many shades of blue, each richer or more subtle than the next? Bua Norris remembered the women in her village stirring locally grown cotton in huge pots of indigo, spinning and weaving it into fabric. She now helps a women’s co-operative there find markets for their art in America.
There’s far more than wearable art for sale. D&M Wooden Flowers , from Michigan, creates bright and bold arrangements of wooden tulips, irises, sunflowers and other garden favorites to decorate a home or patio. My Carseat Blankie has a bright display of blankets for babies and children that give new meaning to snuggly warm.
Hand-carved eggshells
Sophie Chetwynd of Wakefield uses an air drill to hand-carve real eggshells into delicate lacy ornaments to hang on a tree or display as a year-round work of art. Along the back wall, so close to the gingerbread houses that their spicy fragrance tickles the air, Julie Cote of Windsor, NH, displays stylish handmade newsboy hats and matching scarves, in kid pleasing pink-and-purple plaids, modish tweeds and a rainbow of other colors and patterns. Anyone who has priced these hats recently will notice that Julie’s prices are more than competitive with main street shops.
In fact, the price line at the entire show is quite reasonable. It’s easy to find unusual and one-off creations here from $10 or less. Or to create your own sweet and savory gift baskets from the selection of gourmet goodies, from pumpkin fudge and chocolate-coated pretzels to beef jerky and salsa.
Hours and Admission
Admission to the show, which includes the Gingerbread Competition entries, is $12 (under 12 free); the Christmas Festival is open November 7 and 8 (Saturday10am-7pm, Sunday10am-5pm).
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