Palm Coast, FL (March 5, 2022) Browsing the vendors on site for the monthly First Saturday Creative Bazaar hosted by the Palm Coast Arts Foundation, it was a variety of standout handcrafted and homemade items.
Jeannie Hines’ cute gnomes are fundraisers for ‘Colton and Friends A Foundation for Autism, Inc.’, a charity organization supporting families with autism and organizations that offer recreational activities for them. They’ve helped with requests such as providing uniforms for Special Olympics teams and beach wheelchairs for Surf Quest.
Taking part in her first PCAF Creative Bazaar, Hines was excited to meet new people and show her handiwork for a good cause.
“I’ve never been handy, domestic or creative but I just sat at my table one day and started. My husband calls me the mad scientist. I just start and not one is alike,” she said, sharing her excitement.
“It’s beautiful out here. It’s a nice day for families and I get to listen to music. It’s my first time here. I just started making the gnomes and this is my third show.”
Hines was among more than two dozen vendors that included ‘Seaside Sista’s’ natural skin care, Jo Grandel-Everett’s ‘Little Shop of Stitches’, ‘Rooster’s Original Wood Work’, and the Palm Coast Lion’s Club, offering up their wares in picture perfect weather.
“I make ladies’ purses out of men’s ties. I saw something similar but not like this. It gave me the idea and I went with it,” said Debra Henderson, owner of All Tied Up.
Showing her creations, the bags run the gamut when it comes to design, clasp and size. Themes include trendy golf scenes, fun Looney Tunes characters, and elegant patterns for cocktail events among her display.
“My daughter paints, so she said we need to do craft shows,” shared Henderson. “I said I have to come up with something to do. I make them in batches and finish like two a day,’ she said.
Who is her ideal client? Turns out, everyone.
“I’ve sold them for weddings, cruises, shopping and every one of them is one of a kind.”
Organizer Nancy Crouch, executive director of the Palm Coast Arts Foundation was pleased to not battle the elements this month while welcoming vendors and shoppers to their location in Town Center.
“I love the fact that we host this the first Saturday of the month for our area of community artists. It gives them an opportunity to show their work and sell. The musicians come out at their own cost to perform, so hat’s off to our musicians,” she said as The Salty Dogs played live in the background.
Keeping Crouch company was Sam Perkovich, PCAF’s president and her canine companion.
“We have a lot of vendors out here and it’s a ton of fun,” said Perkovich.
“This event has just grown and grown so get your reservations in early to Nancy who’s in charge of everything,” she said with good humor.
In addition to hosting the monthly Creative Bazaars, Crouch says the main stage is staying busy as other organizations across the community collaborate with PCAF to hold their events and classes.
“We do rent out and allow different community organizations to use our site because we want it to be used. It gets the word out that this space is available for the community,” said Crouch.
The next Palm Coast Arts Foundation Creative Bazaar is set for April 2, 2022, and the Palm Coast Arts Foundation will host the family-friendly music performance evening event “Violectric” on April 22nd.
For more information, visit https://www.palmcoastartsfoundation.com/
