Local Artist Experiences “Handmade Goodness” At Made Around Here Market

Meet the blogger

Chasidy Hathorn is one of our favorite locals. She is the founding author of Sweet Sorghum Living and an emerging artist who is addicted to rusty metal and coffee. We snagged Chassidy to give you all a sneak peek into Jonesborough’s Made Around Here Market. What better person for this than an artist herself?

Sneak Peek into Made Around Here Market

I was so excited to get a sneak peek of this year’s Made Around Here Market in Historic Jonesborough. Oh, my! Santa’s elves were busy setting up their booth spaces, and I was busy making a list of what I wanted to buy.

My visit started with a chat about how long Jonesborough has had this holiday craft show and what makes it stand out. What I discovered was this event has been happening for almost 40 years and has made just a few changes over those years. One of the big changes was moving it away from Black Friday weekend, so it would not have to compete with the big box stores and all the crazy holiday sales and rush. Not being a part of that mad-dash weekend allows the Made Around Here Market to spotlight the importance of shopping local and buying handmade from regional artisans. What makes this holiday craft show stand out is its focus on every item being handmade and of great quality. It also offers a variety of goods that appeal to all ages–from little girls shopping for clothes for their dolls to grandmothers shopping for baby gifts for their new grands. Whew! I am having a really hard time concentrating on writing this post for y’all because I am so excited about the almost 40 vendors and all of the wonderful wares they have. From handmade pottery and carefully crafted jewelry to seasonal décor and baskets galore, the Made Around Here Market has got our holiday shopping list covered. *deep breath* I am going to need lots of coffee from The Corner Cup in order to keep my shopping energy up. While I was sneaking peeks of all of the adorable snowmen, festive burlap wreaths, stunning jewelry, and gorgeous wood bowls, I chatted with a few vendors about why they participate in the Made Around Here Market and what they love about Jonesborough. Me–I totally love this precious town and firmly believe it needs to be the star in a Hallmark Christmas movie. Please, someone make that happen! **I have already written letters to Santa, but I am afraid I might not be on the good list. I can’t get into the details of why on this post, but trust me–I need all of you writing letters to Santa and emailing Hallmark!** I digress. Debbie Alvis of Simply Blessed Gifts has been a vendor at the Made Around Here Market for four years. She participates in this event because Jonesborough has a great reputation for supporting small businesses and crafters and because of how well orchestrated all of the events are. Debbie loves the atmosphere of Jonesborough and its history. She offers handmade burlap wreaths, ornaments, and jewelry. Her fan favorites include anything with a red truck, tassel necklaces, and burlap wreaths. My next chat (and I had these chats without sitting a spell with a good cup of coffee) was with a couple of ladies from Tri-Cities Crafters–which is a group of friends who craft together. They have knitted items for babies and adults, felted hats made from alpaca wool, homemade fudge (which I hear is divine), and so much more. This will be their fifth year to attend the Made Around Here Market, and they come because they love Jonesborough and want to be a part of this long-standing tradition. What makes Jonesborough stand out to them is it is a comforting place, a place to stroll, a place that represents home and family, and a place of history–a history so strong that it gives hope. My last chat of the sneak peek was with Brenden Bohannon, a self-taught wood artisan. This is his first year to be a vendor at the Made Around Here Market. He is happy to be a part of this event because he has heard how well attended it is and how nice the quality is of the handmade items that are part of the show. I could have talked wood and art with Brenden all day. His passion for what he makes is contagious and shows in his work. His favorite thing about Jonesborough is how quiet it is and how he can enjoy strolling and shopping/dining with his family. Now, before I head off to finish my shopping list for the Made Around Here Market, I want to let all of you know that admission is free, but donations will be accepted for Jonesborough’s free children’s event in December. You can also shop vendors outside and inside + parking can be found at the library, Courthouse, and other various locations throughout town. Personally, I like to park in the Courthouse parking lot so I can lazily stroll to the Visitors Center. It also gives me a chance to stop and get coffee *wink* For more information about the Made Around Here Market visit Historic Jonesborough on Facebook or call (423) 753-1010.