‘Columbus Makers’ women holding all-day event Monday for holiday shopping procrastinators
It’s less than a week before Christmas and it’s highly likely that many Columbus-area residents still have some, if not a major portion, of their gift-giving shopping to do.
That’s where “Columbus Makers” comes in. A group of female artists and entrepreneurs are coming together 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday for a first-time event in which there will be items for sale and not only are they “Made in the USA,” but many of the goods are crafted locally.
“We have products all over the board,” said Elizabeth Heard White, one of the participants. “You have hair accessories from myself. You’ve got jewelry from Courtney Akers and Mary Frances Flowers. You have artwork from Evelyn Henson and Kate Waddell. You have linen cocktail napkins from Knack and Jill, with Jill Philips. You have Ashley Cartledge selling Columbus-made T-shirts. And you even have hand-blown glass by Sally Denham and pottery by Mollie Jenkins. It’s definitely an eclectic group of products and they’re all giftable.”
“Columbus Makers” will take place in an office building at 1445 2nd Ave., near the corporate campus of TSYS in downtown Columbus. Gift wrapping will be available, Heard White said, with wine and Souther Straws cheese straws served in the evening.
Jenkins, a Columbus native and Auburn University graduate, has been using her hands to craft pottery off and on for about three years. She’s excited about the event and the exposure it will give the women artists and business owners, along with the opportunity to help people find unique last-minute gifts for those they love and care about.
“We’re all kind of up-and-coming artists. A lot of us have just started within the last five years,” she said. “We’re hoping to cover a lot of different bases as far as giftable items for most age ranges.”
Jenkins’ products, for example, will include pottery items such as plates, bowls, mugs, utensil holders, spoon racks, pretty much anything found in a kitchen. She will also have pottery lamps available. The price point for her creative works range from $10 to $200.
Pottery, Jenkins said, is simply something she loves to do, particularly the physical aspect of using her own hands, along with other tools, to make something people might use in their everyday lives.
“I’ve just really had a thing for it,” she said of pottery. “It kind of came a little naturally to me. I do wheel-throwing work, so that’s a little different from hand work. I throw all of my items on a wheel and I either handle them or alter them in some way or form. It’s just always been an obsession, I guess you could say.”
LINKS TO COLUMBUS MAKERS PARTICIPANTS
Courtney Akers — jewelry
Sally Denham — art
Mary Frances Flowers — jewelry
Evelyn Henson — art
Jill Chancey Philips — linens
Mollie Jenkins — pottery
Kate Waddell — art
Elizabeth Heard White — hair accessories
Ashley Cartledge — clothing
This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 1:11 PM with the headline "‘Columbus Makers’ women holding all-day event Monday for holiday shopping procrastinators."