Loveland’s Lisa Ford always knew she was artistic, but she didn’t want to express that side of herself as a kid in the early ’90s because she didn’t want to be seen as a nerd by her peers. So, she played sports.
Of course, times have changed. Jocks are now called athletes, and they don’t usually write off the artistically inclined as uncool. They may even like art themselves. Just look at Ford: She finally freed her creative side after being trapped under decades of peer pressure and office work. Now she’s 50 and preparing her online business, Wild Outdoor Creations, for the most important time of the year for her and many other crafters, artists and makers.
Ford gets a huge lift from holiday markets in Northern Colorado, including the Colorado Makers Market in Fort Collins. Many of her customers at those markets are looking for unique holiday gifts, and Ford’s creations are a popular choice.
“At least half of their annual income comes around this time,” says Morgan Grimm, who runs the Colorado Makers Market. It’ll take place from 12-5 p.m. on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at the Aztlan Community Center.
Lisa Ford’s custom-made tumblers.
Ford found herself with more time and a need for extra cash after her job shifted to part-time during the pandemic. A flurry of creative inspiration followed, from wind spinners with doe-eyed snow leopards to tumblers with wildlife gazing at the northern lights and plaques with scenes of wolves, bears and moose at sunset. She sold so much inventory in 2021 that she never went back to the office.
In late September, Ford was already excited about this year’s holiday potential. She’d had many conversations with families at farmers markets who have made shopping at makers markets a tradition and said they would seek her out.
“I have noticed that more people are buying from artists instead of going to Hobby Lobby,” Ford says of the chain, one of her main competitors for decorative seasonal items. “I heard from so many that they’d rather support a local business.”
Makers markets have proliferated in recent years as a result, partnering with downtown events like Small Business Saturday to get local creators in front of those buyers. In addition to artwork, many offer unique products, such as skincare lines made from beeswax, handmade clothing and even custom windchimes. Around the holidays, many of the products are intended to be gifted, though shoppers usually treat themselves to something special too.
Centerra is hosting a new event, the Artisan Holiday Market, from 4:30-8:30 p.m. during its Winter Wonderlights LIVE nights on Nov. 23 and Dec. 13-14 at the north end of Chapungu Sculpture Park.
“We saw a great opportunity, especially during the holiday season, to feature local artisans and add that to the overall experience,” says Chris Bierdeman, group sales and events manager for Visit Loveland, the producer of Winter Wonderlights.
The holidays also mark the end of Ford’s touring season, a period from June through early December when she attends shows and events for inspiration and to sell her wares. She admits that her heart grows three sizes or lights up like Rudolph’s nose—whatever holiday metaphor you want to use—when she hears comments from families about how they love giving personalized gifts.
“It has a different meaning if I’m getting something homemade,” Ford says. “I know the blood, sweat and tears it takes.”
There for the vibe
Kelly Cook tries to gather artists before the start of the Indie Arts Greeley market and encourage them. Mostly, she hopes that they embrace the indie vibe.
“We want a community spirit and not just a salesman spirit,” Cook says. “We want them to show things and not just sell things.”
Makers markets have different philosophies, but many of them follow Cook’s lead around the holidays. Her show, which will celebrate its 15th year on Nov. 30, mixes handmade gifts with high-quality artwork that goes for hundreds of dollars. The show draws more than 2,000 attendees on the one day it takes place, and she wants all of them to walk away happy even if they don’t buy anything.
“We want people to say, ‘Wow, I’ve never seen that before,’” Cook says.
Many of the artists are pros, but for some, it’s their only show of the year. A lot of them know each other and will take over a booth while the owner grabs lunch. These little traits help separate a holiday market and show from, say, just another vendor event with the goal of moving merchandise, Cook says.
Jules Gillen has had a long-time goal of hosting a holiday market at Artworks Center for Contemporary Art in downtown Loveland, mainly to support local artists while spreading holiday cheer. Vendor fees are one of the hidden costs of being an artist, so much so that artists told her they were just breaking even on other shows throughout the year. Artworks has been providing artists with an affordable place to work and display their art for a dozen years, and Gillen, Artworks’ education chair, is organizing their first holiday shows on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.
“I wanted to have an affordable place where they could collaborate and sell together,” Gillen says. “Vendors this year approached me for the holidays, so they drove that too.”
Gillen is more known for her Valentine Flea, a pop-up market that takes place on the second Friday of most months in different locations around Loveland. Her holiday market will feature a curated group of artists from the Valentine Flea, and two other holiday market mainstays will join her for the weekend at different places. Artspace Loveland, which has hosted a show for eight years, will have one curated by artist residents on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1., and another one will take place at Loveland Aleworks on Nov. 30. The market at Loveland Aleworks took place at the downtown Loveland Pocket Park (at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and 4th Street) for several years before the brewery took it in last year.
MiraSoul Ancestral Healing & Wellness, a vendor at the Indie Arts Greeley market.
Small businesses, high quality
Many holiday market organizers understand that they will attract large crowds and try to match their eagerness with professional or semi-professional artists, experienced makers and veteran crafters. In fact, many turn away artists instead of trying to sell more space, which may not seem like good business practice given that’s how organizers make most of their money.
The organizers say the opposite: Customers are more discerning during the holidays and don’t want to see booths full of the same things. The markets also fight for time as many occur on Thanksgiving weekend, a busy time for shopping, and compete with each other.
“I do not often load a market up with, let’s say, jewelry,” says Carolyn Yalin, organizer of Handmade Market NOCO, a makers market held at breweries and restaurants with a holiday focus throughout December. “I try to add one potential craft category to each market. I will look for someone in ceramics, skincare, apparel, art, etcetera.”
Cook says her show’s vendors need to be “a little more independent, a little more hip and art-centered and a little less craft-centered.” She wants the Indie Arts Greeley market to stay at a high level and offer items shoppers can’t find anywhere else.
A market’s reputation matters, which is why Grimm believes her Colorado Makers Market does well. She features more than 100 vendors, and most are from Northern Colorado, with a few exceptions for the Denver area. She limits common categories such as jewelry, art prints and ceramics and tries to offer products for all age ranges, with vendors that go through a juried process.
“We’ve proven ourselves as an event now,” Grimm says. “It’s not just sign up and get in.”
Holiday markets like these are invaluable to vendors as many operate online and otherwise wouldn’t have a chance to make personal connections.
“We can get face-to-face time with our customers,” says Taelor O’Dorisio, who founded Tea with Tae four years ago and has since drawn her husband, Roderick, a lawyer, into the Golden business.
Their main product is a tea bento box that’s meant to be gifted, so it’s perfect for the holidays, O’Doriso says. She received lots of feedback from customers at vendor events on how to improve her teas when she first offered them.
“Every year our product gets better because of the feedback of the customers, even those who spend more time in other booths,” she says.
Ultimately, the idea is to sell, and that’s why the couple looks forward to bringing their product to the Colorado Makers Market this year.
“It flies out of there,” O’Doriso says.
Holiday Markets in NOCO
When: 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Nov. 30 Where: Atlas Theater, Greeley
When: 12-5 p.m., select weekends in December
Where: Five Fort Collins locations:
Mythmaker Brewing, Dec. 1
Maxline Brewing, Dec. 7
Salt Road Brewing, Dec. 14
Ginger and Baker, Dec. 15
Breckenridge Brewing, Dec. 21
When: 12-5 p.m., Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 Where: Aztlan Community Center, Fort Collins
When: 4:30-8:30 p.m. during the Winter Wonderlights LIVE events, Nov. 23 and Dec. 13-14
Where: The north end of Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra, Loveland
Holiday Market/Small Business Saturday
When: 2-8 p.m., Nov. 30 Where: Artworks Center for Contemporary Art, Loveland Aleworks, Artspace Loveland
When: 12-5 p.m., Dec. 1 Where: Artworks Center for Contemporary Art, Artspace Loveland
