Edmonds Beacon - Your Hometown News Source

Look no further than the Holiday Art Mart for affordable high-end gifts for this holiday season.

Art lovers are invited to do their holiday shopping at the fourth annual Holiday Art Mart from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Rosehill Community Center. Mukilteo Arts Guild is the host; the city of Mukilteo is a co-sponsor.

Nearly 50 regional artists will be selling their original handmade art and gifts. The artists are selling their art directly, and at a price that will fit your budget, said Christine Schmalz, guild president.

“A lot of it is high-end but at low prices,” she said. “It hasn’t been marked up because it’s coming straight from the artists. People are buying reasonably priced items that you cannot buy at the mall, and they’re all handmade.”

The artists will have a wide selection of pieces, ranging from, sculptures, jewelry and clothing.

“It is the best show to come and get Christmas gifts,” said returning artist Susan Rothschild. “You’re getting unique items that you aren’t going to find in the stores that are all created by the artists by hand.”

Rothschild, of Camano Island, will have her handmade glass cutting boards and marble and ceramic tile art for sale. Her artwork features pictures of flowers, dogs and cats. She will also take orders for custom pet and family portraits.

“I wanted to put my art on glass, so I found a technique for that called dye sublimation, and then I expanded to tile and marble,” she said. “I like marble because it has a historical connection. The Romans used a lot of marble.”

Artist Susanna Tam is back for the fourth time to sell her handmade jewelry. She offers sterling silver necklaces and earrings, with designs inspired by recent trips to Kenya and Tanzania.

Tam, of Renton, who creates new jewelry designs all year, said she looks forward to the art mart each year to test out her new creations.

“When I unveil my new designs, I can see what people think about them and I can get feedback right away,” she said. “It’s a great little show, and I really enjoy it. I love that the community comes out to support it.”

Christine Schmalz, of Mukilteo, will also be selling her hand-painted silk scarves at the art mart.

“It’s just a little bit of my own art on silk you can wear,” she said. “I do huge paintings, so it’s kind of condensing them down to wearable art.”

Proceeds from the artist booths go toward the Mukilteo Arts Guild’s scholarship fund. Each year, the guild awards scholarships to graduating seniors from each of the Mukilteo School District’s high schools.

“The money goes right back into the community,” Schmalz said, adding that the guild hopes to raise $750 for each scholarship.

Schmalz said promoting arts education is an important part of the Holiday Art Mart.

“It rounds a child’s education out,” she said. “It gives a student confidence in something they probably didn’t think they had the ability to do.”

LaVendrick Smith is an intern for the Mukilteo Beacon.

Editor Sara Bruestle contributed to this report.