End of the 2011 Season: Holiday Market Wrap Up & More

Thank you to EVERYONE who came out this Saturday for our final Cheverly Community Market of the season! It was an amazing turnout -- and a great pleasure to meet so many new people. We hope you were able to get lots of your holiday shopping done while enjoying a morning with your friends and neighbors here in Cheverly. See photos from a wonderful Holiday Market -- and all of our Markets -- on our flickr page.


A special thanks to our guest musician, Daniel Flores, to the many, many volunteers who donated their time to setting up and cleaning up, and to our vendors who have supported us through thick and thin. We've said it before, but it definitely bears repeating: Cheverly Community Market is a community effort. We rely on you -- as a customer, as a vendor, or as a volunteer -- to keep us going and to help us grow.

We want to extend a very heartfelt thank you to our Market Manager this season, Barbara Scully Liston. Barbara has been an institution in Cheverly -- she's taught many of our children and has been an important part of the fabric of our community for many years. Those of us who have been fortunate to know her as a friend count ourselves very rich. And those of us who have had the great good fortune to have our young children educated by her -- well, that's a gift that will grow forever. Cheverly Community Market was tremendously lucky that she agreed to take us on this year, and we are deeply grateful. So thank you, Barbara, from the bottom of our hearts. We wish you all the best in Florida -- your family is so fortunate to have you there and we know you'll absolutely shine in your new grandma role!

So here we are at the end of the 2011 season. We're going to hibernate for a bit after the holidays, but we're already excited about next year... There's lots in store, so make sure to visit the blog when you can. We'll have posts featuring recipes, food for thought and the very latest Market news. And if you're missing the site of luscious local food and gorgeous Saturday mornings at the Cheverly Community Center, you can always pay a visit to our flickr page -- nearly 6,300 photos!

At the Market This Week: The Holiday Market Edition

It seems like May was not that long ago, yet here we are in the second week of December, with the holidays and a new year fast approaching. Our final Market of the year -- Holiday Market -- brings together friends old and new to close out our season. We're excited to share all the treasures with you, and hope that you'll find something for everyone on your holiday "nice" list Saturday morning!

We want to thank everyone -- our vendors, our many volunteers, and you, our beloved customers -- for your support this season. We're looking forward to wonderful things next season, and we're happy to share this last Market of the 2011 season with you!


VENDORS:
Benny's Fruit Stand/Rebert Farm
Shlagel Farm
Simply Sauasage
Two Oceans Seafood
Waltz Family Farm
Cheverly Breadbasket
Honestly Homemade
Cakes by Ruthann
Eve's Cheese
Martha's Jams
Elk Run Vineyard
Running Hare Vineyard
Andrews & Dunham Damn Fine Tea
Ladies of Charity Common Ground Coffee
Hats by Anne
Helen Crosskey
Carletta's Creations
D & D Affordable Jewelry
Deciduous Dave's Walking Sticks & Stuff
DHT Creations
Encore Hats by Ann Barsi
GiGi's Quilts
Good Earth Pottery
Handmade Creations by Anna & Stefanie
Kaylala Organic Apothecary
Mystic Water Soap
Madeleine Golde Pottery & Jewelry
Mame Inspires
Pax River Alpacas
Studio 617
New Starts Farm
Profusions of Glass
Boy Scout Troop 257
Cheverly Green Infrastructure Initiative
Music by Daniel Flores
Christmas Trees, Raffle and Silent Auction to benefit Cheverly Community Market

 See you Saturday at Cheverly Community Market!

Holiday Market: Studio 617

It's been a great joy to welcome Holly Bowers and Baltimore's Studio 617 to Cheverly Community Market this year. Studio 617 has been a great addition, and it's always fun to see their great metal work in yards and gardens around town.

This Saturday, in addition to the beautiful sunflowers, birds, fish, house plaques, and Holly brings some wonderful holiday-themed pieces to us, perfect for gift giving.

Holly writes:
Trees! We have trees! People have been going crazy over these.....we have plenty now.....the ornaments are all plastic and made for the outdoors. Alternatively, you can change it out for one of your own! These are $25 each and can be picked up at Saturday's Holiday Market.....we have red, gold, blue and Raven's purple!


Make sure to visit Holly at Holiday Market this Saturday. We'll keep an eye out for great new Studio 617 metal art on the lawns of Cheverly!

Holiday Market: Mame Inspires

 Mame Inspires creates amazing pen & ink drawings and turns them into wonderful notecards, framed prints, and bookmarks from them. During the course of our Thanksgiving Market, it was wonderful to visit Mame and Diana Ndiaye as Mame created a piece on site. We also love the gorgeous traditional crafts, including woven bags and beads that were available. If you're looking for a truly unique gift for a very special someone, make sure to visit Mame Inspires this Saturday!

Holiday Market: DHT Creations

It's a great treat to welcome DHT Creations back to Cheverly Community Market! Lee Agule's fleece scarves, blankets and other creations were very popular at our Thanksgiving Market. We know that -- now that temperatures are dropping to winter levels -- these colorful creations will be going fast! Choose from a great array of colors and patterns and find something that's just right for you...or a very lucky someone on your gift list!

Music at the Holiday Market: Help Us Welcome Daniel Flores

We have been so lucky to have wonderful musicians with us throughout the season this year -- laid-back guitar and vocals from our house band, Charles & Kelly of The Hot Noodles, Dixieland Jazz from the wonderfully talented students at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Bolivan music from William Pozo-Zarate, and now a terrific multi-instrumentalist, Daniel Flores.


Daniel has been playing piano for eight years, cello for two, and guitar for one. He's in Bishop McNamara's String Orchestra as first chair cello, Jazz Ensemble (piano), Jazz Lab (cello, though he played guitar last year), and was a part of the pit for "Anything Goes" by Cole Porter (piano). Daniel has been inducted into Tri-M, National Honor Society, Thespian Society, and have been on McNamara's Summa Cum Laude list for the past three years. A student of pianist Ms. Marilou Padilla Gallardo, he was named student of the year. Daniel is also a Moreau Scholar, Chaplain's Aide, and Assistant Patrol Leader in Boy Scouts, and was elected Bishop McNamara's Tri-M (music honor society) president. In his spare time (ha ha!), Daniel enjoys music composition, painting, and acting.

Daniel will play Christmas music and maybe a few classic pieces here and there. Please help us welcome this very special guest musician to the Market this Saturday!


Photo courtesy of The National Library of Scotland via flickr's The Commons project

Holiday Market: Find Special Gifts This Saturday

There are some wonderful ways to support local artisans this weekend at Cheverly Community Market. By purchasing gifts from small independent businesses (our vendors!) you're showing that you support the arts in Cheverly!

Read through all of our blog entries for information on 17 amazing craftspeople, from printmakers to fabric artists to jewelry makers and glass artisans. We have several new artisans joining us for Holiday Market and we're excited to introduce them to you:

Hats by Anna: Anne Winters makes wonderful hats, perfect for the cold months ahead
Handmade Creations by Anne & Stefanie: Anna Smith & Stefanie Krimsky have created terrific baby and children's things
Madeleine Golde: Madeleine will have her gorgeous one-of-a-kind pottery and jewelry

Make sure to visit all of our artisan vendors at Holiday Market this Saturday. You're sure to find unique gifts to round out your holiday shopping (and maybe even something special for yourself), and you'll feel great about supporting local craftspeople!

Image courtesy of The Smithsonian Institution via flick's The Commons project

Holiday Market: Honestly Homemade

We are so excited to have Cheverly resident and baker extraordinaire Christine Robertson join us at Cheverly Community Market this Saturday. Christine's cookies are the stuff of legend (I will attest to this) in some circles, so we're especially happy to have her on board! Her wonderful, wholesome baked goods were a huge hit at our Thanksgiving Market, and if you were lucky enough to try one of those apple dumplings, a sweet roll, cookie, or anything else, you know that we're in for a real treat at Holiday Market!

This Saturday, Honestly Homemade will have those amazing cinnamon rolls again, Triple Ginger cookies, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip cookies, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies, and new this time: sausage bread, pepperoni rolls, and walnut rolls. Finally, she'll have "Cookie Mix in a Jar", great for gift giving! All of Christine's dairy and eggs are from South Mountain Creamery and her apples will be from a local orchard.

Pick up some delicious sweet treats (and gifts) from Honestly Homemade...if they make it all the way home, you win twice. We (probably) don't have that kind of willpower! 

Holiday Market: Encore Hats by Ann Barsi

Cheverly resident Ann Barsi makes wonderful hats from recycled sweaters -- Merino wool for her Performance and Commuter hats and cashmere for her Encore Cashmere line. The sweaters are washed and semi-felted to create a slightly denser, incredibly soft fabric.


Perfect for anyone, the Performance hats are perfectly suited for the serious cyclist -- they fit under a helmet perfectly and have no thick seams, and the recycled Merino wool wicks away moisture and has natural antibacterial properties (so they don't get stinky!) These hats come in interesting color combinations and are sure to please the pickiest wearer.

The Encore Cashmere line is a luxury you can feel good about -- recycled 100% cashmere sweaters make incredibly lush, warm hats. The hats have a deep fold-back cuff and come in a beautiful array of colors from bright to subdued. Thoughtful, responsible gifts (or something very special for yourself!)

Make sure to stop by and visit Ann Barsi at our Holiday Market this Saturday. You'll definitely want to add an Encore Hats by Nonna Barsi hat to your cold-weather gear!

Holiday Market: Ladies of Charity Common Ground Coffee

We know. The holidays can be awfully stressful. What with shopping and making and wrapping and sending and celebrating and...well, the list is long for everyone at this time of year. 

Let the Ladies of Charity soothe your frayed nerves with a cup of strong coffee at Holiday Market this Saturday. Even the busiest person around can use an edifying cuppa these days!

Photo courtesy of The George Eastman House Photography Collection, via flickr's Commons project

Community at the Holiday Market: Cheverly Green Infrastructure Plan Initiative

Stop by and talk with Doug Alexander and Dave Kneipp about the very exciting initiatives that Cheverly Green Infrastructure is working on. You'll be able to review the full plan brochure and learn important information about what we can do to keep Cheverly green and vibrant for generations to come.

See you Saturday at Holiday Market!

Holiday Market: Mystic Water Soap

Riverdale Park soapmaker Michelle Burns learned the art of making soap by the traditional cold process method while living in Italy. Her home-based company, Mystic Water Soap, offers a wide array of beautiful, fragrant, long-lasting olive oil soaps that are rich in natural glycerin. Original formulas feature infused oils, goats milk, herbs, wild Tussah silk, sea salt and colored clays from around the world, with unscented soap also available. In addition, Michelle makes Dead Sea bath salts, lip balms, whipped shea butter, lotion bars and perfume oils which she sells, along with essential oils and bath accessories.


Make sure to visit Michelle this Saturday at Holiday Market. She can help you find the right products for your skin, and suggest ideal skincare gifts for almost anyone on your holiday shopping list!

Holiday Market: Eve's Cheese

We always enjoy hearing stories about the obsessive sorts of things that some of our friends do with the amazing cheeses from Eve's Cheese -- from feeding it to cats (lucky cats!) to intense omelette/grilled cheese/quesadilla experimentation, we love it all. And if you've tried Eve's Cheese, you know that it can inspire just these sorts of behaviors. From the Cheddar to the great varieties of Colby (including Horseradish, Italian, Dill, my favorite -- the BBQ, or Maryland special Crabby Colby) there's something for every cheese lover (cats included) and so many ways to kick up your omelets, grilled cheeses, and quesadillas (and so many other recipes!) Stop by Ruth's Cheese at Holiday Market this Saturday!

Holiday Market: Profusions of Glass

If you attended our Thanksgiving Market, you already know that Profusions of Glass makes gorgeous fused glass art pieces. Tina Van Pelt creates a full line of pendants, barrettes, earrings and pins, as well as architectural glass (such as drawer pulls and infused glass tiles that are designed to be used for backsplashes and accents) in her Riverdale studio.

Make sure to stop by the Profusions of Glass table at Holiday Market this Saturday to meet Tina and see her beautiful work for yourself. These pieces are lovely gifts for any occasion, so it's a wonderful opportunity to purchase locally made, gorgeous gifts for the very special people in your life.

Holiday Market: Simply Sausage

Simply Sausage will have about 25 varieties of sausage at Holiday Market this Saturday. And we're in for an amazing! Among the items they'll be sampling will be their Christmas Morning sausage, designed to fill your home with the aromas of sweet spices such as allspice, fennel, and anise. Can't you almost smell it now? Make sure to stop by and visit with Stanley at the Market this Saturday...let the delicious aroma of these artisanal sausages guide you to the Simply Sausage table, then stock up on some of the highest-quality sausages you'll find anywhere in the world!

Holiday Market: Martha's Jams

  
One of life's great treats s fresh jam, and we know of no local jam better than that made by Cheverly's own Martha Allen. The spiced blueberry on a slice of warm toast? Heaven. And the mango pulp is a well-known "secret" ingredient at many a dinner party. A jar or two of Martha's Jam, a fresh loaf of bread and a tin of tea would make a wonderful teacher gift (or even something very thoughtful for your favorite neighbors!)


Martha is bringing a great variety to us at Holiday Market, including a just-made triple berry (blueberry-marionberry-raspberry) and and orange. Mmmm....can't you almost taste it right now? Make sure to get Martha's Jams at Cheverly Community Market this Saturday. You'll want to stock up...it's a long wait until our Market revs up again in the Spring!

Holiday Market: Rebert's Farm/Benny's Fruit Stand

For our final Market of the year, we're looking forward to those wonderful late autumn/early winter fruits and vegetables that are warming, hearty and delectable on brisk days when you're chilled to the bone. The Reberts will have a great selection of apples, fresh pressed cider, fresh celery, sweet potatoes, and a variety of winter squash, just perfect for stews, baking, and making your winter favorites. So visit the Reberts this weekend at Holiday Market, then take your treasures home and invite some friends over for some warm apple cider, winter vegetable stew and a baked apple...it'll be a wonderful feast!

Holiday Market: Pax River Alpacas (UPDATED)

It's been quite a long time since we've had the pleasure of welcoming Pax River Alpacas to Cheverly Community Market, and Holiday Market is the perfect time to do it! The cooler temperatures are better for these beautiful animals, and we can't wait to see them this Saturday. The best part? The yarn! Alpaca yarn is incredibly soft and durable -- some of the nicest stuff you'll ever knit. A few skeins would be an ideal gift for your favorite knitter. And if you're a knitter and still working on those holiday gifts, you'll love working with this gorgeous, luxurious fiber.

Visit the alpacas at Holiday Market, and get advice from Sue on the best alpaca yarns for your projects!

UPDATE: We just received this email from Sue, and wanted to share all the goodness with you!

We are going to bring two alpacas and we have handmade alpaca scarves, shawls and hats to sell. We also have alpaca socks and gloves, in addition to a variety of alpaca yarns, including hand-dyed alpaca yarns and alpaca yarns blended with other fibers such as silk, merino, tencel and bamboo. 
Thanks,Sue Rosche

Holiday Market: Deciduous Dave's Walking Sticks & Stuff

It never ceases to amaze: the joy and wonder that children take in the simplest toys. The wooden swords from Deciduous Dave's Walking Sticks & Stuff have become a staple of play in Cheverly. They're great toys -- of course they can be swords, but they've also been known to double as light sabers, riding ponies, bridges for tiny Lego people... These are great gifts that promote truly thoughtlful, creative play and can be handed down amongst siblings (ours was a sword and lightsaber, now it's part of an elaborate castle protocol. Several children have been knighted by the Princess-Queen of the manor with it.)

In addition to swords, Dave makes wonderful, unique walking sticks, as well as juggling clubs, juggling orbs and devil sticks.  Dave also makes mojito makers, french rolling pins, sock darners, spurtles, dibber, and garden mushrooms. Visit with Dave this Saturday at Holiday Market, and find out what some of those things are! And while you're there, pick out wonderful gifts for the imaginative children, wonderful bakers, cocktail makers, knitters, and gardenrs on your holiday shopping list!

Holiday Market: Running Hare Vineyards

We're very happy to have Running Hare Vineyards at our Holiday Market. As one of two wineries represented this Saturday, these long-time Market favorites are always most welcome.

The Scarboroughs have been very busy -- the winery is part of Southern Maryland's very first wine trail (visit Patuxent Wine Trail for details), and Running Hare has been winning international awards for their Malbec, Chardonnay, Chambourci, Sangiovese, and Shiraz varieties. Visit with the Scarboroughs this weekend and sample some really special wines. Whether you take home a bottle of Malbec, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Shiraz, Chambourcin, or any other variety, you'll be happy, and so will anyone who is lucky enough to get a bottle as a gift! 

Holiday Market: New Starts Farm

Did you notice the beautiful recycled wood bird houses that Tom Baldwin brought to us at Thanksgiving Market a few weeks ago? Each one had a distinct personality -- they're really art. I must have passed them at least 10 times without really taking them in, but once I really looked, I fell in love. The best things are often like that -- right there in plain view if you look. I find that many of the products from New Starts fit this description -- quiet, natural and understated, but truly lovely in ways that are, at first, rather hard to describe.  


New Starts Farm has brought many wonderful, seasonal things to us at Cheverly Community Market over the years. From fresh, delicate herbs in the spring to gourds, garlic, and hearty plants in the fall, we always enjoy the natural beauty of the selection from New Starts.

Make sure to visit Tom at Holiday Market this Saturday. You might find a few fall ornamental plants (pansies and ornamental cabbage and Kale), as well as holiday cactus plants, seasonal centerpieces with gourds, ornamental corn, dried flowers, etc., and those lovely bird houses from recycled materials. 

Holiday Market: Carletta's Creations

Carletta Bey makes very pretty, creative, useful painted and etched glassware, as well as painting and photography. She uses a variety of painting techniques and interesting color combinations to decorate wine glasses that would make a welcome gift for a dear friend ( or two!)

The etched pieces are elegant and graceful and her lines are strong and sure. A set of glasses from Carletta's Creations is a very thoughtful gift...add a bottle of wine from one of our Cheverly Community Market wineries, and you have a gift that will be remembered for a long time to come!

Visit Carletta this weekend at the Holiday Market and find an unique gift for someone very special.

Holiday Market: Rose Fennell's Good Earth Pottery

If you follow our blog, you already know of the great admiration we have for the work of local potter Rose Fennell. Rose makes gorgeous functional pottery in her home studio. Her work is always very popular because of its graceful form and beautiful spirit. Visit Rose this Saturday at Holiday Market and discover some great pieces for very special gifts or for your own home. 

Holiday Market: Helen Crosskey

Did you get a chance to visit with Helen Crosskey at our Thanksgiving Market? Not only is she absolutely charming, she makes really wonderful jewelry, as well as scarves, hats, jackets (she had a great Redskins-themed jacket for your favorite little fan girl) as well as all sorts of practical sewn goods. Make sure to visit Helen at Holiday Market this Saturday -- you'll find a wide variety of terrific gifts!

Holiday Market: Cheverly Breadbasket

 I had to do it. A gray day full of drizzle with a possibility of snow in the next 48 hours? Let the memory comfort food to get you through days like this.. Like delectable chocolate croissants and earthy breads from Cheverly Breadbasket. Cheverly Breadbasket features artisanal bread, cookies, and pastries from the always amazing Firehook Bakery, as well as amazing tortillas and chips from Landover's own Moctec.

Share a special treat with your friends and family this weekend at the Holiday Market, and pick up a few loaves for your family and to give as early holiday gifts (along with a jar of preserves from Martha's Jams, of course!) Make sure to visit Cheverly Breadbasket early -- the best selection always goes fast!

See you this Saturday at Holiday Market!

Holiday Market: Andrews & Dunham Damn Fine Tea

Local tea concern Damn Fine Tea is headed by Cheverly residents Charles Andrews & Erik Dunham. Damn Fine Tea sells fine loose-leaf teas in beautifully produced tins. Over several years in business, the company has gained a serious following and has been recognized for the quality of both product and design.

From the smokey blackness of Caravan to the gentle sweetness of Jasmine Green, Assams to Oolongs to a particularly fine Earl Grey, Damn Fine Tea makes it their business to bring the best teas around directly to you. And who knows...they may even have a surprise or two in store to celebrate the final Cheverly Community Market of the year!

Make sure to visit Charles & Erik at the Holiday Market this weekend --you'll want to get some tea for yourself and for the very best people on your holiday giving list.

Holiday Market: D&D Affordable Jewelry

There were some really terrific, affordable gifts available at the D&D Affordable Jewelry table at Thanksgiving Market. We know of at least one little girl who came away with a bracelet perfect for a princess!

Make sure to visit D&D this Saturday at the Holiday Market -- you'll find a nice selection of merchandise at reasonable prices. A very good stop for children and adults alike doing gift shopping for grandmothers, aunts and other favorite people!

Holiday Market: Kaylala Organic Apothecary

We're always happy when our friends from Kaylala Organic Apothecary come to visit us at Cheverly Community Market, and now, as the winter is upon us and the air gets drier and the winds harsher, our skin can really use extra loving care!

Try the Lotion Bon Bons, which are packaged in cute little tins. They'd be a great addition to your handbag or backpack, and a very thoughtful small gift for the holidays. Or pick up some lip balm -- remember to protect one of your most valuable assets in cold weather! Kaylala also has wonderful body creams, scrubs, facial moisturizers, face and body cleansers, and, of course, their amazing Emu Oils, which contain essential fatty acids and do wonders for dry, chapped skin. 


As we head into the the holidays, this is a great opportunity to pick up wonderful little presents for friends and family. They'll be sure to thank you for you for being so thoughtful! It's also a perfect time to stock up on cold-winter essentials -- balms, scrubs, and ointments -- for your own winter skincare cabinet! 


Visit the Kaylala website for the full product line, and make sure to stop by Kaylala at Holiday Market this Saturday to stock up on skincare essentials and treats for you and for those you love.