Saturday Market #26: Desperately Seeking Inspiration

It's that Holiday Market poster time of year again. Last Saturday I had no clue what I would do this time around. Wednesday was the committee meeting and deadline to have something in hand. OK, I had one clue, just a thought of curly or swirly something. I also knew that once I got out and started looking, something would occur to me.

As the day wore on, and the stage was kind of complicated with a no-show and some timing issues, I was afraid that I wouldn't have time to find "it." Finally, at 3:45 or so, I got away from the stage and started to look. Not really looking for swirly things specifically, by now I was just looking for anything. Looking back through my photos from the day, I can see that swirly curly was catching my eye, in Ayala's booth (on a hat) and in Amy Clancy's booth (part of a little kid hat):



So then, Katy Jane came up and asked if I'd take a picture of her and her husband, Patrick Conlin, for the poster. And there, in their booth, was "IT"! Patrick's gorgeous copper vessel with the sorta Art Deco, maybe even more Arts & Crafts style, definitely inspirational form and handles. Aaaahhh! The perfect focal point!



On the drive home I was contemplating the vessel, and a conversation I'd had with Dru Marchbanks from the Holiday Market committee about how to emphasize "buy local" and "made in Oregon" in some way that didn't use either of those phrases. I think they've become sort of invisible through over use. "Made by Hand" and "Close to Home" suddenly appeared in my head and I think together those phrases say that and more. I let all that swirl around my brain for a day, and by late late Sunday night I had a poster mock-up that I really liked. Fortunately, so did the committee folk. Now I've just got to get some great photos of Marketeers to add to the mix as usual, and soon enough you'll be seeing the Holiday Market poster.

Thanks, Patrick and Katy!!