Rachel Snack has weaved together the perfect unique holiday shopping experience.
Snack, the owner of Weaver House, located in South Philly’s famous Bok Building, is hosting the first ever Holiday Craft Market, luring more than 60 vendors that will offer fiber crafts including yarn shops, craft supplies and kits, indie dyers and spinners, handmade items, textile wearables, jewelry and more. You name it.
It takes place on Dec. 9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the first floor of the Bok Building, 821 Dudley St. Admission is free and the first 150 attendees will receive a complimentary goodie bag. Snack believes shoppers will be leaving with much more.
“We often hear from our customers and students that they love visiting our shop or attending our workshops because of the community we’ve created, and that their biggest wish is for more events and community-driven programming,” Snack said. “The fiber arts community — weaving, knitting, crochet, quilting, sewing, etc. — is very passionate, supportive and engaged. We had over 100 people apply for the market and we’ll have over 60 vendors participating.”
Snack said she was waiting for the right time to spring the market into action.
“We (Weaver House) don’t participate in many markets, because most don’t seem like the right fit for our products and customers,” she said. “When I was dreaming up this event, I wanted to create a market that I would want to sell at and also shop at.”
The event will give holiday shoppers unique options for holiday gift ideas.
“This market has some really special vendors and many unique gift opportunities,” Snack said. “Visitors can shop handmade quilted apparel from m.a.b.e.l, natural dye kits from Kristin Arzt Natural Dyes, hand-tufted pillows from mishmash textiles, crocheted food art from Lace In The Moon, beginner weaving kits from the boomloom, fiber collage landscape artworks by juicebox workshop and handwoven hats by Thistle Pot, just to name a few. We also have some wonderful local yarn shops popping up, including Kelbourne Woolens, Loop and Wild Hand, and the Weaver House shop will be open on the second floor of the building.”
Weaver House is known as a yarn shop, textile studio and weaving school. It puts an onus on preservation of historical craft traditions and inspires hand-making arts. Through collaboration during workshops, it teaches mindfulness and meditation with the belief that weaving can provide therapy and healing.
The great traits of Weaver House will be on display alongside its neighbors and vendors that take part in the event. It’s not only a chance to sell wares, but a chance to buy from other talented artists.
“It’s going to be extremely hard to shop for gifts and not just myself, because I already know I am going to want everything,” Snack said. “This will be textile and fiber art paradise for anyone who loves the handmade goods, and it’s not to be missed.”
Snack said she’s extremely excited to show what the Bok Building has to offer during the Holiday Craft Market.
“Very excited,” she said. “I think this is a special opportunity to shop from many talented small business owners, artists and makers, see old friends and make new ones. Visitors can spend time seeing all the market has to offer, and then grab a drink from the Bok Bar pop-up in the Auditorium and socialize for a bit.”
