Nov. 22, 2011

Holiday shoppers looking for one-of-a-kind, distinctive gifts can add HACC’s Artisan Marketplaces as a must stop on their to-do list with locations offered in Perry and York counties.

The seventh annual Artisan Marketplace of Perry County runs through Dec. 23 at the Perry County Council of the Arts (PCCA), 1 S. Second St., Newport.

The fourth annual Artisan Marketplace of York runs through Dec. 22 at the York Town Craft Guild, which is located in the old Friendship Firehouse Co. 8 at 639 Franklin St.

Both marketplaces showcase work selected by a juried panel. HACC Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies co-sponsors the marketplaces to give local artists a venue to sell their creations.

In Perry County, among the handcrafted items available are walking sticks, Strohsterne (traditional German wheat-woven star ornaments), jewelry, acrylic and oil paintings, photography, stationery, stained glass, ceramics/sculpture, polymer clay, fabric, textile, wood working, felted purses, fishing equipment, mosaic planters and fiber art.

Marketplace hours at the PCCA are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; with extended hours to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays in December with the last day on Dec. 23. The marketplace is closed on Thanksgiving.

In York, a variety of juried items are for sale, including quilting, hand carved wood items, beaded pens, mosaic quotation boards, felted ponchos, decorative pillow cases, military jewelry, natural wreaths and organic home décor items, schnerenschnitte (German style cut paper), jewelry, acrylic and oil paintings, photography and underwater photography, stationery, ceramics/sculpture, polymer clay, fabric, textile, fiber art, photography books, porcelain, and painted wineglasses, glass wine stoppers and beaded wine charms.

Gallery hours are noon-4 p.m. Thursdays, noon-7 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 22. The marketplace will be closed Nov. 24 and 25 for Thanksgiving but will reopen 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26.

For more information, call the HACC Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at 1-800-ABC-HACC, ext. 1311, or go to www.hacc.edu.

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