Tsawwassen's best known curated holiday craft and decor show, Silk Threads, returns next week.
The show runs from Thursday, Nov. 7 to Saturday, Nov. 9, bringing the best of local handmade artisan crafting to the season of giving in South Delta.
From edibles, to art, to glass, metal and wearable fabric crafting, the show begun by Margaret Ryding in her Tsawwassen home almost 30 years ago has become a holiday tradition throughout South Delta and beyond.
"Every year we welcome hundreds of visitors from all over who come to see our artists and crafters' amazing talents displayed throughout the house and garden," says Ryding about her unique annual show that blends the handmade creations of some 24 artisans. The Christmas craft fair tradition, with its legions of contemporary fans, dates back to the late Middle Ages in Germany and elsewhere in Europe when arts and craft guilds would come together at seasonal markets to sell their handmade crafts and traditional holiday foods. Now, in the age of the Internet, the seasonal marketplace can be a global one, with artisans from all over the world marketing through online handmade craft sites.
But the value of meeting the artists and crafters showcased at Silk Threads, all who are on hand throughout the three days of the show and many of whom are locally based, is an essential ingredient in the long-running success of Ryding's show.
"There's a camaraderie between artisans and an authenticity of craft-making spirit about this show that's just very special," says Veronica Lynch of Tsaswwassen, whose work includes shadow box compositions of timeless Christmas images crafted with upcycled vintage rhinestone jewelry. Silk Threads takes place at 4808 English Bluff Court. It opens
daily at 9 a.m. For more information about the crafters and artists featured this year, visit www.silkthreadschristmascraftshow.com.
