BY ANDI BEDSWORTH

 

The first Saturday of the new month is approaching and this means it is time for the Oxford Maker’s Market. This homemade and homegrown market has been promoting local artists, craftspeople and artisans each month for several years in our area, and they have a mega market planned for this coming up weekend Along with all of the usual interesting vendors, you can also plan to see some younger artists selling at the market on Saturday. There have been times in the past where the younger set has been involved with their parents making and displaying their wares, and the market directors, Amanda and Jason Heavner wanted to provide them with that opportunity again. This weekend the Children’s Market will be held in conjunction with the regular market and will feature at least six local children who range in age from nine to fifteen years old. Siblings, Ty’Kel, Christina and Laila Owens will be bringing original paintings, drawings and notecards. This artistic family also includes a talented mother, Tiffeny Owens who is a member of the Oxford Artists’ Guild and often displays her work at the Maker’s Market. The Heavner’s daughter, Lyric of Fairy Tail Art will have watercolor paintings and needle felted animals. Jenae Brown of Glitterriffix is going to be out there selling her handmade jewelry and Zuri Brown of Patch Work will be showing off her custom made bowties.

With over 35 vendors participating this Saturday, you are sure to find something that catches your interest. Oxford Henna Company will be out there with Indian inspired body art, and for those who like sparkly things, jewelry by Wired Whymsy, One Alley Designs, Southern Blue, Peppar Garvin and Silverlap Studio will be on display. If your tastes for art lean towards paintings, photography, and drawings you will find plenty of variety at booths by J-Man, E.M.Skinner, Tiffeny Owens, June Pryor and Amanda Carper, Taylor Wilson and Charles Smith. For the more unusual stop by and peek at Bone Art by Alex Mo, cutting boards, string art and wood turned pens by Jim and Leanna O’Dell and iron work by Sweetgum Forge. Also participating in the market this week will be The Briar Patch, Heather Knapp, CJ’s Creations, Ligon Farm, Susie Pitts, Simple Joys by Vanessa, Keith Stewart, Ann Huggins, Spirit Song Studio, K Price Seamstressy, Linda Smith, Ann King of Artifacts, and 13 Chicks Mercantile.

The market opens at 10 a.m. on the courthouse lawn and will close at 4 p.m. There will be live music by The Kites. With so many vendors in one place, this will be a market to stop for. The spirit of the season will be in the air as people pile into the grove for the game, so make your way to the courthouse lawn first to soak up the arts culture in Oxford before heading out to the stadium. What a way to spend the first Football Weekend in Oxford this fall. As J-man himself says, “It’s gonna be huge, y’all!”

-andibedsworth@gmail.com