Bazaar adds to holiday excitement

Published 12:21 am Sunday, December 4, 2011

NATCHEZ — Nothing like Christmas tunes, colorful wreaths and seasonal spending to gets Lorna Martin in the holiday spirit.

Martin weaved through the booths Saturday ready to shop at the Holiday Bazaar and Merry Market, a fundraiser for Trinity Episcopal Day School.

ERIC SHELTON | THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT — Jeffrey Carmody, of Jeffrey Carmody Interior Designs, adjusts one of his Christmas wreaths during the Holiday Bazaar at the Natchez Convention Center Saturday afternoon.

Martin’s daughter, Tori Martin, didn’t need help getting excited about the season.

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“I love Christmas — it’s so cheery,” Tori said.

But the merry market gave Lorna the nudge needed to push her over the jolly edge.

“(The bazaar) kind of puts you in the Christmas spirit. I’ve been lacking it the past couple of weeks,” Lorna said.

Bazaar organizer, Kathryn Nutter, said the second-annual event has doubled its size since it started.

The number of vendors increased this year to 45. It was hosted at the Natchez Convention Center as opposed to last year’s location at the Grand Hotel.

“We have vendors from all over, there’s a good variety,” Nutter said.

In addition, downtown shops Pampered Soul and Katie’s Ladies sponsored a fashion show for the event.

Loren Vines sold children’s clothes, wreaths, accessories and cosmetics at a booth for her Sicily Island-based store, Pretty in Pink Boutique.

Vines said the bazaar gave her good exposure, which is especially important for her year-old business.

“I’ve passed out about 500 business cards,” Vines said.

And by 3 p.m., all but four of the wreaths she made had been sold.

“We’re trying to sell everything so we don’t have to pack it back up,” Vines said.

Vines said she had not had time to stop and count her earnings Saturday, but she knew she made more than they spent to participate in the fundraiser.

Catherine Posey worked the booth for Jeffery’s Flower Shop, which caught the eyes and credit cards of shoppers with its Christmas wreaths wrapped in colorful mesh ribbon.

Posey said the mesh has been popular holiday décor this year, likely because it is easy to work with and very eye-catching.

Jeffery’s Flower Shop has had a good season this year compared to the past couple years, Posey said.

“People bought early, and they bought hard, and they bought fast,” Posey said.

“We’ve emptied the store three times (this season). The economy has been good for us.”

The bazaar also presented a good opportunity for residents to keep Christmas tidings close to home by shopping locally.

“There’s a lot of different choices in one place, and you get to see (vendors) you wouldn’t normally see by going to Walmart,” Martin said.