Kriskindlmarkt Goes Virtual for 2020!
Our online holiday market will be open from Tuesday, November 10 through Tuesday, November 24 at 12:00 noon.
You can pick up your item to save on shipping fees, using coupon code LOCALSHOPPER at checkout- then just arrange a time to pick up your items at CFSOTA!
As with many large events and gatherings in 2020, the realities of COVID-19 have made it necessary for us to reimagine our favorite annual event, Kriskindlmarkt. We have been flexing our creative muscles overtime to come up with ways to carry on the spirit of this year’s Kriskindlmarkt when we cannot feasibly host our usual thousands of visitors in person.
Our virtual event will give you more shopping days than ever to purchase your favorite artisan-made wares, for yourself or as gifts! We also plan to have special virtual celebrations on the original event dates of November 20-21, including music and special guests.
In addition to our virtual offerings, this year we are adding a spectacular new in-person experience for the holiday season: The Garden Illumination! A wonderful way to celebrate the holidays in the Alleghany Highlands will debut outdoors this year in the School of the Arts’ garden. The display will include more than 70,000 lights, Christmas music, and a guarantee that no two sparkling nights will be exactly the same!
Special Thanks to This Year's Patrons!
The McDowell Family, Hidden Fields Farm
Hidden Fields Farm was founded in 2014 by Robert and Cecille McDowell in the Rich Patch Area of Alleghany County. As a family owned and operated business, Hidden Fields Farm offers fresh, hand cut Christmas trees and greenery. We also specialize in handmade wreaths, swags, centerpieces, hand tied bows, and other seasonal holiday decor.
SHOP HERE for the McDowell family’s items
The Conner Family, Mill Gap Farms
We operate Mill Gap Farms – Virginia’s only Certified Organic Maple Syrup producer. We also raise alpacas and sheep on our Monterey, VA farm. Kevin runs the maple syrup business, and Emily creates handwoven scarves and other handmade items from the homegrown fiber and wool. We additionally offer multiple bed and breakfast experiences — you can stay at our farm, or in a nearby cabin retreat in the beautiful Virginia mountains. Visit our links to find out more about our farm and family!
SHOP HERE for the Conner family’s items
John Stallard, CHEFS Catering
The philosophy is simple. The goal for CHEFS catering is to provide a stress-free and relaxed environment for the client. I truly love what I do. Cooking and guest services have been my life for over thirty years, and I have done it all, from dishwasher, busboy all the way to being an executive chef at a high-end restaurant. Making people happy gives me a great sense of accomplishment. The opportunities are limitless.
Steve Van Buren, Art Nouveau Tiles
While living in Germany, I came across antique tiles manufactured during the Art Nouveau period (1890-1914). These unique and beautiful tiles graced the walls, fireplaces and furniture of old European homes and buildings. During the Art Nouveau period, tile manufacturers were staffed with artists and designers to create these little works of art. Over time I met other collectors and dealers in this small universe of antique tile lovers who were instrumental in educating me on the provenance of these tiles. When I retired in 2015, I decided to turn my hobby into a small business and share these unique items with others who might also find them unique and beautiful.
If you see a tile(s) in the image gallery linked below that interests you, please send me an email with the tile number (each tile has a number and description which can be seen by clicking on the image), and I can give you a price quote and answer any questions you might have.
SHOP HERE for Steve’s items
Meet the Vendors Selling in this Year's Virtual Market
Mill Gap Farms- The Conner Family
Virginia’s only Certified Organic Maple Syrup producer, the Conner Family of Mill Gap Farms also raises alpacas and sheep on their Monterey, VA farm. Kevin runs the maple syrup business, and Emily creates handwoven scarves and other handmade items from the homegrown fiber and wool. Additionally, they offer multiple bed and breakfast experiences — you can stay at their farm or in a nearby cabin retreat in the beautiful Virginia mountains. Visit the links to find out more about their farm and family!
SHOP HERE for the Conner family’s items
Occam's Mill- Mac Beard
Milling services, CNC instruction, custom signage, wooden kit components, home/office/garden decor.
For the Love of Wood- Troy Cottrell & son Kyle
Troy grew up engaged in artisan projects with his father, a talented artist and creative crafter, along with his mother, also a gifted crafter. Throughout his life, Troy’s work has involved crafting with wood, from small carvings to entire custom homes. “I have a love for wood that I really can’t explain, but I know my life would not be complete without wood in it.”
Troy’s favorite medium is wood because it is so unique. “You can tell one species of wood from another but there are no two trees or blocks of wood identical.”
When you acquire one of Troy’s pieces you can rest assured it is what it is intended to be, because he does not force his way into the creation, and the creation contains part of him. Troy shares, “I don’t really want to part with any of them, but I receive great reward from someone who cares enough to purchase and appreciate it for what it is.”
Most of his creations are finished with food-safe beeswax and linseed oil. It is the Artisan’s hope that you cherish your creation for many years and hopefully pass it on to a loved one.
SHOP HERE for Troy and Kyle’s items
Blue Spring Run Farm- Debrena Gordon
My husband and I are the founders and owners of Blue Spring Run Farm and Blue Spring Bath and Body. All of the bath and body products we sell have been handcrafted by my family and me. I am constantly seeking to expand my knowledge and use of lavender, and would love to hear what you have to say about my products.
Our farm began when my husband and I moved back to Virginia where I continued to be a stay-at-home mom of our six daughters. Having a large family for us meant that we did what we needed to in order to make ends meet, and that meant farming. Our farm actually started as a vegetable farm, but as the girls grew and began to take interest in the farm, I let them work with their father with the vegetables while I transitioned to learning more about lavender. Now the girls are grown and on their own, we no longer need to grow all the vegetables, although we still have some. Now my husband maintains the vegetables and fruit that we grow and has returned to working with honey bees, and we both have turned to growing and developing our lavender patch hoping that one day it will become the lavender field that we envision.
SHOP HERE for Debrena’s items
Cutes by Ann- Ann Williams
Ann was born in the Philippines and raised in Mexico City, northern Virginia, and on a farm in West Virginia. Shortly after graduating from West Virginia University, she moved to Virginia and started her crafting business. Her handmade items were originally sold in a shop in Bath County, VA. Ann now participates in local craft shows and maintains an Etsy shop. From hats, scarves, hair bows, and earrings, she offers a wide variety of items. Most of what Ann makes is knitted or crocheted, but she also sews and works with faux leather. Always wanting to learn new things, she hopes to offer resin and hand stamped jewelry in 2021. Ann now resides in the mountains of Fincastle, VA with her husband and 2 children.
SHOP HERE for Ann’s items
Mar Jimenez
Handcrafted silver jewelry made from precious metal clay by one of Clifton Forge School of the Arts’ talented instructors.
SHOP HERE for Mar’s items
Art Nouveau Tiles- Steve Van Buren
While living in Germany, I came across antique tiles manufactured during the Art Nouveau period (1890-1914). These unique and beautiful tiles graced the walls, fireplaces and furniture of old European homes and buildings. During the Art Nouveau period, tile manufacturers were staffed with artists and designers to create these little works of art. Over time I met other collectors and dealers in this small universe of antique tile lovers who were instrumental in educating me on the provenance of these tiles. When I retired in 2015, I decided to turn my hobby into a small business and share these unique items with others who might also find them unique and beautiful.
If you see a tile(s) in the image gallery linked below that interests you, please send me an email with the tile number (each tile has a number and description which can be seen by clicking on the image), and I can give you a price quote and answer any questions you might have.
SHOP HERE for Steve’s items
Hidden Fields Farm- The McDowell Family
Hidden Fields Farm was founded in 2014 by Robert and Cecille McDowell in the Rich Patch Area of Alleghany County. As a family owned and operated business, Hidden Fields Farm offers fresh, hand cut Christmas trees and greenery. They also specialize in handmade wreaths, swags, centerpieces, hand tied bows, and other seasonal holiday decor.
SHOP HERE for the McDowell family’s items
Mountain Memories (Swiss Ornaments)- Rolf Brunner
A small Laser engraving and sublimation business located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, Mountain Memories (Swiss Ornaments) offers only the highest quality laser engraved and sublimated gift items.
Rolf and his wife Leslie started their business in 1995. In the beginning their focus was mostly on trophies, awards and personalized products. They still make those but now focus mostly on gift items that become lasting memories to their customers.
SHOP HERE for Rolf’s items
Sweetwater Pearls- Sandra Goodman Miller
I’ve been making jewelry since I was seven years old. I began doing craft fairs in 1983, starting as a basket weaver. After a few years that was hard on my hands but I loved doing fairs so in 1990 my love for antique buttons took over and I began to make antique button jewelry. In 1996, while making my mother and myself pearl necklaces to wear to my son’s wedding, I became captivated by pearls. There’s no shortage of beautiful things in this world, though, so over time I have added silver, faceted gemstone beads and of course my beloved Tibetan pieces. I hope you’ll enjoy this virtual Kriskindlmarkt that CSOTA has so wonderfully put together for us all and I hope we will all be back together again next year!
SHOP HERE for Sandra’s items
Out of Our Gourds- Lisa Petrosky
One-of-a-kind, handcrafted, decorative gourds made in Bath County, VA.
SHOP HERE for Lisa’s items
Joe Wood
Handcrafted wooden items made by one of our skilled woodworking instructors.
SHOP HERE for Joe’s items
Earthy Creations & The Club Car Caboose- Cindy Perry
Cindy has been an arts & crafts enthusiast for many years. She and her artist friends were among the first vendors of the first Kriskrindlmarkt. She is the owner of the Club Car Shop & Deli in Clifton Forge. The Deli & Shop have been closed over the past months due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. In her shop you could find many handmade and hand painted items, made by her sisters and other local artists. In years past, she and her sisters “The Coffman Sisters” were involved in many arts & craft shows. Over the past 50 years they have spent many hours of fun and laughter as they worked up their artistic creations together. One of Cindy’s most recent passions has been learning to make pottery in the studio at the Clifton Forge School of the Arts. The sales of her “Wind Twirlers” will be donated back to the School for their scholarship fund to help create opportunities for individuals who may not have the means to take classes. Cindy loves being involved in the works of the school and seeing the opportunities it gives to individuals of all ages. She wishes it had been a reality in her younger years but is so happy that it is a reality today.
SHOP HERE for Cindy’s items
Nancy Erikson Fused Glass- Nancy Erikson
Cozy Designs by Doris- Doris Fredrickson
Offering hand made fleece jackets for women, children and doggies in your selected sizes and colors
My enjoyment of the versatility, warmth, and weight of fleece led me to design a wrap jacket for myself. After many compliments, I decided to design jackets for others. Since I enjoy creating new things, I now design doggie coats, fancy/shabby chic pins and other outerwear including ponchos. Outerwear should be easy! Other sizes and colors are available.
SHOP HERE for Doris’s items
Catherine Mathews
Other Supporting Vendors
(no products for sale in our virtual market)
The Ruffled Feather Candle Co.
Heather DeBoe
All natural, hand-poured soy candles
Suzanna Garrett Designs
Suzanna Garrett
Nature Inspired Jewelry