WORCESTER—Taking advantage of Small Business Saturday to wander around some of Worcester’s favorite spots was a jolly good way to start Christmas shopping.
After being stuck in Black Friday traffic at the Natick Mall the day before, it was a pleasure to take a leisurely drive and not wait in long lines with impatient people.
First stop—Tidepool Bookshop, where the first small wave of customers had just sailed on. Owner Jo Truesdell anticipated the next group would come around 11 a.m., the store’s usual opening time.
Tidepool offers everything from New York Times best sellers to children’s books, and for a writer, it was a treat to wander around alone, taking pictures of books to build up the Christmas list.
“We were busy Friday, and we’re looking forward to being busy today,” said Truesdell. “I feel so fortunate to be here.”
Housed at the DCU Center, Worcester Wares was the second stop. Street parking was easy to find, and upon entering, owner Jessica Walsh waved from under a table, where she was printing out orders. Orders can be placed on line and then picked up at the store, and she had a list of wishes to fill. She pointed to the complimentary coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, and urged a good look around the store.
Katie Donahue and her son Jackson were checking out the stickers and the firefighter gear for the fireman in their life – “My dad,” Jackson said.
“I’ve been here before,” Donahue said. “It’s nice to finish up Christmas shopping.”
Walsh said business has been steady, and busy.
“We do all our own printing and designs,” she said. “We use all Worcester artists. … I surround myself with talented people, and they inspire me every day.”
One of those artists, Maggie Lavelle, manned the checkout table. Her designs appear on Worcester Wares apparel, and she has also created unique Christmas ornaments.
“I’m so lucky to have Jess support me,” she said. “She’s always encouraging of local artists.”
Tim Corrinet and Chris McGovern were shopping specifically for Worcester items, and Lavelle’s ornaments caught their eyes.
“We are throwing a Christmas party, and we have friends coming from New York, Florida, and South Carolina,” Corrinet said. “So we’re buying things for goodie bags, all Worcester themed, as a thank you.”
Over at the Worcester Center for Crafts, the Holiday Festival of Crafts was in full swing. This is the kind of place where you find that perfect thing you always wanted, and didn’t even know you’d been looking for it. Local artists displayed everything from stationery and prints, to ceramics, to personal care products, to jewelry, and so much more.
A favorite booth was Kathleen Scranton’s Vintage Book Purses, where one can purchase a unique handbag, made from the covers of a favorite book.
Scranton began her business in 2008, when she was looking for work and visited the library on a day they were discarding a copy of “Black Beauty.”
“They told me, ‘No one reads the old books,’” Scranton recalled, adding the novel brought about the ASCPA in Massachusetts. “So I decided I needed a way to save the old books.”
The purses are handmade and waterproof, and, once removed, the pages are rebound and sent with the new owner.
“I want you to read your purchase,” she said.
Mary Fujiwara, Pam Quinlan, and Cassie Bybee were captivated by the display.
“We like books, and this is so unique,” Quinlan said. “I love that you get the pages, too.”
Shannon and Randall Richards, of SMR Design Company, were on hand with a variety of hand-designed goods. “We have custom prints, greeting cards, stickers, and stationary,” Shannon said. “We have some apparel as well.”
One Street Over Soaps offers a variety of personal care products, from soaps, body scrubs, lotions, lip butter. Owner Diane Hogue also had goodie bags for $10, and soap samplers for $12, for those who can’t make up their minds.
“I haven’t been to this fair in a long time,” Gail Tormey said, as she browsed the sugar scrubs. “It’s amazing how many creative artists there are.”
Saturday’s trail ended at Taproot Treasures, which has stood on the Worcester/West Boylston line for more than two decades. Owner Tracy Jones said they’d had a steady flow of customers all day. Taproot sells stones, books, jewelry, cards, and unique and meaningful gift items.
Is there a “must have” item at Taproot?
“I’d say just walk around, and see what pulls you,” Jones said. “That would be your must have.”
Donna Thibault, a long-time customer, said that’s exactly what happened to her. She showed Jones a large tangerine quartz stone and said she usually purchases smaller stones, but somehow, she was drawn to this one.
Lauri Marshall was shopping with her family, including her niece, 10-year-old Ginny O’Doherty.
“I want her to know why it’s important to support small businesses,” she said.
As I was leaving, I ran into a former student who ran across the floor to give me a hug. As we laughed about how small and random the world can be, Jones said it was not the first time she’d seen something like that happen.
“I see a lot of beautiful things in the store, and not only the crystals,” Jones said. “That’s saying a lot.”
Christine M. Quirk is the former editor of Mothertown and has written for the Telegram & Gazette, Bay State Parent, and the Times & Courier. She is a novelist and an instructional aide at Abby Kelley Foster Charter Elementary School in Worcester. She can be reached at cmqwriter@gmail.com
