MICHAEL ROSE
Statesman Journal

December 12, 2004

They were among the crowd at the Holiday Market and Gift Show on Saturday. The event at the Oregon State Fairgrounds, which continues today, attracted people looking for items with a handmade touch. It was a chance to do a little Christmas shopping and get out of the shopping mall routine.

"We've really just bought stuff for ourselves so far," said Rhonda Wymore, a Keizer resident. Holly Wymore hinted that she may have picked up a gift or two when Rhonda wasn't looking.

The Holiday Market is run by same nonprofit that runs the Salem Saturday Market and the Wednesday farmer's market.

Event organizers didn't have an estimate on the size of the crowd, but the Jackman-Long Building was packed with people. Booths were filled with handmade products: jewelry, baskets, wooden toys, pottery, fleece hats, fishing flies, bells and gongs and food products, to name a few.

"It's one of the best bazaars around," said Deedee Hess of Mehama. She prefers locally handcrafted items for Christmas gifts and avoids mass-produced, imported products sold at chain stores.

Tom and Judie Jamison were pushing dill pickles. The Woodburn couple said the Holiday Market is a good way to spread the word about their start-up business, Baumgardner Pickling Co. Holiday Market shoppers were snapping up the pickles, which sell for $6 a jar.