Holly Daze Pop-Up Shoppe Returns

Cary, NC- It’s Back! Cary’s Holly Daze Pop-Up Shoppe opened Dec 2, 2013 at 120 E. Chatham Street, right next door to the new Cary Theater.

Holly Daze Pop-Up Shoppe

The vacant storefront beside the Cary Theater was used as a pop-up shop for the first time during the 2012 holiday season. It’s a concept like Food trucks or pop-up restaurants. Vendors set up temporary booths or “shops” for a limited time, and then move on. Kind of like an indoors Lazy Daze.

Artists Rotate Weekly

Through the month of December leading up to Christmas, each Monday a different group of 15 artists will set up their booths in the shop through Saturday. The following week a new group will take residence.

I  visited last week and saw mosaic art, soaps and candles, blown glass plates, acrylic paintings, jewelry, and more. Pricing was very reasonable for everyone on my gift list.

“Help continue the spirit of Small Business Saturday, and find that perfect handcrafted gift by shopping local at the Holly Daze Shoppe,” said Sarah Hagan, Downtown Program Specialist. “It’s just another reason to come to downtown Cary and experience its ever-expanding opportunities.”

Every week it’s something different.

Meet the Artists

One of the coolest aspects of the Holly Daze Pop-Up Shoppe is the interaction you have with the person who actually made the item you are thinking about purchasing.

I enjoyed meeting Robyn Johnson who create one of a kind mosaic art for the home and garden, Her colorful artworks range from planters to small picks that can be added to a pot for a bit of whimsy. Lina Bernai of Colombian Seedsories displayed an array of necklaces, bracelets and rings all made from nuts and seeds that are hand dyed and beaded or carved and resembled stone beads. She learned how to make these in her native country, carving and dying the nuts and seeds herself.

Karen Wimmer was crocheting some scarves while she sat at her Holly Daze booth of knitted scarves and brightly colored wreaths.

Revonnae had a table full of her handmade soaps and candles. She told me she was 64, which I could not believe, so her soap must be wonderful for your skin!

At the Magnificent Rice Necklace, Nouri showed me how he engraves monograms and names on a single grain of rice that is then placed in a vial with oil and beaded into a one of a kind necklace or bracelet and strung on a silver or leather chain.

Sheila Hall was painting at her Holly Daze  booth that included brightly colored acrylic paintings as well as prints and cards reproducing her originals. Wholesome baked dog treats were on display at Gourmutt’s Bakery and boutique. They looked good enough to eat!

Stop by this week to see these and other artists. Next week is the last week of the shoppe and 15 new booths will be selling.

Holiday Daze Pop-Up Shoppe Info

Holiday Daze Pop Up Shoppe
11 AM – 4:00 PM, Monday-Saturday

120 E. Chatham Street
Downtown Cary NC

Runs through December 21, 2013

Street parking is hard to come by with the construction on the Cary Theater. Go around the block to Waldo St. via Walker and try to snag one of those snazzy diagonal spots.

For a list of weekly artists and more information, search “Holly Daze” at www.townofcary.org.

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Story and photos by Lindsey Chester.

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CaryCitizen is sponsored in part by Thai Spices & Sushi, located in Preston Corners.