COAL CREEK CANYON - The Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Association hosted the Arts & Crafts Holiday Market at the CCCIA Hall at 31528 highway 72 on November 16, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

The event featured one-stop holiday shopping with 18 fabulous vendors, plus lunch by Canyon Coffee and chair massages by Shelly Peters-Schaller. Vendors’ tables sold out.

CCCIA Board Member Janice Batt said more than 80 people attended. This is the first year CCCIA has hosted the market. Previously, the Mountain Artisans organized an arts and crafts event at the hall.

The menu provided by Canyon Coffee included pastries, breakfast sandwiches, burritos and coffee. Don Willoughby’s olive oil, honey, and maple syrup are usually on sale at Canyon Coffee, but were available at the Holiday Market.

Vendor tables were lined up in three rows stretching from the entrance to the back of the hall. Kathy Bremers displayed her artwork, posters, and post cards at the front of the south wall. She lives on Copperdale Lane, mainly painting water colors and acrylics. She has been painting for 19 years and has been in the Peak to Peak area since 1979, 10 years in Coal Creek.

Dave Schemel, husband of CCCIA Hall manager Suzy, brought his photography. He has been taking photos for 25 years. Terri Bertle brought hand-made woven dog leashes, and Amy Hyder brought Works of Heart artwork.

Heather Page had a booth with jewelry. A Coal Creek resident, she has been making jewelry for 14 years. Wendy Luck displayed her acrylic and colored pencil artwork. She lives in Coal Creek and has been creating works of art for 20 years.

April Morris had CBD oil and bath bombs for the Health Naturally company, and Coal Creek resident Monvon (she said to use that name) brought hats, patches and stickers, which she has been making for three years.

Carol Kozlowski, Coal Creek, brought earrings and original art, all made from canvas. Lynette Clark, also of Coal Creek, displayed needle felted critters such as pumpkins, which she has been making for 5 years.

Jesse Sidhu, who lives off Gap Road, had Mountain Magic all-natural homemade moisturizer. She said that after living up here for one year, her skin felt like sandpaper, so the moisturizer is full of vitamins and minerals. Rhonda Marr displayed a wide variety of colorful hand-made candles from Ninth House Candles, which she has been making for five years.

Inne Schichler had a table together with Cindy Riegel. Inne had bags and clay ornaments like Christmas trees. She makes the ornaments, and Cindy does the glazing.

Evelyn Blodgett displayed hand-made earrings and necklaces made from upcycled leather. A Gilpin County resident for 24 years, she uses scrap leather to make the items.

Black Hawk resident Jackie Stone is a Tarot Reader and brought Tarot Cards and crystals. Gwen Bechtel made decorated bird houses of acrylic on wood. She is from Santa Fe, New Mexico, and visits her son Shawn Bechtel on Camp Eden Road.

Greg Wells displayed his photography and painting. He has lived in Coal Creek Canyon for 35 years and has been painting and photographing professionally for 20 years.

The next events at CCCIA will be the 73rd Annual Thanksgiving Celebration – free to the community – on November 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CCCIA will provide the turkeys, potatoes and gravy.  December 14 will have the Kids’ Santa Visit, noon to 2 p.m.; and December 21 brings Pets Santa Paws, noon to 2 p.m., both presented by United Power. 

Questions?  Please contact us at cccia80403@gmail.com. For more information about Coal Creek, go to CCCIA Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Association, or facebook.com/CoalCreekCanyonImprovementAssociation.