Despite all the hype about the holidays being a time of joy, they’re also a time of stress, thanks in part to the number of gifts we need to buy in a short time.

“Holiday shopping can be so oppressive,” says Yourist Studio Gallery potter Cara Rosaen. “We all have this list, and it’s like, ‘Oh, God, what do I do?’”

 But, she says, local holiday art fairs have increasingly offered folks a more pleasant, social alternative to frantically browsing Amazon for gift ideas.

“You get to talk to the people who made these beautiful handmade things. … It’s just such a different experience,” Rosaen says. “Add to that the good food and drink and music that’s often there as part of the experience, and it’s just so much more life-giving. I think people love that.” READ THE REST HERE