By Hand, Unique Artistic Gifts

For those of you in the Cleveland, Ohio area, this is a great opportunity to support local American artists and have a fun holiday shopping experience too. In this age of cheap imports, it is refreshing to view a wide variety of quality gifts and talk to the people who created them. The director of this event is my son-in-law, Jay Snyder, so I will be there with the rest of my family helping him out. I hope that you will join us December 8 & 9, 2007 (Saturday 10a-7:00p, Sunday 10a-5p) at the I-X Center, Cleveland, OH. For details and discount admission
coupons, visit www.byhandevents.com



BY HAND: BUILDING A TRADITION OF HOLIDAY MAGIC
If you have found yourself just not feeling that old “magic” while wandering the malls and department stores this holiday season, Jay Snyder thinks he knows why - and claims he has brought the answer to Cleveland.

Jay’s brainchild, “By Hand” returns for a third year at the I-X Center on December 8 & 9. Billed as “Original, Unique, Expressive and Just in Time For the Holidays,” this is not another Christmas crafts show. In fact, it is far more easily compared to summer art festivals like Boston Mills Artfest or the Cain Park Art Festival. Everything is a unique work, created entirely by the hands of the very same artist who you will actually meet at the show.

“Giftgiving has really begun to feel like an obligation. You scan the shelves, select one box or another with ‘made in china’ stamped on the bottom, and take it home thinking that maybe mom could use this once or twice,” says Snyder. “So rarely is it a decision that really fits the personality of the recipient. You settle on a plastic clock radio shaped like a dog and it ends up in next year’s yard sale.” Snyder claims it’s all because it is hard to make an emotional connection to a meaningless lump of consumer grade plastic. “By Hand offers the ultimate alternative. A hand crafted, high quality gift is both thoughtful and meaningful, and can be cherished for a lifetime.”

There is no shortage of options, from fine oil paintings and sculpture, to leather purses and briefcases, ceramic platters, one-of-a-kind precious metal bracelets and rings, heirloom quality wooden boxes and much more. You are sure to find something that you are excited to give, or that you just can’t help but take home for yourself. Patrons have agreed that By Hand is a great way to put some magic back into holiday gift giving.

By Hand was modeled after Winterfair - a 30 year old event in Columbus, for which Snyder once served as director. “While there, artists used to ask me all the time, ‘why don’t we do something like this in Cleveland?’ Eventually I just said, ‘I don’t know, lets do it.’ I’m really happy that we’ve been able to give so many Clevelanders that same magic of American made heirloom quality gifts.”

By Hand hours are Saturday, December 8, 10 a.m.–7:30 p.m., and Sunday,
December 9, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. The parking is free, and admission cost is $10; children 12 and under are free. For details and discount admission
coupons, visit www.byhandevents.com