A beautiful fall day unfolds, as I mail my registration for the Indiana Artisan Holiday Marketplace in downtown Fort Wayne. It promises to be a major event just after Thanksgiving, one that swept waves of nostalgia over me as Leonard and I drank coffee and tea this morning. “Fort Wayne,” I said, in response to his question, “Just north of the farm where dad grew up. We could stop and have Thanksgiving with grandparents.” My Smith grandparents on the Quaker homestead in Jay County. For that matter, we could go to my Griffith grandparents’ home in Grant County, tiny Van Buren, where the big old house that my grandfather built for his new bride in 1905 still stands. For a few moments, it all seemed possible.

Holiday Shows

November 22  —  Clifty Inn Arts & Crafts & More

1 – 5 pm at Clifty Falls State Park, just outside Madison, Ind. Look for unique handmade books, silk scarves and ties, shibori pillows, batik banners, and nature-dye-salt prints and cards.

November 28 – 29 — Indiana Artisan Holiday Marketplace

Grand Wayne Center, downtown Fort Wayne.10 am to 6 pm on Saturday; 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday. 300 juried artisans from 63 counties in Indiana offer one-of-a-kind gift options, including Birdsong Book Arts and my unique handmade books.  $7 admission for admissions, no charge 14 and under; $5 for those with a ticket or stub from the Embassy Theater Festivities of Trees.

December 5 — Madison Holiday Handcrafted Market

The 3rd annual event in downtown Madison, Ind., will be held at the Little Golden Fox on West Main Street from 10 am to 5 pm, featuring juried handcrafted gifts made by local artists and craftspeople. Birdsong will have unique books, cards, silk scarves and ties, batik banners, shibori pillows, dye-nature-salt prints and other items.