Picture Perfect Day for Arts and Crafts Market in Ballston

Marking their fifth show this year, the Ballston Arts and Crafts Market opened Saturday in downtown Ballston with an inspiring array of handmade art and craftworks and just as many art enthusiasts. Hosting for a sixth year, Welburn Square (The Ballston Circle) is the Art and Craft Market's happy weekend home. Paintings, photography, adorable plushes, handspun bags, jewelry and artisan luxuries for the body and bath were showcased while bright white tents wafted to the rhythms of a popular Caribbean and merengue band.

While the artists showed their wares amid the shadows of the Quest Building and adjacent hi-rise towers, people strolled, snacked and shopped. The 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. juried exhibition featured the works of more than 35 local artists, artisans and independent designers from Arlington and the mid-Atlantic states. The Constituents provided the enjoyable acoustic backdrop for a summer day dotted with puffy white clouds. Twin sisters Judith and Ingrid Morroy provided the vocals. Ingrid "moonlights" as Arlington's Commissioner of Revenue.

Eco-friendly, sculptural jeweler, Melissa Lew, from Bedford, Va., said, "Ballston is wonderful! We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful Sept. 11 — a day of Remembrance."

She primarily works in various green, sustainable materials, including recycled fine silver and bamboo―forging elegant pieces to wear or display. Just last month she was invited to this year's Emmy Awards celebration where she made her creations available to the "stars" in the Secret Room of the Style Lounge. Her graceful work, strongly influenced by her Chinese heritage, was also featured on the runway during the 2010 D.C. Fashion Week.

Across the circle, volunteers from the Animal Welfare League of Arlington were hosting a raffle while sharing some information about their organization's cause. Participating artists donated the artwork and all ticket sales benefited the league. Nearby, Sweetbites Mobile Café made its debut supplying market folk with delicious preservative-free treats from their selection of luscious cupcakes, sweet buttery cookies, decadent mini-cheesecakes and other confections.

"Please Smell the Lavender" seemed to be the mantra carried on a breeze from the lavish booth by Julie Diers of The Bumble Bee Studio.com.  A previous Market "Bee" was overheard telling a potential customer, "Julie was absolutely right when she told me that every person needs to have lavender in their life.  I bought a bottle of her dreamy oil last time she was here and use it just before bed and sleep like a baby."

Both men and women were contemplating her many luxurious body and bath products. A few new clients will wake-up invigorated by a dose of her lavender-rosemary-mint shampoo. The 2010 Academy Awards Universal Studios Suite featured her aromatic lavender creams and lavender candles. Julie was also invited to participate in the American Music Award gift suite event. She hand crafts all her products from her home cottage studio-kitchen and now ships Canada, as well as the U.S.

On a more melancholy note, Oct. 9 is the season finale of the Ballston Arts and Crafts Market for 2010. However, Markets Coordinator Jessica Blaszczak reported a big surprise awaiting Ballston art enthusiasts.

"For the first time ever we are doing a holiday show this year," Blaszczak said. "The Ballston Holiday Artist Boutique will be held on Dec. 2, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., in the National Science Foundations' beautiful atrium."

While the Holiday Boutique promises to be the highlight of December for Ballston Arts and Crafts Market shoppers and gift givers, the well-loved area tradition will open one month earlier than usual next season―Apr. 9, 2011. 

"Jessica has done an amazing job, she's really brought this market to where it is today, it's first class," said Pamela Kahn, the Executive Director of the Ballston Partnership. "She's done a spectacular job, she's got a focus for the community."