Just Do It

Traveling Wares

by Monica Weymouth

Sat., Dec. 8, 1-6 p.m., free, Sugar Mom's, 225 Church St., 215-925-8219, travelingwares.com

There are plenty of things to love about the holidays, but the return of Traveling Wares might trump gingerbread. The annual series of trunk shows brings work by local artists to the bar for a glorious (if not potentially dangerous) combination of shopping and sipping.

What started 14 years ago as a little affair at Dirty Frank's has expanded into a full-scale production with a roster of venues across the city. This Saturday's show at Sugar Mom's will include 25 vendors with everything from handmade clothing to ornaments to housewares. Organizer Heather Femine will be showing both her upholstery fabric bags and vegetable-based soaps, while Mike Smash of the Mural Arts Program is bringing ceramic work. Jeanine Reed, who has been participating for the past four years, is returning with her Nunna's Buttons bags (pictured), which each include a button from her grandmother's collection.

Although Traveling Wares is larger than ever this year, it continues to provide an intimate shopping environment during a season where this is all but impossible. "It's far more enjoyable than the mall," says Femine. "The artists are presenting their own work, and can explain it and how it's done." We'll barely miss our post-Nordstrom's Cinnabon break.