​To our Holiday Boutique Underwriter BEIMDIEK INSURORS.
 
To our energetic and dedicated Voluncheers who greeted and assisted artists and guests, wrapped gifts, checked out purchases, stayed late to tabulate sales, reset Hyde House post Boutique and made generous and timely donations—Jackie Boyer, Jim Bracht, Cindy Chilton, Becky Edds, Liz Foster, Bren and Betsy Flanigan, Judith and Pat Goff, Kim Guthrie, Helen Kunze, Lee and Emma Pound, Brenda Spencer, Dan Trogdon, Jane VanDenBerg, Corrinne Waggoner and Gail White.
 
To our Voluncheers for our three fundraising projects…
DELECTABLES—Jackie Boyer, Betsy Flanigan, Judith Goff, Miriam Putnam and  Jane VanDenBerg.
AMARYLLIS—Jackie Boyer, Patricia Coates, Becky Edds, Judith Goff, Michael Krepps, Helen Kunze, Jane VanDenBerg and Gail White.
HAND-PAINTED ORNAMENTS—Jim and Diana Bray, Tanya Burkhart, Alexandra Burnside, Cheryl Church, Sydney Clark, April Davis, Emily Frankoski, Tom Jones, Barbara Kazuba, Melody Knowles, Helen Kunze, Jorge Leyva, Ruth Olsen, Mary Parks, Rebecca Perry, Holly and Kursten Royster, Megan Sabo, Brenda Saving, Rylee Stovern and Lora Waring.

For instance, after the Chamber’s last guest had left, lingering in the kitchen was Chamber President Mark Eallif, standing at the sink. With sleeves rolled up and requested tools in hand, he diagnosed the faucet’s problem and offered a simple remedy for the aggravating minimal water output which has been testing the patience of Voluncheers washing up after events. Mark is definitely a Voluncheer. Thank you Mark for helping.
 
I’m grateful for all voluncheer guy power! Thanks to Board Treasurer, Pat Goff, who cheerfully, with the assistance of Terry Beetem, distributed and collected Boutique banners, repaired our falling-off vintage refrigerator handle and transformed our porch lights into sparkling beacons of greeting. Thank you to the two of you!
 
And thanks to Voluncheer Board Members Jackie Boyer and Jane Van Den Berg, who gave so generously to the greening and prepping of Hyde House. For over a week, contributing from their own decorations and gathering more as needed, Jackie and Jane spent many, many outside hours elegantly dressing and festooning Hyde House with evergreen wreaths and swags with twinkling lights. Inside they decorated the Christmas tree then set up the tables and displays for the artist-created gift items.
 
Once the Boutique opened, a fabulous cadre of Voluncheers made magic greeting and assisting guests, gift wrapping, checking out purchases and staying late to tabulate sales. Grateful Thank Yous go out to these Voluncheer elves. I’ll acknowledge you by name next week when I tell about the terrific success of our Holiday Boutique Fundraisers—Delectables, Amaryllis and hand-painted Ornaments.
 
Until then…Dear Readers, with good cheer I wish for you, “Sweet, Serene and Happy Holy Days as we rejoice in this glorious Season of Love and Light!”

​holiday table to break bread and give thanks together, we are in appreciation for each and every soul who breathes beautiful life into our artCentral community—to all the children who attend classes and artCamp and come with families to Exhibitions and Openings; to all our artCentral artists who contribute their best whenever they are beckoned; to all the volunteers who work cheerfully and tirelessly to manifest our dreams into bright and shining realities; to our teachers and instructors who generously offer guidance to those aspiring to learn; to our Members and to our community underwriters, businesses and organizations who lend their financial support to help artCentral enrich the cultural life of our community.
 
To each and every one of you we say Thank You! We joyfully celebrate you!  

talents to imagining, dreaming and greening and transforming Hyde House into a magical, glittering HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE filled with pocket friendly artist-created art, gifts, ornaments and delectables for your shopping delight and pleasure.

​Come celebrate artCentral’s beautiful dream! Join us at Hyde House tomorrow for Thursday evening’s HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE PREVIEW and SHOPPING, 6-8pm, underwritten by Beimdiek Insurors.
 
Take a Boutique tour with me now and share in our anticipatory excitement!
 
Driving east on Thirteenth Street, looking on the right to Hyde House Hill, you find artCentral elegantly dressed in lush, light-festooned, evergreen garlands and red-bowed wreaths a là decorating talents and many, many donated hours of Jackie Boyer and Jane VanDenBerg. Stepping through our open door, you delight in Hyde House perfumed with holiday scents of wine, wassail and savories divinely created by gourmet, Judy Goff and her bevy of cheerful volunteers.
 
In the grand entry hall you’re greeted with a rising fund-raising Amaryllis array inspired by Gail White—potted and cared for by Gail and her dedicated committee. These crimson beauties make lovely gifts for teachers, family, friends and your home. All proceeds go to support artCentral’s work on behalf of art and artists.
 
Moving through the downstairs Galleries, a sparkling red shopping bag in hand, you’ll discover the angel-topped tree bedecked with exquisite hand blown glass balls painted with Scandinavian scenes by Ruth Olsen of Minnesota. More enchanting artist ornaments, suspended before the expansive windows, lend a dazzling backdrop to the amazing artist displays offering jewelry, ceramics, paintings, prints, puzzles, cards, pillows, knitted hats, artful novelty gifts and many, many more holiday treasures.
 
Having savored and selected from the downstairs offerings, making your way up to the Sandy Higgins Members Gallery, Sally Armstrong Library and Boardroom Boutique, you’ll discover astoundingly bountiful, beautiful, unique and present-perfect artist creations.
 
You’re shopping needs blissfully fulfilled, passing through artCentral’s vintage kitchen you’ll want to choose a few fund-raising delectables lovingly made by artCentral Board Members and creatively labeled by Miriam Putnam. For a modest donation you can enlist Cindy Chilton to work her gift-wrapping magic.
 
John Lennon poignantly penned, “Imagine all the people living for today…you may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.” artCentral’s dream unfolds tomorrow. Come revel in our dream-come-true!
 
artCentral’s HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE is also open for shopping, Friday, 3-8pm, and Saturday, 9am-4pm. Information: (417)358-4404.