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Valentine's Craft Market highlights local crafters and artisans

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Shoppers browse handmade gifts and local crafts at the Valentine's Craft Market at the Chapel Hill Farmers' Market on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. The event featured a variety of vendors offering unique goods ahead of the holiday.

On Saturday, the Chapel Hill Farmers' Market was alive with shoppers for the Valentine's Craft Market. At the craft market, three local vendors sold a variety of handcrafted goods, including love-themed items such as candles, artwork and jewelry.  

The event, a seasonal addition to the market, not only provides a space for local craft vendors to showcase their work, but brings more awareness to the market itself, Kate Underhill, the market's manager, said

“Some people don't know that we're here year-round,” she said. “So, this gives us an excuse to get the word out that here we are, and we've got all the wonderful local foods and produce and value-added items. And then on top of that, you can come get gifts for your loved ones for Valentine's.” 

This Valentine's Day-themed market featured artisans like Kristen Eggerman, owner of Cake Camp, who has been selling at farmers markets for nearly a decade. Eggerman's market stall started with cakes, scones and cookies from her bakery business Big Bundts, but now she has transitioned away from baked goods to selling her artwork: handcrafted cards, prints and pins.

As a long-time seller, Eggerman has built a community that she still sees today. Many of her past bakery customers still recognize her, she said

“I have seen the little kids growing up,” Eggerman said. “I've had loyal customers. They remember coming to the bakery and buying scones. ... It's really nice seeing familiar faces, of course. So they've been kind of growing with my different businesses.” 

Alicia Frei is a Chapel Hill resident who attended the market with her son on Saturday. She said she comes to the market regularly, especially in the spring and summer, but also came to the market on Saturday specifically for the Valentine's Craft Market. 

“There's an artist over there who does watercolors of cupcakes and things that we love,” she said, referencing Cake Camp. “We came especially for her.”

Among the other craft vendors was Sarah Roberts, owner of Flying Goat Studios, who sells hand-crafted jewelry and objects inspired by nature. Fitting for the Valentine's Craft Market, her business card describes her products as being “made with love.”

She was joined by her father, David Roberts, who specializes in woodworking with items such as bowls, stools and wine glasses. This is their third year at the Chapel Hill Farmers' Market. 

Sarah Roberts was a 2024 recipient of the North Carolina Arts Council Artist Support Grant where she was encouraged to further her skillset and her art business. With this grant, Roberts went on to create earrings of native birds in North Carolina that are endangered, which she sold on Saturday. 

Her father, on the other hand, has been doing woodworking for around 10 to 15 years. His friend, Bill Wallace, asked David Roberts to attend his woodworking workshop one week, and now he goes every Friday. 

Sarah Roberts said she loves being involved in the farmers market, and especially loves the community that it has brought her and her father.  

“[There's] two parts to the community,” she said. “Community locally, with all the people who come in as patrons, but then a local artist community as well, with all the different vendors, and it's really fun. It's been really fun for us.”

@dthlifestyle | lifestyle@dailytarheel.com

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