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Local alternative to mall for holiday shopping

Duck the Malls turns 10

JAHLA BROWN: Lebaybay will be at Duck The Malls. Photo courtesy of Facebook

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Duck the Malls has its own built in excitement. Every year we have new vendors, and returning vendors have new stuff," says Audrey Henley, theater manager and event director for Olympia Film Society.

In its 10th year, Duck the Malls - a local craft fair Saturday inside the Capitol Theater in downtown Olympia - kicks it up a notch this year with a two-hour extension and upwards of 60 vendors. 

"It's getting increasingly popular for artists and shoppers," says Henley.

She also says this year brings more furniture and handmade wood items. The event welcomes back Scott Hauser, a boat builder who does woodworking and box making.

"He's somebody who I think is a fantastic artist," she says. "Everything from boxes to wooden swords, just unique wood items."

In her second year, Jahla Brown will be back with her recycled wearable art line, Lebaybay. Brown hand screen prints designs with super colorful, fun, iconic images like unicorns and pieces of fruit.

"I have her first edition, which features boxes of popcorn and pizza - perfect for the theater," laughs Henley.

Duck the Malls also welcomes first timer Stephanie Roth and her company, Storm Blood Curiosities, which describes its style as "fantasy oddities and curiosities."

Henley describes it as Goth sculpture and gives examples of her work like a beautiful handmade wood notebook with a sculpted eye and jewelry made from bones. 

"It's Victorian, vintage and sorta steampunk," Henley says.

Goblin and elf handcrafted clay sculpted heads that look taxidermy are another of Roth's specialties and Henley notes that her art is also "uniquely packaged."

Kirk Hanson is another Duck the Malls favorite, with local handcrafted game boards.

"It's always fun for the holidays to play games with the family," says Henley.

Jewelry, stationary, ceramics, furniture, glass, sculpture, and lots of wearables and knits will also be at the shopper's fingertips.

Will Eikleberry's ever-popular cigar box banjos and guitars will be back, too.

"Everything is hand crafted - all the metal workers are bending the metal, the glass blowers are blowing the glass, etc.," says Henley. "They are very localized and conscientious crafters."

So don't miss Duck the Malls, the perfect place to find hundreds of holiday gifts under one roof, with the local flair that only Olympia's finest artists have to offer.

CAPITOL THEATER, SATURDAY, DEC. 8, 11 A.M. TO 6 P.M., 206 FIFTH AVE., OLYMPIA, 360.754.6670

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