Winterfest
It's the time of year that we designers are gearing up for the upcoming busy Christmas season of craft shows. Have you thought about what you're going to be selling?
Chris Freedman, owner of Fire Mountain Gems and Beads, decided in 2014 that she wanted to work with one of her favorite local charities in Grants Pass, the Rogue Winterfest, and she's done it ever since. Chris thought that this would be a fun and different way for Fire Mountain Gems and Beads to give back to our community.
What is Rogue Winterfest? Designers from all over the county design and create themed Christmas trees that are auctioned off after a gala and public viewing. The funds from the auction are used to support local mental health organizations, including Family Solutions, Kairos and Options for Southern Oregon. Keep reading to see some of the most exciting and creative trees the FMG design team has created.
2023: Shoot For the Moon
This year, Fire Mountain Gems and Beads has aimed for the stars with their captivating celestial masterpiece. This stunning creation features stars, moons, suns, planets, and more, resulting in a presentation that's truly out-of-this-world. The tree is adorned with 12 custom-made celestial jewelry designs, each enclosed in clear ornaments, providing additional gifting opportunities. These whimsical designs showcase a wide range of jewelry-making techniques, including wirework, stringing and more.
The tree itself boasts 36 distinct polymer clay cookie-cutter ornaments in the shape of moons, stars, and suns, all finished with a mica powder coating for a captivating glistening effect. Additionally, there are 12 shooting stars with a mica powder finish and Celestial Crystal® trails, 12 brass wire spiral suns featuring glass teardrop rays, and Kurt Adler solar system ornaments complete with battery-operated spinners that set them in a mesmerizing orbit.
Further embellishments include intricate royal blue-ribbon detailing, enchanting star fairy lights, and a sign that encourages us to "Shoot for the moon, even if you miss and land among the stars." Beneath the tree, bidders will discover an array of celestial-themed gifts, including a telescope, moon nesting tables with lunar phases serving trays, starry night-themed stuffed animals and rugs, a personal planetarium, a space play tent, a night sky room projector, a hanging copper moon succulent planter, a celestial duvet set with matching pillows, and much more.
Immerse yourself in this celestial cosmos, where science seamlessly merges with imagination, offering a delightful blend of discovery, entertainment, and beauty.
2022: Christmas Cookie Magic
The comfort and joy of the holiday season played a role in this year’s theme for FMG’s Winterfest donation (along with a sweet tooth). We decided to bring to life a favorite memory of holiday baking with family and friends. Our jewelry designers made 90 polymer clay ornaments of Christmas cookies from around the world, including the American peanut butter kiss thumbprints, Polish kolaczkis, Austrian Linzers, Czech and British gingerbreads, French macarons, Italian butter cookies and Italian pizzelles.
The tree is topped with a giant Linzer cookie decorated with fairy lights in the resin center. The treats under the tree include a Baketini Bake Shop cookie subscription, KitchenAid® baking tools and other cooking supplies.
The tree is topped with a giant Linzer cookie decorated with fairy lights in the resin center. The treats under the tree include a Baketini Bake Shop cookie subscription, KitchenAid® baking tools and other cooking supplies.
2021: The Year Without a Santa Claus
The theme for FMG's 2021 Winterfest donation called back to a classic holiday movie: The Year Without a Santa Claus. Heat Miser and Snow Miser yard décor cut-outs guard over their tree territory, each decorated with matching lights, handmade polymer clay faces, sparkling ornaments and images from the movie. Mother Nature sits as the tree topper, while the elves Jingle and Jangle ride a reindeer around the tree to Earth thanks to a handy-dandy motor. Underneath the tree sat classic board games, a sled, an ice cream maker and a fully functional fire pit for roasting marshmallows. Fire Mountain's in-house jewelry designers, publishing experts, content development team and people from the distribution center came together to create a truly colorful, one-of-a-kind celebration of fun, whimsy and the Christmas spirit.
2019: Driving Home for Christmas
Fire Mountain's 2019 design honored the timeless tradition of travel during the holidays. This tree featured hand-painted wood houses, a painted backdrop, handmade ornaments (including polymer clay tires and textured metal rounds), a stand for signs, the tree skirt itself and a hand-sculpted house tree topper. Gifts under the tree included an RC car, a child's ride-on car, auto accessories and a new children's car seat. The delightful scene had one thinking of the classic Christmas song, "I'll Be Home for Christmas."
2016: Mickey Mouse
This tree was geared towards the classic Disney character Mickey Mouse. Hand-crafted ornaments featuring mouse ears and the timeless Mickey silhouette adorned the tree. A matching custom lamppost and top-hat topper with ears made this tree both fun to create and exciting to see! Of course, the gifts included with the design all featured the famous mouse, from the children’s table and chairs to the toys and play rug.
2015: Peanuts Christmas
Often, the trees auctioned off at Winterfest are donated to children's hospitals or put on display in doctor offices. It was for this reason the design team decided to make a kid-oriented, nostalgic tree. What better theme than Peanuts©? Hand-decorated ornaments and the iconic red doghouse tree topper gave this tree a colorful, youthful feeling. In honor of Snoopy, the giveaways under the tree were doggy items, including a fancy doghouse and Peanuts-inspired bowls.
2014: "Everything is Better With Jewelry"
For Fire Mountain's first foray into the Winterfest experience, the design team decided to stick with what they know best: jewelry! After much deliberation, it was decided that 115 pieces of wearable jewelry would adorn the tree. Each piece was encased in a clear plastic ornament so that it could sparkle and shine without being altered to attach to the tree. For the backdrop, Phil designed a 5'x5' vignette complete with a dressing room table and vanity, perfume bottles, jewelry case and more. The decorating crew, consisting of Chris, Stephanie, Phil, Tom, Laura Lynn, Linda, Sophie, Kati, Rebekah, Rose, Jude and Jay, worked on the tree for about two months. The team's hard work paid off; the tree won the "Most Traditional Tree" award and helped provide much-needed funding to local organizations.
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