WITH the global economy in a state of uncertainty, this year's Christmas holiday is sure to be a leaner one for many of us. Though with the upcoming Home-Grown Alternatives (HGA) event, it doesn't have to be.

Christmas can be a thoroughly Bermudian holiday complete with special and thoughtful gifts made by local artists and craftsmen.

The annual HGA event set to open tomorrow is your chance to spend your hard-earned dollars on a meaningful gift for a friend or loved one.

Held each year at the St. Paul's Christian Education Centre in Paget, more than 25 vendors set up their stalls to display and sell pottery, ornaments, paintings, ceramic items, jewellery, blown-glass decorations, cedar and banana plant creations and home-made Bermudian food items, including rum cakes and preserves.

New this year are vendors selling pottery – salt-glazed mugs, jugs, bowls and storage jars; hand-made Christmas gift cards; knitted and crochet toys, tea cosies and dish cloths; hand-woven accessories and wood-carved Christmas gifts.

As many local shoppers can attest, shopping in Bermuda for that "someone who has everything" can sometimes prove to be difficult. Perhaps as the event's name suggests – Home-Grown Alternatives – people can find a unique gift for their family members that isn't commercially made.

"It's so difficult now to find anything in Hamilton with all the stores closing," explained Deirdre Furtado, the marketing committee member for the event.

"Our event brings a local family atmosphere to the holidays and it seems that people are more willing to spend their money if they feel they are buying a local craft or piece of art."

Mrs. Furtado, who also works part time for the Bermuda Arts Centre at Dockyard, believes this weekend's event is the premier collective craft and art selling opportunity.

"It's a great day," she explained. "Lots of parking, great atmosphere, good food and wonderful crafts and pieces of art. This is generally considered the premier event of the year. It's great fun, too. You see a lot of your old friends that you haven't seen in years."

The 13-year-old event was the brainchild of artist Mary Tatem in collaboration with ceramicist Christine Wellman. Seeing that their concept proved to be a popular one, they brought on Christine's husband, David, to design, manage and update the project's branding and website, www.homegrownalternatives.com.

Mrs. Furtado, who works with Bermuda banana leaves to create traditional dolls, will also have her own stall tomorrow. The competition to be included in the event, though, was fierce.

"The crafts are juried," she said. "I was on the waiting list actually. You have approved the organising committee. You can't just bring anything. We like to have a big variety."

There also will be a variety of prices for items that are sure to please shoppers that are on a budget.

"Prices can range from say $5 to $200 or more," said Mrs. Furtado. "We have all kinds of quality items. The event is considered a really quality show. People line up at the door to get in. I believe thousands of people visit each year."

There will also be two door prizes, which are gift baskets full of local crafts that the local artists donate.

You don't have to "shop 'til you drop" either as the HGA event offers plenty of snacks and drinks to help keep up your blood sugar levels while perusing the vendors' stalls.

"The hall is really great," explained Mrs. Furtado. "It has a proper kitchenette that allows us to have food available cafeteria style at the Village Café, which includes hamburgers, French fries, fish cakes, all different kinds of drinks and sandwiches."

The festive atmosphere is complete Christmas touches, including a decorated live Christmas tree, garnished windows and live music performed by local classical and jazz musician Shine Hayward.

If there is one positive thing that comes out of the current economic turmoil, perhaps it's that people are more interested in supporting the local economy and the local artists.

"There seems to be a lot of excitement about the event this year," said Mrs. Furtado. "A lot of people have asked me about it. I feel there is a different feeling around this year. We've heard that the sales of hand-made items, including mine, have been up this year as compared to last year. People are interested in local hand-made crafts – perhaps they are interested in spending their hard-earned money on something they enjoy and appreciate. People work very hard on their craft and it's nice to give and receive a gift that is locally made."

The HGA event opens tomorrow, Saturday, at the St. Paul's Christian Education Centre from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information visit www.homegrownalternatives.com.