In the latest in a series of features on the traders of the Olde Towne Market in St George’s each Sunday, Alex Wright speaks to Suzann Holshouser, a Senator and marketing manager, who has built a business out of her craftwork.What started out as a hobby fast turned into a thriving business opportunity for market trader Suzann Holshouser.Ms Holshouser, who is the marketing manager for Dunkley’s Dairies, first got into card making two-and-a-half years ago after being introduced to it by a friend.And she has never looked back since, producing everything from embossed and stamped cards to water colours, chalk, ink and copic marker designs.“The beauty of card making is that it is very creative and it is constantly changing in terms of both the concept and the materials evolving,” she said.“The frustrating part is that the materials are often not available in Bermuda.”Mr Holshouser, who is a Senator, sells her wares at the Olde Towne Market in St George’s every Sunday which has given her an outlet to showcase her talents.She believes that the market is very important for the town and needs the support of locals and tourists alike in order to be successful.“I love the market and the ambience there,” she said. “Basically, the more I sell the more I get to make.”Because she is doing it as a hobby, Ms Holshouser said she likes to keep her prices low at $4 per card and is able to custom make any design.A couple of weeks ago she had a request for some bright ‘thank you’ cards and after some time and thinking she came up with the perfect design, but the biggest satisfaction she derives is from seeing the smile on her customers’ faces when they see it.“The way that people react to them gives me the encouragement to keep going with it,” she said.In addition to exhibiting at the market, Ms Holshouser displays some of her distinctive style of design at jewellery maker Seaglass in St George’s.Her work has attracted international recognition, with one visitor from the US buying some of her cards to take them back home and reproduce her own versions.“Card making can be very therapeutic,” she said. “Anyone of any age can do it and it is easy to be inspired, especially when you look around and see all the bright colours of Bermuda.”Each card can take a long time to design, but knowing that it has come from the heart makes it all worthwhile in the end, she said.One of her biggest critics is her youngest son who helps sell the cards at the market while she goes to check out the other stalls.In the future, she plans to fulfill a dream of opening her own store and to teach people the skills of card making.For more information contact 799-3110 or e-mail suzannholshouser909[AT]gmail.com