When Angie Ramirez participated in the Blue Genie Art Bazaar in Austin last year, she got an idea: If she took the principles that have turned Blue Genie into a success—carefully curated vendors, a wide range of goods and a centrally located checkout—and applied them in San Marcos, she figured she would have a successful event.

"I was just really impressed by the way they did it, and I just thought it offered a different model, a way of doing things," said Ramirez, a San Marcos–based creator and designer of silk-screened skirts. "The fact that it was juried really well, the fact that there was a central checkout, so each vendor had their own spot but they weren't manning it."

At the last minute, Ramirez and five friends decided to set up their work at Ramirez' studio on San Antonio Street. She intended for the event mostly to serve as a way of cleaning out excess stock, but after 100 people showed up to the event, which had an advertising budget allowing Ramirez and her friends two fliers, Ramirez decided to hold the event—now dubbed "SMTXmas"—again this year with twice as many vendors and a bit more planning.

"I thought, 'There's got to be a way to do something like that in San Marcos to give artists and vendors an outlet locally that they may not have even though they may be selling online or in other countries,'" Ramirez said. "And also just to educate people in San Marcos that there is a lot of talent already in this town, and they're up and running and selling, but they just don't know about us."

Ramirez said this year the event will include her silk-screened skirts, screen prints, jewelry, organic body care products, ceramics, stained glass and hand-sewn accessories. Nine of the 10 vendors featured at SMTXmas hail from San Marcos, with the lone exception a Martindale resident.

Ramirez said there was one guideline for the artists she chose to participate in the event: They had to be willing to discount their goods. Each of the artists' and vendors' work will be discounted between 15 percent and 75 percent, Ramirez said. Ramirez said she hopes this will attract people so that SMTXmas can become an annual event.

"It's just something that we don't have anything similar to here, and I think we very, very easily could," Ramirez said. "We have the people making and we have the people buying, so we just need to bring them together."

SMTXmas is scheduled to be held from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. on Dec. 1 at Ramirez' studio, which is located at 215 W. San Antonio St. in San Marcos. The event has no entry fee. Call 512-738-1800 for more information.