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."
