We are given talents that can be used for the benefit of others and to promote a greater good. When we spend time on those talents, honing them and sharpening them, they become skills, and we become artisans.

A resident of Garden Spot Village, Pixie Boswell makes jewelry featuring stray buttons. She is an artisan and one of the coordinators of the village's upcoming showcase.

"We're all retired, and we all had professional lives that may or may not be related to our skills," said Boswell. "We have found things we like doing, and it has enhanced our lives. We're not sitting here being old. We're all energized. Being retired can be detrimental to you, or you can flourish. Garden Spot Village encourages us to live with purpose. This is one of the purposes that enhances our lives."

Located at 433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland, Garden Spot Village's Artisans Corner will present this year's edition of its annual showcase from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25. The event, which is designed to promote the work of the retirement community's artisans, will be conducted inside the village's indoor park - a multipurpose room teeming with stations.

Not only is the public welcome to attend the free showcase, but it is also encouraged to do so.

"We're trying to encourage our residents to come and see how we make our products," said Boswell. "But we're also encouraging people from the outside, because when they do come, they're very impressed with the one-of-a-kind items. It's a great place to buy gifts. It's high-quality, high-end merchandise. We really want to engage the public."

The Artisans Corner Showcase will feature the work of 11 resident artisans. The artisans will demonstrate the steps involved with creating their crafts and will offer some of the final products for sale.

Available for purchase will be items like wooden games, wood carvings, wooden bowls, purses made out of cork, children's books made from cloth, watercolor paintings, vases, small Christmas trees and snowmen and, of course, button-ornamented jewelry.

"All of the artisans will be demonstrating some portions of their creative processes," said Boswell. "It's up to each individual artist how to best demonstrate how they do things. Some will make custom items for individuals. It's not crafts. They're artisans with creative ideas. We're showcasing only half of the artisans who have items in the (Artisans Corner)."

"The creative talent is mind boggling; it's outstanding," she continued. "These people aren't putting kits together. They have creative juices they use to come up with their own designs. Their work is so awe-inspiring, and everyone has developed their craft over a period of time."

During the Artisans Corner Showcase, some of Garden Spot Village's stores and restaurants will also be open to the public.

"We find that some people start at one side of the room and go from table to table," said Boswell. "They'll spend more time at the tables with the things that they're interested in. Most people spend an hour there, and they calculate the room. It's festive. People come with their whole families. It's a mixture of people, but it's generally lively. The artisans get to talk about things that they make every day."

Twenty percent of the funds received from the purchased items will go to Garden Spot Village's benevolent fund, monies used to cover expenses for residents who have run out of financial resources. The remainder is used to replenish the artisans' supplies.

"Everybody feels good about donating to the benevolent fund," said Boswell. "These are artisans who enjoy making what they make, and they have created such an inventory that they're happy to share their items. We want to reinforce that this is still fun for us. The goal of the Artisans Corner is not to make money; it's to enjoy doing what we're doing."

When it isn't showcasing its producers' wares, the Artisans Corner is open Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Garden Spot Village. Artisans Corner, a small shop packed with crafty items, was established at the village five years ago.

"When we did the showcase last year, we got nothing but positive feedback, so we wanted to do it again," said Boswell of the 2024 inaugural event. "We got feedback from people who were so enthralled with how some of these things are done. We had some guidance from Garden Spot Village."

For additional information, go to http://www.gardenspotvillage.org.