By Tara Kyle
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
CHELSEA — For procrastinating shoppers looking to avoid the leftovers this week at national chains (Gap mittens, anyone?), the independent vendors at Chelsea Market's "Jingle" pop-up store offer one last minute alternative.
The four-year-old "Jingle" fair, founded by jewelry and picture frame designer Jill Schwartz is open through 7 p.m. Thursday on the ground floor of the West 15th Street and Ninth Avenue market.
The 19 companies will sell folk art, stuffed animals, skin care products, bracelets, bags, and this year, for the first time, chocolate.
"It's lovely," vendor Georgie Castle, who called herself the "chief oompa loompa" at Brooklyn-based Fine & Raw Chocolate, said of the fair.
Bonbons and sea salt flavored bars are popular at the chocolatier's station, but Castle told customers Sunday that the mesquite variety is her "absolute favorite."
At the station for four-year-old organic skin care line, Australian Scent, co-founder Eddie Enriquez said he's been surprised to see one of their premium products selling fast. The $58 intensive wrinkle face therapy product includes ingredients such as frankincense, goji berries and green tea.
The face time with customers that Enriquez acquires at "Jingle," as well as the Brooklyn Flee Market, is critical for his online and wholesale business.
"I can never have that lady from Ohio come and touch my product unless she comes here," he said.
Collectors with deeper — and quirkier — pockets can check out the sculptures from uptown artist Bill Finks. His Primitive Twig line features antique doll heads and limbs attached to vintage tea and talcum power tins from locales including China, England and Russia. Prices range from $110 to $900.
Finks said he sells around the world, and to prominent celebrities (though he declined to name names), but still enjoys the more intimate opportunity to mingle with tourists and New Yorkers at "Jingle."
"It's exciting to get a response to your work," Finks said. "It's isn't always favorable, but that's good, too. You turn it into something positive."
For backed-up holiday consumers with key women in their lives, earrings may be the best go-to choice, jewelry designer Ayala Naphtali said from her station Wednesday. Her dyed coconut shell pieces go for between $40-100.
"No woman has ever had enough earrings in her entire life, as far as I can tell," said Naphtali.
