Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeni Gochnour
Hi Jeni, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
From the humble beginnings of two sisters who love to create and gatherk people together and see smiles of faces when what they share brings happiness to their hearts.
In March of 1999, sisters Jeni and Sara embarked on a journey to create a community market where women could come together to collaborate and learn from each other. The market has transitioned many times, in many ways,
We both held markets separately in our homes. Jeni painting and wood burning gourds and Sara pouring candles. As both our home based markets grew we decided to combine efforts and created the JeniBee Market that opened it’s doors 3-4 times a year to celebrate and support makers who were mostly stay at home moms and dads. We hosted this market at the old Holladay Elementary now Holladay City Hall. We loved it there but grew out of that space and moved to the amazing Downest Store on 33rd South in Millcreek, Utah. This was a wonderful season of growth and joy. We then moved the Market to Garden Center at This is the Place State Park and now are seeking a new location with a new name: The Holiday Market!
The Holiday Market brings the community together to celebrate the beauty of simple, ordinary days and special holidays while also supporting local Utah makers and creators.
We love what we do and are grateful everyday for wonderful support from our community and our amazing vendors that make The Holiday Market what it is today.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the secrets of life, is to make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks. -Jack Penn
Yes we have had hard things to get through. We all wish could go over or under hard things but the only way is through.
Sara discovered breast cancer 2018 and that journey and healing took the next year but she worked and share light and hope through the unknown, scary and hard times. Her strength and love blessed all of us who witnessed the grace in which she faced this ‘challenge” and used it as a stepping stone to lift others.
My husband and I were called to serve a mission in the beautiful Minneapolis Minnesota Mission 2023- 2026. It was both exciting and also daunting but the market was left in the capable hands of Sara and they did great. My experience on the mission was life changing and I truly learned about loving God and loving people.
Our mission was cut short due to my husband, Jeff getting a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and now I, like Sara with her cancer, get to see this “challenge as an opportunity to find the stepping stones that I am meant learn from with Jeff in this new life.
But through it all we have seen our devoted and loved vendors and customers SHOW UP FOR US!!
We are blessed to have been able to work as sisters and as friends. We have met and love some of the greatest people in the world. Again, our Market is what it is today because of the hard working vendors and loyal customers and family that have shown up for us through this amazing journey of building a Market together.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Sara and I both love to create. I paint gourds but have also painted and fired ceramics. The Gourds I get from an Amish farmer in Pennsylvania and it is one of my favorite parts of creating the gourds. We have spent a couple of weeks over the last 30 years at their and it is one of favorite life experiences. If you are ever in Kinzer Pennsylvania do the Amish Farm tour.
I draw each gourd and when I see the shapes of each individual gourd it speaks to me of what they will become. After drawing each gourd I paint them. Through the years I have had painter help me and I love all of them but the BEST gourd painter of all is our Mom Bonnie Brinton. She is remarkable and if you get a gourd painted by Bonnie you are lucky! After each gourd is painted I then wood burn them all. I do not have any help with this becuase this is when the personality of each gourd comes to life. Once the gourds are drawn, painted and burned I glaze them and sometime add a bottle cap or stem. I love this process and although it is hours and hours of work the end creation is always something I love!
Sara has been the most creative person I have ever met and it is a blessing to be able to not only be her sister but her friend. She is a fantastic cook and pickle ball player and has the ability of create scents that are different and make your home smell like a place you want to stay!! I love seeing her create. She is not only the most amazing candle maker but is also an artist with the sewing machine. She has created artwork with felting and sewing and banners and pennents and the list goes on and on. She finds her fabric she uses from scraps at vintage fabric stores and collections that she sources. You will not find a more generous and kind person than Sara.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Sara and I grew up in the Sugarhouse area. We had a wonderful and blessed childhood. Our dad is an artist and we were always exposed to wonderful art and a sense of love and belonging in our home.
Pricing:
- $18.00
- $25.00
- $36
- $70
- $300
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theholidaymarketslc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theholidaymarketslc/
