GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Roxanne Cassidy, 12, shows off her handiwork. Her homemade tabletop Christmas trees will be among the holiday home and gift items available at the "Mistletoe Magic" benefit for Ballet Hawaii taking place Sunday.

Holiday craft flair

The daughter of designer Anne Namba
works to create collectibles
for a Christmas boutique

Annual world bazaar offers holiday gifts

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By Nancy Arcayna
narcayna@starbulletin.com

Buttons, bows and sequins. A late Thanksgiving means there are fewer days until Christmas, and those seeking to wrap up household shopping quickly might want to visit "Mistletoe Magic," a holiday designer boutique and open house event featuring handcrafted and imported items for the home and for gift-giving.

Among the items are 12-year-old Roxanne Cassidy's one-of-a-kind Christmas trees. Using ordinary and glittery trinkets, Cassidy creates unique tabletop trees that would make an ideal centerpiece.

"It's really fun making them," she said. "I break apart old earrings and things like that." The idea is to randomly place the decorations and come up with some sort of synchronized pattern, explained Cassidy.

The trees stand about 12- to 14-inches tall, and cost $55 to $75 each. "It takes a quite a long time to glue everything on, add a star and finish the spray painting. The designing takes about three hours," she said.

DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM Nodi Namba-Hadar shows some of the wood bowls she'll be offering for sale at the "Mistletoe Magic" fundraiser for Ballet Hawaii Sunday.

Last year, the trees were sold at her mother's boutique, Anne Namba Designs, Inc. Out of $2,600 gross sales, Cassidy received $1,300, which she plans to save for "college, a new car or a cool condo in New York." This year, proceeds will benefit Ballet Hawaii.

Following in the footsteps of her designer mother, Cassidy is already sewing some of her own clothes, although her real dream is to become a dancer. She has studied ballet abroad and played Marie for the past few years in "Nutcracker" performances. This year, Cassidy is a princess in the Ballet Hawaii production.

Artflow, another vendor participating in the event, makes custom furniture, wooden bowls, trays and ornaments. Pacific Stain Glass will present hand-blown goblets with holly and berry stems. And Ione Adams will be offering her one-of-a-kind Santa dolls from around the world.

"We are trying to get merchandise that is really different, not something that you could just go and buy at the mall," said Namba, who got the project off the ground. "I had the idea and it was perfect for the kids to do. Roxanne is very artsy," she said.

DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM Roxanne Cassidy, 12, uses trinkets such as broken earrings, buttons and bows to create her tabletop Christmas trees.

The family starts as many as 30 Christmas trees at a time. "It's really incestuous, everyone helps," Namba said, adding that Cassidy always leads the charge, persuading her to let her stay up late finishing off her trees.

According to Susan Schull, president of Ballet Hawaii and former owner of the Cypress Boutique in Manoa, highlights of the shopping experience will include such hostess gifts as colorful tablecloths, vases and bowls, soaps, mother-and-child aprons and mitts, etched glass boxes and frames, and wreaths.

"It's worth it just to come and see these beautiful homes," said Namba. "The grounds are just spectacular."

Dancers from Ballet Hawaii will also be in costume passing out refreshments courtesy of Godiva Chocolates and Bubbies Ice Cream. And, gift wrapping will also available in the "Nutcracker Suite."

'Mistletoe Magic' A benefit for Ballet Hawaii Where: Three kamaaina homes on Dowsett Avenue When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday Admission: $20 in advance; $25 at the event Call: 395-7216 Note: Shuttle service is available from the Boy Scouts headquarters at 42 Puiwa Road to "Mistletoe Magic"

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