Holiday Shopping Available At 'Affair Of The Heart' Event In Tulsa

Braum's An Affair of the Heart has officially kicked off the holiday shopping season.

The three-day shopping event allows people to shop small on a grand scale with hundreds of vendors to choose from. Mother-daughter duo Debby Jurek and Becky Heatherman said An Affair of the Heart is marked on their calendars every year.

"We have done it for a long time," said Debby. "We just like seeing all the vendors and seeing what is new."

Bearpaw Design Studio out of Muskogee is one of those newcomers this year. Artists Robin Stockton and Fred Howell started the small business together.

They said their best seller is custom pet portraits that Fred digitally paints.

"They bring us a photo of their pet and then he uses his art skills to create a portrait of that pet," said Robin, "It is super customized and if you want something truly unique to give to someone you love, how unique is that to give them a portrait of their favorite animal in their life."

Looking around shoppers often draw inspiration. In fact, Debby and Becky said they never go in with a plan yet always leave with a gift for everyone on their Christmas list.

"We usually do not come looking for anything we just find stuff," Debby added.

One year that led them to Tyler Carter's booth, owner of Simpleton Goods. He can make almost anything using leather including wallets, belts, bags, holsters, and catch-alls.

Each of these personalized gifts comes with a high-quality promise.

"These gifts will last a long time," Carter said. "I am using full grain leather, I stitched everything by hand, and it is designed to hold up against all the wear and tear."

That is something all of these small businesses pride themselves on and why a customer's purchase means so much.

"I have got four little boys and they come out to the shop and give me their input, so when you are supporting Simpleton Goods, you are not just supporting some faceless business but myself and my family," Carter added.

An Affair of the Heart is inside SageNet Center at Expo Square on Friday, November 17, and Saturday, November 18 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 19.

Tickets are $12 at the door and good for all three days of the show. Children 12 and under get in free.