It started as an idea.

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I moved to Anacortes in 2019 with my husband, Cameron, and quickly fell in love with how many artists and creative humans call the Skagit Valley home. As a new artist in the area, I was finding my groove and began participating in a handful of markets in Oak Harbor and around the valley right before the pandemic struck.

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During 2020, that idea started blooming into something bigger. I kept coming back to the same thought: what if there was a space where all types of creative minds could gather, share their work, collaborate, and feel encouraged to fully embrace their creativity.

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In 2021, the idea became a reality.

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What began as monthly Creative Avenue Makers Markets at Buxton’s in Anacortes quickly grew into a vibrant, supportive community of artists, makers, and small creative businesses. The markets combined everything I loved most: making my own art, supporting other creatives, building genuine community, and still having flexibility to enjoy life outside of work.

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In early 2024, Creative Avenue took a big leap forward with the opening of the Creative Hub as a permanent brick-and-mortar space in downtown Anacortes. The Hub became a place for coffee, pottery painting, classes, meetups, and creative gatherings of all kinds. Over nearly two years, we hosted everything from makers markets and seasonal celebrations like Summerween, to tea tastings, art classes, watercolor meetups, and countless everyday moments of connection and creativity.

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While the Creative Hub was filled with meaningful experiences and wonderful community moments, it also taught me an important lesson. Running a permanent storefront was far more consuming than I anticipated, and it pulled me away from the parts of Creative Avenue that originally brought me the most joy.

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In December 2025, I made the decision to close the Creative Hub and return Creative Avenue to its roots.

Today, Creative Avenue is once again focused on hosting artisan makers markets, collaborating with local businesses, sharing my own creative journey, and finding new ways to support artists and makers throughout our region. The heart of the idea remains the same as it was in the beginning: to create welcoming, inspiring spaces where creativity feels accessible, connected, and worth celebrating.