Houston Center for Contemporary Craft's Asher Gallery celebrates the holidays with the annual Asher Holiday Soiree & Trunk Show. Enjoy refreshments, nibbles and shopping to kick off the annual Members' Double Discount Sale.

The trunk show features two 2011 alumnae, Leslie Shershow and Paula Haymond. Although their work takes them in very different directions, these two artists have a favorite material in common: Wood.

As an emerging sculptor, Haymond seeks to create works that tell stories about Gulf Coast wildlife, deep-ocean landscapes and lost civilizations through their imagery. She uses a variety of techniques and materials to express her vision, from turning and carving wood to using metal inlays. However, she never lets technique overpower the inherent qualities of the wood she selects.

Leslie Shershow's Maine Series is an exploration of unrecognized beauty and narrative manifested through jewelry. Using subject matter inspired by her childhood in rural Maine, she pays homage to the stingy home improver. Though her inspiration may be unorthodox, the final products have an ineffable charm and sophistication.