By JULI GOETZ MORSER

In the early 1980’s, several Vashon potters and the artist collective at Barnworks invited the public into their studios during the first two weekends in December. This weekend that tradition continues, when dozens of island studios and art spots will open their doors to visitors for holiday shopping and a peek into where art is made.

According to longtime island potter Liz Lewis, the first art studio tour “was only seven stops. We deemed it the perfect size as you could visit them all in one day.”

That was before the Potter’s Tour and Barnworks officially joined forces in the early 1990’s. It was also before the decade-long volunteer effort of Janice Wall helped spread the word about the event and invited more artists to get on board. Fast-forward to the Art Studio Tour of 2013, and fitting all the stops into one day would be quite the challenge — the colorful brochure boasts 45 studios.

With time comes inevitable change, and for the first year since Sharon Munger opened the doors of Barnworks in the 1970’s, the converted barn is no longer on the tour. Yet many Barnworks artists can be found at other studios such as the historic waterfront Marjesira Inn, where Jacqui Lown now produces watercolor paintings and cards, or Waterworks Studio, featuring 19 artists working in a variety of mediums.

Newcomers to the tour include Ken Judd, who fashions quirky creatures out of recycled materials, Cowbelle Industries, which celebrates island culture on printed T-shirts, and Zuzko Jewelry with its sterling silver wearable designs. Studios are open Saturday and Sunday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Maps are available at most island business and at www.VashonIslandArtStudioTour.com.