On the Road - The Greenway Open Market

Deja vu. That's exactly what I felt as Grace and I loaded up her car for another double-show weekend in Boston. The week prior, we participated in The Greenway Open Market and SoWa and we were headed back to Boston to do it all again. A kind friend let us stay at his apartment in nearby Brookline. Upon our arrival, we settled into the comfy abode and then headed out to Pomodoro for a delicious meal. We enjoyed every bite of our linguini bolognese & seared scallops with chorizo, veggies, and risotto. After a full belly and a full night's rest, we got up bright and early for The Greenway Open Market.

Pomodoro - Brookline

Over-sized blue foamy blocks, bright plastic fish, and many other games were set up in the middle of The Rose Kennedy Greenway to attract kids of all ages. You could hear familiar squeals of excitement racing through the sprays of the Rings Fountain. The beautiful summer day and light wind welcomed in pedestrians from all parts of the city. Grace Napoleon of Folk Couture and I were set up next to each other. Grace moved her usual shop set up around for a new look and I excitedly displayed my new blinking eyeball necklaces front and center on my table.

all fun and games on the Greenway

wink wink

Folk Couture

When I saw Shara Porter setting up next to me, I instantly recognized her eye-catching silk screened leather goods from the BUST Craftacular. I have always admired her work and was thrilled to be neighbors with her at the show. Small suitcases lined her table alongside perfectly displayed colorful wallets and change purses. Shara is known for silk screening on just about anything made from leather and originally started screen printing on vintage items. She now offers both vintage and new creations to suit everyone's needs and tastes. I loved her cleverly-chosen images, from woodland and oceanic creatures to everyday objects and nautical symbols. With a broad pallet of leather colors and a wide variety of clever images, it's easy to find the perfect handmade gift at her table. Visit her website to see her unique work and find out where you can catch her next.

Shara Porter

colors abound

you can rock a raccoon

Driven by fine fabrics and classic design, Natalie Therese's handbags were a standout at The Greenway. She offered her hand sewn bags in a variety of styles and colors that could suit any occasion and function. I first noticed the smooth shape and styling of her Round Up bags. They would look great tucked under the arm of any gal walking about the city. Many of her bags were embellished with a stylish matching cloth flower and her clutch bags with bold patterns were definite crowd-pleasers. My favorite pattern was the "red pepper" with its striking red lines. For everyday or that special event, grab one of Natalie's bags for that perfect finishing touch.

Natalie Therese

lots of lovelies

red pepper- hot stuff!

Grace's hands have been on high speed this past week with over ten new pieces for her Folk Couture line. My favorite was her suspender print dress cleverly cut and sewn so it looked like the suspenders were in use. Many ladies happily emerged from her dressing room looking like a million bucks. Grace custom tailored several pieces for customers on the spot to make for a perfect fit. What a pro! Judging from the smiles below, you could say it was a very Grace day at the Greenway.

suspenders and a skirt work!

pretty in plaid

dazzling in dots

The Greenway is the perfect place to meet people from all over. Folks stopped by from all parts of the States, Europe, Australia, and Asia. RECap bracelets, Thimbilism Necklaces, and a variety of my other goodies will be spanning the globe with happy customers. My favorite Swedish headbadge necklace called "Near Perfekt" went off with a lovely lady from New York City.

New Yorker in Near Perfekt

Originally from California and transplanted to Boston via the Boston Ballet, dancer Kelsey Ivana Hellebuyck started her day searching for one of her favorite jewelry designers in the neighborhood. She just happened to come across the Greenway Open Market during her travels and I'm so glad she did. It's no surprise she looked smashing in everything she tried on, considering the Boston Globe named her one of the 25 Most Stylish Bostonians of 2010. She left with several statement pieces, including "Ideal Split Shot"; an assemblage necklace using a vintage fishing sinker tin and a mix of vintage chains. The next time I'm in Boston, I hope to catch one of her performances with the Boston Ballet and you should too!

Kelsey looking ideal in "Ideal Split Shot"

The afternoon was topped off with a melt-in-your-mouth pulled pork sandwich with carrot slaw, soft onions, and bbq sauce from The BBQ Smith food truck and I savored every bite. At the end of the day, Grace and I reloaded the car and we noticed there was more space in the trunk thanks to the busy day (always a great sign). To celebrate our day at The Greenway, we met her daughter Siena at Cognac Bistro in Brookline for a French dinner. Steak, seafood, and wine rounded out our night nicely but we had to top it off with ice cream from J.P. Licks to end things on the perfect note.

The BBQ Smith = yum!

cheers!

sweets for the sweets

After a nonstop day, it was a breeze to fall asleep. I had to rest up because the next day I'd be at the Sowa Open Market for day two of my Boston adventures.