On the Road - Craftland Opening

On a crisp night back in late November, Thom and I took a trek over to Providence for the 11th Annual Craftland Holiday Show Super Celebration Bash. This was my first year participating in the holiday show and I was beyond thrilled to be a part of it!

Craftland in Providence, RI

opening party

bright night

The gorgeous window displays and colorful lights lit up the night and the shop was abuzz with people. A live dj, refreshments, and photo booth added to the festive feel of the evening. Every corner of Craftland was jam packed with handmade goods from near and far. From plush creations and a stunning wall o' art to ceramics and jewelry, at Craftland, you could find the perfect gift for nearly anyone.

wall o' art

warm and fuzzy

it's in the bag

It's beginning to look a lot like breakfast.

Thom and I went to the event with friends Carrie of SepiaLepus and her hubby Jim. Thanks to their warm hospitality, we got to hang out in Providence for the weekend. It was great to see many familiar creative faces at Craftland, including Kristin Crane (love her Etsy shop with travel journals), Kath Connolly (read her Craftland interview here) and Devienna Anggraini (jewelry designer extrordinaire of DA Metals). 

Carrie Wagner and Jim Ciancaglini

 Kristin Crane and Kath Connolly

Devienna Anggraini of DA Metals

There was so much to love at Craftland but I was definitely kitten smitten. I instantly gravitated toward Meredith Stern's original collages and prints. Meredith uses a variety of techniques (woodblock, linoleum, spray paint, collage) to create her mysterious masterpieces. Her bold colors, fantastical felines, and textured works were a feast for the eyes. Thanks to a trade with Meredith and a generous Christmas gift from my friend Grace, I am the proud owner of two of her pieces including Mutual Aid. Learn more about Meredith's creations and her many talents by visiting her website and Justseeds.

Meredith Stern's Paradise Lain collage

Another favorite of mine at the shop was a cat bowl from ceramicist Maddy Macedo. Can you say adorable? One part whimsical drawing plus one part brightly glazed stoneware equals the perfect combo. Maddy's shop Lucky Monkey also offers monkey pots (of course), fascinating heart sculptures, and ornaments. Lucky for you, you can find her work at Craftland and on Etsy! 

cat bowls by Lucky Monkey

While mixin' and minglin', my eyes instantly gravitted toward Jenine Bressner because of her stunning lampwork bead necklace. She was kind enough to let me hold the colorful piece and admire it up close. The mixed patterns, textures, and shapes were other-worldly and the construction was beautiful. In addition to glasswork, Jenine works in textiles and is starting to delve into chandelier making. Visit Janine's blog, Fireworks page, and Flickr page to see what she's up to next. Click here to see a cool clip of her showing Martha Stewart a thing or two about bead makin'.

Jenine Bressner 

You just cannot ignore a bear head walking around the room, especially if it's a crocheted head with handmade polymer teeth. Last summer, Thom and I were mesmerized by Huckleberry Desingore's handmade heads when we saw them at the MassMOCA gift shop. Once we spotted her at Craftland, we just knew she had to be the mastermind behind those beasts. Huckleberry makes wearable art that has been seen in print, on stage, and on happy customers. Her most exciting one yet? She got to present a crocheted Stan Lee head to Stan Lee himself! It doesn't get much cooler than that. Enter Huckleberry's world by visiting her Huck and Stuff website.

Huckleberry Designore

I was so excited to see my pieces set up at Craftland. Everything was beautifully displayed. At the show, I offered a variety of Thimblism necklaces and one of a kind pieces made from protractors, vintage toys, pinback buttons, buckles, and other found objects. I just found out that my jewelry will be offered at Craftland year round, so definitely swing by the next time you're in Providence. Check out their website and Facebook page for upcoming events, showings, and classes. It's really a magical place!

Twitch and Whiskers display at Craftland

pinback button necklaces

thimblism necklaces

What's new for Twitch and Whiskers in 2013? 

Saturday, February 9th - 4:00 - 7:00 pm - CT ArtList Pop-Up Exhibition - I'm excited to announce that my husband and I will be doing a show together for the first time! The opening will feature 14 local Connecticut artists, Thom's band Burnkit2600, and jewelry from Twitch and Whiskers. We hope to see you there!

I am in the process of applying to spring and summer shows and will post dates as soon as I have them. 

In the meantime, please contact me if you would like a custom order and visit my Etsy shop for new pieces each month.