On the Road - The Brooklyn Flea at Hanson Place

It was so refreshing to pack up the car again after a two month break from doing shows. Having time to create at home is wonderful, but I couldn't wait to get out into the world again. Grace Napoleon of Folk Couture and I tightly squeezed our gear into her car and headed off to the Brooklyn Flea last weekend. It's always fun to do shows as each others' stuff-made-out-of-stuff sidekicks.

The Brooklyn Flea

Folk Couture & Twitch and Whiskers

A menagerie of chipmunks, pelicans, frogs, and other critters greeted me at the SKT Ceramics table. I have always been fond of Susannah Tisue's lovely, wheel-thrown ceramic designs with delicately drawn animals.  Her large-sized mugs were one of my favorite items at the flea. They have a great weight and feel to them that makes you want to sit back and sip on something warm all day. Those of us lucky enough to see her on Sunday also got first dibs on her seconds sale. I not only brought home a fabulous little bear bowl for Thom, but I also got the gears turning on a custom made creation for an upcoming event. Susannah's ceramics combine the beauty and simplicity of nature and make the perfect handmade gift. Visit SKT Ceramics next time you're at the flea or check out her wares online.

Susannah of SKT Designs

mugs, bowls, and tumblers

Ryan Green of Flux Productions was my neighbor at the flea. He offered amazingly designed and crafted leather goods, including bags, wallets, and cuffs. I really enjoyed his cork bags with their unique texture, lightweight design, and arrow print lining. You can tell that every piece is made with great care and attention to detail. I was really drawn to his leather cuffs with solid brass links but ended up leaving with a screen printed long sleeved t-shirts. I have already worn this floral beauty a few times since last week and know that it will be my go-to shirt this spring. See Ryan at the flea or visit his Etsy shop to see his whole line of clothing and accessories.

Ryan of Flux Productions

leather and brass chain cuffs

Saturday welcomed in visitors from near and far. It was such a wonderful surprise to have the Harvey Family visit from Fairfield, CT (where I teach). Seeing students outside of school is always a treat. I met Dana Ferguson of Dana Made last year at the Prospect Heights Fair and she was kind enough to come by to spread some joy. Saturday ended with Karen Seiger of Markets of New York and her husband James. The night was filled with fabulous food and laughter.

Hello Harveys!

Dana Made - an appearance

Grace had many happy ladies coming in and out of her dressing room with new frocks for the spring. Dresses were her hot sellers for the weekend. No two "clothes out of clothes" creations are ever alike. Her unique mixes of patterns, colors, and textures gave each of her customers an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind piece to welcome in the new season. Like Folk Couture on Facebook to see where you can find her next.

Grace has a bright idea

ready for the sun

a new dress

Some of my favorite pieces went to happy homes including a rouge locket with cameo hidden inside. A necklace with a wooden nickel from Sambo's found its way back to the west coast via a gal from California and my Little Birdy flew the coop.

Kiss on the Chic

Coffee Tea or Me

A Little Birdy Told Me

The weekend provided a much needed awakening from my winter slumber. I left the flea feeling energized for the spring and summer show seasons ahead. I also walked out with a few treats for the road.

Kumquat Cupcakery - got two bites for the road

new favorites: shirt by Flux Productions and bowl by SKT Ceramics

I'll be out and about every weekend in March. Here is my schedule for the month. A full spring/summer schedule will be posted soon.

On the Road - The Greenway Open Market & SoWa Open Market - Boston

With my summer teaching gig over, and lots of vacation still ahead of me, I was excited to get back into the swing of shows again. This was my second "double Boston weekend" of the summer and I was looking forward to returning to the Greenway Open Market and SoWa with my friend Grace Napoleon of Folk Couture. We packed her vehicle tighter than a clown car with two displays worth of gear and drove off to stay with her daughter Siena in Cambridge. We had a smooth drive up and a relaxing night before the Greenway.

and not an inch to spare

The Greenway Open Market

The humid New England day didn't keep locals and tourists from walking about the Greenway. We were welcomed by a mist surrounding the Rings Fountain and hoards of children dodging in and out of the sprays of water. As always, it was fun chatting the day away with Grace and watching her sew new creations on the spot. It was a busy day for Grace and folks from all over discovered her handmade OOAK apparel. I love the wow-moments when ladies walked out of her dressing room looking like the outfit was made just for them. An adorable party dress with crinoline and lovely shades of blue and green went home with a happy customer from Wyoming. Many stylish gals left the Greenway with a treasure from Grace's tent.

sew busy

The colors of Folk Couture

 wonderful and Wyoming bound

Grace introduced me to her friend Betsy Baker of Stonehouse Studio. Her polymer clay work is like none I have ever seen before. Her pendants were the first thing to catch my eye. Smooth detailed patterns contour round organic shapes and cradle delicate textured inlays. I was very fond of her bracelets and Grace was too. She treated herself to a colorful polka dotted bangle from Betsy at the end of the day. You can tell that Betsy has a master hand and has been doing this for years because she achieves intricate patterns and textures on such small spaces. Definitely check her out in the Boston area or on her website if you want to find someone a beautifully crafted, unique gift.

Betsy Baker of Stonehouse Studio

beautiful bangles

polymer pendants

While waiting for my Boston Common grilled cheese from the Grilled Cheese Nation truck, vibrant images of lemons, pizzas, and watermelons beckoned to me from a nearby booth. I stopped to take a closer look and to talk with Dan of Dan Johnson Designs about his trivets. I found out that all of the housewares he offers are created from his original artwork and photographs. His eye-catching images and bold colors make his pieces the ideal accessory to brighten up your home. In addition to the trivets he offered clocks, mugs, coasters, trays, and a variety of other useful wares. Visit his website to see his mouth-watering designs.

Dan Johnson Designs

deliciously decorative 

Lured in by the perfectly peaked cupcakes and a brightly colored stand I visited the Cupcake Cart on the Greenway for an afternoon pick me up. I chatted with the lovely gal working the cart and found out the stand was created by the same family who owns the local Bullfinch's Restaurant in Sudbury, MA. The cupcakes are only available on the Greenway and the stand is in a great location near the family-friendly fountain. I picked out a vanilla cupcake with vanilla frosting to share with Grace and it was just the treat to get us through the afternoon.

How can you resist?

yes please!

The biggest highlight of my day was meeting a customer who said she read my write up in the Weekly Dig. She left with several of my favorite pieces including "A Dazzling Display of Sportsmanship." I also met a very friendly mom and daughter visiting from New Jersey. The mom and I shared a love of vintage and we chatted about a great rummage sale in her area. She left with one of my newest tin locket creations called "Outdoor Girl." A sweet couple that was getting married the following week found the perfect gift for one of the girls in their wedding: a rainbow-colored REcap Bracelet. And guess where the bracelet was going to...Fairfield, CT where I teach and where the marker caps originally came from. You can't make these things up!

Can you Dig it?

"A Dazzling Display of Sportsmanship" on a dazzling customer

"Outdoor Girl" on a great outdoor mom and her daughter

After heading back to Siena's and freshening up we all headed out to celebrate Siena's birthday at Evoo in Boston. It was great to hang out with her parents and boyfriend Ian, who had been kind enough to help us set up and break down at the shows all weekend. We all tucked into some delicious locally grown and organic food. From appetizers to our main entrees, we enjoyed every bite and were most impressed by the presentation of the food and eclectic decor of the restaurant. The night was topped off with a lavender infused pana cotta accompanied by a candle and song for the birthday girl.

the birthday beauty

Ian 'n' Siena

The next day we were up early to set up at SoWa Open Market. The grey skies warned of a wet day ahead and that it was! Despite the showers, folks still showed up with raincoats and umbrellas to see what the market had to offer. I have to admit that I was a little too rain-shy to visit with other vendors and write about their goods, but you'll have to believe me when I tell you that there was a nice variety of both handmade goods and food there (as there always is!). Grace sported a new polka dotted cuff that she got from Betsy Baker at the Greenway. Grace busily sewed two new dresses by the end of the day and sent some pretty hand made outfits home with happy customers.

Twitch and Whiskers - the wet look

braving the rain

Grace doing some rainy day sewing.

A gal swung by with an amazing Basquiat t-shirt. We ended up talking a little about the London exhibit where she got the shirt. She went home with a magnet necklace called "Laws of Attraction." I jokingly told her I would trade the necklace for her cool t-shirt... and I would have if she was up for it! Oh well... Towards the end of the day a guy came by who was really drawn to the Thimblism Necklaces. He carefully read each thimble on the display and found a plastic one that advertised a shop in Seattle, Washington. The street address was just blocks away from where he used to live. He instantly knew that was the necklace for him.

Laws of Attraction

Fruity Thimblism Necklace

After SoWa, we headed toward Siena's and once the weather cleared up, we all walked to Jose's Mexican Restaurant. To celebrate the weekend, we enjoyed drinks and some delicious authentic Mexican fare. Sangria, salsa and chips, a margarita, and generous portions made us feel stuffed and satisfied. We definitely walked home a happy group!

Grace's kissing booth outside of Joe's

quite the pitcher

Grace in a sangriable mood

On Monday, Grace and I packed up, said our goodbyes and headed to a very special pastry spot: Sofra. Their delectable display of sweets and Middle Eastern specialties made it difficult to pick just one item, so Grace and I noshed on a nice variety of treats while unwinding with a tea and latte. Once fed, we hit the road. The car, being a bit lighter after selling at our shows, had some precious extra room. We made several stops at some of our favorite crafty and thrifty places on the way back to Connecticut. These detours proved to be quite rewarding so we were thankful for the extra trunk space. Thanks to some metal poles between us in the car I had a "censored" view of Grace on the ride home. This provided us with many laughs and a few close calls during sharp turns.

breakfast of champions

 passenger side view of Grace on the ride home

This Boston weekend had a little of everything to make for the perfect adventure: family, friends, food, and finds. I can't wait to do all again this coming weekend! 

Come visit me at my last two shows of the summer. Fall and winter dates to follow soon!

Saturday, August 13 - The Greenway Open Market - Boston, MA

Sunday, August 14 - SOWA Open Market - Boston, MA

On the Road - Smith Street Sunday Funday in Brooklyn

Last Thursday, I said goodbye to my second grade students for the summer, did a quick celebration dance, and promptly got into craft show mode. Being my first summer of doing outdoor shows, I have been prepping for the past few weeks. I got a new tent, weights, and all the doodads that go along with braving the great outdoors. Thom made me an amazing new spinning jewelry display out of an upcycled metal lampshade and patio umbrella base. He also created a lazy susan-type base for my favorite topiary display so my thimblism necklaces could really whoosh around like carnival swings. I couldn't wait to try my new set up at the Smith Street Sunday Fun Day Event.

new display

Grace Napoleon of Folk Couture and I miraculously squeezed both of our set ups into her car. We had a smooth ride into Caroll Gardens and pulled up to a fabulous neighborhood filled with interesting shops and tempting restaurants. Eight blocks of Smith Street were sectioned off for the event and there was a nice mix of handmade wares, import items, and food. Just a block away from us was a stage that hosted a great variety of music for the day and the stinky cheese eating contest. 

one car - two full set ups - pretty impressive if you ask me!

welcome to Grace's place

We were lucky to be surrounded by other great vendors. To our right was Avian and John of My Little India. You couldn't miss their colorful display of handmade pillows with bold colors, patterned recycled plastic area rugs, and tables made from upcycled wood and pipes. I would buy "one of each" from their shop if I had my way. On top of having amazing wares, they have to be the nicest couple around. They are well-loved regulars at the Brooklyn Flea. If you're ever there, make sure to check them out. I dare you NOT to leave with something from their shop!

dynamic duo

color abounds

I couldn't have been happier to be set up next to Heather of Bright Lights Little City. I had seen her clever cocktail umbrella lamps all over the internet and it was great to finally meet the artist behind the design. I enjoyed poking through all her stuff. She makes a great variety of limited edition jewelry and accessories from vintage items. Her nightlights made out of antique glass slides flew off the shelf, and I adored her headbands embellished with vintage cloth and plastic flowers. Heather had a bowl filled the the cutest tiny origami stars. Once she gave me a quick tutorial on how to make them, I had to go home with one of her star kits. Something tells me there soon will be tiny stars all over my apartment! 

Heather's treasures

oh my stars!

I enjoyed watching people "ooh and ahh" at Grace's creations all day. Many lucky ladies went home with her dresses and tunics, but one in particular literally stopped foot traffic at the fair. Sometimes the right outfit finds the right person and this was a perfect example of that. There was this one woman who tried on Grace's "Wild Thing" dress and once she stepped out of the dressing room, people stopped on the street and said she just had to take it home. Every time this attractive gal emerged from the dressing room with a different dress, the same thing would happen. She got so many compliments, she kept jokingly asking if the compliments were coming from one of Grace's sisters at the fair. Grace doesn't have any sisters...just lots of fashion panache!

wild and wonderful

great from the front and the back

Several of my "hot off the press" pieces went home with happy customers. Two of my favorites were the "Shady Lady", featuring a cameo framed by a perfectly patina-ed escutcheon, and "Steeplechase" a bold and brassy horse hurdling a protractor. The crowd really seemed to enjoy and appreciate vintage-inspired designs. I had some great conversations with people about their vintage collections at home. Meeting these folks is one of my favorite things about doing shows.

Sunday shoppers

Shady Lady

Steeplechase

After a busy day on Smith Street, Grace and I moseyed on over to Chestnut for dinner. The restaurant had an inviting interior with warm wooden tones and a relaxed but refined atmosphere. We sat down to some lovely rosemary focaccia and a bowl of pickles that perked us up after a long day outside. A tall, beautiful woman walked by with her kids and I instantly remembered her from the street fair. She came over to say hi and it turned out that she was the owner of Chestnut. Her name was Susan and her warm and welcoming personality definitely spilled over into her restaurant. Grace ordered a delectable bowl of house-made cavatelli with goat cheese and sausage morsels. I got a lovely, perfectly-cooked chicken breast with spicy Toulouse sausage stuffing and asparagus. The clean presentation, perfectly-sized portions, and clean flavors were a such a treat and a refreshing way to end the day. 

Chestnut  - 271 Smith St. (between Sackett and Degraw)

delish!

Grace and I hopped in the car and noshed on a few delicious French pastries from Provence en Boite while on the road. With a sigh and a smile, we headed back to Connecticut with a fun day behind us.