On the Road - Spring Crafts in Chelsea

Start with one terrific public school: PS 11. Stir in a generous helping of the Etsy New York Team. Gently fold in amazing artists & makers, live music, and one gorgeous day and what do you get? Spring Crafts in Chelsea! This was my first outdoor show of the season and I couldn't have picked better weather for the event. Grace Napoleon of Folk Couture and I loaded up her car and drove in together on Saturday. We set up nice and early and our tents book ended our friend Liz Rodriguez of Liz Rodriguez Ceramics. There's nothing better than being near friends at a show!

PS 11

singin' on the steps of the school

Spring Crafts in Chelsea

all smiles for a sunny day

Twitch and Whiskers

Liz offered new, cheerful house shaped trivets/wall hangings and her whole line of mugs, planters, platters, vases, and jars. I got up close and personal with Liz's brightly hued ceramics and learned about her process of working in the studio. One of her favorite steps is doing her wax relief designs. She hand paints her whimsical leaf patterns to achieve two unique ceramic finishes. I will get to see Liz again next week at the opening of the Greenway Open Market in Boston. If you can't catch her there, you can follow Liz Rodriguez Ceramics on FB, on her blog, or visit her shop on Etsy. 

Liz Rodriguez Ceramics

dressed to impress

 Grace has been busy finding amazing once-loved pieces of clothes to make her hand sewn Folk Couture apparel. Her racks were lined with lovely new dresses and tunics. Grace was recently the proud recipient of an overflowing bag of ball trim that I had found while treasure hunting. It was exciting to see touches of the fringe along skirt hems! Our friend Karen Seiger of Markets of New York and her husband James came by to spread some market cheer. Karen found THE PERFECT dress for herself - an C3PO dress with swaying polka dot skirt. Grace too will be at Greenway Open Market next week. Find her on FB for more upcoming shows and newly posted pics.

Folk Couture

The Force is with her

As a teacher, I love doing shows to benefit local schools. I got to meet many of the enthusiastic students and families from PS 11. One of the best parts of doing school benefits is sending my jewelry home with kids. They wear it so well! This crowd definitely appreciated the REcap bracelets made from upcycled Crayola marker caps. Folks also enjoyed the jewelry that incorporated vintage game pieces, like my rings and the perfect sunny day necklace called "I Scream. You Scream." A nice selection of my Thimblism necklaces, one of a kind assemblages, and tin/compact locket necklaces also went home with market shoppers including one of my favorite new compact necklaces called "Photo Finish." I also had a chance to show my new Lucite necklaces made from vintage beads and components.

Remarkable in REcaps

Lookin' sweet in I Scream, You Scream

Fabulous in Photo Finish

new necklaces: Barbarella II, Dewdrops, and Ebb

After a day of traveling, heavy lifting, meeting, greeting, and selling, it's always refreshing to end the day with a delicious meal. Once everything was packed up and the last tent weight was heaved into the car, Grace and I walked around the corner to find a bite to eat. We came upon Tipsy Parson and when we saw "Belly-Filling Goodness " written on their window, we knew we found our place. We thoroughly enjoyed every bite of our meals. Grace had succulent lamb with herbed dumplings and I savored every forkful of my shrimp, grits, and fried green tomatoes. But oh, it got even better. Dessert of coconut cake and brandy soaked almond cake with fresh berries and custard were the perfect finale to our weekend adventures. 

I did want to kiss my grits.

more please

This was certainly a great way to launch my outdoor show season, and there are many more outdoor shows ahead! See you at the opening of the Greenway Open Market in Boston next week. Click here for a full spring/summer schedule. Take advantage of my May promo. "hooraymay" gets you 15% off anything in my Etsy shop.

On the Road - BKCC's Shop the Archway

May 21, 2011 was a rapturous day. I was prepped and ready to go for Brooklyn Craft Central's Shop the Archway market in DUMBO 'neath the glorious Manhattan Bridge.

It was my birthday (and Mr. T's by the way), plus a little thing called "Judgement Day" was supposed to happen, say - around 6:00ish. After hearing that cataclysmic earthquakes were predicted, I felt great relief in knowing that I was underneath one of the world's strongest structures and if all were to end, I would go out surrounded by handmade crafts and delicious food.

Manhattan Bridge

pre-show arch

Thom and I drove out early and met Grace Napoleon at the Archway. Grace's Folk Couture booth was set up next to mine. This was my first time seeing her amazing new clothing display in use. When she did Craft Boston back in March, she commissioned her friend Steve Thompson of Junk Lab Design to create a fanciful, fully functional combination clothing display and dressing room constructed out of pipes. Steve created a jungle gym of curiosities that surprisingly sets up and breaks down in a breeze. I was quite impressed. I also loved seeing Grace's new chairs-out-of-clothes. She found the cutest little chairs and worked her "Grace magic" on them by sewing on fabulous patterned fabrics, vintage buttons, bold images, and fun trim. They definitely caught many eyes at the show.

Folk Couture by Grace Napoleon and display by Junk Lab Design

three cheers for two chairs

ready to go

In honor of Judgement Day, Grace proudly displayed her rapturous Blondie dress and I put a special ring out, front and center.

Thom caught up in a rapture...and Grace's new chair

don't leave earth without one

I enjoyed walking around before the crowd arrived to meet new people and say hello to familiar faces. It was great to see Julie from Bugsella and Rocks and Salt, who were just at Twist several weeks ago. I dropped off one of my thimbilism necklaces at the raffle table. All proceeds from the tickets went to a great pet adoption organization called Ready for Rescue. They had a mobile adoption truck set up by the archway filled with furry friends.

just some of the fabulous prizes

My breaks screeched to a halt when I came to SepiaLepus' table. Bunnies, bears, and other wildlife with whimsy abounded in Carrie's work. She offered a great variety of original whimsical illustrations, prints, cards, and magnets. My favorite of all were her OOAK wooden brooches with animals. It was hard for me to decide which brooch to take home, but in the end, I think I made a great choice. I asked Carrie if she had ever illustrated a children's book and she said she had one in the works that was being shopped around to publishers. I am hoping to see more of her soon on the shelves of my local bookstore.

Carrie of SepiaLepus Illustrations

I loved every brooch. I ended up getting the apple shaped brooch with the bear and squirrel (at 9:00).

Next to Carrie was Liz of Liz Rodriguez Ceramics. She presented  hand crafted mugs, chopstick/bowl sets, and plates, which swam in lovely shades of blue with floral designs and bird accents. Her flower vessels really caught my eye because of their unique bulbous design and scalloped openings. Her use of color, texture, and pattern really made her pieces stand out and gave a perfect burst of brightness in the archway.

Liz of Liz Rodriguez Ceramics

beauty in blue

With a name like McFlashpants, I had to check out the booth and the person behind it. I got a warm and wacky welcome from Jen who creates jewelry and accessories out of spoons, forks, knives, and other tableware. Jen does things with silverware that I have never seen done before. She fashions rings, belts, hair picks, necklaces, bracelets, and you-name-it out of every, and I mean every part of the utensil. My favorite pieces were her Inro Box Pendants, made from the hollow ends of knives. With a 90 plus acre farm, a 4 year old, a husband, and goats on the way; I am amazed she musters the creative energy to do what she does. Phew!

Jen of McFlashPants

so forkin' amazing

I got sweet birthday wishes from two fabulous NY friends. Dana of Danamade swung by to spread joy to me and her other vendor friends at the show. I loved her handmade ring and smile to match! It's always pure joy to see Karen Seiger of Markets of New York. There was so much going on that she and her husband James divided to conquer and cover all of the fabulous weekend markets. Check out her great slideshow of the archway below and definitely visit her blog if you are a fan of NYC markets. 

Want the ring dontcha? Well DanaMade it!

Thom worked up a major appetite by going for a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and looping back around the Manhattan Bridge. When he returned, we enjoyed Pollo Tingo tostadas from our neighbors Hermelinda and shared a big ol' bottle of fresh lemon brew from Kombucha Brooklyn. I met so many nice customers who showed enthusiasm for upcycling and sold a variety of pieces, including my favorite springtime necklace called "Blossom Bliss." 

yum!

Blossom Bliss

At the end of the day, somehow we managed to load up the car just seconds before it started to downpour (just good old fashioned rain - no fire, brimstone, or toads). Grace, Thom, and I headed to Chez Oskar in Greenpoint for a post-show, non-apocalyptic, birthday dinner. From fresh strawberry mimosas to a mouth-watering cod dinner, everything was delicious and just right after a busy day. The grand finale was a trio of desserts delivered with a champagne glass that sprayed a plume of sparks. Thankfully, that was the only explosive thing to happen on this memorable day. 

graced with Grace on my b-day

a toast to my love

May 21st did end with a bang!

I was surrounded by the people and things that I love on my birthday. Now that's what I call rapture!