On the Road - SoWa Holiday Market 2015 - Boston, MA

Happy New Year! I'm starting off 2016 looking back to my last (and one of my best) shows of 2015: SoWa Holiday Market in Boston. It was my fourth year participating in this annual arts event. Like all years, the fine array of vendors and beautiful location attracted droves of people Boston and surrounding areas. The halls of the Benjamin Franklin Institute were decked with trees, wreaths, and even Santa sat on stage with a very special guest. On the first day, there were a lot of shoppers coming in from Boston's Ugly Sweater Run donning some amazingly gaudy tops (for a great cause). As always, SoWa Holiday Market was filled with excitement as soon as the doors opened.

12th Annual SoWa Holiday Market

SoWa Holiday Market at the Benjamin Franklin Institute 

Deck the halls!

The sweaters were impressive from all angles!

I was visited by some wonderful friends during the weekend. Judy, a friend from school, came by with her husband and daughter to spread some cheer. I also got a visit from my friend Jack, who shares a passion for jewelry design with me. It's always a pleasure to see him and his family. A really sweet return customer popped by with a surprise: a vintage-inspired kitty tea towel. The weekend was filled with smiles, kindness, and holiday spirit!

Judy and family

One of my favorite jewelry designers - Jack

smitten with this kitten

Twitch and Whiskers was set up in the auditorium with dozens of amazing artists. I proudly displayed all of my holiday themed necklaces on one of my vintage game boards and put out some newly packaged pinback button necklace on vintage children's playing cards.

Twitch and Whiskers at SoWa Holiday Market 2015

holiday necklaces

Jenn and Damian Liddiard strike a lovely balance. This husband and wife team are the creative force behind Joyo handmade jewelry. I always adore seeing their wares in the Boston area and was thrilled that they were diagonally across from me at SoWa Holiday Market. Their work fuses handcrafted technique with modern technology. They combine their skills in jewelry fabrication, graphic design, and architecture to create modern, nature-inspired pieces. I am a big fan of their cuff bracelets with elegant lines and intricate laser cut patterns. Some designs are reminiscent of stained glass windows while others have more organic curves and shapes. They make a strong statement while feeling lightweight and airy. These traits carry over into their necklaces and earrings as well. It's the thoughtful touches, like whimsical pops of color in their pendents and geometric accents in their earrings, that make their jewelry quite unique. They have their own special style that appeals easily to many kinds of people. You really must visit Joyo in person and online to experience Jenn and Damien's beautiful wares. I'm sure you'll find the perfect, cherished piece for yourself or to give as a gift. 

Jenn and Damian Liddiard of Joyo

Joyo earrings

Joyo unique necklaces, earrings, and cuffs

Joyo necklaces with whimsical color

Customers, both old and new popped by to shop for themselves and others for the holidays. I was excited to see a little of this and a little of that go home with happy folks all weekend. Protractor necklaces were a big hit, including a few holiday-themed pieces.

floral protractor necklace

Santa protractor necklace

on the good list

Our Fun 'n' Games rings flew off the table and went home as gifts, stocking stuffers, and special treats.

Fun 'n' Games rings at SoWa Holiday Market

United We Shall Overcome pinback button ring

I'm Hep and Happy New Year pinback button rings

Pinback button necklaces had many customers smiling with their sassy slogans and vintage appeal. Many of my favorites left the building.

sassy pinback button necklaces

first prize kibitzer necklace

Smokey the Bear necklace

Billie the Brownie necklace

So's Your Old Man necklace

kitten necklace

Folks enjoyed opening the lids to our vintage rouge compact and tin container lockets. Each one has a unique surprise hidden inside and are great conversation starters.

A woman named Heather took home the middle necklace. How perfect!

Outdoor Girl powder compact necklace

vintage rouge and powder compact necklaces

The best sellers at SoWa Holiday Market this year were the vintage toy necklaces made out of tiny cars, whistles, and games. 

vintage tin race car necklaces

vintage ambulance necklace

colorful tin motorcycle necklace

west wagon whistle necklace

cat? pig? bear? whistle necklace

animal boat whistle necklace

Olympic motorcycle necklace

vintage pinball bunny necklace

I couldn't have been happier with my final show of the 2016 season. It was my best SoWa Holiday Market to date and I went home with a lighter sleigh. Thank you to all the customers who came by and shopped handmade for the holiday season. You certainly made my season merry and bright. I hope all the gifts you bought at Boston's best holiday market were a big hit. Huge thanks to all the talented artists, makers, and organizers who filled the halls with spirit and amazing wares. What a wonderful show!

I hope your 2016 is off to a great start! Mine certainly is. I'm in the process of booking my 2016 show season. Stay tuned for a schedule. 

To see our newest creations and hear our latest news, follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Interested in a piece you see online? PM me or contact me via email. A new website is in the works!

On the Road - SoWa Holiday Market - Boston, MA

Happy New Year! I hope 2015 is off to a great start for you and your loved ones. I am beginning my year with a look back at a one of the highlights from my 2014 show season: SoWa Holiday Market. This must-see Boston show was hustling and bustling from the moment the doors of the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology swung open. Word has it that the line to get in wrapped around the block for a good portion of the weekend. It's no surprise since this event has been growing in popularity and attendance since its beginnings in 2003. This year, SoWa Holiday Market was on everyone's holiday show list, including The Boston Globe, Boston Magazine, and Country Living Magazine.

SoWa Holiday Market at the Benjamin Franklin Institute

Twitch and Whiskers at SoWa Holiday Market 2014

A steady stream of holiday shoppers filled the space all weekend. Festive music filled the air as folks combed through some of the best handmade goods and finely crafted edibles from all over New England. As part of my SoWa Holiday tradition, I grabbed a circle of sweet perfection from Union Square Donuts to power through the show. Delish!

SoWa Holiday shoppers

Union Square Donuts - mmm...

A lost art can be reborn through the hands of a special person with perseverance and a vision. At SoWa Holiday Market, I met the talented Crystal Sloane of Vintage by Crystal. Crystal has created her own unique world of whimsical figural ornaments and decorations using the old German art of spun cotton. Through much trial and error and experimentation, she has developed her own special "spin" on the art of spun cotton. Crystal incorporates all kinds of treasures into her one of a kind pieces. Vintage ephemera, antique embellishments, tag sale finds, items from nature, and even repurposed broken ornaments find their way into Crystal's studio. The result is pure magic. She has created a menagerie of every animal imaginable, a parade of personalities from cherubs to devils, and a world of smiling trees and carrot people. Her creations can go on trees, counter tops, and even atop wedding cakes.  Crystal's unique talents haven't gone unnoticed. She shared her skills as a guest on the Martha Stewart Show and most recently created a collection of ornaments for Anthropologie. Wanna see the coolest thing ever? Anthropologie created a stop action animation short using her spun cotton critters. Visit her website, blog, and Etsy shop to find out about her process, see works from all of her holiday collections, and to purchase the perfect piece for your home. You can also follow Vintage by Crystal on Facebook and Instagram. Once you take a peek into her world, you will fall head over heels for her work!

Crystal Sloane with husband Ben and daughter Olive - Vintage by Crystal

curious cotton creatures

one foxy couple

dog with spots and puss in boots

ornaments and decorations for every season

One of the best parts of doing SoWa is getting to know many of the wonderful artists. I was tickled pink when I saw several of my artist friends wearing their Twitch and Whiskers pieces at the show. 

Lianne Stoddard of Swirly Designs in her vintage Santa pinback button necklace.

My car necklace sister - Jen Gubicza of Zooguu Handmade Plush Toys

My biggest obsession lately has been all things tin: tin whistles, tin clickers and tin toys. Before SoWa, I had a chance to make a new batch of tin necklaces with kitschy imagery and vibrant colors. Many of these went whistlin' home with happy customers. 

tin whistle necklaces

Liz of Liz Rodriguez Ceramics in her tin bird whistle necklace and Fun 'n Games ring. 

I also brought a collection of tiny clicker necklaces with cutesy animals and vintage plastic and glass beads. 

tiny tin clickers

clickers, thimbles, and magnets

Abby Berkson of Abby Berkson Ceramics in her blue bunny clicker necklace

I had many new Hob Knob rings and necklaces in new color combinations. They proved to be a great gift for musicians and music lovers.

Hob Knob rings and necklaces

turning up the volume in a red Hob Knob ring

My Fun 'n' Games rings made from vintage pinback buttons, game pieces, and Cracker Jack prizes were a popular stocking stuffer gift. Folks had fun digging through the piles of rings to find the perfect match for their friends.

Fun 'n' Games rings

Christine of Fawn in her Cracker Jack prize and game piece ring

Pinback button necklaces also found their way home around the necks of lovely ladies. It's fabulous when people make personal connections to the pieces. One woman got two Reddy Kilowatt necklaces because her father worked for an energy company that had Reddy as its mascot. Another woman purchased a North Pole, NY necklace because she had fond memories visiting Santa there as a child. 

Feeling Reddy?

pinback button necklaces

Don't monkey with Susan!

Yes, she's actually been to North Pole, NY!

Many protractor necklaces also left the building, including one of my faves featuring a pink polka dotted lamb brooch and vintage pink and mint beads. 

Little Lamb

looking lamb-tastic

making a splash in a mermaid protractor necklace

It's always nice to get visits from friends at shows. I got warm hugs and hellos from Amy Trueblood of Amy J. Designs and her two sweet daughters. I had the pleasure of meeting them back at Jamaica Plain Open Studios this past summer and it was terrific to see them again.

Amy of Amy J Designs and her sweet daughter Gwen and Tagen stopped by with smiles.

Another visit came in the form of four paws and two feet. Andy, a volunteer for NEADS of Massachusetts and Beamer, his service dog in training were visiting the market. I have a soft spot for service dogs because my elementary school does a lot of good work with Guiding Eyes for the Blind. I had a nice conversation with Andy about his work with Beamer. I found out that NEADS provides dogs for deaf and disabled individuals. I enjoyed meeting this dynamic duo and learning about a great organization.

Andy and dog Beamer of NEADS

Kindness must have been in the air at SoWa because a customer came up to me and shared her Yummy Mummy Brownie treats with me before she went off to finish her shopping. What a sweet (and delicious) surprise.

Yummy Mummy Brownie treats 

At the end of the non-stop weekend, I walked to the parking garage to fetch my car. On the way there, I passed a Christmas tree lot next to the Benjamin Franklin Institute. Sitting in the back of the lot was the most delightful little trailer I've every seen. It was all decked out in lights and kitschy Christmas decorations. Before I got caught up in the madness of loading my car back up and driving back to Connecticut, I took a quiet moment to pause and take in the glow of the lights and the smell of the trees. It was the perfect ending to my day and the ideal way to end my 2014 show season. Many thanks to all of the wonderful customers, artists, and organizers who made SoWa Holiday Market a smashing success. I hope everyone's season was merry and bright.

Happy Holidays from Twitch and Whiskers!

I cannot wait to see what 2015 has to bring. I am in the process of setting up my 2015 show season and will let you know as soon as I have dates.

In the meantime, visit Twitch and Whiskers on Etsy, Facebook, and Instagram. Most pieces found on Instagram and are available for sale. Inquiries are always welcome. 

Happy New Year!

Cheers,
Mei-Ling