On the Road - SoWa Open Market - Boston, MA

How did my last SoWa Open Market of the summer sneak up so quickly? I had four wonderful shows in Boston's south end leading up to this final one and I couldn't wait to see what my season closer had in store. Though Mother Nature served us a "sun, rain, sun, rain, sun" club sandwich it didn't stop loyal customers, tourists, and market enthusiasts from coming out and shopping handmade.

SoWa sun

SoWa rain

Twitch and Whiskers was all set and ready to go with lots of new pieces and special rings to ward off wet weather. It didn't keep the sprinkles away but it did manage to keep spirits up as the rain came down.

Twitch and Whiskers at SoWa Open Market

Well, maybe just a little mo'.

One of a kind assemblages and a tin clicker pup

There's a lot of love, thought, and design wrapped into every one of Melissa Rocklen's creations. She's the clever hands behind RocklenDesigns Mobiles and Jewelry. I was set up diagonally to her at SoWa and got to gaze upon her gorgeous mobiles all day. Her elegant, sculptural pieces are adorned with vibrant beads, jeweled grape-like wisteria clusters, and sweet, petite birds that curiously perch upon swirled branches. As you watch them slowly turn and catch the light, you feel as though you're walking through a whimsical garden. Her skilled wire work can also be seen in her pretty earrings and necklaces. Her hammered necklace components are quite eye-catching and unique.  Melissa carefully selects beads from different parts of the world and eras, so there are special stories and cultural connections tucked into her work. Visit RocklenDesigns webpage, and on Etsy, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to see a nice sampling of Melissa's work and to find out where to catch her in person next.

Melissa Rocklen of RocklenDesigns Mobiles and Jewelry

Fine feathered friends

Earrings with beautiful beads

Vibrant rainbow arc mobile

Protractor necklaces were the big seller this weekend and ladies left the booth wearing their necklaces embellished with panthers, greyhounds, butterflies, birds, and flowers. 

On the prowl!

Looking beautiful in a butterfly.

Brass protractor necklaces

Shopping at SoWa is often a family affair. You could feel the love  when these mother-daughter and mother-foster pup duos visited.

A garden of beauties!

These two love clownin' around!

Whistling for a furry friend

The best part about working with vintage items is you never know when someone will make a personal connection to a piece. A fellow jewelry designer visited my booth and zeroed in on a lenticular necklace that said "Fancy Me in My Rona-Lee" and had a cute image of a girl primping herself in a mirror. It just so happened that her name was Rona, so she left with the piece around her neck. What a perfect match!

Rona wearing Rona!

Twitch and Whiskers lenticular and dexterity game necklaces

This market was the perfect end to my SoWa summer season. Thanks to all the supportive customers who came out and showed some Twitch and Whiskers love this spring and summer! I will be back in the area before you know it.

My fall/winter schedule is starting to shape up. Here are my event dates (so far):

September 20 & 21 - Jamaica Plain Open Studios - Jamaica Plain, MA

October 11 - Art is You - Mixed Media Art Retreats - Stamford, CT

December 13 & 14 - New England Open Markets - SoWa Holiday Market - Boston, MA

Also, swing by the fabulous new shop PURE.original in Rutland, VT to see a wide variety of Twitch and Whiskers jewelry.

Visit Twitch and Whiskers on Facebook, Instagram, and Etsy to see new pieces, get updates, and find out about sales. I recently added over 100 new pieces to my shop.

Hope you're enjoying the summer!

Cheers,
Mei-Ling

On the Road - SoWa Open Market - Boston, MA

If you had told me on Saturday that SoWa Open Market on Sunday would include two surprise visits, tears (of the happy sort), and a prosthetic leg, I would have looked at you sideways. But I guess you can never predict what SoWa will have in store for you. With such a festive atmosphere, anything can happen!

SoWa Open Market - Boston, MA

Twitch and Whiskers at SoWa Open Market

The day started off with a small change to my set up. I created a special stand-alone display for my Fun 'n' Games rings which are comprised of items like vintage pinback buttons, game pieces, Cracker Jack prizes, and wooden nickels. The display was placed toward the front of my tent and caught a lot of eyes. All day, folks gathered around to read the sassy phrases and old advertisements showcased on the rings. One passerby saw the old Red Cross swimming pins and told me that he had spent much of his youth earning these pins as he moved up in the ranks as a swimmer. He proudly recalled that he made it all the way to the final pin and then became an instructor himself. I love it when pieces conjure up fond memories and stories.

New Fun 'n' Games ring display

Ring readers

When it comes to handmade body products, you can see the love and care that goes into an item by the amount of attention paid to the ingredients and presentation. It's these beautiful details that make Urban Kitchen Handmade's home and body products a favorite of many folks in the Boston area. Helene Matteson specially crafts small batch soaps using an old fashioned cold pressed method. The glycerine rich soaps uses the finest natural ingredients that keep your skin nourished and smooth, without stripping it of its natural oils. Urban Kitchen Handmade offers a wide variety of scents like refreshing Tea Tree and Rosemary and fruity Black Raspberry Cream. The soaps are amazing enough on their own, but Helene goes the extra mile by wrapping them in the prettiest printed papers. Their charming presentation makes them the perfect gift for a housewarming or really any occasion. Though soap is Helene's biggest passion, her product line also includes high quality lip balms, solid perfumes, soy candles, massage oils, bath salts, body scrubs and more. She really has something for everyone! You can visit Helene at her studio in Allston on Thursdays to see her in action and to smell all of the wonderful scents in person. For more information, go to Urban Kitchen Handmade's website, Etsy shop, Facebook page, and Twitter page.

Helene Matteson of Urban Kitchen Handmade and her husband James

A wide variety of soothing sachets and cold press soaps

Beautifully packaged lip balms and solid perfumes

Scented soy candles in lovely decorative tins

As a designer and teacher, I feel like I live two separate (and wonderful) lives that rarely cross over one another. It's always a huge surprise when people from my school in Connecticut show up at shows out of state. My first set of visitors included a fabulous kindergarten paraprofessional from my school named Judy, and her family. They filled my morning with smiles and cheer. A little later in the day, I was visited by Cara, a former student teacher and friend. She had recently relocated to the Boston area with her husband. It was great catching up with her and hearing about her new life in Massachusetts.

 

Judy and her fabulous family!

Cara's surprise visit brightened up my day.

My Fun 'n' Games rings were a big hit at SoWa. One lovely bride-to-be visited with her maid of honor and found the perfect ring to wear to her bridal shower that said, "Here Comes the Bride." A fun-loving couple from Florida visited with the most unique find. They had just purchased a vintage prosthetic leg from the SoWa Vintage Market next door. We had a great chat about collecting curious goods and they even let me hold the leg. One of the ladies left with a "Safety First" ring which I thought was a good match for their prosthetic!

Here comes the bride to be!

No they aren't pulling your leg. They're pulling their own!

Necklaces also went home around the necks of happy customers. One gal enthusiastically zeroed right in on a necklace that suited her perfectly. It featured a 1940's novelty pin that said "I Am Little But Oh My!" and was circled in vintage rhinestones. She happily wore it through the market.

"I'm Little But Oh My!" found the perfect gal!

My favorite moment of the show happened when a vivacious couple and their daughter swung by and were browsing around. All of a sudden, the wife gasped and said, "I'm going to cry!" This of course got my attention and so I asked what was going on. The couple picked up a necklace made out of a Vari Vue, lenticular card. It featured an image of a young couple sitting on a bench. When you tilted the card back and forth, the couple kissed. They explained that they had used the exact same lenticular card on their wedding invitations 25 years ago! Tears, laughter, and cheers filled up the tent. The husband treated his wife to the necklace and she absolutely glowed when she put it on. It was so sweet to see them make such a loving connection to the piece. This is why I love using small, vintage treasures. Despite their small size, they sure can hold a lot of meaning and nostalgia.

Happily ever after for 25 years!

Needless to say, I will never forget this particular SoWa Open Market. I only have one more craft show this summer season. I will see you back at SoWa Open Market on July 27th. 

Stay tuned for the Twitch and Whiskers fall/winter show schedule.

Want to see new pieces, get coupon codes, or find out where we will be next? Follow Twitch and Whiskers here:

Facebook
Instagram
Etsy

Cheers!
Mei-Ling 

On the Road - SoWa Open Market - Boston, MA

Summer. Sun. SoWa. Three words that go so perfectly together. The end of June welcomed us with a radiant day at SoWa Open Market and Twitch and Whiskers was excited to be a part of it. Rows of tents, talented artists, and beautifully crafted goods welcomed  a steady stream of visitors into Boston's South End.

SoWa Open Market - Boston, MA

fun times three at SoWa

The tall brick building that houses SoWa Vintage Market provided a nice spot of shade for me throughout the day. Many folks stayed cool by strolling through with Italian ices and frozen lemonades. As always, I enjoyed meeting both locals and tourists and sharing new pieces of upcycled jewelry with them. On display for the first time was one of my biggest statement pieces called, "Public Transit." It's a bib necklace that's constructed out of seven white plastic buses and rows of primary colored beads. I also displayed new lenticular, Vari Vue necklaces with moving images.

Twitch and Whiskers at SoWa Open Market

Lenticular, Vari Vue necklaces and Hob Knob rings

Giant vintage plastic toy bus necklace and tin clicker necklaces

Kirsten Scarpetti creates a whimsical world of jaunty foxes, happy pink cupcakes, and prancing elephants with needle, thread, and brightly colored fabric. She's the magical hands behind It's Sew You...by Kirsten Cole.  I had the pleasure of being her neighbor for the day at SoWa. Kirsten offers well crafted items for people of all ages. For the little ones in your life, she hand appliques adorable onesies and bibs with images like animals and places of interest (like Cape Cod and Rhode Island). Her compact sized wall art featuring block letters, collaged scenes, and woodland creatures would look great on anyone's wall or shelf. Kirsten does everything with an eco-friendly bend. She repurposes as much material as she can for her products and packaging. Many of her accessories use organic cotton and other earth friendly fibers. Make sure to check out It's Sew You... by Kirsten Cole on Facebook and Etsy to see all of her items for children and accessories for home and body.

Kirsten Scarpetti of It's Sew You

Cheeky handmade cotton pillows

Hey Cupcake! Howzabout a onesie?

Small appliqued wall art packs a big punch

I love seeing customers play and interact with my jewelry. My current favorite pieces are made out of vintage toys, games, and noise makers. In that same fun category are my Vari Vue, lenticular pieces with moving images. Several animated pieces went home with some wonderfully animated ladies!

Keeping balance with a tight rope walker

Movers and shakers - Vari Vue necklaces

A fabulous family of four came through and picked up my newest creation - a locket made out of an old match safe. Inside, it housed a tiny diorama of a Spanish figural brooch with words from a Spanish translation book (read more about it here). The youngest member of the family looked adorable in her new conversation piece.

Fantastic four

Vintage match safe locket

Hola Senor!

I look forward to returning to SoWa Open Market two more times this summer: July 13th and 27th.

I am taking the month of August off but can't wait to return to shows during my fall/winter season. Stay tuned for a listing of events!

NEW NEWS! Did you know that Twitch and Whiskers is now on Instagram? Follow us here.

But wait...there's more! We have been filling our Etsy Shop with upcycled goodness. Tons of new items have been listed this summer and many more are to come. Check back often.

And finally, please like us on Facebook. You can always get show updates, coupon codes, and see works in progress on our page.

Cheers!

On the Road - SoWa Open Market - Opening Day 2014 - Boston, MA

Since April, I had been excitedly counting down the days to one of my favorite markets in New England - SoWa Open Market. May 4th was the big opening day and my first outdoor show of the spring 2014 season. I dusted off my tent, loaded up my car, and headed up to Boston.

SoWa Open Market - Boston, MA

Twitch and Whiskers at SoWa Opening Day 2014

I readied myself for the big day by creating some spring-inspired necklaces out of vintage pinback buttons, protractors, Vari Vue lenticular cards, vintage figural brooches, and brass drawer pulls.

spring inspired pinback button and protractor necklaces

Vari Vue - lenticular necklaces

Birds of a feather - protractor and brass drawer pull necklaces

I have a soft spot for jewelry designers who incorporate vintage  elements into their work. I think that's why I adore Emrys Handcrafted Fynery. Jillian and Nick Perry create unique jewelry with antiqued filigree stampings, old imagery from vintage books, and classy cameos. Their gorgeous resin cast necklaces and brooches encase woodland creatures, storybook characters, and Victorian ephemera. Comic book heroes and classic video game characters can be found in their schnazzy cufflinks. Emrys Handcrafted Fynery is well known for their finely crafted leather goods. Their leather wrapped flasks and ornate cuffs are real show stoppers. Jillian and Nick's jewelry appeals to lots of folks from Comicon regulars and steampunks to video game enthusiasts and Doctor Who fans. You can find them all summer at SoWa Open Market and Greenway Open Market. To see their entire show schedule and all of their wonderful work, follow them on Facebook and Etsy!

Jillian and Nick Perry of Emrys Handcrafted Fynery

cuff links with character

luscious leather cuffs

It's always nice to get friendly visits at the market. Whimsical  art doll artist Mimi Kirchner and husband Ben swung by with smiles and a hello. We chatted about her most recent creation - a fox with the most adorable handmade field bag and binoculars. I also got a BIG surprise visit from one of my first customers EVER - Allie and her husband Ted. I met Allie at the Connecticut Indie Craft Extravaganza many moons ago and it lead to creating a custom piece for her out of family heirlooms. It was so nice to see her again after all these years!

A visit from Ben and the very crafty Mimi Kirchner

Surprise hellos from Ted and Allie

I enjoyed meeting so many customers at SoWa who shared my affinity for vintage and kitschy items. A fun mix of pieces went home with happy customers, including Hob Knob rings (made out of vintage guitar knobs), Fun 'n' Games rings (made out of pinback buttons), one of a kind upcycled necklaces, and tin compacts.

Turn up the volume in a Hob Knob ring

Cute in a kitschy pinback button ring

How can you not smile in a hot dog necklace?

Lucky Heart - 1930's pomade tin locket

SoWa was the perfect start to my outdoor show season.  Thanks to all the artists, organizers, customers, and visitors who made the first day such a memorable one. I look forward to returning to SoWa again this summer. Here's a listing of my upcoming shows:

June 14 - Arts Fest Beverly - Beverly, MA
June 29 - SoWa Open Market - Boston, MA
July 13 - SoWa Open Market - Boston, MA
July 27 - SoWa Open Market - Boston, MA
More dates are in the works!
 
Follow Twitch and Whiskers on Facebook and Etsy for new creations and updates.

See you in June!