On the Road - Wellesley Marketplace - Wellesley MA

Let's take another look back at the 2013 holiday craft show season. The weekend before Thanksgiving, over 170 artists and vendors filled the hallways, gym, cafeteria, and classrooms of the Wellesley Middle School with gifts galore at the 37th Annual Wellesley Marketplace in Massachusetts. This annual event is sponsored by the Wellesley Hills Junior Women's Club and raises funds for a variety of charities and helps to fund college scholarships. This was my second time participating in the highly-anticipated show. I was set up and ready to go in the cafeteria with many new pieces including holiday-themed pinback button necklaces.

unique upcycled necklaces

Twitch and Whiskers at Wellesley Marketplace 2013

holiday-themed pinback button necklaces

I was so excited to see Kendra Haskell of Whimsy at the Wellesley Marketplace. We originally met in my booth during Picnic in Portland, ME and since then I couldn't wait to see her creations in person. The world of Whimsy is brimming with bright color, bold mixed patterns, and fun. Kendra artfully sews skirts, scarves, shawls, shirts, and accessories for women and girls with playful touches. Kitschy ball fringe, rick rack, and hand embroidered details fill Kendra's wearables with joy and of course, whimsy. Her wool shawls with hand cut, dimensional flowers were real show stoppers at Wellesley, and customers loved looking through her twirly skirts with endless pattern combinations. Visit Whimsy's website and Facebook page to see all of Kendra's offerings and to find out how you can add a piece of Whimsy to your wardrobe.

Kendra Haskell of Whimsy

a shawl with floral pop

skirts that flirt

Holiday shoppers had a great selection of goods to shop for at Wellesley. Many customers came looking for the perfect gift for the season ahead. I was happy to send them home with a wide variety of pieces, including: Fun 'n' Games rings, tin car necklaces, vintage whistle necklaces, an Vari Vue necklaces with clever moving images.

Fun 'n Games rings bring smiles

Rings - the perfect stocking stuffers

Ready to stop traffic in this colorful car bib necklace!

just whistle

Vari Vue - very cute

The ladies of the Wellesley Hills Junior Women's League put on a fabulous show and it was a pleasure being a part of it! There's just one more flashback 2013 holiday show blog post to go. Check back soon for the grand finale: SoWa Holiday Market.

I am back in craft show mode for 2014. Catch Twitch and Whiskers at the SoWa Winter Market in Boston on February 8th, March 1, and April 12th. February 8th features a specially themed SoWa Wearables Market. Don't miss out!

My spring and summer show schedule is starting to shape up. Until then, swing by Twitch and Whiskers on Etsy and Facebook for updates. 

WHOOPIE a discount!

Pst...use code "whoopie15" between now and Friday, February 7th for a 15% discount off your Twitch and Whiskers Etsy order. Get your Valentine (or yourself) sumthin' special!

On the Road - Wellesley Marketplace

In true "on the road" fashion, Grace Napoleon of Folk Couture and I miraculously fit two displays-worth of materials into the back of her car with not an inch to spare. We hit the highway on Friday night and headed to Cambridge to stay with her daughter Siena. It's great having a friendly face and nice place to go to when in the Boston area. 

And there was even room for us!

Bright and early on Saturday we set up for the Wellesley Marketplace at the Wellesley Middle School. It was the 35th year of the annual event to benefit the Wellesley Hills Junior Women's Club and their community service projects. The event is always well-attended and offers a great variety of handmade and manufactured goods. Displays were spread out throughout the school's cafeteria, gyms, and hallways. There was a great buzz in the air when the doors opened at 9 am and enthusiastic shoppers came rushing through.

Twitch and Whiskers in the lower gym

Folk Couture in the hallway

Set up next to me was Zandra Zuraw of Zeal: Handmade Home. Zandra's decoupaged trays, coasters, frames, and map ornaments were a big hit at the show. Her use of unique papers, bold colors, and eye-catching graphics made her pieces a standout. Birds, whales, and vintage labels were cleverly collaged onto her wares and made everyday items not-so-everyday. Zandra also does custom orders where she can create trays using maps with specific locations, for the world-traveler in your life. I especially loved her use of Japanese papers with bold floral prints. If you are looking for the perfect hostess gift or holiday present that would make any home more vibrant, visit her website or go see her in person at one of her upcoming shows. You'll absolutely love her stuff!

Zandra Zuraw of Zeal

birds of a feather

a variety of great gifts

Karen Capralos Grant of Simply June is simply wonderful! We briefly met each other before the show began and quickly learned that we loved each others work. Karen hand-embroiders pendants with floral bursts and bees and makes vintage-inspired, asymmetrical necklaces to accompany them. She also creates framed embroidered art, and most impressively, she offers the unique service of turning your child's artwork into an embroidered pillow (you can see the tiger sample in the pic below). Before we left I traded her one of my rouge locket necklaces with a bee inside for one of her embroidered bee necklaces. I wore it out to dinner that night because it matched my black and yellow dress perfectly. Visit her website for a touch of handmade whimsy and bee impressed! 

Karen Capralos Grant of Simply June

box o' surprises

two bees (or not two bees)

When Carrie Sullivan of Sheabella Tutus came to visit my table, my eyes were instantly drawn to her bold ribbon necklace with bold red and turquoise beads. Upon further investigation, I learned that the beads were actually made of gumballs! Carrie carefully strings the bubblicious beads onto grosgrain ribbon with a touch of tulle. She offers all sorts of fanciful, handmade tutus with adorable embellishments and light fairy wings. When I visited her website, I saw that she even offers mermaid tails in the summer. Now, why weren't those around when I was a kid? Twirl on over to Sheabella Tutus and you will find the perfect gift for the sparkly one in your life.

Carrie Sullivan of Sheabella Tutus

good enough to eat

a flight of fancy

At Wellesley, I got to try out my newest favorite thrift store find - a small suitcase. It was the perfect sized display for my REcap bracelets. Some of my more colorful compact necklaces went home to happy ladies including: Owl Moon, Mirror Mirror, and Last Call. I was thrilled to find out that many of my Thimblism necklaces, REcap bracelets, and Fun 'n' Games rings were going to be holiday gifts for kids. My favorite moment was seeing a 4 year old walking away wearing a necklace with a toy airplane hidden inside a compact. I'm definitely inspired by kids and couldn't be happier when they wear my pieces!

REcaps to go

a happy customer with Owl Moon

Last Call

insides

Mirror Mirror

Grace's Folk Couture racks emptied of many dresses, sweaters, and tunics. Lots of ladies were drawn to her carefully constructed and composed clothes with mixed patterns, textures, and surprise details. She had an incredible dress with a growling bear graphic on top and iridescent formal dress bottom. It really found the perfect gal. She still has a busy season ahead and you can catch her in the weeks to come at Festival Fete, SoWa Holiday Market and Hot Cup o' Handmade.

style 'n' smile maker

ROAR!

Folk Couture

The night ended with friendships (old and new), smiles, and a great dinner. You really can't beat sharing your passion with others and knowing that many will be getting gifts - handmade with love this holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving from Twitch and Whiskers! 

My last holiday show will be Hot Cup o' Handmade in Bethel, CT. Hope to see you there!
 

Hot Cup o' Handmade - Sunday, December 4 from 12-4 at Molten Java in Bethel, CT.

Holiday Sneak Preview - All New Pieces!

Words can not describe how excited I am about my new batch of jewelry. I went on create-overdrive to prepare for my first ever holiday craft show season. The pictures below feel like a family album to me because each piece was made with great care, thought, and love. Enjoy this sneak peak!

These bib-style necklaces were constructed out of vintage feather and leaf brooches.

Plumes with a View, Luster in the Leaves, Harvest Glow, and Blustery Blossom

Garden Nymph, Chute the Breeze, and Garland of Eden

 Cars and buckles inspired these fun necklaces.

Pull Up to the Bumper and Taxi Fab

 Old tins and compacts hold little secrets inside.

Time Flies, Oh Deer Oh Deer, and Monkey Business

insides

Bogey Man, Guess Who, and Deadly Intentions

insides

Empressive, Rouge Incarnat,and Point in the Right Direction

insides

Love at First Flight, Bouquet of Promises, and Going Dutch

insides

Mums the Word, Fair Maiden, and Djer Kiss

insides

Mirror Mirror and Blossoming Affections

insides

A Peck on the Chic, Princess Charming, Lone Starlet

insides

Cold Cream de la Creme, I Hear a Symphonie, and A Light Dusting

insides

Lucky Heart, Nu-Glo, and Traveling Salesman

insides

Encharma and Eye-Lash-Ine

 Eye-Lash-Ine's bird and flower diorama is magnified with a monocle.

You never know what you may find: faucet handles, a blinking doll eye, marker caps, a horseshoe magnet, and a bicycle head badge.

Little Genius, Little Hep Cat, Little Dear

Swept Off My Feet and Twinkle in Your Eye

inside of tin and open eye

REcap Bracelets: Holly Jolly and Your Inner Elf - Necklace: You Take the Fruitcake

Anchors Aweigh and Apollo Cycle

 And protractors! Why not?

Leaps and Bounds, No Peking, and Cadence in the Meadow

Cottontail Kisses, I Heart Whales, Foal of Life

To see these one-of-a-kind creations in person, visit me at one of my upcoming shows. You can view the schedule here.