Craft Fair Find: Ash

This past weekend I spent a gorgeous Saturday afternoon trolling the aisles of the Rock & Shop Market in downtown Durham, NC with my friend Nicole. While I usually get super stoked about craft fairs and love seeing what people have been working on in their studios, I'm often struck by how it all sort of starts to look the same, show after show. Especially in the jewelry department. But this time I noticed one table that stood out among the hand-crafted crowd.

Ash is a jewelry line created by Ashlee Meadows and based in Raleigh, NC. Her work is mostly matte porcelain pendants and earrings, dipped in different pale glazes then dunked again into a gold overglaze. The results are pretty, delicate geometric pieces that have a nice weight and feel to them. You can see the full range of what she does on her website, www.jewelrybyash.com and purchase work through her Etsy shop.

Hexagon Porcelain Earrings, $58 

by ashjewelrystudio via Etsy

Porcelain Bar Necklace, $65

by ashjewelrystudio via Etsy

Circle Porcelain Earrings, $58

by ashjewelrystudio via Etsy

Tiny Porcelain Hexagon Necklace, $54

by ashjewelrystudio via Etsy

- Cathleen

Wood Work

Wooden Bear Skin Rug

$2900 from NAMEthisDESIGN on Etsy

A few solid favorites from my Etsy woodpile to keep you warm on this cold Wednesday. All are beautifully hand-crafted and could double as kindling if need be! 

Wood and Resin Pendant Necklace

$50.49 from BoldB on Etsy

Wooden Xylophone Porch Swing 

$1300 from musicalfurnishings on Etsy

Wooden Aztek Pendant Light

$362.58 from MarzDesignsShop on Etsy

Wood Earbud Holder

$27 from AcousticDesign on Etsy

- Cathleen

Under This Moon

I know, I know. More moon stuff. But this! This beautiful necklace is just the thing! 

You provide the month, date, year and location where the auspicious occasion took place, and Lorena Martinez-Neustadt of Gemagenta will custom engrave the lunar phase from that day in sterling silver to celebrate your special event, with the date on the flip side. Not into necklaces? (What kind of monster are you?) It also comes in ring or charm bracelet form.

This would be an incredibly poignant and thoughtful gift to commemorate the night that you met each other, to mark the significance of becoming a new mother, or the moment that she set foot on this earth. (Hint hint.)

You can find this and more of Lorena's jewelry in her Etsy shop, Gemagenta. 

- Cathleen 

The Line: Fine Art & Craft

Since as recently as the mid-1500s fine art was placed higher than craft in the art hierarchy. This has been problematic and disrespectful to the intense labor and beauty that craft consists of. A bare bones definition to explain art is: something that is useless- without function, while the definition for craft has always been: something that is useful - something that has a function that may also happen to be beautiful. But this gets messy, take for instance Necklace designed and made by Tone Vigeland:

Using a strict matrix by which to judge this piece one would say it's craft, it's a necklace after all and can be worn. However here's the problem, it can't actually be worn. It's made of hand forged and flattened steel to ultimately achieve a feather-like look. Because of  its construction it loses its function. So, is it craft or fine art? Should there even be a distinction? Or should we simply allow craft to stand side-by-side with painting in the hierarchy of the arts? 

- Grace

Decorate Yo Self!

Gold Plated Ant Broach, $42

from SeldaOkutan on Etsy

Durango Hand-painted Brass Pendant Necklace, $38

from sonofasailor on Etsy

Vintage Carved Stone or Shell Ring, $12

from smallandmousey on Etsy

Set of Three Skinny Florence Bangles, $30

from vozclothingandart on Etsy

Gray Cotton Stripe Scarf, $34

from Bellabisinia on Etsy

Beige Sand Beaded Earrings

from SarahRobinL on Etsy

Vintage Faux Coral Necklace, $48

from UpcomingLegendary on Etsy

Seven favorites (I couldn't pick just ONE necklace) for your earlobes, wrist, finger, chest, and neck. Rounded up on Etsy. 

- Cathleen 

Taking Shell-ter

Spiky Shell Pendant Necklace, $125 via MejiaJewelry on Etsy

As you read this, I am hopefully toe-deep in the sands of Sanibel Island with my honey. It is one of our last solo trips before the little guy arrives, and I really want to make it count. Which means there will be lots of naps, leisurely walks down the beach, and bikinis with my huge belly hanging out. I also plan to collect as many shells as my carry-on can carry—Sanibel is known for its superior shelling. Any guesses on what I want to do with them?

Real Conch Shell Ring, $18 via FeatherAffair on Etsy

Goose Barnacle Stud Earrings, $15 

(sorry, already owned by moi) via bellekelle on Etsy

Spots Cone Shell Pendant, $18 via aPieceOftheSea

- Cathleen

Black & White

Spider Web Pendant Necklace, 3"

$385 from Dollybird Design on Etsy

Vintage Magnesite Print, 7 7/16 x 4 1/2"

$6 from Pine and Main on Etsy

Screen Printed Always Hungry Fox Tote Bag, 14 3/8 x 14"

$20 from The Riverwest Brothers on Etsy

1955 Solar Corona Print, 6.5 x 8"

$5.50 from Antique Print Store on Etsy

Dental Sterilization Tray, 8 5/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 1/4"

$23 from Found on Curb on Etsy

1948 Atlas of the Mouth Book Plate, 8.5 x 11"

$15 from funretro on Etsy

Just a few of my recent favorites that happened to 

fall in the somber black and white color family. 

Six little somethings to brighten your Monday. Enjoy! 

- Cathleen 

Puces POP feat. Olivia Mew

Just got back from a long weekend way up north in Montreal with my honey, Micky. Since the trip was our Christmas gift to each other, we spent the last few days leisurely exploring the city's cutest neighborhoods and adorable shops together. It was great. While rambling up Boulevard St. Laurent on our second night there, I spotted a poster publicizing Puces POP, a holiday fair featuring more than 80 artisans, designers, and purveyors of all things handmade — and it was happening THIS WEEKEND ONLY!!   

Needless to say, we beeline-d it there the next day, prepared to get some serious holiday shopping done. The tables were set up in a big church basement right off The Main and the crowds were thick and craft-hungry, slowly snaking their way up and down the aisles so as not to miss one single odd or end. The whole thing felt very cozy and homespun, complete with a supervised DIY table where parents were encouraged to leave their kids while they shopped. Micky and I jumped right into the mix immediately, and came away with some great gifts for several loved ones that hopefully they will enjoy. I won't go into too much detail on that front—surprises are one of the best parts of Christmas, after all. But I did want to spotlight one particular seller that made it very difficult for me to walk away from her table empty-handed. Thankfully Olivia Mew has an Etsy shop called feverfew where she sells some of the beautiful scarves, jewelry, and shirts of her own design and illustration online. 

the perfect pair, wearing their wildflower crowns 

"fox and hound" printed silk scarf, $45 on Etsy

pretty printed bunting, a sweet handkerchief for teenagers in love (also below), 

and the most amazing bird casket pendant necklace, from youngcaptive's instagram

moth pentagram pendant

rat and raccoon pendants

gorgeous shirt above sewn by isabel hervieux 

with mouse printed fabric by olivia mew below

the cat who almost ate the canaries

"artemis" printed silk scarf, $45 on Etsy

Unfortunately, Olivia hasn't listed any of her fully-cool half-shirts or pendant necklaces anywhere online that I can find yet, but! she seems really nice, so I bet if you wrote her she'd work something out for you. Maybe you can get something with that Christmas money your grandma sent you. 

- Cathleen 

[All photos from oliviamew.com where not indicated.]

Boom.

Now that's a statement piece. Aboriginal art meets grandma's junk jewelry drawer.

Noble House Designs is selling this beauty for $150 on Etsy. You could rock this necklace with a simple black dress and... that's it! Outfit complete! You can thank me for all of the compliments later. 

- Cathleen 


[Image courtesy of Noble House Designs on Etsy]

Maranon Jewelry

I discovered the beautiful hand embroidered jewelry by Lorena Marañón on Etsy a while ago when her shop was called spinthread. One of her pendant necklaces has been on my Christmas list for a couple years now (ahem). 

She’s recently moved on to her own bigger and better website, Maranon Jewels where she has expanded her line of accessories (hello, shoulder epaulettes!) and also features photographs of some of her finer work. Look into it!

- Cathleen


[All photos courtesy of artist's website.]

Let’s Get Down to Brass Tacks

Brass Cracker Necklace, $24, via basilthecat on Etsy

When I was little, I used to get asked if I was a Georgia Peach or a Georgia Cracker. Having no idea what they were getting at, I just thought about those delicious salty, crispy, sometime cheese-dusted snacks and proudly declared my allegiance. This awesome Cracker Necklace would let me say it with brass. 

Clicking through my Favorites file on Etsy, I noticed that I have quite the affection for brass pendants on long chains. Here are a few of the best: 

That's one tough nut, $32, by contrary on Etsy

Tell a friend. Tell a neighbor. Telescope, $24, by GardenOfSypria on Etsy

For my sister from another mister, $20, via basilthecat on Etsy

A necklace for your top three, $44, by Verabelle on Etsy

- Cathleen