Shoppers of Handmade With Love Craft & Gift Market can help themselves to a little retail therapy with more than 20 artists, artisans and crafters from Western Massachusetts.
Karen Shaw Suriner of StargazerStudios.etsy.com and Aviva Seiber of Seiber Designs are co-coordinators and co-promoters of the Handmade With Love Craft & Gift Market.
Handmade With Love Craft & Gift Market returns to Easthampton’s Eastworks on Nov. 3.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., shoppers can help themselves to a little retail therapy with more than 20 artists, artisans and crafters from Western Massachusetts.
“Shopping locally for gifts and other products helps foster the future growth of local arts and culture,” said Karen Shaw Suriner, co-coordinator and co-promoter of the market.
“Our event features exclusively western Mass based vendors, so shoppers are assured that what they spend stays right here in our community.”
Suriner and childhood friend, Aviva Sieber, put together the first Handmade With Love market in February 2011 to give shoppers local options for Valentine’s Day gifts. The best friends, one a woven textile artist and the other a batik quilter, saw their idea become a success so they decided to have the event twice a year.
“We've always been really excited about bringing this idea to the community so we have a lot of fun with it and it gives them the chance to meet the creative people behind the amazing crafts,” said Sieber.
Shoppers will find functional and fine art at Handmade With Love market. From fashion, accessories and home décor to glass and metal sculpture, collage and wood turned items, there’s more a countless options for picky holiday gift lists.
“Jewelry is always a popular present and we’ll have a variety of different styles,” said Suriner. “We'll also have gifts for men and children.”
Customers will be able to chat with returning vendors, like Zoe Ma of Valley of the Doll and Anita Montanez-Barcome of Olimax Soap, and new designers like Kathryn Vooris of Littles Children’s Clothing.
Kathryn Vooris started her quirky applique-clothing line for infants, toddlers and children after finding out that she was going to be an aunt.
Vooris started her quirky applique-clothing line for infants, toddlers and children after finding out that she was going to be an aunt.
“I began shopping for my new niece. As much as I loved the clothes that I saw in many stores, I wanted to give her something a little more special,” she said. “I was so pleased with how they came out, that I want to share them with all of those people who are looking for special gifts for their little ones.”
Vooris helps make babies chic with applique bunnies, birdies and bow ties but encourages them to steal the show with wrap-around Dachshund dog, coming-and-going Volkswagen Bus, and custom name Etch-a-Sketch designs.
For Anita Montanez-Barcome, this November will be her third Handmade With Love event.
“I love being a vendor at this fair,” she said. “The customers are great and it’s a well-run show. The quality of items available is fabulous and everyone seems to have a great time.”
Her business, Olimax Soap, makes small batches of all-natural bath and body products. Best-sellers are fun glycerin soaps shaped like donuts, crème brulee or Oreos and deliciously flavored vegan lip balms, one gift set even featuring adorable drawings of Star Wars characters.
Anita Montanez-Barcome's company, Olimax Soap (olimaxsoap.etsy.com), makes small batches of all-natural bath and body products.
Also popular are Montanez-Barcome’s organic cold process soaps, lotions, scrubs and bath salts, which are perfect for stocking stuffers, baskets and gifts for teachers and co-workers.
“I am looking forward to the November show. The space at Eastworks is lovely, and Easthampton is such an artist friendly town,” said Zoe Ma.
Ma is a self-taught altered artist who incorporates found objects into jewelry, shrines, and other art oddities. She makes everything one of a kind, and finds joy when her customers are amused by her clever craft.
“It is a pleasure for me to recycle discarded items and to draw attention to the beauty I see in them by giving them new life. Some of my favorite things to use are bottle caps, wire, fabric scraps, and game pieces,” she said.
Ma’s shop, Valley of the Doll, will offer found object pendants, charm bracelets and earrings plus gift packs of bottle cap magnets and push pins at Handmade With Love.
Zoe Ma of Valley of the Doll (valleyofthedoll.etsy.com) incorporates found objects into her jewelry.
“The importance of local shopping has become so clear to me in the last few years,” said Ma. “Not only does it keep our dollars here, but it strengthens our connections to other members of the community.”
Northampton Beadery and Artisans of WMass are the local sponsors of free public event with no-charge on-site parking. The first 25 attendees will also receive swag bags full of treats, compliments of the sponsors.
“We try to have something for everyone and it's been a pleasure to see all kinds of people enjoy checking out the show,” said Suriner. “Western Massachusetts is home to a huge scope of talented artisans and we are fortunate to tap into that. In addition to beautiful wares, our vendors are upbeat, positive, and always with a strong sense of being in it together. They put a lot of heart into their products and I think that's reflected in the collective vibe.”
For more information about Handmade With Love and its entire list of artisans, visit www.facebook.com/HandmadeWithLoveMarket.