Gifts From The Heart

The mother/daughter team, Amy and Kate Welch, will be setting up their newly formed shop at our fair this year and we count ourselves lucky!  As outdoor vendors this year, they offer very affordable jewelry pieces made from both new and recycled/reclaimed materials.  

Amy has been a diy crafter for years and has experience in so many different mediums.  She and her daughter, Kate, have more recently begun experimenting with jewelry and are loving the outcome!  

Reclaiming vintage jewelry from thrift shops and such they add to their new bead supplies.  Using the mix of old and new their jewelry pieces become one of a kind statements reflecting the handmade do it yourself indie craft culture that is on the rise all over the world!

We welcome their work to the Strawberry Swing this year; it is a wonderful example of what this fair is all about!  Come visit them today at the fair!  Open from 10 am to 5 pm!  

Two Charming Chix

While the Swing may have plenty of jewelry booths none of them have what Two Charming Chix offers you:  charms!  Wonderful, whimsical and even personalized charms.  Diane Thaemert owns the Two Charming Chix company and is quite successful with her business.  She sells her work at numerous boutiques in and out of state and has a darling website you must check out for yourself!

The obvious use of these charms would be to hang them from a chain around your neck....but for those of us that like to think outside the box the options are endless:  attached to a gift package, featured in a mixed media assemblage, personalized gifts for a bridal party, strung along a ribbon to make a uniquely lovely bunting for Halloween!

                                       
The possibilities are endless with these adorable pieces of artwork.  I am especially thrilled to offer her work at the fair because of the mass of crafters that will be stopping in at the fair.  As a maker of handmade goods I am always looking for new supplies to add to my stash.....Diane has just the thing for me!

                   

Sweet Peace

I am so excited about this family that will be joining us indoors at the fair!  I met these wonderful ladies last summer at the Ric Rac Roundup in Westport.  Lesa and her daughters, Cassie and Samantha, make fabulous mixed media soft sculptures, wearable accessories and so much more!  

Seriously?  Is this not the MOST ADORABLE piece of mixed media you have seen?  This entire family is creatively inclined in every way.  Lesa's husband is a carpenter and keeps busy building amazing furniture pieces for his daughter's family.  You should see the round crib he made for the newest baby in the family.  Unbelievable!

Both daughters follow in the footsteps of their parents and fiddle around with vintage textiles and assorted sundries and the outcome of this fiddling?  One of a kind prettiness with a shabby chic sweetness that you cannot resist!

Isn't the photo styling of this wreath fabulous?  I am a bit frustrated because there are so many other photos representing more work by Cassie and Samantha but I am unable to feature it in this post :(  PLEASE be sure to head into the barn and visit their booth.  You will love every bit of it; I assure you!
They also have an Etsy shop.  Keep an eye on it as they will be restocking it in the future :)

The Beaded Lizard

Featured indoors at the fair this year are two friends and jewelry artists, Kathi Robards and Jane McCrary.  You met Jane in a previous post titled Gypsy Jane's.  Kathi is the designer for her own collection called The Beaded Lizard, offering her own take on mod western style jewerly.  While their designs are very different they complement each other very nicely and will be featured together for your enjoyment :)

Kathi hand selects vintage spoons, butter knives, coins, buttons and shotgun shells (below) to incorporate into her fascinating designs.  The urban cowgirl will especially enjoy her pieces featuring turquoise, coral, silver and a bit of vintage.

Her use of copper wire and leather lacing gives her jewelry a taste of the West yet leaves plenty of room for the city girl's palette.

Her earrings are bold and beautiful in color and simple enough to be worn understated with a jean skirt and sandals. Kathi's pieces show beautiful workmanship and an eye for design.  You will be proud wearing jewelry by The Beaded Lizard and giving it as a gift to a friend ( if you can find the strength of will to give it away :)

Shop with The Beaded Lizard in her Etsy store anytime you need a new piece to add a pop of color to your life and stop in the Barn at the fair to grab a bit of cooler air and peruse her work.

Gypsy Jane's

Gypsy Jane's will be joining us this year at the fair with her classic style jewelry.  She incorporates a bountiful amount of freshwater pearls, silver and gemstones in her work resulting in beautiful sparkly pieces for any wardrobe.

Selling on Etsy since 2009 she has seen much success in that venue and I suspect she will see much success at the Swing this July.  Check out her drool worthy pieces below:

She offers staples like necklaces, earrings and bracelets; however, her pieces are anything but ordinary.

Have fun perusing her goodies in her shop or at the Swing!  She will be sharing a booth with The Beaded Lizard indoors.  Don't miss them!

Gleeful Peacock

Nikki Halgren, the designer and shop owner of Gleeful Peacock (cute name!) will be gracing our show with her inventive accessories this year.  Coming up from Tulsa, Oklahoma she will have loads of jewelry and hair pieces to delight us all!

             Her metal headbands (above) are embellished with paint and punched with color.

She offers rings pretty enough to eat!  I think these would make adorable bridesmaid gifts to be worn at the wedding.

Funky earrings with a bohemian flair are a fabulous addition to your summer wear. (rhyme much?)

Of course, to top it all off she offers beautiful necklaces.  I suspect she will have a very unique display set up; I can't wait to see it all in person! 

Butternut Squash

I am so excited to have this Lawrence, Kansas resident/artist at our fair this year!  Larissa Wilson makes recycling look so easy and beautiful!  Her bangles are SO COOL and I can't wait to get my hands on one of her original works of art.  Check these out: 

                                            She makes the cuffs out of cardboard!  LOVE!

and this darling collage block is an original and one of a kind, plus she has a half dozen more from which to choose.

These vintage brass locket necklaces are new to me (yes, i've been stalking her Etsy shop) and I do hope she has these available at the fair b/c I WANT ONE!