BY ANDREW OCHAL
September 23, 2021
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to the author's employer, Arlene’s Artist Materials. Please contact us with any questions.
The question people ask a lot recently is what is a Makers Market? It’s one of those things that when you are immersed in it it seems so obvious but to someone looking in the concept can seem very foreign. A Makers Markets is a unique shopping experience that brings together a curated selection of handmade local creatives, we call Makers, and local community. The main goal is to further support our local creative community. We’re taking a moment to appreciate the stories of the Makers participating in our Fall Makers Markets at Arlene’s. Take a moment to get to know them and support them at the Markets.
Meagan Alvord, LegitSkin, LLC.
The founder and creator of LegitSkin, Meagan Alvord, had skin that was not very legit at all. Even as an adult, she dealt with cystic acne, blackheads, and oily skin. She began looking up the ingredients in many soaps, lotions, and cosmetics. It became apparent very quickly what the problem was. After learning about the hundreds of unhealthy ingredients in the cute bottles that line store shelves; Meagan created LegitSkin with the pledge to never use harmful chemicals or artificial ingredients. LegitSkin provides locally crafted soaps, clay masks, scrubs, and balms. All natural ingredients, no preservatives, artificial colors or dyes, artificial fragrances, or petroleum based oils. They strive for all our packaging to be either compostable or reusable!
Sarah Beck
Sarah Beck is a photographer who loves the process. Photography has always been a part of who she is. Her journey first began formal studies in 1998 driving her Chevy Chevette back and forth to photography classes three towns over. Beck went on to study photography at Hallmark Institute of Photography and later became a proud member of the Wedding Photojournalist Association and The Artistic Guild of the WPJA. Her current focus is on darkroom photography and tiny prints framed in handmade frames. She also adores completely non-traditional weddings, film processing, and dark rooms. Her favorite movie scene is in Down by Law. Tom Waits, Roberto Benigni, and John Lurie sing in a prison cell. It’s amazing, and important that you know that. She is based out of Amsterdam NY where she is raising creatives with her husband.
Colleen Craven,Creative Craven Studio
Originally from Lexington, Kentucky, Colleen Craven ventured up to the mountains of Upstate New York to study art at Skidmore College. After settling in Troy, NY she started work as the in-house graphic designer for Darn Good Yarn and became a freelance illustrator & artist.
Maria DeAngelo, ArtyLadyMsD
Maria DeAngelo is a studio artist working in the Capital Region of New York State. Maria was born in Niskayuna, NY and grew up in Rotterdam. Her childhood home was near what is now the Potterkill Preserve, allowing her to spend many hours outdoors exploring and creating with materials that inspired her. Participating in art at school was the beginning of Maria’s love of connecting art and community which has been a large part of her career as an artist and educator.
Erin Eckler, EQWilbert
EQWilbert products are hand made by owner/maker Erin Eckler using a wide range of mediums and techniques. From hand carved stamped fiber items to wire sculpted jewelry and decor, every piece is unique. The guiding force behind EQWilbert designs is whimsy. Erin prides herself in bringing light and love into everything she does. A design is finished when it makes her smile–even better chuckle. These items are designed to be fun, whimsical, and stylish and bring our your inner unicorn!
Rebecca A. Flis
Rebecca A Flis is an avid bowler who enjoys her summers by running a sculpture shop at a visual arts camp for children. She is fervently interested in a wide range of sculptural processes, but her specialty is the casting process. Most recently, she has been using non-traditional materials to explore sensory play, materiality, and the relationship between texture and form in her work. Rebecca has taught many workshops, both nationally and internationally, on dung-molding, a form of natural mold-making used in some ancient casting processes.
Lisa Frazer, ZoePea Jewelry
Lisa Frazer with ZoePea jewelry. Gaining control of every aspect of a jewelry design truly gives the creator freedom. Frazer’s designs are exercises to teach her more ways to make metal do what she needs it to do. With that she hopes to raise a piece of jewelry to the level of art.
Hannah Hutchinson, Just Noise Ceramics
Hannah Hutchinson is a sculptor and ceramicist currently residing in Troy, New York. She received her Masters in Fine Art from University at Albany and her Bachelors in Fine Art with a concentration in sculpture from SUNY Purchase. Her work has been shown in numerous locations within the Hudson Valley region.
Beth Joslin
Beth Joslin makes functional and decorative high fire pottery. She enjoys making pieces people can use and treasure everyday. Joslin took her first pottery class in 1992 and fell in love with throwing on the wheel. She continued to develop her skills, assisting in classes and learning the ins and outs of the studio while raising my family. Now she has a home studio, sells her pottery at a variety of venues and teaches clay classes to children and adults.
Ross Kunze
Ross Kunze produces pots using a variety of methods—wheel thrown, hand built, and slip cast. Focusing on utilitarian forms for the home, his line includes tableware, vases, planters, and match strikers constructed in consideration to the landscape and architecture of the place of his upbringing, the Great Plains. Substantial utilitarian forms with swaths of textured pattern and exposed clay encourage handling in daily rituals, creating intimate moments for the user. Kunze approaches this relationship with reverence and design objects that are intended for years of use.
Jina Lambert, Jina Lynne Handmade
Jina Lambert is the designer and creator of all things Jina Lynne Handmade. She has always loved crafting and fashion since she was a child, and loves creating unique jewelry that is fun with a hint of nostalgia. She is the mom to an awesome 5 year old boy, and is married to a super cool British tattoo artist. She lives with her family in with their corgi, Fifi, and 2 cats, Elsa and Olaf.
Mitch Messmore, BottlerZ
Mitch Messmore is not only a wine enthusiast and puppet maker but a creative person all around. He has been involved in the creative arena for over 30 years. Mitch’s talents cover visual and performing arts as well as music and writing. His goal with the BottlerZ is to bring joy and fun into people's lives while promoting creativity and imagination.
BottlerZ is two gifts in one - it’s a puppet and a beverage bag. Once opened and separated from the carrier bottom, the top part of BottlerZ becomes a stand-alone puppet! It’s a novel, more fun way to gift a bottle of wine, craft beer, cider, candy, etc.
Cheyenne Simmons, Great Exbaketations
Great Exbaketations Bakery is a small Albany-area business that takes pride in using products from local Upstate NY Distilleries, artisans and makers in our scratch-baked, made-to-order cakes. Owned and operated by Cheyenne Simmons, a long-time resident and native of the Capital Region.
Great Exbaketations offers cakes in two convenient sizes: Full-size cakes are 10" and serve 10-12, and Mini Bundts are 6" and serve 4-6. Must be 21+ to order. Seasonal cakes will vary and be updated on the website and social media outlets.
John Slezak
With 48 years of working experience, John Slezak has made everything from Christmas ornaments to furniture. We will be selling pens, small jewellery boxes, and some small wood turned products and children's toys.
Tracy Villaume, Cork & Brush Studio
Tracy Villaume believes art is for everyone and love how the freedom and possibilities of abstract and mixed media collage make it easy for all to explore their creativity. Her pieces are intuitive in composition and materials, but nearly always incorporate mark making and botanicals. Eco-dying has become a bridge between my love for nature and the abstract.
Sara Yokubait, Cedar's Studio
Sara Yokubait is an illustrator based in Troy, NY. As a painter she specializes in acrylic and watercolor. These are her chosen mediums because they give her the most flexibility to paint with emotion, whether it be through brush strokes, color choices, or both. Influenced by children’s book illustrators from an early age, she works to create a world that is vibrant and imaginative, while using everyday subjects in her work.
Makers Markets at Arlene’s will be held every Saturday starting September 25th through October 30th outside in Arlene’s parking lot. Rain or Shine. Free to attend and family friendly.
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