Maybe you’ve never missed a Handmade Arcade market. Or maybe this will be your very first time. Either way, we’d like to introduce you to a few of the first-time vendors and their amazing wares! This year’s market is host to 83 makers who have never sold at a Handmade Arcade Holiday Market at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
Hey, rock star! Ellie Tobin burst onto the scene in 2016 with edgy, vibrant designs made for your showstopper moment. She combines playful upcycling with unexpected textiles to create dazzling art-to-wear garments and accessories. We love her dreamy and daring Stormy Weather collection, featuring unisex sweatshirts with lightning bolts and raindrops that reflect light. (Virtual and in-person markets)
Your dry, cracked heels need some help, honey! Hey, no shame — Southern Hospitality is here to help y’all. Entrepreneur Krystle Ford teamed up with podiatrist Quinton Yeldell to bring you Sweet Tea Foot Soaks, Mint Julep Foaming Sugar Scrubs and more so you so can soak, exfoliate, and moisturize those tender tootsies. Pro tip: after doing laps around the Handmade Arcade marketplace, the Honey Lemon Heel Balm will have your poor paws feeling soft as a Georgia Peach! (Virtual and in-person markets)
The two ladies of Half Hour Gentlemen Collage create mixed media collages inspired by newspapers, magazines, ads, illustrations, and photographs. If you like a zany zine aesthetic, you’ll love their odd and unexpected combinations of pin-up girls, flora, fauna, and food, with a dash of wordplay and surrealist sensibilities. Shop their canvas and wood wall art, repurposed cigar boxes, stationery, and prints. (Virtual and in-person markets)
Need a hug? Know someone who does? Look no further than the warm, inviting, and often snuggly items from Nightengale Needles. This “small business with a big heart” offers LGBTQA+ PRIDE-themed items for those who need a reminder that they’re not alone. Wrap yourself in a handmade scarf or adopt an adorable, squishable plush from crafters who are guided by the motto, “Nobody has to live without joy.” (Virtual and in-person markets)
Karen Kocher of K2 Metalworks is a blacksmith inspired by flowers and nature. She’s a master at juxtaposing cold, rigid metal with shapes that exude warmth, liveliness, and flow. Don’t miss her bold yet elegant tables, trellises, birdbaths, and headboards, plus smaller items like rustic air planters, tea light holders, and hand-forged holiday ornaments. (In-person market only)
Look. It’s a crazy world out there. Fiber artist Jennifer Angelo gets it. She created Scarves By Jennifer to shield the spirit, protect the body from a chill, and provide a sense of tranquility and timelessness. As she puts it, “The ancient craft of felt offers a tactile buffer against a harsh, plastic-filled environment. My clothing pieces are wearable art that makes wearers look good, feel great and capture the serenity of nature.” (Virtual Market only)
Thank you to Handmade Arcade Winter Market sponsor PG&H.
