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Crafters gather to sell their handmade works
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The typewriter necklaces made by Jeanne Cherry, 56, of Plum will be among items for sale at the I Made It! market from noon to 5 p.m. today at the former Joseph-Beth Booksellers store in the SouthSide Works.
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Making homemade jewelry in Pittsburgh has kept Lindsey Hunter and Lucy McClure searching for the next piece of unwanted fabric or earring that they can fashion into a new piece.
"The Pittsburgh community has been really welcoming and it is a great place to start," Mrs. Hunter said. "I hope wherever I move next, it can be as successful as it is here."
Mrs. Hunter, 28, of McCandless and Ms. McClure, 32, of Scott are two of 68 vendors who will be selling homemade items from noon to 5 p.m. today at the I Made It! Mine market (http://imadeitmarket.com) in the former Joseph-Beth Booksellers store, 510 S. 27th St., SouthSide Works.
"It's going to be an explosion of craft," said Carrie Nardini, one of the free event's creators.
Mrs. Nardini, 36, of Brookline and Nina Barbuto, 28, of Polish Hill thought up the idea of creating the handmade craft marketplace while selling some of their own items at a craft show. The team began the event in 2007, and it has grown in the size of the crowds and the number of vendors selling decorative, edible and wearable items.
"We really wanted to forge relationships between vendors and customers and to help grow the small businesses," Mrs. Nardini said.
Creative Customology, Mrs. Hunter's business, has grown since she began working with Mrs. Nardini and Ms. Barbuto two years ago. She now makes scarves, bracelets and rings for bridal parties and sells her refurbished products at home parties. When it comes to finding the pieces to make a ring or bracelet, she gets help from her large family.
"Whenever they go to antique stores or thrift stores, they send me fabric in the mail," Mrs. Hunter said.
At the I Made It! market last year, Ms. McClure and Jeanne Cherry, 56, of Plum began collaborating on their respective crafts: Ms. McClure, whose business is called bel monili, searches for typewriters so Ms. Cherry can make her typewriter necklaces and Ms. Cherry searches for pieces of broken jewelry or unwanted earrings for Ms. McClure.
"We build each other's stash up," said Ms. Cherry, whose business is juNxtaposition. "It keeps us motivated."
Ms. Cherry's and Ms. McClure's tables are placed next to each other again this year. While expanding their businesses, the two have broadened their friendships and connections throughout Pittsburgh.
"It's an excellent time and place to be an artist here," Ms. McClure said. "In Pittsburgh, I think people really like to support Pittsburgh people and they like to buy things, that are made here in their hometown."
First Published February 2, 2013 12:00 am
