artisan markets » Markets of New York

Weekend Market Picks October 22-23, 2011: Samurai Sharpening Service

Margery Cohen, Master Knife Sharpener, Samurai Sharpening Services

My best advice to you: Get your Thanksgiving carving knives sharpened this weekend! I always plan to do it early, and yet there I am, every year, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, racing with my butter-knife dull blades to see Margery Cohen of Samurai Sharpening Service at Chelsea Market.

Margery sets up shop every Wednesday and Saturday at a table outside Bowery Kitchen Supply in the Chelsea Market. Her technique is impeccable. She sharpens the knives of some of the finest and best-known chefs in the city. I love to watch her work each blade studiously, and the best part is when she tests it by artfully slicing cleanly through a piece of paper. She carefully wraps up the dangerously sharp knives in your kitchen towel, or in a thick, safe newspaper bundle with rubber bands.

You may be tempted to pull out your knives as you squeeze your way through the Saturday market crowds, but I advise against it. Strongly.

It is going to be a glorious weekend, especially on Sunday! So grab your tote and go to the markets!

Saturday and Sunday

NewNew Artisan Assembly at Dekalb Market: The NewNew is an Etsy Street Team and a handmade powerhouse of craft and design. They are one talented bunch, and now you can see their work in one place all week long at their new shop at the Dekalb Market! There’s a party Friday night too! Definitely a must-stop shopping spot for amazing gifts.

Saturday

Essex Street Market: There have been a lot of new developments at the Essex Street Market in the last year. Pain d’Avignon and the Heritage Meat Shop moved in, and now Brooklyn Taco and has a space, in addition to the other wonderful and important shops there, like Saxelby Cheesemongers, Roni Sue’s Chocolates, and LES Girls Club’s La Tiendita. We miss Jeffrey’s Meats, but I’m sure we have not heard the last from him!

Sunday

Grub Street Food Festival and Beer Garden at Hester Street Fair: All I can say is GET HERE EARLY! Last year’s event was a fun, delicious mob scene. Plan out what you want to eat, and go there first. The rest will be an adventure in eating and mob maneuvering. The great news is that it is expanded to four times the space and added a beer garden! It’s going to be another amazing event, and it’s Hester Street Fair’s last big event of the season!

Steampunk 2011: The founder of the former and beloved Brooklyn Indie Market is sponsoring the Steampunk 2011 at the DUMBO Loft in Brooklyn, “a puzzlement of perception, a grand sally-ho! into realms of obscurity and possibility! We invite you to come with us to experience MAGIA ET MYSTERIUM!”

Vegan Shop Up: There’s a market for everyone, and everything in this bi-monthly market at Pine Box Rock Shop is for the vegans! Lots of great sounding foods and baked goods, plus soaps, candles, tinctures, and more! Definitely check it out!

Support local and handmade! Occupy The Markets!

Photo of the Day – July 14, 2011: Baby Seal by Belle Ami Crochet

Who doesn't love a baby seal? Handmade by Belle Ami Crochet

Can you even believe the cuteness? This adorable, shiny-eyed baby seal, hand-crocheted by Mary Grabenstatter of Belle Ami Crochet, was just one character in the entire parade of cuteness on her table at the Astoria Market last weekend.

Sweet and unusual animals, including purple manatees, koala bears, hedgehogs, and geckos make up the Belle Ami collection. Mary has also recreated some of the characters from our favorite Pixar movies and shorts, including Mike Wazowski, Sully, and even the evil Randall from Monsters Inc. One of her latest creations is the dancing lamb from Pixar’s short Boundin’, complete with the white coat.

Mary had her debut at the market last week, and I hope we’ll see a lot of her and her creations in the artisan markets. And believe it or not, she only recently taught herself to crochet. I think she’s gotten the hang of it, don’t you? Check out the entire Belle Ami Crochet collection on Etsy.

Photo of the Day – Wednesday 6/29/11: Caja Jewelry

Caja Jewelry was one of the first design companies that I met at the Brooklyn Flea when I first started doing research for my book, Markets of New York City: A Guide to the Best Artisan, Farmer, Food and Flea Markets. I immediately loved their nameplate jewelry. It reminded me of the Sex and the City scene in Paris when Carrie Bradshaw finds her missing “Carrie” nameplate in her vintage Chanel clutch and gets her mojo back.

Fast forward to February, 2011 when Caja’s nameplates adorned the models on no less than 20 pages of this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Not to mention the ads I saw on bus stops and in the 14th Street subway station. Seriously huge deal. And because SI gives credit where credit is due, Caja’s company name appeared next to each photo.

Caja makes a wide range of handcut designs in addition to the name plates. They make name plate cuffs, which I’ve never seen before. And their charms are delicate and whimsical. I love them all, but the cleaver really speaks to me for some reason…

So I am thrilled to report that while they’re business is taking off, Caja owners and designers Andrea and Juan can still be found in the city’s artisan markets. I recently ran into them at the Renegade Craft Fair, and they sell their designs at several local shops, including our favorite Better Than Jam Coop. Visit the Caja Jewelry online shop, and please “like” them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter!

Photo of the Day: Colorful Jewelry Designs from Yania Creations

Yania Mor of Yania Creations has a knack for color combinations. She creates a vast array of jewelry designs made with colorful stones and crystals in sterling silver and gold-filled settings. What I love about Yania’s work is the diversity of shapes and colors, with a distinctive style throughout the collection. She makes designs with large stones and settings, as well as dainty, refined pieces. You can get a sense for Yania’s designs from the range of earrings in this photo.

I have a pair small of amethyst earrings with a pearl accent that I wear constantly because they are so pretty. And I have my eye on Adeline, a pair of smokey topaz earrings with multi-colored tourmaline rondelles.

Yania sells her designs at artisan markets around the city. You can meet her this weekend at the Smith Street Funday Sunday Street Fair! Or shop from her Etsy.shop. Yania is also a member of the talented {NewNew} Etsy Artisans Group.

Markets Events & Announcements!

Book Signing This Weekend:

Sunday, November 6, 2010: Abingdon Square Market - 9AM to 12PM. Finally hanging out at my market! Come out and say hello!

A HUGE THANK YOU to the wonderful people who contributed to the IndieGoGo.com project to add video to this site!

We exceeded our $1500 goal for a total of $1690! I am so excited to get the equipment and hit the markets to take gorgeous videos for fall and the holidays!