Artists and Fleas » Markets of New York

Word Cloud and Poetry at the Markets

Happy New Year!!! I hope you had a great holiday season! I purchased every single gift this year at the wonderful holiday markets all over town, starting with an antique Bavarian porcelain tea cup from the Greenflea that I sent my mom for her sacred afternoon tea, and finishing with a handmade sock monkey hat from the Union Square Holiday Market for my niece. And lucky for me, all of my gifts came from the markets too, from fingerless gloves to several amazing and gorgeous pieces of jewelry, which I will model for a future post.

The Greenmarkets and stalwart flea markets have been open the entire season, bless them. And the artisan and other specialty markets are starting to wake up again for 2011. I hope the makers and vendors take some time in January and February to relax and recover — and restock — before the markets really start up in the springtime.

So I just thought I’d check in and post this Markets Word Cloud, which is a fun way to show recent trends and key words on the Markets of New York City blog. I love some of the words that came up big: Market, Delicious, Treats, Holiday, and Chocolates. And some sweet smaller words show up too, like pickles, husband, crispy, and tea. There are word combinations are actually quite poetic:

Colorful Ribbons Maybe Sweet

Last Drink Next

Citytime Husband

Wonderwhip Chocolates

Heart Hope Drinker

Lovely New Cheer

Many markets are open for us to explore and shop at this weekend, despite snowflakes the size of hamsters. Union Square Greenmarket is open for business. The Brooklyn Flea is open all weekend at One Hanson Place. And Artists and Fleas has a new home at 70 North 7th (between Wythe & Kent).

Looking forward to another spectacular year of creativity, design, deliciousness and inspiration at the Markets of New York City!

Photo of the Day – 10/6/2010: Similar Alien

You see a lot of things at the market. But these blue aliens at Artists and Fleas were a first for me. Tim Kelly is the artist behind Similar Alien, “a metaphorical art series about life, love, history, and pop culture.” On one level, he paints aliens. One of his favorite subjects is rock stars. It’s not difficult to imagine Jerry Garcia, Mick Jagger, or 50 Cent as genius aliens come to earth from outer space. (The one subject that’s missing is Michael Jackson, although his case is obvious.) He sells original paintings and prints, and he recently began painting aliens on All Star High Tops. On a different level, Tim’s paintings are a literal reflection of that feeling that somehow we don’t completely belong, which brings us to his interactive Puzzle Project.

Through the Puzzle Project, Tim has set out to prove that art is essential to life. This project began as an interactive class at a teen arts festival in 2009, where kids painted and decorated 24″x24″ foam core puzzle pieces and ended up with a huge puzzle of all their artwork. The activity was a huge success, and Tim took it to several schools. It took on a life of its own via the internet. And now Tim has enough pieces for a puzzle that is 12 ft. high and 1200 ft long. So far. His aim is to install the entire puzzle in an exhibit in New York by 2011 and internationally by 2012.

See what happens when the Aliens come to town?

- Similar Alien Artist Tim Kelly

- Tim Kelly’s Puzzle Project

- Artists and Fleas, Williamsburg

Photo of the Day – October 5, 2010: Sego Jewelry

Architectural Cuff from Sego Jewelry at Artists and Fleas (Photo by Sego Jewelry)

I met designer Samuel Guillén of Sego Jewelry at Artists and Fleas in Williamsburg this past weekend. I was drawn to his simple and sleek display, which featured fine, geometric, handmade jewelry with a modern and architectural look. Sego’s Silver Bead and Wire Cuff has little beads that travel up and down a silver matrix around your wrist. This kinetic design move as you move, giving it an extra dimension. The cuff pictured isn’t kinetic, but the angles and layers make it quite striking. Pull on that black power suit and funkiest glasses because this bracelet will command attention, and you must be prepared for all of it.

Try on Sego Jewelry and met Samuel weekends at Artists and Fleas!

Sego Etsy Shop

Artists and Fleas

Photo of the Day – August 31, 2010: Sock Monkeys from Brooklyn Craft

Seriously Cool Skeleton Sock Monkey and Friends by Brooklyn Craft

I seriously love sock monkeys. I have never see a cooler sock monkey than this black skeleton bad boy by Brooklyn Craft. Tamara Stoddard, the crafter, stitcher and designer behind the sock monkeys, also creates other great soft toys, including terrycloth elephants, catnip mice, and many more. Her appliqued onesies sell like hotcakes at the Hester Street Fair, with tyrannosaurs, goldfish, and other creatures. Brooklyn Craft has an Etsy shop as well, where you can purchase baby bibs with appliqued hamburgers and whales on them. Tamara’s dream is to open a Brooklyn Craft store, “a store that’s like a craft fair every day.” I for one, would be first in line on Opening Day. Especially if she calls her store, “Sock Monkeys R Us.”

You can find Brookyn Craft and Tamara stitching away at the Hester Street Fair and Artists and Fleas. Check her very fun blog for locations and details.

Photo of the Day – July 29, 2010: Another Work In Progress

I remember the days when my sisters and I would sit on the living room floor playing Monopoly for hours on end. I was always the banker, and I always cheated. Those were nostalgic, care-free days (and I hope my sisters have forgiven me by now).

Another Work in Progress evokes those sentiments with spiral notebooks, sketch books, note pads, treasure boxes, and wall clocks made from old board games. Proprietor and artisan Dara Hymowitz collects vintage board games of all sorts and creates these handmade works of usable art. A notebook made from a Bingo card would be a perfect gift for Grandma. I think we all know someone who would appreciate the Scrabble board wall clock. Dara cleverly places the clock hands in the center of a Twister spinner to make a conversation piece of a wall clock (pictured).

She also creates beautiful hand-bound and spiral-bound books, as well as stationery, and mini book jewelry. So if books are your passion, you just might find the one to fill with your hopes and dreams, just like we did when we were 12.

You can find Another Work In Progress weekends at Artists and Fleas in Williamsburg, or visit her Etsy shop online.

Photo of the Day – June 16, 2010: Meeker Avenue Flea Market

The Meeker Avenue Flea featured on Good Day New York with Julie Chang - and Elvis.

I first went to the Meeker Avenue Flea Market last September. I was very impressed with this market even though it had only been open for two weeks. I knew I had to put it in the Markets of New York City guidebook; I had a strong feeling that it would be sticking around. Now, just ten months later, my hunch has been confirmed. The Meeker Avenue Flea Market has developed into an amazing source for antique and vintage furniture and decor.

When Good Day New York asked me to take Entertainment Anchor Julie Chang to a flea market, I thought of Meeker Avenue immediately. Not only is this market open 7 days a week, but it is a true destination, deep into Williamsburg, for antiques shoppers and dealers alike. We saw battered steamer trunks that had obviously seen the far corners of the world. There was a romantic sleigh bed, and an art deco bar in perfect condition. There were chairs, tables, and even antique bicycles for sale, as well as more contemporary items like desks and conference room chairs. The extremely long stainless steel commercial kitchen tables evoked a million possibilities for restaurants, diners, or soda fountains. And who doesn’t need a vintage Elvis lamp with glowing blue eyes?

Most of the items to be found at this market have had many prior lives, like the tiny school desks that brought back so many memories. But they were built to last, unlike much of today’s disposable merchandise. Not only can you find high quality craftsmanship, but you are keeping these pieces out of the landfill by bringing them home and shining them up for their next incarnation.

The Good Day New York segment on the Meeker Avenue Flea Market aired today. You can visit the market any day of the week, and they also have an online shop featuring many of their one-of-a-kind pieces. You can spend an entire weekend day at the markets in Williamsburg and also visit the two nearby Artists and Fleas markets (on 6th Street and in McCarran Park), and the Greenpoint Greenmarket on Saturdays.

If you didn’t catch the information at the end of the Good Day New York Segment, my Picks of the Week are:

- Hester Street Fair – Food, fleas, and farmers on the lower East Side
- The {NewNew}’s pop-up shop on Governor’s Island all summer long
- Brooklyn Indie Market in Carroll Gardens with a great neighborhood vibe, and high quality handmade jewelry, clothing, soaps, home decor, and more.
- Fulton Stall Market – Farmers, food and crafts in the South Street Seaport-

Photo of the Day – April 12, 2010: Leather Crafts from Aixa Sobin

Hand Cut, Hand Stitched Leather Weekend Bag by Aixa Sobin

Aixa Sobin makes sumptuous leather bags and belts, as well as leather-bound books, using new and recycled leather. She cuts and hand-stitches each piece, and each one is wonderfully unique. I was drawn into her shop at Artists and Fleas because of the rich colors and beautiful displays, and I was so impressed with the quality of her work. Her bags will often have several ways of being carried, such as a shoulder bag that can turn into a back pack. When Ms. Sobin is not at Artists and Fleas, she often sells her wares on the streets of Soho outside Balthazar.

Photo of the Day – April 11, 2010: Dahlia Soleil

The expertly hand-crocheted hats from Dahlia Soleil are a must-have from Artists and Fleas. Designer and craftsperson Paulette Jemott-Wiley learned to crochet from her grandmother, and her own designs are distinctly modern and stylish. I’ve recognized Dahlia Soleil hats on the subways of New York. Ms. Jemott-Wiley also creates appliqued t-shirts with unusual images, such as unicorns, ants and elephants. She is at Artists and Fleas most weekends.

Photo of the Day – April 6, 2010: Hoot Hair Flair

Welcoming Spring with Hoot Hair Flair at Artists & Fleas

Yessir, that’s a birdie on my head! Celebrate Springtime with wild, fun, colorful headbands from Hoot Hair Flair at Artists and Fleas. These headbands are beautifully handmade and loaded with imagination and whimsy.

Photo of the Day: February 25, 2010

The Kreepy Doll Factory makes a zillion different funny, silly, cute and creepy dolls. I first saw these creatures at Artists and Fleas in Williamsburg, and you may have seen some of them on the IFC’s show, “Food Party.”