The fabulous New York Etsy Street Team is holding their 5th Annual Holiday Handmade Cavalcade! Here is the press release in full: [singlepic id=1582 w=480 h=640 float=center] NEW YORK, NY (Nov. 1st, 2012) – Santa’s Workshop isn’t the only place to find quality, handcrafted items for the Holidays.  New York has its own enclave of busy craftspeople who work all year long to create one of a kind items that make truly unique gifts for everyone on your list.  These modern day elve

Martin Lopez is the wonderful creator of Adornments NYC jewelry.  His style is so unique – vintage, slightly Victorian, and elegantly sexy.  And he always has something new in his display. This past weekend we went to the NewNew Etsy Artisan Group’s Handmade Cavalcade, and we found Martin’s new Luggage Tag Jewelry! He uses real and often vintage coins from countries around the world and pairs them with fire-polished bit of filigree and a symbolic charm or a pearl or gemstone.

NEWSFLASH!  Now you’re really down to the wire!  Buy all your last minute gifts in the Markets of New York City!  You’ll be glad you did! Check out Markets of New York City on NY1: Navigating the Holiday Markets!  (List of the designers and markets mentioned.) I am very excited to publish the 2011 New York Holiday Markets Guide! The guide links to over 40 events throughout the boroughs, and we will be adding more as they are announced.  Again this year, there are both traditi

To me, WebbedWare designs appear retro and modern at the same time, like the classic Diane Von Furstenburg Wrap Dress.  They also have a preppy feel, with bold and classic patterns.  You can wear every one of Courtney’s handmade pieces to any kind of event at any time of day. Find Courtney and WebbedWare every weekend at the Artists and Fleas Market in Williamsburg, or visit her online shop.  Courtney is also a member of the {NewNew} Etsy Artisan Group. #KarenSeiger #cuffs #M

And stop by any Greenmarket to pick up plump, juicy cherries, like the ones in the photo from the Cheerful Cherry Farm! Saturday & Sunday Brooklyn Flea:  I’m definitely feeling the need to visit the Brooklyn Flea, as it’s been a few weeks.  Looking forward to seeing my usual favorites and checking out what’s new in food, artisans, and fleas!  Saturday in the Ft. Green location and Sunday in Williamsburg. Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market and Sunday Gourmet Food Truck Bazaar: The Hel

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 p

The Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market has been doing some exciting things up in Midtown.  Known for its classic flea market vendors selling vintage clothing, antique furniture, and other fascinating objects, the flea market is now home to the periodic Food Truck Bazaar.  The food is delicious, and who doesn’t love to eat food from a truck?  And now you don’t have to track down your favorite trucks all over town.  You can go the  Bazaar and find many of them in one spot.  The food tr

You may have noticed my project on IndieGoGo.com to add video to this site.  The project is starting to gain momentum, and so I wanted to give you a preview of the kinds of video features we are planning to do a lot more of with the video equipment.  So last weekend, we took the ferry to Governor’s Island to see The {NewNew}’s Treasure Chest boutique one last time.  We shot this bit of video with our regular still-photography camera (Panasonic GF1).  It was great fun, and I c

The Brooklyn Indie Market and The {NewNew} Etsy Artisans Group have teamed up this summer to bring us several special events focusing on sustainable living.  The first one was “Handmade Hearth and Home” in June, featuring gorgeous handmade home decor items. This weekend’s event is Kidding Around, focusing on handmade items for children.  The participating artisans create a collection of handmade treasures that you just won’t find in a store.  Here is a sampling of the kinds o

Today was Opening Day of the Hester Street Fair!  I got there a little bit after it opened at 10 AM, and things were already in full swing.  Everyone was commenting on the great vibe of the market and the lovely setting under a canopy of London Plane trees.  By the end of the day, the total tally was over 11,000 visitors! Vintage and flea market type vendors are there selling furniture, clothing, posters, decorative items, and much more.  I saw a set of four Arts & Crafts sty

Market Season is definitely upon us!  Here are some great events to help make this a spectacular weekend: Saturday, April 24: Spring Handmade Cavalcade – Sponsored by the NewNew Artists Group, featuring over 25 vendors selling their wonderful handmade designs.  Berry Park in Williamsburg, 10am – 5pm Saturday and Sunday, April 24 & 25: Brooklyn Flea Annual Plant Sale – In partnership with GrowNYC, Greenmarket vendors will be selling “annuals, bulbs, herbs, perennials, vegetabl

Nordea Soaperie’s handmade soaps are lovely to use because they smell beautiful and leave my skin feeling great.  We also love her lip balm, which I first saw at the Brooklyn Lyceum’s Holiday Market last December.  These felted soaps are particularly special because they foam right up, and you can use them as a scrubbie.  The felt shrinks in the hot water as the soap gets smaller smaller, and when it’s all gone, you can use the colorful woolen remains as little bowls for pape

I wanted to let you know about a few of the wonderful things I found at last weekend’s Brooklyn Indie Market and NewNew Spring Fling.  If this event is any indication, and I believe it is, it looks like we’re in for a lot of warm colors and flattering clothing designs for the spring and summer. Wabisabi Brooklyn was there with colorful, creative, and infinitely wearable decoupage jewelry designs, including some really great cufflinks.  The surprise inside is that designer Mar

We Have A Winner!!! The winner of our first Market Swatch Newsletter giveaway is Kimm Alfonso!!!  I know she will love the very special Rose Bonbons from Roni-Sue’s Chocolates at the Lower East Side’s Essex Street Market! I’m especially thrilled because Kimm is a wonderful graphic designer who sells her bold silkscreened clothing, KimmChi Silkscreened Apparel, at the markets of New York City!  She is also a member of The NewNew, “an eclectic group of independent handmade Etsy