Weekend Market Picks August 17 & 18, 2013: 500 Fun Little Toys by Nguyen Le

I have been meaning to tell you about a wonderful new book by my friend Nguyen Le, 500 Fun Little Toys. Nguyen, whom you may also know from her wonderful craft business KnitKnit Knits, created 500 unique projects for making the sweetest toys imaginable. She includes a list of materials and and tools we will need, such as knitting needles, scissors, and straight pins. And there are clear instructions for a number of techniques, including knitting, crochet, needle felting, sewing and pattern reading. Each individual project has photos and detailed directions, and some even have variations.

I’d like to say that the projects I’m featuring below are my favorites. However, the truth is that I flipped open the book several times and just took a photo of the page on which I landed. So these project are, by default, my favorite ones. But all the other 497 are my favorites too. The toys are all wonderful for children. I can’t imagine an adult, however, who wouldn’t love to make a game of crochet and felt darts (page 263) or a needle felted toad stool (page 203).

Visit the KnitKnit shop to purchase 500 Fun Little Toys and many of Nguyen’s extraordinary handmade products. Nguyen is giving a Free Whale Making Workshop on Saturday, August 17th from 1-4PM at the Better Than Jam/Etsy NY Shop on Governor’s Island!

The Weekend Market Picks include several clusters of markets that are close enough together so that you can visit them all in just one trip!

Saturday and Sunday, August 17 & 18, 2013

Greenwich Village and Soho/Nolita Markets:

Bleecker Street Market: This artisan and vintage market on the sidewalk next to Our Lady of Pompeii was started shortly after 9/11 by artisans in the Village who wanted to help their neighborhood recover. It is a picturesque market with some outstanding vendors. Take your time to stroll through and have a good look at every table. 11AM – 6PM, Bleecker between Carmine & Leroy, Manhattan
The Market NYC: Next stop after the Bleecker Street Market and going further East on Bleecker Street is The Market NYC, formerly known as the Young Designers Market. This indoor market has four levels of individual boutiques, where artisans, designers and vintage sellers display the items they make or collect. So many floors, and so many fun things to see! Wed. & Thu. 12PM – 8PM; Fri. 12PM – 9PM; Sat. 11AM – 9PM; Sun 12PM – 8PM; 159 Bleecker St. at Sullivan St., Manhattan
St. Anthony’s Market: Swing south towards Houston Street and Soho, and walk through St. Anthony’s Market. The sidewalks are wide, and there are some shady trees alongside The Shrine Church of St. Anthony of Padua to enjoy as you have a look at the vendors selling handmade and vintage products, as well as imported items. 10AM – 7PM, Houston Street at Sullivan Street, Manhattan
Real Designer Market: If you love fashion and design, then plan on spending some time at the Real Designer Market. Every time I go, I meet more fabulous designers with fascinating stories about the things they make. So try things on and take the time to chat with the people who made them. You may be talking with the next Coco Chanel. 11AM – 7PM, 268 Mulberry St., Nolita, Manhattan (NOTE: SATURDAY ONLY)
Nolita Market: Located just around the corner from the Real Designer Market, Nolita is a beautiful market along the brick wall surrounding the Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral (not to be confused with the one on 5th Avenue). You can find some amazing jewelry, graphic tees, leather bags and more at this market. 11AM – 7PM, Prince Street between Mulberry and Mott, Manhattan

Chelsea Market:

Chelsea Market: Chelsea Market is an important food market, with many lovely shops where you can have breakfast lunch or dinner. Two bakeries, a butcher, a soup shop, chocolates, crepes, donuts, seafood, a dairy bar — you can pretty much find anything you want to eat or take home for later inside this former Nabisco factory. It is also home to the two markets below. 75 Ninth Avenue at 15th Street, Manhattan
ID Pop Shop: The Independent Designer Pop Up – ID Pop – is open through August 25th. This time around, the collection of designers is as outstanding as ever, with 31 total vendors, several of whom are new to ID Pop. Keep stopping by, as several new vendors will be added next week. Inside Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Avenue at 15th Street, Manhattan
Artists & Fleas: At the far end of the market at the 10th Avenue entrance is a large and wonderful artisan and flea market. Artists & Fleas has its year-round venue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. They have opened their Manhattan venue as well through the end of September. Shop for unique fashion, accessories, art and more. Inside Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Avenue at 15th Street, Manhattan