By Tammy Scileppi
If you’re an art lover or foodie and if you can’t get enough of vintage and handmade treasures then don’t miss the Ridgewood Market this Sunday right here in Queens.
More than 40 independent and local artisan vendors will be selling their one-of-a-kind products and creations at this popular indoor flea at Gottscheer Hall.
Bring the kids or a date. There will be a 50/50 Raffle and prize raffles, and you can enjoy food and pastries, even live music and entertainment.
Back in December 2012 Sarah Feldman, creator of the Ridgewood Market, was selling her jewelry at a regular flea market in the neighborhood.
“A few artistic vendors and I came to the realization that we needed something more,” she said. “We needed a place away from resold, mass produced items. Those types of goods are really hard to compete with, without lowering your prices on handmade products.”
They yearned for an affordable, local artistic outlet without the high costs of renting a storefront or other fees associated with artisan fleas around New York City. Feldman said she knew from experience that some fleas can cost around $150 per table.
“We also wanted a recurrent clientele. So we decided to have our very own artisan flea market right here in Ridgewood,” she said. “The market went from a fun idea to an actual professional business. I had no idea I would be considering hiring interns, drafting up proposals, making sponsorship packages, or posting ads in local papers ever in my life.”
The organizers have an application process vendors go through and they curate specific vendors for upcoming markets.
“Our market has a personable approach with a close-knit, diverse, artisan community. All our vendors know my name,” said Feldman. “I find in this digital age, human contact or the feeling you are talking to another person, is very important. Our vendors have created a sort of six degree separation in our neighborhood and elsewhere in the Queens and New York City area. Our event not only helps vendors with their business, but also with networking.”
Several vendors weigh in.
Nancy C. Sampson is an illustrator, who has lived in Brooklyn for 19 years. The Ridgewood Market is going to be her first official craft show.
“I have been selling my NYC- and urban-themed prints and greeting cards on Etsy via The Nancydraws Shop since 2009,” she said. “What I am excited about right now is a series of temporary tattoos that I’ve created for foodies, called Foodietoos.”
Barbie Rodriguez (Plachi Plushies) makes and sells handmade dolls for children of all ages.
“I have been vending at the market since their very first market in April of last year and have had nothing but extreme success,” she said. “I began crafting and sewing to keep me busy after being laid off in 2010. As I honed my sewing skills, I started making dolls and selling them to help my husband support our eight children. I hope to open my very own store in Ridgewood soon.”
Dina Lerman, creator of Bugged Out, said she’s excited to be a part of the market with her complete line of whimsical bug, fruit, veggie and critter designs on kids and baby clothing, tote bags and note cards. “All Bugged Out products are made in the USA, and are screen printed by us in NYC,” she said. “We started in 2007 with our bug line, which had its origin in MS Walk team T-shirts. One of our first bug customers, the ‘Hop in the Garden’ of the New York Botanical Garden, commissioned me to design kid-friendly fruits and veggies for an exclusive line of cards, totes and T-shirts featured during their season-long Edible Garden Festivals in 2009 and 2010. Now this collection is also available at Bugged Out.”
Kristen Terrana, a local a freelance artist, said the market is a great place to show off her work and meet other creative people in the area.
“I usually sell my Artist Pins there, and they do pretty well,” she said. “I love painting in different mediums, and playing with color. With a pinch of cute and a dash of dark, I explore diverse themes in my work. My inspiration comes from nature, world travels, riding on the subway, and rock and roll music.”
Her work has been published in magazines and books, and she exhibits her paintings in galleries around the city.
Artisan Claudia Diaz owns the Quetzaly Shop.
“I sell mainly through my Etsy shop and work closely with some artisans in Mexico and try to promote my beautiful culture as much as possible, and show people that anybody can wear a hand crochet blouse or a rebozo made by our artisans… and wear it proudly. I am so proud of my heritage and where I come from and you will see that in many of my pieces.
“Many of my inspirations come from all the houses in my town which were all painted in bright colors: all kinds of pinks, blues, yellows, orange. etc. You will see a lot of pieces with skulls, as one of my favorite holidays is ‘El dia de los muertos’ (the day of the dead), a day to remember our loved ones who are no longer with us. I love the colorful sugar skulls and the bright flowers that adorn our houses.”
Fairytale Cupcakes by Kristine, created by Kristine DeSena, is based in Maspeth. She recalled how she tried to bake from scratch many years ago.
“I had always baked for family gatherings, parties, and for the holiday season,” she said. “Things started taking a really fun and inspirational course and Fairytale Cupcakes was born.”
IF YOU GO
Ridgewood Market
When: Sunday, Sept. 21, 11 am – 5 pm
Where: Gottscheer Hall, 657 Fairview Ave. Ridgewood
