Twist Fair – Massachusetts, USA

by Tara Gentile on April 20, 2009

This week’s Shop Local post comes at you from the Twist Fair in Northampton, Massachusetts. It’s happening Friday, May 1 – Saturday, May 2 and while not all of the crafters are from Massachusetts, they’ll all be selling their wares at this show!

Meghan Burch creates beautiful, functional home decor, women’s, and children‘s clothing. She says, “My work is about playing with simple, two dimensional materials, images, shapes and patterns and transforming them into objects that are comfortable, useful and beautiful.” Her inspiration comes from “nature, the intersections of natural and man-made materials, creative non-artists, patterns of light, sound, food and architecture.”

I’ve been seeing some really great sleek, colorful felt headbands from a few crafters. The Candy Thief is one of them! With short hair like mine, a great headband like this is a must.

Tracy & Justin from Happy Owl Glassworks created “fused glass with a naturalist curiosity.” Their pieces are bright [pun intended!], especially these nightlights. Happy Owl Glassworks works in numerous glass techniques including fusing powdered glass, silkscreening on glass, and using recycled glass.

Last but certainly not least, this Sweet & Salty Pretzel necklace from Twigs & Heather caught my eye. Maybe I was hungry or maybe it was because I live in the pretzel capital of the USA. Twigs & Heather is a twin-sister silversmith duo! Heather creates nature-inspired pieces featuring twigs, birch bark, and those little maple seed helicopters. Kerry Alice, on the other hand, creates funky pieces with skulls & sacred hearts – and the Sweet & Salty Pretzel necklace above.

Tara Gentile is the editor of Scoutie Girl - the blog with a penchant for the passionately handmade! She is also creator & editor of Handmade in PA, a blog and online community that supports arts & crafts in Pennsylvania.

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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

1 RosiesWhimsy April 21, 2009 at 2:10 am: RT @tweetmeme Shop Local: Twist Fair – Massachusetts, USA :: Featured on Try Handmade http://bit.ly/BszQg
2 Rebecca April 22, 2009 at 10:17 am: I just love that pretzel necklace!
Rebecca´s latest post: earth day – ebbandflo is doing her crafty bit part 2
3 Erika Jurney April 22, 2009 at 11:35 am: We’ve featured Twigs & Heather before — they do great stuff!
http://tryhandmade.com/stars-and-hearts-and-pretzels/
4 twistfair April 26, 2009 at 9:01 am: more blog action! http://tiny.cc/pEare
5 lauriemaycoyle April 26, 2009 at 11:49 am: RT @twistfair more blog action!http://tiny.cc/pEare

Who We Are

Erika Jurney
Palo Alto, CA, US
Erika is the founder of Try Handmade. »more...

Diana Prichard
Mid-Michigan, US
Diana is a freelance writer and wanna-be homesteader living in rural Michigan with her husband, two daughters, two dogs, three horses, a small flock of chickens and an ever-changing menagerie of other farm animals large and small. She writes about life and work at dianaprichard.com. »more...

Kim O'Brien
Pawtucket, RI, USA
Kim is a metalsmith who isn't afraid to push the limits of function and color. When she doesn't have a torch or hammer in her hand she can be found buying handmade goods at craft fairs and local businesses, playing with her beloved dog or blogging. »more...

Zoe Grant
Suffolk, UK
Zoe is a self confessed fabric addict having learnt to sew, embroider and knit when she was little. She also adores printed papers and loves discovering new stationery designers. In between being a mother and wife she writes about small creative businesses on her blog and sells ribbons and buttons on Etsy and Folksy. »more...

Rebecca Hadfield
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Rebecca constantly finds beauty in that which is often overlooked. She combines found objects with decorative papers, ephemera, vintage images and text to form the basis for her collage pieces, magnets, and pins, which she sells online and at local craft shows in her home town of Winnipeg, Canada. »more...

Beverly Rustica
St. Simons Island, GA, US
Beverly Rustica, aka BeachyRustica, is a supporter of the handmade movement and an advocate for artisans of handmade goods. Her Practical Art for Beach & Cabin can be found at www.beachyrustica.com. »more...

Sarah Safranski
Honolulu, HI, US
Sarah is a metalsmith, jewelry designer, and owner of the Etsy shop Lilacs&Ginger, sweet and spicy handmade treasures. She works primarily with sterling silver and vintage finds. »more...

Valerie Williams
Washington DC Metro Area, US
Valerie is a sewer, designer, and crafter. She loves fabric and making things to wear, but will try any craft at least once. After being a lobbyist for ten years, Valerie has had enough of politics but still loves DC, and is anxious to share the goodness that the area has to offer. You can see the handbags and accessories she makes in her shop Holland Cox. »more...

Ellie Thouret
Manchester, UK
Ellie is a UK-based designer of handknit and crocheted accessories. In her rare time away from the needles and hooks, she can be found scouring Etsy and Folksy for cute and quirky handmade items, and chatting to indie sellers via Twitter, Facebook and blogs. »more...

Amy L.
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Amy is a freelance web designer, blogger and Etsy shop owner. When not scouring the web for the latest in handmade or building websites she can be found either hiking in the woods, visiting art galleries, or sampling treats at local candy and cupcake shops. Amy is passionate about the burgeoning handmade movement. »more...