A Trip to the Catskills + New Item!
The beautiful mountain views from the cabin we stayed at.
I hope you’ve been enjoying your summer so far.
We just had our first true summer weekend with sunshine, a little road trip, and watermelon (an incomplete summer weekend without it, really). We were in the Catskills over the 4th of July weekend to participate in a makers market in Andes, NY.
The landscape was beautiful, the people were a delight and it was a fun way to let more folks know what we’re up to here in Salem, NY!
Way back in 2016 in Denver, CO we participated in a makers market called The Denver Flea in pursuit of gaining our footing as a newly formed business. Through that experience, we developed close friendships and a community of small business owners that we could swap resources and advice with. One of those friends is named Brian.
Brian went on to open a fantastic little retail shop that featured both vintage and beautifully crafted new items, named Ok-Hi. Ultimately, he developed more than just a retail shop; it became a hub where creatives came together to share their work and connect.
I mention all this because Brian and his family now live in New York (Andes, NY, to be exact) and he is the founder/creator of the Oh-Boy Market & Fare, the market that we attended last weekend! It was a fun full-circle moment.
Our booth at The Denver Flea in 2016
Our booth at the Oh-Boy Market & Fare
Jon, Greg and myself spent a week putting together our booth, which we were all quite proud of.
Considering the limited real estate that we were allotted (10’x10’) it was important for us to create a space that showcased our design sensibilities while also remaining structurally stable in an outdoor environment.
Test building it in the shop. Can you spot Greg’s big grin?
We found an old ad and used it as our inspiration.
The inspiration for our booth.
From there, we decided which pieces we’d bring along and how to tell our whole story (as best we could).
We had a blast designing, building, and then working out of our little mobile shop! Attending markets as a vendor won’t be a regular occurrence for us, but we certainly feel revived by the experience!
Introducing: LampMan
Our new sculpture/light product called LampMan.
Over the last year, Jon has been designing and prototyping something that is known as LampMan. Standing at 55” tall, it’s a playful, solid wood sculpture and light fixture in one.
Its arms articulate at the joints (both shoulder and elbow) and its buttons have touch sensors with built-in dimmer switches to control each of the bulbs. We love the simple, yet playful nature of the design.
It was a hit at the market, forcing a smile on most everyone’s faces and they were even more delighted to learn that the buttons had a functional purpose!
We are making a limited run of 10 to be produced in the fall. We still have a couple spots available, so please email us if you’d like to reserve your very own LampMan!
I hope this update from our sliver of the world has offered some sort of inspiration.
During these dog days of summer, my wish for you is that you’re having some refreshing soaks in cool water, sips of a cold beverage, and a peaceful moment in a lawn chair under a tree with your bare feet nestled into the cool grass.
Thank you for reading!
Deana
