The Kind Earth Witch

Vendor Spotlight: The Kind Earth Witch

Erika Anne, The Kind Earth Witch, creates beautifully designed functional pottery. The color and texture in her pottery make her work unique.

Erika statess, “Ceramics is the perfect combination of the past, present and future.  It requires each of the four corners (earth, air, water and fire) and is part of every culture in the world.  Every single creation myth talks about pottery and clay in some way- most of the time it features significantly in our creation stories.”  

“Where the world divides us, pottery reminds me that we are all connected- we all have a shared history, for good or bad, and can all bound over the creative and tactile.”  

Come see The Kind Earth Witch on October 10 from 10AM – 4PM at McConkey’s Market in Washington Crossing Historic Park (PA).

Blue Fox Studio

Vendor Spotlight: Blue Fox Studio

Many of the items sold at McConkey’s Market are one of a kind. That includes the work of Sue Fox Mitrano, of Blue Fox Studio. 

“A friend introduced me to the art form of Shibori, an ancient Japanese hand-dyeing technique using indigo,” she says. “I was hooked after my first dye session.”

Sue creates hand-dyed Shibori accessories and home goods. The technique involves natural fiber fabric that is folded, bound, twisted, or stitched and then submerged in a dye vat multiple times. Variations are a natural result, making each piece distinctive. 

“I’m inspired by the unique combination of control and surprise in Shibori dyeing,” Sue says. “With careful practice, I can repeatedly create the same patterns in the cloth, but there are always little surprises – and sometimes big ones – and that is part of the appeal.”    

“It really is a magical process watching the color change,” she adds. “Unwrapping the fabric to see the resulting pattern never fails to delight me!”

Come see Blue Fox Studio on October 10 from 10AM – 4PM at McConkey’s Market in Washington Crossing Historic Park (PA).

Gigi Singh

Vendor Spotlight: Gigi Singh

So I am the age I am and I am still a dreamer, a hopeless romantic, and someone who is still making wishes on the first star they see at night!

When I was growing up in Philadelphia I saw a lot of creativity all around me from wall murals to street artists to amazing music from street musicians , everywhere was colorful and interesting! Now living in West Chester, PA with my beautiful family. I see a whole new colorful world with scenic beauty everywhere, how can I not be inspired to keep this passion of mine going!

Come see Gigi Singh on October 10 from 10AM – 4PM at McConkey’s Market in Washington Crossing Historic Park (PA)

DownCellarRagWorks

Jean Smalley likes to say she’s been making “old things new” since childhood. 

“I learned to sew watching my mom and then I made my own creations from her piles of scraps – that definitely influenced my continued love of creating new from old,” she says. 

Today, Jean loves gathering unique 100% reclaimed textiles and needlework, that have a bit of whimsy, nostalgia, or charm and turning them into items like jackets, skirts, tops, aprons, neckwear, cat doorstops, totes, and more. Each piece is repurposed with creativity, color, and function to create a truly one-of-a-kind item.   

“Finding a different use for leftover textiles has always been the fun, creative part of what I do and I’m glad it adds in a small way to reducing waste and encouraging a more sustainable lifestyle,” Jean says.

Come see DownCellarRagWorks on October 10 from 10AM – 4PM at McConkey’s Market in Washington Crossing Historic Park (PA). 

joeyfivecents

Some people look at old packaging and books as junk. Film editor turned jewelry designer Susan Forker sees treasure. Her business – joeyfivecents – transforms vintage paper from old novels, dictionaries and manuals into everyday, wearable jewelry.  

“I never scan or duplicate, which I consider very important as it preserves the integrity of the image,” says Susan, who works in a Civil War-era barn in Doylestown. “One of my favorite steps is when I hunt for new imagery … I am very particular and thrive on scouring flea markets, thrift stores and the like for my latest collection. joeyfivecents allows me to present these fantastic images in a modern way.”

Susan’s jewelry pieces – she calls them “Joeys” – gives new life to images which might otherwise be forgotten. Her most recent line was inspired by the textures and colors of the Bucks County landscape. Working with epoxy clay, rich-colored pigments and custom molds, these pieces evoke an organic, earthy vibe that celebrates nature's beauty and imperfections through botanical imagery.

See Joeyfivecents at McConkey’s Market on October 10 from 10-4 in Washington Crossing Historic Park.