Saratoga Farmers' Market

jewelry

Creating Art For & At the Saratoga Farmers’ Market

By

By Himanee Gupta-Carlson

Gretchen Tisch sits at her Saratoga Farmers’ Market stall every Saturday surrounded by her art: hand-painted shirts and jackets, knitted hats, handcrafted jewelry, mugs, custom pet portraits and other customized “paintings from photos,” uniquely painted purses, boots, and more. In between customers, she knits and creates jewelry, giving shoppers a glimpse of art-in-progress.

Tisch owns Feathered Antler, one of several local arts and crafts businesses which form the market’s special Holiday Market. Many of these vendors are located on the second floor of the market’s winter location in the Lincoln Baths Building at the Saratoga Spa State Park. They vend alongside newer farmers from Greenjeans, Ramble Creek, Squashville and Saratoga Urban farms, bringing art and agriculture together. Tisch’s Feathered Antler is located at the market entrance, its vibrant colors and natural themes providing a beautiful introduction for the indoor Saratoga Farmers’ Market.

For Tisch, the market is a year-round affair. In her eyes, her art – with its colors and its vibrancy – complement the farm-grown and handmade products that form the market’s core. “I love the market’s vibe,” Tisch says. “I love the colors, the healthy feel, the freshness of the fruits and vegetables. My colors and my artwork feed off that.”

Tisch was a regular customer of the Saratoga Farmers’ Market before she became a vendor. She had been selling her work via Etsy and in small shops, and felt as she made her weekly visits that her art could be an asset to the market. She applied to be a vendor in the winter market in 2015 and was accepted. Within weeks, shoppers were buying her creations and placing custom orders. Soon, she outgrew her home studio space and began searching for a studio and retail space. In 2016 she opened a boutique at 517 Broadway in Saratoga Springs.

For Tisch, art is like the market itself – fresh and ever-changing, much as the selections of farm-grown and raised vegetables, fruits, and meats vary with the seasons. During breaks, Gretchen loves to shop for her weekly farm products, and at times, she joins her parent’s Tisch Family Band as a dancer, performing traditional Irish Step Dancing, often in festive holiday attire. Art in its many forms and inspirations, all at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market!

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays at the Lincoln Baths Building in the Saratoga Spa State Park. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and check us out on the FreshFoodNY app.

Area Artists Bring Unique and Personal Gifts to the Farmers’ Market

By

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market’s Holiday Market, held every Saturday in November and December, features hand-made jewelry, clothing, journals, a variety of artwork, and specialty prepared foods and treats. These unique gifts provide a way to connect with a loved one’s individualized style and interests. Some of our featured local artists include Rosemary Romeo, Peggy Gray and Terri Holmes Smith.

Shell and wire pendant handmade by Rosemary Romeo

Rosemary Romeo, owner and artist of “I Don’t Do Ordinary,” uses copper, brass, silver, gemstones, and found objects to create one-of-a-kind earrings, necklaces, rings, watches and other gifts for women, men, and children. Romeo explains, “I take designs that are current and put a not so current twist on them to create a new level of ‘in-style’ with a vintage twist.” Romeo’s signature items include graphic-image earrings and natural-flower jewelry, as well as pieces made from repurposed materials such as spoons, coins, and new and found stones and semi-precious gems.

Barcelona Jacket by Peggy Gray

Peggy Gray, of “22 Shades of Gray,” combines lush fabrics and a variety of textures to create unusual clothing for women. Her asymmetric blouses, swingy coats, fitted jackets, multi-layered wraps, and other designs complement women of all ages and styles. Peggy has been sewing since she was 17, and she now owns a studio in Buskirk, NY. Peggy says “I love to help women express their personalities through their fashion.” Peggy will be at the Holiday Market most Saturdays in December, and also sells her items online.

Sun & moon dreamcatcher, by Terri Holmes Smith

Terri Holmes Smith, inspired by Native American insights into beauty and spirit, has created “The Weaving Tree,” a family business that specializes in crafting personalized dream catchers and dream catcher themed jewelry. Come see what Terri has at the market, and talk to her about custom orders for the holidays or other special occasions. Terri and her family also make glass hand-painted Christmas bulbs and other glass objects, and carry a line of journals that have questions and prompts designed to help people share their life stories with loved ones.

In addition to items from these artists, the Holiday Market also features other jewelers and crafters, as well as specialty foods for people and their pets. The Holiday Market is part of the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, running Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm at the Lincoln Baths. For more information see www.saratogafarmersmarket.org.