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Vendor Profile - Glamourpuss Designs

Glamourpuss Designs

Sowa Open Market

After a life-long obsession with all things vintage, I decided to turn forgotten materials like lucite beads, aged brass and enameled flowers into hip, modern jewelry. I love to break the color 'rules' by mixing unexpected hues, finding inspiration from nature, found objects and my oh-so-stylish friends. I hope you enjoy my creations and remember to wear them with sass!

Vendor Profile - Fun Cupcake

Fun Cupcake
June 21 | July 26 | August 16 | September 19 & 20

I love to draw and create from my own little world whenever possible. I studied sculpture, and more recently footwear and accessory design. I recently moved from New York City to Boston. But I'm originally from Portland, Oregon & Southern California.

In my day job I am a kid's shoe designer, but whenever I can I love to draw all the little things that fill my head. I love print patterns and animals, music, art and fashion, and it is here that I can just get it all out!

Vendor Profile - E. Scott Originals

E. Scott Originals
Sowa Open Market - May 31 | June 28 | July 19 | August 2, 23

My fascination with jewelry began when I was three years old and I first found my Grandmother’s jewelry box. I put on every necklace, ring and bracelet and thought I looked like the most glamorous girl in the world. I should have known way back then that my calling was to be a jeweler…

I attended the North Bennet Street School in Boston, MA and graduated from their Jewelry Making and Repair program in June 2007. There I learned the metalworking and stone setting skills and techniques I would need to turn my craziest ideas into pieces of wearable art.

I now live and work in Somerville, MA doing custom pieces as well as creating my own collections.

I love everything about this profession and I could not have picked a more rewarding career. My jewelry is my passion and wearing it makes me feel, as I did then, like the most glamorous girl in the world…

Vendor Profile - Frock Handbags

Frock Handbags

Sowa Open Market - May 16 & 17, 31 | June 14, 28 | July 12, 26 | August 2, 23 | September 16 & 17 | October 4, 18

We believe that women should be able to choose beautiful clothing and accessories without sacrificing their personal style in order to lead more eco-friendly lives.

As today's fashion market is flooded with cheap, disposable clothing, we see a need to reconnect with the history of vintage fabrics and the opportunity to re-craft clothing from years gone by into beautiful, durable and funky handbags for women of all ages.

Each Frock handbag is constructed using the most unique recycled, repurposed, remnant and vintage fabrics and leathers that we can find. Large and medium bags combine color, texture and fabrics in interesting organic patterns. Our Emily clutch is constructed from fun wool tweed, plaid, herringbone, houndstooth and bouclé fabric, trimmed with contrasting leather and topped with a vintage brooch that would make even grandma proud. Embellishments for all larger bags are created from velvet, suede, wool or leather. Internally, each bag features an embossed leather appliqué that speaks to the possible history of the fabric's origin and the inspiration behind the design.

Vendor Profile - Waste Not Saks

Waste Not Saks
Sowa Open Market - May 16 & 17 | June 7, 21 | July 26 | August 23

I am a full-time mom of two young boys and a part-time pediatrician. I began designing and sewing items for my children in my spare time after becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of quality and style in the mass-produced items litter big box stores.

As my boys are getting older I find that I am using an incredible amount of disposable plastic bags, paper sacks and napkins for their school snacks. As much as I asked my little guys to bring the bags home to reuse them, it just never happened...until I created reusable cloth bags out of their favorite fabrics. Thus "WasteNot Saks" was born -- they treasure their bags and would not imagine just tossing them and they are now also more conscious about reusing and recycling in general. I have some incredible upcycled art on my desk to prove it:).

Vendor Profile - Diana Brennan

Diana Brennan

Providence Open Market

Diana Stith Brennan was born and raised in Rhode Island, a landscape of woodlands and shorelines. While always fascinated by her father's old Minolta SLR camera, Diana didn't delve into photography in earnest until high school, when she took her first black and white photography class. She was immediately hooked. She discovered the power that photography had to communicate her unique view of the world to others.

Diana graduated with a degree in Environmental Science and Management from the University of Rhode Island in 2002. She started her art photography business, D.S. Brennan Photography, in early 2006. In addition to her photography, Diana works in the environmental field, continually learning about and being inspired by nature.

Diana shoots mainly with a digital SLR camera, but also enjoys using vintage film cameras and experimenting with different techniques. She believes that the essence of a scene is often captured best by photographing the details. Her work evokes her love of natural New England, her awareness of the environment, and her passion to create.

Vendor Profile - Chroma Lab

Chroma Lab
Sowa Open Market - May 16 & 17 | June 7, 21 | July 12, 26

Chroma Lab is Alicia Cornwell and Tony Bevilacqua, two people who love producing and living with colorful, modern furniture and home accessories in Boston. Tony is a very tall native Bostonian who worked as a fine artist and decorative painter for seven years after receiving his painting degree. Alicia is a medium-sized Texan art historian who moved to Boston to experience winter and tour old houses.

In 2008 we began transforming neglected but promising pieces of furniture by repairing and repainting them for ourselves and for our friends. It was a lot of fun, and it turns out other people like vibrant and repurposed furniture and accessories, too. We started Chroma Lab for anyone whose home needs a shot (or a lot) of pick-me-up color in the form of high quality furniture and unique, hand crafted clocks and durable floorcloths. Please check Chroma Lab’s site and portfolio often, since we are always working on something new.

We can't do it all by ourselves, so Chroma Lab has a small staff: our style consultant is Maddie, a tortoiseshell kitty with discriminating taste; our quality control agent is fastidious tortoiseshell kitty Sophie; our studio assistant is whippet collie pup Cassie.

Vendor Profile - James Polisky

James Polisky
Sowa and Providence Open Markets

Briefly explained, my current silkscreen work is a blend of drawing, color separation and hand printed screening, which has an oddly embraced inconsistency from print to print. The registration, multiple color layers, and ink coverage all have a place in every color of every print made.

The subject matter is mostly character driven, drawing inspiration from the simplicity and complexity, the sheer mass and volume, and an ever changing pace that is the outside world.

Be it imagined or observed, or perhaps a bleeding of the borders between a simple cartoon and a reason to think. Whether offering views of monotonic bliss, a desperately uncertain future, laughter and a sliver of hope, or a lightning crack of violence, they all aim towards an appreciation of the greatness and power that every day can offer.

Vendor Profile - Pogobabies Handmade

Pogobabies Handmade
Sowa Open Market - May 16 & 17, 31 | June 7, 21 | July 19 | September 19 & 20 | October 25

I began making baby items when I was pregnant with my daughter. I had been in the habit of making her Holiday dresses and things...but my little venture really began one day when I happened to be looking for a shopping cart cover. I wanted one that covered the entire cart area. I found only one brand available in my local stores...and it was only offered in a blue/red color combination. I decided to make one...a pink one! The next thing you know...I was making them for friends as baby gifts and eventually selling at local open market events.

It has now been 2 1/2 years since I began...and I've expended my line of items into clothing, pacifier clips, shoes, etc. I sell my items at local open market shows, at one lovely boutique, on this very website, and on a fabulous online shopping community called Etsy.com.

While I am a one-mom venture, I do put the utmost into every single one of my items. I strive for quality and professionalism. Every one of my items will arrive neatly packaged with a lovely Pogibabies label.

Vendor Profile - Karen Kemp

Karen Kemp
Sowa Open Market May 16 & 17, 31 | June 21 | September 13, 27

Karen Kemp, a native of Long Island, New York, currently maintains a studio in Boston, MA. She studied at the Rhode Island School of Design, and at the University of New Hampshire and has a BA in Art History. In 1998, Karen was trained in traditional fresco painting and restoration at Il Laboratorio Per Affresco di Vainella, in Prato, Italy, and in 2003 received a painting fellowship at the Vermont Studio Center. She has also been the recipient of several awards for her work in etching and oil painting.

Karen's artwork has become a part of private and corporate art collections, and she is currently represented by Danette Koke Fine Art in New York City and the Christopher Gallery in Stony Brook, NY.