Joyful shopping
Earlier this month, I went to a vendor fair at a small business called “Leaf, Stone, and Steel,” located on Grand Island. This business is truly delightful. They sell a wide variety of plants, many of which are succulents. Because of this business, I have become very fond of succulents. They are beautiful in the windowsill, and they are not especially needy when it comes to care.
Leaf, Stone, and Steel holds occasional vendor fairs, which attracts a diversity of little businesses. These fairs are so much fun! The most recent one was held on the warmest day in October, and that, too was delightful. At the fair, I enjoyed meeting owners of tiny businesses, as well as taking pictures of the business owners’ creations.
Kim was one of those business owners. She was selling bird feeders, self watering planters, and crocheted pumpkins.
“I love to recycle and I love to drink wine, so I figured why not do something with the wine bottles, and I cut them and made them into self-watering planters,” As for the wine bottles that became bird feeders, Kim left them whole. “I put bird seed in them and made them into gorgeous bird feeders,” Kim said.
“All of the plants in these bottles have to be moist all of the time. It’s constant water for them. But you don’t have to water them. You just have to refill it once a month, which is super cool. If you go away and you don’t want to worry about watering your plant every day, then this is a good idea.”
Jaclyn, the owner of “Clay by Jaclyn,” has created some gorgeous designs with polymer clay. The wonderfulness of polymer clay is that it’s user friendly. Unlike regular clay, you don’t need special equipment for polymer clay. You just create and, when you’re finished with your design, you can put it in an oven. The kind that you bake food in. The clay bakes and is hardened and that’s an easy process. Here is Jaclyn’s story.
“I started college doing drawing and painting. Then I took a pottery class. I just loved it so much more. There’s nothing wrong with drawing and painting. I felt I could express myself better through sculpture. What I couldn’t do in drawing, I could do through sculpture.”
“I wanted to wait to get my art out there. When I graduated, I was thinking about it, and I didn’t have the space to have a kiln or a studio or anything like that. I kind of found polymer. I just love plants and nature in general so it’s really fun for me to depict these intricate little details and to bring the same joy I find in it to other people.”
what makes Kim and Jaclyn happiest about being part of the vendor fair?
Kim: : I love supporting our local economy. This business that has come to Grand Island is amazing. They brought a lot of cool things that we don’t get on Grand Island. It’s 80 degrees (26.7 degrees celsius) and sunny and it’s October 4th. What could be better?
Jaclyn: Being able to talk to other venders and have this sense of community. It makes me happy, too, because I’ve seen a couple of repeat customers. The support is so appreciated.
If you’re interested in polymer clay creations, you can find Jaclyn’s products at her etsy store. Here’s a link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ClayByJaclyn
Kim can be found at local vendor fairs, with her energy and her beautiful products.
Tomorrow: More images from the vendor fair for Wordless Wednesday!
