PEG JOY Handpainted Wooden Peg Dolls. @peg.joy etsy.com/shop/PegJoyStore Meet The Artist WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, & WHAT DO YOU DO?I am Mary Beth from North Augusta and I love to create beautiful things! For the last several years that creativity has come in the form of painting. Currently my favorite thing to paint is simple mountain scenery. DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS.I paint whenever I can squeeze it in. Lately I have enjoyed listening to audiobooks with my kids while I paint and they play or work on their own creations. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?Colors. All the colors! FUN FACT ABOUT YOU.I sold handmade greeting cards on Etsy in college. FAVORITE THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA.Of course I love the murals! WHY DO YOU LOVE TO DESIGN, CREATE + MAKE?God is the ultimate creator, and I reflect him when I create. WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS + MAKERS?Make what you are excited about making, not what you think people want to buy from you. RETURN TO VENDOR PAGE
CRUELTY-FREE STITCHERY handmade non-paper towels, cloth wipes, cotton rounds, straw pouches, reusable totes, and more @crueltyfreestitchery @crueltyfreestitchery crueltyfreestitchery.com Meet The Artist WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, & WHAT DO YOU DO? My name is Abby, I’m from Kentucky and moved to Augusta last year. I’ve been passionate about the environment since third grade, and have been sewing for just as long – over 20 years! Finally, I put the two together in 2018, and started my business Cruelty-Free Stitchery to help you start making less waste – in ways you’ll actually stick to! I found the reusable product options on the market to be “underwhelmingly beige,” and so expensive that I didn’t want to use them. Now I make a variety of reusable cloth products, the most popular being NonPaper Towels – in bold, interesting prints and colors. DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS. All of my products are made in small batches, with as little waste and as few synthetic materials as possible – down to the smallest details like thread and tags. When I have a new product idea, I put the design through a pretty extensive test before I even cut the first piece of fabric.For example, the pieces must fit all parts of the fabric – which influences how big the pieces are, as well as how much fabric I purchase. (I use algebra and geometry more often than I’d like to admit!) Most of my products are meant to directly replace an otherwise disposable item, but I’m excited to be expanding into making accessories with secondhand and scrap materials – like my key fobs and foldable tote bags. WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Just a few weeks ago, I received an email from someone that placed an order a little over a year ago. They told me they previously used a roll of paper towels per week – and now after using my NonPaper Towels, they only used two rolls of paper towels for the entire year! It’s stories like that, along with the little community I’ve found of my fellow “imperfect environmentalists.” FUN FACT ABOUT YOU. I’ve been vegan for almost 10 years, and am Autistic and ADHD! FAVORITE THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA. My husband and I love to visit both record stores – Grantski and Psychotronic! WHY DO YOU LOVE TO DESIGN, CREATE + MAKE? It sounds counterintuitive, but being creative gives me a sense of control in an otherwise chaotic world. If something isn’t right, I can fix it or start over. With sewing in particular, I love the connection to the past. I was taught by both of my grandmothers, who were taught by their mothers, and so on and so on. Sewists today still use the same techniques, even as it has become more of a hobby/craft and less of an essential life skill like it was for our ancestors. WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS + MAKERS? Don’t forget yourself. We can get so caught up in what will sell, what products to make, what the price should be, etc that we forget to enjoy the process or why we started in the first place! Your customers want to buy from a person, not a faceless corporation – so it’s okay to sprinkle a bit of your personality into your products and marketing. For example, I’ve always been a “spooky” kind of person, every day is Halloween. But I was hesitant to incorporate that into my business because I didn’t think it would go well. Now my Halloweenish products are the best-selling ones, year-round! And take time to make something for yourself – and don’t post it on social media. It’s so freeing. RETURN TO VENDOR PAGE
BUTTER ME SOFT Handmade Vegan & Cruelty-Free Bath Product.s. buttermesoft.com @buttermesoft @buttermesoft ButterMeSoft.etsy.com Meet The maker WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, & WHAT DO YOU DO?My name is Markita and I’m the Chief Bath Artisan of Butter Me Soft. I was born and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia and currently reside in Grovetown, Ga. DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS.All of my products are made fresh in small batches by hand with high quality ingredients that’s free of parabens and phthalate free fragrances, all while being vegan friendly & cruelty-free. I also use eco-friendly plant based glitters in my products that won’t impact our oceans and wildlife. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?When creating products I get inspired by colors and how they make me feel. FUN FACT ABOUT YOU.I LOVE watching fantasy movies that are full of magic, mystical creatures and supernatural phenomena. I’m a kid at heart so watching movies like that helps me escape from the world a little. FAVORITE THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA.I love the energy, the scenery, and all the small businesses that are Downtown Augusta. It gives me hope that one day I too will contribute to the beauty of the city with my very own boutique. WHY DO YOU LOVE TO DESIGN, CREATE + MAKE?The products I make gives me a way to express my creativity and personality while turning it into a reality for myself and someone else. WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS + MAKERS?Be original and be you. You are the best version of yourself because there isn’t another YOU. RETURN TO VENDOR PAGE
BECCA PAYNE’S CROCHET tea towels with hand crocheted details @beccapaynescrochet Meet The Artist WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, & WHAT DO YOU DO?I’m Becca Payne, from Augusta, GA. I am an Occupational Therapist. DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS.My grandmother has been crocheting for 60+ years, with her speciality being baby blankets that she sends to hospitals across the country and women and children in need. We finally took the time to pass her trade down and with a lot of patience, I learned to crochet. Fast forward to a year later, I am absolutely obsessed and crochet daily! WHAT INSPIRES YOU?My grandmother. She is a true inspiration to all those around her and brings joy to my life everyday. A true role model that I am blessed to call mine! FUN FACT ABOUT YOU.Chicken tenders are my favorite food! FAVORITE THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA.The restaurants and local shops! WHY DO YOU LOVE TO DESIGN, CREATE + MAKE?The ability to bring a “lost art” back to those around me is such an exciting thing! I love working with my hands and creating something unique. WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS + MAKERS?Have patience and take the time to learn. It’s never too late! RETURN TO VENDOR PAGE
THE GOOD DOGG handmade dog collars accessories and homemade treats @thegooddogg @thegooddogg thegooddogg.com Meet The Artist WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, & WHAT DO YOU DO?My name is Laurie, the proud creator of all things at The Good Dogg. I started this venture back in Nov 2019 and my absolute passion is to share my love for dogs through my homemade pet collar accessories. Most weekends you can find me popping up around Charlotte NC. DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS.Making Bandanas can be a little tedious to do but super fun! I probably spending more time shopping for fabric then I do actually sewing them. There is a lot of ironing, cutting and sewing, then more ironing, sewing, flipping, and more sewing and ironing. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?I get so excited talking to people about their dogs and love seeing the happiness of a parent when they put a bandana on their pet. FUN FACT ABOUT YOU.*Love Mimosas*Total beach girl* Obsessed with my dogs FAVORITE THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA.Looking forward to walking on the Riverwalk WHY DO YOU LOVE TO DESIGN, CREATE + MAKE?The Good Dogg is a lifestyle brand for pets and their parents. Our brand is playful, colorful and always handmade. It’s rooted from a deep love for dogs and inspired by fresh fun themed fabrics that will always make you smile. WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS + MAKERS?Give yourself some grace, everything will workout. RETURN TO VENDOR PAGE
B DOUBLEDEE DESIGNS Handmade Woven and Fiber Art Goods @bdoubledeedesigns @bdoubledeedesigns bdoubledeedesigns.com Meet The Artist WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, & WHAT DO YOU DO?I’m a “betsy of all trades”: a wife, mother, homeschooling parent, pet lover, house manager and most of all I get to do what I love and that is create art.I’m a midwesterner that moved to the south as a kid. DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS.I love to work with yarns, fibers and fabrics. I started sewing at a young age and never stopped working with textiles.My yarn tapestry reliefs and sculptures are woven and then embellished to create microscapes of nature.Crocheting home goods is fun to pass the time to keep my hands and mind busy WHAT INSPIRES YOU?Being around nature makes me happy. I paint with yarns to create unique art pieces that bring nature into your home. FUN FACT ABOUT YOU.My pinkies are double jointed. FAVORITE THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA.It is where I meet my husband and where he took me on my first date. WHY DO YOU LOVE TO DESIGN, CREATE + MAKE?Art is a wonderful way to express yourself. I have an overwhelming need to create. As a child I learned to sew and even went to college to learn fashion and fiber arts. I recently became disabled. Art can be my release.. WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS + MAKERS?Make something often for yourself and Make items you love. RETURN TO VENDOR PAGE
PUDDLE JUMPER PUPS andmade collars, leashes and accessories @puddlejumperpups @puddlejumperpups puddlejumperpups.com Meet The Artist WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, & WHAT DO YOU DO? Hi, We’re Nic & Bretta Farina! What started as a dream and part time job for Bretta has turned into a full-time journey for our young family. We are committed to bringing the best in fashionable dogwear to our customer, providing an awesome work environment for our team, and raising our two young boys. DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS. We have a shop and store in Grovetown where our seamstress team hand-sews all of our PJP products just for our customers and their pups! We make every item to order so customizations are no problem! WHAT INSPIRES YOU? We are constantly inspired by current trends in fashion and look to bring that to the dog world! FUN FACT ABOUT YOU. We are originally from Memphis, TN! The military brought us here in 2014. After we left in 2017 we missed it so much that we did everything in our power to get back to Augusta! FAVORITE THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA. We love Freshwater! Those girls are creative and fun! It’s a must-visit! WHY DO YOU LOVE TO DESIGN, CREATE + MAKE? We love making collars and coordinating leashes in unique prints. We love bringing the customer’s vision to life! WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS + MAKERS? 1. Lead with kindness. 2. Always listen to your customer. We’ve been in business for 11 years, primarily online. We just opened our first brick-and-mortar in Grovetown and would love to see you and your pup in our store! RETURN TO VENDOR PAGE
REVISIONIST STUDIO functional ceramics that foster a sense of playful wonder in everyday objects @revisioniststudio revisioniststudio.art Meet The Artist WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, & WHAT DO YOU DO?I create joyful and unexpected functional ceramics in my studio in the woods of South Carolina. I spent twelve years as a Spanish educator before becoming a ceramicist and sculptor. Largely self-taught, I have developed my own processes and techniques. Drawing inspiration from the intricate systems of coral reefs and forest mycelium networks, I create joyfully detailed functional ceramics that foster a sense of playful wonder in everyday objects. With an emphasis on detail, growth, and movement, my creations are primarily functional and meant to be held and used. DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS.I start by hand building or throwing a form on the wheel, then add hand-sculpted elements. I rarely plan a piece before I start, preferring to follow the patterns and inspiration that arise in the moment. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?I’m inspired by the intricate, hidden systems that permeate our world, particularly those of coral reefs and fungal networks. I’m fascinated by their interdependence and quiet movement and growth FUN FACT ABOUT YOU.I don’t leave fingerprints. If you want to rob a bank, I’m your girl! FAVORITE THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA.The positivity of the Downtown Community & I’ve only been to Augusta for the AHF, so I’m excited to see more of the city. WHY DO YOU LOVE TO DESIGN, CREATE + MAKE?I feel as though I’m most myself when I’m creating and finding new solutions. When I get into a creative flow I can work for hours without ever noticing the passage of time, and feel peaceful and content. WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS + MAKERS?Other artists and makers are not your competition, they’re your partners. When we share, support, and work together we create an environment that fosters more opportunities and appreciation for art and handmade work. RETURN TO VENDOR PAGE
JB PEN TURNING handcrafted/hand-turned unique writing pens. Meet The Maker WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, & WHAT DO YOU DO? Originally from Texas, retired from the army and Government. Needed a hobby and started turning pens, and here we are at the Hand Made Fair. DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS. I use bulk wood, old or new, cut it to the size of the pen. Using a lath, I cut away the excess, sand, polish and using various pen kits I create the pens. All the kits are high quality writing pens. Each one is a unique, one-of-a-kind pens. I have three types, ball point, fountain pens and roller ball. WHAT INSPIRES YOU? It’s fun to create different colors using acrylics and incorporating “stuff” i.e. wasp nest, wood or watch parts into the pen. FUN FACT ABOUT YOU. Retired with a new hobby, job. FAVORITE THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA. Downtown Augusta. Always different but there is a sameness, very pleasant to window shop. And Groucho’s, delicious sandwiches. WHY DO YOU LOVE TO DESIGN, CREATE + MAKE? Keeps me young at heart WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS + MAKERS? There are no mistakes in crafting. Only character flaws and that is what makes the products unique. Please visit and say Hello. RETURN TO VENDOR PAGE
JESSICA REAM STUDIO handbound journals and accessories @jessicareamstudio jessicareamstudio.com Meet The maker WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, & WHAT DO YOU DO? My name is Jessica Ream and I was born in Columbus, Ohio early in the year 1990, but was raised in Carolina suburbia. I attended Savannah College of Art and Design where i graduated with honors and a BFA in Painting. I am a jack-of-all trades artist who incorporates my understanding of painting, photography, print, sewing and sculpture into her mixed media, abstract pieces. In recent years, I have rediscovered my love of hand binding books. While mainly self taught, I I was first introduced to the world of book arts in a workshop I attended while studying abroad. My hand bound journals are made from a mix of traditional materials and rebound, vintage books. After spending the past five years in the High Rockies of Colorado, my husband and I returned to our southeastern, coastal origins, where we reside with our son and two, four-legged, furry children. DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS. My painting process is very intuitive. I usually will have a few small concepts in mind for composition but then from there, they usually reveal themselves as we go. As for bookbinding, I try to use as many found or repurposed books as possible. I really enjoy hand tearing the paper for the pages, rather than cutting. The raw deckle edge is just so cozy feeling. WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Currently my mixed media paintings are inspired by the visual interaction of humans with the natural world. The collision points are so layered and intricate and layered, that I find myself constantly fascinated by them, especially now living in the city. My bookbinding is inspired by the old books I find. I find a lot of fulfillment in the challenge of giving old things a new life. FUN FACT ABOUT YOU. I’m still obsessed with Harry Potter books, consume earl grey tea on a level that borders addiction and can juggle. FAVORITE THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA. Back in my runner days, I always found going for a run was the best way to learn a new town or city. Now, I just really enjoy going for walks. You really get to know a place by moving around on foot rather than car. So I’m just looking forward to exploring and seeing what all downtown Augusta has to offer. WHY DO YOU LOVE TO DESIGN, CREATE + MAKE? It’s not so much a why, as much as it is a need to do so. Even if I wasn’t doing this full time, I’d still be doing what I do- it’s how I process the world and my thoughts. I’ve done it for as long as I can remember and I can’t imagine not doing so WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS + MAKERS? Just keep making your art. The world needs more art and beauty, so keep on creating in whatever capacity you can in whatever season you’re in and trust the people who find joy in your work will find you RETURN TO VENDOR PAGE
