To entice you to visit the second CWE Flea of the year this coming Saturday, I'm posting photos from the first event held May 3rd. There were fifteen vendors that day, including Beth Styles' trailer "Holly" filled with vintage clothing, shown parked on the street above. Beth opened a brick & mortar shop, Parsimonia, on South Grand last year and will be back at the Flea again this Saturday with more great offerings.
The first several photos show vendors rushing to get set up before the 9 a.m. start time. CWEnder Dahven White, right, whose handmade Woolfwear line consists of felted accessories, is shown arranging her lovely scarves. Dahven remarked that it was a little warm to be selling wool, but she's developed such a following that customers who had snapped up her scarves during last fall's Flea returned to purchase another.
Petree Powell (not pictured) said that she and her husband love being part of the CWE Flea. The couple's selection at the May event included the yellow table in the foreground, which was purchased by a K.U. student who was taking it west to furnish her apartment in Lawrence.
Mary Beth Bussen, above, whose charming Union Studio is located in Botanical Heights, brought her handmade children's clothing and home furnishings to the May Flea. Her father, above, makes wooden sailboats and trucks, etc. which were also available that day. Mary Beth's partner at Union Studio (see post here), artist Maggie Wheelock, is not pictured above but she stocked a corner of the booth with her endearing bird paintings which were also available as stationery. Maggie will be back Saturday with more of her art and a new line of children's tees and tea towels embellished with her bird prints. Can't wait to see them.
"I Heart Fink" (fashion + ink) designer Kristen Kempton is shown above getting her booth ready for the opening. Kristen's hand painted, handmade clothing is a Flea favorite.
Kristen Southworth of Shiloh Hill Hens will be back Saturday with free-range eggs, honey, jam, asparagus, tomatoes, rhubarb, zucchini, chard, kale, a few beets (maybe), and some lettuce.
Chelsie Hellige designs her lovely jewelry under the name "Fable & Lore." She also made attractive bags with belt buckles as handles, above right. She joined us for the first time in May and will be back August 2.
That's Beth Styles, the proprietor of Parsimonia, peeking out from her traveling shop.
Jen Cullom-Guss was there with her jewelry and clever repurposed suitcases and bags. She was thrilled with the turnout May 3 and will be back again Saturday.
Native Pops creators Kia and Margee brought several delicious varieties of handmade popsicles which they sold from their new pushcart. They will be back with more flavors on July 5.
Betsy Brinker, facing the camera, offered samples of delightful Tealightful Tea. She did a brisk business but has opted out until fall when days are cooler. In the meantime I've found that Tealightful's Blackberry Jazzmint makes delicious iced tea.
The most popular person at the May 3 Flea is shown organizing her booth before the opening, above.
When the "doors" opened at 9 everyone in line for the event dashed directly to Mary Engelbreit's booth.
Some of Mary's fans had driven in from out of town just for the event. As a result there was a crowd packed into her 10 x 10' booth. In the blink of an eye she had sold everything she had hand painted. Mary is shown in the background with her hand on her forehead wondering what she hath wrought.
Four young dentists, who had traveled from out of town to work at a free dental clinic sponsored by St. Louis University, were taking a break in the CWE and happened to wander by the Flea. They seemed delighted to have found us.
Vendors rotate in and out of the events which are held on the first Saturday of each month through November. This Saturday new vendors will include Hannah Wingate who will bring handmade Flychicks totes and bags; Darin Torrence who is making interesting wallets and, we hope, dog collars that were so popular last fall. Dawna Sturdivant of Borough Vintage is stocking her booth with her vintage clothing and accessories; Gabriela Figueroa's will have her fabulous handmade jewelry; and Beqi Brinkhorst is bringing a selection of handmade clothing and jewelry she tags "good clothes for bad girls." There is an antiques dealer, Tim Reiter, who will be joining us for the first time. Maggie Ducey is bringing iced tea, lemonade and fresh beignets across the street from Evangeline's. Parker's Table will have its vintage truck stocked with olive oil, honey, pesto and more; and CWEnder and CWEA Board Member Anna Cardot is bringing her fabulous handmade cookies. Wait till you taste the savory curry-flavored variety! They are the best!
Stop by Saturday between 9 and 2. We'll be on the parking lot at 449 N. Euclid (at Washington). Visit our Facebook page here for more info.
We’ll be there rain – and that looks likely ): – or shine!
It was so much fun! I’ll be there shopping this Saturday!