Meet the Marketeers: Pamela Raynor

Pamela Raynor and her daughter Erin Morang work together to create the beautiful jewelry at Whimsey Design. Their work features gorgeous stones, complimented by bead and wire work in a carefully balanced asymmetry. You can find Whimsey Design in space #343 on the East Park Block, or at their website whimseydesign.com.

What is your favorite food?

Well… chocolate doughnuts, but I try not to eat them.

When did you start selling at Saturday Market?

Five years ago, I think...

How did you learn your craft?

I took wire wrapping lessons at Harlequin ten years ago. I was the worst one in the class, but I got good at it. The design part came naturally in the collaboration with my daughter. I was a fine arts major in college, quite a long time ago.

If you weren't a jeweler, what craft would you like to do?

Oil painting. Impressionistic landscapes and trees are my favorite.

Where did you grow up?

Long Island and south Florida

What's the best thing about Saturday Market?

I think all the interesting and diverse people I have met, both customers and members. Some customers have become friends as well as other members. Plus, you never know what's is going to happen in a day. My Gemini personality likes the unknown adventure. It's always different.

What is your totem animal?

The wolf. I actually go out and howl at the full moon, it makes me feel really good to do that.

Meet the Marketeers: David Duckett

David Duckett is a woodworker who makes end grain butcher block cutting boards, free form wooden coat racks and other fun things from salvaged trees and logs. You can see more of his work in the "Oregon Made for Interiors" show at Maude Kerns Art Center, May 17-June 21.

Who is your favorite author?

I generally read non-fiction, but my favorite author by far is John Steinbeck.

When did you start selling at Saturday Market?

At the first Market this year - I've been lucky to get in the first five in a row! 

How did you learn your craft?

I took a basic woodworking course fifteen years ago at BOCES in upstate New York. I loved it and kept taking more classes.

If you weren't a woodworker, what craft would you like to do?

Blacksmithing. I am interested in it, and want to try incorporating more metal work into my pieces.

Where did you grow up?

Wisconsin

What is your superpower?

I'd love to be able to fly!

Meet the Marketeers: Rege Shaw

Rege Shaw is an herbalist and fiber artist. She has a big passion for lavender, crocheting vintage patterns with vintage yarns, and the blues. You may have heard her hosting Breakfast with the Blues on KRVM as Rege Mama. You can find her booth among the 4' x 4' booths on the West Park Block, or find her products at justlavendar.com.

What is your favorite color?

Any shade of purple

When did you start selling at Saturday Market?

Last year in July. I was scared at first, so I took a lot of notes! 

Who is your favorite blues artist?

There are so many... Tommy Castro, Johnny Winter, Kate Webster...
any music with an attitude

How did you learn your craft?

I learned to crochet from my grandmother. When I was twenty-seven, my aunt had cancer and opened my eyes to the study of herbs and their healing powers. I've never turned back. After lavender, my favorite is tea tree oil.

What is the best thing about Saturday Market?

Vendors help each other out, we're like family

Where did you grow up?

St. Louis, Missouri

What is your superpower?

I make people want to talk to me (even if they think they don't)

Meet the Marketeers: Diane McWhorter

Diane McWhorter is a screen printer and Jell-O artist, her business is named Ephemera. She is also a great blogger, so I chose her to help me kickstart my Market blog! You can see some of her amazing Jell-O art at gelatinaceae.blogspot.com, or in her booth along with t-shirts, hats, bags and other artistic endeavors.

What is your favorite color?

Jell-O

When did you start selling at Saturday Market?

1975

What author inspires you most?

Louise Erdrich

How did you learn your craft?

Public Library books, and many, many mistakes

What is the best thing about Saturday Market?

That it's weekly

Where did you grow up?

Wilmington, Delaware

What is your superpower?

Balancing cynicism and optimism

Reboot!

What happened? A year flew by and I neglected this blog. But late in the season a new idea for it started to form in my brain. A new angle, and one that will keep me blogging because it's fun, quick and interesting. So a mere three weeks into the season, here it comes... Meet The Marketeers! One a week, simple Q&A format, a mix of frequently and infrequently asked questions. Amusing insights into the lives of the artists.

Holiday, Holiday, Holiday Market

At last, a moment to get back to the blog! Behind every hour of fun at Holiday Market, there are several hours of work by everyone involved, both Market staff and Market artisans. That's over 300 people working all week long to bring our sweet and lively Marketplace into being every weekend. Somehow this season, blogging hasn't squeezed into any of those hours. Toward the end of the Market run, we get caught up and have a bit of time, and I hate to neglect any of my Market story telling opportunities... so here's an abbreviated glance at the Market season so far.

There have been choirs


and handcrafts,


sock monkeys


and steam punks,


leopards


and even a Kitty (giving an award for microenterprise development to Market Manager Beth),


and the general swirl and whirl of commerce occurring in the most essential fashion. Folks spending their money for beautiful things, valuing the labor of their friends, neighbors and community members by keeping our money in our own city. The Market has been busy and happy so far this season, and as we head toward the holidays it will only be moreso. We head into our last five Market days with plenty of holiday cheer to share. We'll be open Saturday and Sunday this weekend from 10-6, and then next Thursday and Friday 10-6 and Saturday, Christmas eve, 10-4. If you'd like to find out more about who is selling, or who is playing on the stage, or get some gift ideas, head over to holidaymarket.org and then head to the Fairgrounds at 12th & Jefferson and be a part of a wonderful tradition!

Here's a slide show of pics from this year's Market so far:

Several Saturday Markets Later: More Than A Little Catching Up!

October was gorgeous this year, wasn't it? We were blessed with sunny Saturdays and plenty of activity. So much so that keeping up on the blog inched off the bottom of my ever-blossoming to do list. It happens like that this time of year, as Saturday Market and the impending Holiday Market both need time and attention. This afternoon I find my self with a smidgen of time to get caught up, and look back at a few highlights of the last month.

Way back on the 8th, we all loved The Dick Danger Band


and Satori Bob was great too. (This is not Bob, this is John the guitar player. Satori Bob is the band)


Then on the 15th we found ourselves at the heart of the Occupy Eugene movement, as a couple thousand folks took a long walk through town and ended up spending a week camping at the Park Blocks.


I took a break, and missed the 22nd. I was in Minneapolis, riding around on these cool public shared bikes. That is one big bike loving town!


We celebrated the season on the 29th with crazy costumes,



and over 5,000 pumpkins in Kesey Plaza!


Then, suddenly, November...


But Marketeers and Market-goers came out and shopped, ate, danced, visited, laughed, and generally made a Market day out of what could have been just a cold, dreary one. And anybody that got to enjoy the music of Janet, Taj, Richie G, Ma Beat, Lauren, Savanna, Felix, Brandelyn, and the rest of Blue Lotus, was lucky indeed. These musicians (and Magic Levin too) played just like it was a gorgeous, sunny, jam packed day.

One more to go, friends and neighbors, and then we'll tuck this season in at the end of Saturday and spring up warm, dry, and ready to go at the Fairgrounds on the 19th for Holiday Market. Do stop by if you can, there's something special about the Last Market of the Year.