Fall Maker’s Market: A massive success

Scores of crafters and creators met with early Saturday morning crowds, as Maker’s Market vendors spilled out of Wood’s Park onto Hiram Street in downtown Atlanta.

Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce brought together a record number of more than 60 local vendors. Fall Maker’s Market spilled out of Woods Park on East Hiram Street, with local artists, foodies, farmers, and crafters pitching pop-up tents that lined the blocked-off roadway. For the first time, the event was spread out all the way across North Williams Street, according to Kelsi Knox, who was working to assist Chamber President Jill N. Knox.

“It’s been a great turnout,” Kelsi said. “We’ve had beautiful weather today. We had 20 more vendors than usual and had to spread it onto the other side of the street.”

Fairy Tale Garden and Farm came down from Texarkana and sold out of most of their sourdough menu by lunchtime, which included cranberry walnut, chocolate chip, jalapeno cheddar and cranberry chocolate. They had all their pretzels and chocolate chip cookies bought up, as well, co-owner Ashley Duke-Matthews said. Duke-Matthews and wife, Tamara Duke-Matthews had their excited daughter Emily there to help sell their farm art kitchen decor, including custom pet portraits. Emily will be six next week and loves to help with the market, which can be found on both Facebook and Instagram.

Many popup tents are full of mobile businesses like theirs that go to area farmers’ markets and otherwise sell their merchandise online, including customized items by request. Most of them can be found by searching Facebook or Instagram for their business name–or in some cases, their name, if they missed out on an event.

Thomas Creations brought an eclectic mix of lovely, oneof- a-kind items, but can best be found online by searching for April Thomas on Facebook. April and her husband had a lot of woodworking items, like cute cottage kitchen signs and superhero shields/capes.

“We got busy really early, I think even before nine o’clock,” April said. “I sold out of all my fall decorations really quickly. It really just started getting crazy busy.”

Dutch Spring Farm turned out with their delectable, grassfed beef and lamb and pastured pork and poultry. Dutch Spring is a small, local and lovely family farm run by Joe and Sarah Thrash just north of Atlanta.

“We raise about 2-300 chickens per year, a handful of lambs,” Joe said, adding that Sarah bakes sweet things like granola and cakes.

Janet Green, artist/designer of Homespun Comforts brought out some of her handmade homespun goodness— High quality wool workings, such as soft, beautiful wool blankets, dryer balls, hats, toboggans and pet beds. Janet’s husband Dusty Green came to support and help her with the market, where they sold other unique, homemade items, such as pacifier clips. Janet seemed most pleased with the dryer balls–which were just added to the inventory, as well as her blankets.

“I can make one of the queen-sized blankets in about a week,” said Janet. Homespun Comforts can be found on Facebook or Website homespun-comforts.com, for those who would like to check out her intricate work.

Dad’s Gourmet Foods was a popular spot at the center of Wood’s Park. Run by former Journal and Sun co-owner & publisher, Randy Grissom, Dad’s Gourmet Foods was busy selling their original salsa, pickles, peppers, canned jalapenos and more. Grissom was supported by his wife Angie and son, Patrick. The three said they were really enjoying Maker’s Market.

“We will be coming out with a whole new label soon,” Patrick said, excited to help his Dad market the business.

Handmade Delafield Pottery, by John Delafield was situated toward the back of the park, with flawless pieces, including jugs, jars, vases and even adorable piggy banks–each piece uniquely made. Delafield said his pottery was formed on a wheel and fired in a kiln in his garage, which he said is the perfect place, weather-wise for him to work year-round.

Local cajun cooking was on-site with Etouffee’s food truck at the head of the park, packed with hungry customers craving her delectable dishes.

East Texas Metal Creations, which brought hand crafted metal yard art–such as unique planters made from old freon tanks was one of many vendors lining the side of East Hiram St. The artist, Ron, said he also does custom orders and his shop can be found on Facebook. Award-winning East Texas Author Patty Wiseman brought a display of her work; novels with a mix of mystery and romance that are known to keep readers on edge. Wiseman’s page-turning works available on-site included That One Moment, Silver’s Redemption, Somewhere Between, and a fivebook series–The Velvet Shoe Collection–which includes An Unlikely Deception, An Unlikely Conclusion, An Unlikely Beginning, An Unlikely Arrangement and her latest work, An Unlikely Elegance. The Velvet Shoe Collection is a mysterious romance series set in the 1920’s.

The latest novel is teased on Wiseman’s Website, pattywiseman.com with the description: “The Crystal Daffodil marked a complete transformation of Fanny Zapelli from gangster girl to Miss Z, the sophisticated owner of the city’s best restaurant.An eclectic group of men battle for her hand. She spurns all, until one takes drastic measures to ensure his rightful place.

Self-doubt takes over as the past rears its ugly head.” “That’s the cover I’m most proud of,” Wiseman said, smiling. “I had my granddaughter pose for this.”

Her granddaughter posed for the cover in an emerald green dress, and is shown standing in the foreground clutching a string of pearls as she gazes indecisively over a waterfront toward the looming, crowded buildings of a city in the distance. Wiseman said her granddaughter is currently in university to become a veterinarian and she couldn’t be more proud.

Wiseman won first place in the romance category at the 2018 Texas Association of Authors for her novel, That One Moment. Though modest, she has won first place at the association in previous years, including her work on the aforementioned five-book-series. Wiseman and her husband Ron were enjoying the sunshine and light breeze, as well as chatting with locals. The pair really enjoy the Atlanta area, Wiseman said.

“This has been really nice,” Wiseman said. “The weather is beautiful. I find it really amazing how the community here in Atlanta really turns out for these events. It’s unique in that way.

Other vendors present included O’Farrell Country VIneyards, BB’s Bling, Yates Unicorn Ranch Ministries Knives, Brittany’s Coco Bombs, Coal Dust Creations, Chanlee Long crocheted items, Nadia Z. Art, Big Brown’s Bar-B-Que, Crazy Eddy’s 3D Prints, Cindy’s One of a Kind Designs, Sawdust and Lace Crafts, Maria’s Tamales, Lazy Beagles Farm Inc., Pop’s Natural Honey, Just PIddling, Louise Lund’s homemade quilts, Todd Knight’s wooden flags and crosses, Cross Eyed Donkey’s custom benches, Estella Ramage Art & ceramics and many more amazing artists and creators.