By Kathy Chouteau
A chance to get an early, summertime jump on holiday shopping is fast approaching when PaperCut Pottery’s mini, artisan “Makers Market” sprouts up Saturday, Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the back lot of Garden of Gems in Pinole. This spin around the sun marks the event’s fourth year.
Samatha Marie, the Richmond ceramicist behind PaperCut Pottery, said the Makers Market focuses on “supporting the hyper local small businesses [and] making sure products are handmade and designed by the artists.” She added that “it’s just a different vibe when you have all hand makers, as opposed to when you do the large events that have a lot of items that aren’t handmade, or there are possibly resold items.”
This year’s Makers Market will feature guest artisans who create apothecary products, ceramics, crochet, crystals & gems, home decor, jewelry, leather, plants, textiles and more. Garden of Gems, Felicity Creates it All, Kay’s Creative Classes, De La Luz by Jane, Writing in Style, Liz’s Cottage, Melirose Shop, Nautical Drifter, Jeed’s Treasure Troves, Stonedog Artistry, Hands to Hold, Your Cottage Earth and PaperCut Pottery will all be on hand.
Samantha Marie said that Makers Market is focusing on offering a unique experience where you can talk to the person who made your stuff, and they’re not reselling or pushing other kinds of mainstream goods. She said the event is just focusing on “the people that actually have the passion.”
From noon to 2 p.m., a face painter from Guaguis’ Face Painting will be on hand to adorn faces for prices starting at $5. A bubble machine, along with extra bubbles and sidewalk chalk for all, will also be part of the mix. Garden of Gems will offer goodie bags to the first 40 guests, as well as a sale, as part of owner Amber Edwards’ birthday celebration. Light refreshments will also be offered.
The Makers Market organizer said she picks vendors who are all going to get along and who have great, friendly, welcoming personalities, so that even if people walk away without buying anything, they will comment on the experience of how kind everybody was, how professional people are. “It’s the overall vibe,” shared Samantha Marie.
Along with the Markers Market, PaperCut Pottery is also taking part in Richmond Open Studios Sept. 6-7, when the community can stop by Samantha Marie’s ceramics studio from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to check out her work in person. Learn more about Richmond Open Studios and search Samantha Marie’s and other artists open studios by artist name here.
Visit the Makers Market on Saturday in the back lot at 668 Quinan St., #100, in Pinole. Questions? Contact Samantha Marie at [email protected].
