The Quest for Materials

There are many reasons to love summer; warmth, flowers, swimming, fireflies, grilling, gardening, and spending time outdoors.  One activity that I look forward to every summer is going to yard sales.

On the Saturday mornings that we have no plans, my husband and I have a ritual. We search through Craigslist for local yard sales. We usually don’t have to travel too far and rarely come home empty handed. Often, we meet interesting people in our town.

Today, we went to a barn sale, which was actually a garage and driveway sale,  and a flea market that was held on the grounds of a local church, and included multiple vendors who were selling vintage items. While my husband ran an errand,  I  was able to visit my favorite place for gathering supplies; Hoffman’s Barn in Red Hook, NY, which sells used vintage furniture and housewares.

At garage sales, my husband usually searches for computer parts, gardening tools, and musical instruments, while I search for materials to use in my mosaic pieces. I look for items that have a wooden base, china dishes, bottles, boxes, silver plated dishes, old photos, and vintage books.

Today, we both got lucky. I came home with a vintage wooden framed mirror, a wooden bread tray with handles, 2 vintage bottles, 4 flowered china teacups, a silver plated plate, and an aluminum bowl. My husband came home with a computer to refurbish, a mechanical drum set, and after having a conversation with a garage sale seller, he was offered one a free ticket to the Clearwater Festival for tomorrow!

Jenny - Reclaimed Designs

Where To Find The Hudson Valley Etsy Team This Weekend - Warwick Makers Market Edition

This Sunday, June 29, marks this year's start of a great tradition in Warwick - The Makers Market. This monthly event is where makers showcase and sell their work right in beautiful downtown Warwick. The market is open from 9AM-3PM and is located on Railroad Avenue. We have three members of our Etsy team participating.

Huzzah Handmade will be selling her gorgeous summer shawls, felted bowls, bags and more.

Huzzah Handmade

Huzzah Handmade

Get Glassy will be there with her dichroic and fused glass jewelry and table wear.

Get Glassy

Get Glassy

And Reclaimed Designs is rounding out the group with her recycled and repurposed mosaic home accessories and jewelry.

Reclaimed Designs

Reclaimed Designs

Happy shopping!

Graduation Gifts

Gifts for the Graduate

from the Hudson Valley Etsy Team

Charms of Faith

Jewelry to inspire the grad heading out into the world.

Lark Practical

Something to hold their keys to the kingdom.

Beyond the Picket Fence

Keep clean, make a good impression.

Luke Gilvey Glass

For a heirloom toast to the Class of 2014!

Jody - A Studio By The Sea

The Neversink River Unique Area

A shaded forest path full of pine trees and beautiful mountain laurels leads the way down to the water at the Neversink River Unique Area in Sullivan County. This state area is a beautiful place to hike and fish, only a few hours from New York City in the town of Thompson. Its 4881 acres consist of varied forest habitat along the Neversink river, including jungle like sections of mountain laurel that have beautiful blooms in the late spring, tall pine forests, and birch trees dotting the riverside.

 
The river is a popular destination for fly fishermen. Fairly wide and swift, the best spot is to wade out in the middle, but there are also plenty of spots to fish from the shore. Wander down the mossy banks and you’ll come across huge, impressive rock formations, as well as old mossy rock walls formed long ago. The sunny banks are full of butterflies, and a wide array of songbirds call through the trees.

The easiest access point is the small parking area at the end of Katrina Falls Road. There is a bit of a hike to get down to the river, along a rocky downhill path. There are several connecting trails that are marked through the woods, with plenty of areas to explore. The Mullet Brook trail will bring you to a beautiful waterfall. There is no camping allowed, so don’t expect to stay overnight. The fishing is catch and release only, and they want you to use only artificial lures.

The Neversink Area is a small hidden treasure near the Catskills. Its location and many acres ensure that it’s never too crowded. If you are looking for a peaceful forest hike, or some excellent trout fishing, this is the perfect spot!

For more information, visit: http://www.trailkeeper.org/trail/neversink-unique-area/ 

Arwen - Arwen Designs

Hudson Valley Etsy Treasuries

Treasuries are a great way to check out many of our items at once. See more of this month's Etsy treasuries from Hudson Valley Etsy here: June Hudson Valley Etsy Treasuries