Creative types show their wares at Atlanta Makers’ Market

ATLANTA, Texas — A bit of magic is going on behind Atlanta’s local Makers’ Market concept. Something is making it succeed.

The half-day, five-hour market was in its fourth edition Saturday, March 13, with some 35 vendors showing up to present their wares.

The vendors were families as well as individuals, and several were presenting their display items for the first time. The market’s creative items were all to be “hometown, handmade or homegrown.”

Truly the vendors hoped to sell, but an equal purpose for the makers’ market is to be a celebration of community and creativity, according to Miranda Johnson, president of the Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the market project.

The idea had been well thought out, she says.

“It has amazed us to come across people who have something unique that they are good at making. Maybe no one knows about it. Maybe they have a day job. It’s their hobby, their artistic side. Suddenly the whole world gets to see their talent,” she said.

“And what is impressive is that their creations are of a high standard. The public comes and is impressed. I think that’s one important secret of success.”

Johnson said the vendors also seem to enjoy being together. They’ll help each other unload or set up. Everyone talks with everyone who comes around, and this begins to create a customer base. Suddenly, the vendor has a footing to know whether they might think of opening a business.

“It’s what happened with Kaci Hartsell and her macrame business called Happy Hippie Homestyles,” Johnson said.

“She came to our recent fall market for a first-time display and now has a storefront in downtown Atlanta showing macrame items such as hanging baskets and accessories for gift items. She’s even hosting macrame classes to teach others. Macrame is a long-time traditional way of weaving. It’s thousands of years old, but Kaci is only going back to the 1960s. It’s her new hobby — hopefully, a new business. That’s what we can hope for with these makers’ markets.”

Other plans for the makers’ market concept include that it will continue to be held quarterly and likely be the same size, which includes Wood’s Park and the East Hiram block sidewalks. Perhaps the street can be closed and then filled with vendors.

The market is not difficult to organize. Johnson said she and office assistant Jill Crocker are able to handle most of the details.

“The successful part is that the community seems to enjoy supporting one another.

“We’ll keep our hours brief such as 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. That avoids the afternoon heat. We’ll just keep promoting and letting vendors and creative people know about the market so that every space is filled and people continue having a good time.”

Staff photo by Neil Abeles ■ Donna Boyter refinishes furniture for a living, but is most attracted to creating unique pieces. Here she is showing how she has turned a Duncan Phyfe gossip bench into a vanity. “The vanity was missing its mirror, so we just removed the middle section and used the gossip bench to make it something like a night stand,” she said. “I enjoy doing such things to keep my brain active.”

Staff photo by Neil Abeles ■ Brooks Bar is just 8 months old and his mother Jordan Bar is carefully looking after him. He is sitting on one of the custom mats Jordan is showing for her first trip to the Atlanta Makers’ Market. She explains that she takes the mats and then paints them by hand to be as personal and creative as the customer wants. “I’d been looking for something to do on the side. So I decided to try mat making,” she said.

Staff photo by Neil Abeles ■ Virginia Hooten is showing for the first time some of the artistic works she has begun creating in her retirement years. She especially likes this Native American head work since she was first asked by a family member to paint the bonnet. “After doing the bonnet, I decided to add a face,” she said. “That was my own gift to the creation.” Virginia most enjoys painting in acrylic paints on wood.

Staff photo by Neil Abeles ■ Virginia Hooten, left, and her daughter-in-law Lexi Moorhead are holding a wooden stove cover (or noodle board) Lexi has created and is showing at the Atlanta Makers’ Market. Lexi is from Texarkana and has decided to become a custom furniture maker because of the love she has for the endeavor. “I like to find out what people want and then make it for them,” Lexi said.

Staff photo by Neil Abeles ■ Donna Boyter is wearing a special piece of jewelry on her wrist. It’s a spoon made into a bracelet given to her as a gift by her husband Paul Boyter.

Staff photo by Neil Abeles ■ Such signs as this one telling of a local woodworking shop are often attractive in themselves because they are made with special ownership and care.