The Boston edition of Bazaar Bizarre is coming up this Sunday, December 7, from noon to 7pm at The Castle at Park Plaza (Arlington and Columbus). It's an opportunity to peruse handmade crafts from local (and far-flung) artists. Learn a new crafting technique, get a little something for yourself, or stock up on those obligatory holiday gifts this weekend.
To help you prepare for the fair (see how we rhymed?), we're running profiles of crafters (courtesy of the wonderful Bazaar Bizarre Boston Blog) all week. These will introduce you to different crafters and aid you in deciding which booths to visit (you probably don't have time for all seven bajillion, but you can try). Today, we're pleased to present Vintage by Crystal.
Who are you and where are you from?
My name is Crystal Hanehan and I am the owner of Vintage by Crystal. I grew up on a dairy farm in Saratoga Springs, New York, and now live in a beautiful part of Dorchester (yes, beautiful parts of Dorchester do exist!).
How did you get your start?
Vintage by Crystal is only about a year and a half old. For many years I fawned over the pages of Mary Englelbreit’s Home Companion and Country Living magazines, admiring the home décor and art they featured. I especially loved the old German spun cotton ornaments they sometimes pictured. I couldn’t afford to buy the ornaments at a couple hundred dollars apiece and I’ve always been very creative, so I decided to try and make them myself.
After TONS of trial and error, I seemed to have figured out the secret to making spun cotton ornaments and figures. Plus I added my own twist to them so they’re somewhat historical and somewhat brand new! They were so much fun to make, I decided to start selling them on my website and here I am now!
More Vintage by Crystal after the jump. Profile from Bazaar Bizarre Boston Blog. Images from Vintage by Crystal website.
What inspires you the most to create?
Browsing through boxes of rusty, random old junk at flea markets really gets the itch going. Looking at photos of whimsical interiors and vintage vignettes starts to spark ideas. And then thinking about how I can use the old materials I’ve found to make something special to fit into a unique environment gets me moving to create.
What are your favorite materials to work with? Do you have a favorite color palette?
Natural fibers, paper, and old doodads are always what I use to create my figures and decorations. And while I use many color palettes in my work to fit into different types of environments, my personal favorite colors to use are cream, light turquoise and silver. Those colors are light and airy and just too delicious!
Who are some of your favorite crafters and why do you love them?
Ashley Carter of Goldbug Studios is very inspiring because of her crazy use of the most beautiful vintage materials and the whimsy her finished pieces possess. Jennifer Murphy is also a favorite. She makes the most adorable little animals using just the right kind of bright colors and a hint of vintage doodads.
Any exciting future plans or developments in the works for your business?
Things are getting a little crazy for me on the business end with filling orders and getting ready the holiday rush. Having a full time job (I’m a graphic designer) is getting in the way! So I might just have to fix that… ;)
What are some other things you like to do when you're not busy making awesome stuff?
As you may have guessed by now, I’m obsessed with old things. Hidden treasures from the past. My all time favorite thing to do is to go treasure hunting. Antique fairs, flea markets, and garage sales are where you’ll find me on a sunny, or even a not so sunny Saturday morning. But I also really enjoy spending time outdoors and indoors, exploring new places, and just hanging out with friends or with my family back in New York.
If you miss Vintage by Crystal at Bazaar Bizarre, here's a list of her other appearances in Boston this month.
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