Vendor Feature: Red & Brown, Harp & Thistle, Tess & James, and L+M Studio

What do these four vendors have in common? They make great teams! Sometimes entrepreneurship can feel a little lonely, but these pairs have got a supportive spouse or a fabulous friend at their side, taking the crazy, creative ride with them! Many of our vendors are dynamic duos…meet a few of them who make amazing things together…

Red & Brown, Poughkeepsie, NY

Drawing from their backgrounds in event planning, catering, consulting, and production, Lauren (“Red”) and Jake (“Brown”) offer party planning, cocktail development, and other consulting services—and of course, their line of “the most delicious, high-quality cocktail products [they] think you’ve ever tasted,” which they’ll be offering at Hullabaloo! Their current offering includes Bloody Mary Mixers, Smoked Campfire Maple Syrup (the only smoked syrup on the market!), and Sweet & Spicy cocktail nuts.  Red & Brown’s products are FANTASTIC gifts for any cocktail enthusiast on your list, and they make great hostess gifts too…Plus, you’ll also want to keep some provisions on hand for holiday entertaining, of course. We’re thrilled that Red & Brown will be joining us for Hullabaloo and bringing their products to Kingston! Stop by their table and try their Maple Egg Creams!

Harp and Thistle Stitchery, Poughquag, NY

Erin and Corey of Harp and Thistle are Irish (Harp) and Scottish (Thistle), respectively. Using an ancient rug-hooking technique called punch needle (or needle punch), Erin painstakingly creates her adorable ornaments, wall hangings, wearable art, sachets, and more. Then Corey frames them, takes photos, and ships sales! Just in time for Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, Erin is stocked with pieces featuring pumpkin pie, cornucopias, Christmas trees, Santas and more! There are also quirky and whimsical everyday pieces like sushi rolls, her signature avocados, pretzels, anatomical hearts, and “beards of Brooklyn,” plus more traditional pieces like flora and fauna, snowmen, and Scandinavian folk art. The best thing about Harp and Thistle’s work?  They’ve got such seemingly-random-yet-charming-things that make the perfect gift for all those quirky people on your list. Seriously, what else could you get your beekeeper friend besides a punch needle honeycomb hoop? Need a teacher gift? The Back to School Little Red School House, of course. Admiring Corey’s beard? Erin’s immortalized it in punch needle, so it can be yours forever! We’re pumped to have Erin and Corey back for their third Hullabaloo! Stop by their table and make it a good one!

Tess & James, Rhinebeck, NY

Tess& James began with oatmeal baths that founder Jess made for her kids (Tess and James, of course) who had dry skin. One thing led to another and she teamed up with her friend and neighbor Angela, to make bath porridges and salts, lip balms, face masks, candles, and more…all from the best ingredients, packaged in ways that make the products feel luxurious before you’ve even opened them! Their pampering bath products are a great way to relax during the stress of the holiday season, detox after you’ve indulged in too much cheer, and nourish your skin in the dry winter air. They’ve also got a ton of lip balms in kid-friendly flavors and cute packaging that will encourage your little ones to hydrate those chapped lips. Tess & James uses natural, organic, and therapeutic-grade ingredients that feel great and smell amazing. They make such a great presentation too, so pick up a couple of jars as gifts for someone you want to impress. This is Jess and Angela’s second Hullabaloo and we’re thrilled to have them back! 

l+m studio, Catskill, NY

Lucie and Meg are L+M studio, makers of slip cast porcelain items for the home and garden. From their own recipe, they make white porcelain and design, make, glaze, and fire the pieces in their store-front in Catskill. The coolest thing about their work is that (while their sleek, modern aesthetic suggests otherwise) function trumps form. They set out to make containers and inhabitants for living things, and those living things are going to be mighty comfortable. Their birdhouses have a flanged lid for cleaning. Their cups are designed to actually be held by hands and drunk from by lips. Their vases and planters are designed to show off the natural beauty they contain. But what they’re most excited about? Their new noodle bowls! We CAN’T WAIT to slurp some ramen out of one of those beautiful vessels! Need a thoughtful gift for someone who loves minimal design, clean lines, AND noodles? Stop by L+M’s table! They couldn’t make the last Hullabaloo, and we’re so thrilled they’re back to join us in 2015!

Vendor Feature: Hudson Naturals, LAYERXLAYER, Nadine Medina Designs, and Kelly & Co.

It’s not easy, looking at these vendors’ websites all day…sometimes we get distracted from our Hullabaloo work and find ourselves shopping instead! We encourage you to do the same—take a break and check out these vendor’s websites. Be sure to make some notes…because you’ll want to check out their work in person and pick up a few gifts (and treat yourself) at Hullabaloo!

Hudson Naturals, Gardiner, NY

Christina makes her ultra-moisturizing cold-processed soaps and skincare products (lip balm, scrubs, shaving soap, liquid soaps, and more) from avocado oil that would otherwise be discarded. Avocado oil is the world’s healthiest oil…rich in Vitamin E, it’s good for you inside and out, so we’re so thrilled that Christina found a way to way to make something nourishing out of the surplus from her boyfriend’s business, d’AVO Extra Virgin Avocado Oil. Scented only with essential oils (no artificial fragrances or perfumes), her products are great for people with sensitive skin.  Since last year’s Hullabaloo, Christina has expanded her line of skincare products and also added candles to her offering, so we’re so glad to have her back so we can try them all! Her luxurious soap just sort of melts into you as it hydrates, so we can’t wait to stock up! You should too! Her soaps make great stocking stuffers (the packaging is so pretty, though, they may hesitate to use them!), or, arrange a few items for a thoughtful gift!

LAYERXLAYER, Milford, CT

LAYERXLAYER will be at Hullabaloo for the first time, offering their handmade totes and backpacks, as well as small wooden objects from their line, AWN. Their bags are so much more than high-end design…they’re flawlessly engineered and stylishly utilitary (we might have made that word up, but “utilitarian” just doesn’t suit these beautiful, highly functional bags!). A tote that not only has a paracord pull and a zipper, tons of pockets, and custom hardware, but also straps that convert it into a super-comfy backpack when you need both hands? GENIUS. (And perfect for travel!) And with the same balance of functionality and modern design, AWN offers these amazing wooden clamps for your desk or table, with branches perfect for hanging everything from your hat to your pencils (stylishlyheld in their wooden and copper hanging vessels). These (and any of LAYERXLAYER and AWN’s other beautiful, useful things) would make AMAZING gifts for someone special or for yourself, so stop and see them at Hullabaloo!

Nadine Medina Designs, Troy, NY

Nadine’s designs are fierce. They’re intended to “let your inner fierce out” and “make a simple white tee feel more like a party dress” and they do just that. Nadine incorporates various textures, unexpected bling, geometric shapes, subtly bold chains and metals, and sometimes rough-around-the-edges stones and gems, to create fabulously bad-ass pieces where high-fashion meets wearable design. We love wearing her statement pieces with basics and neutrals because they DO make even the plainest of pieces into a stunning, ready-for-anything outfit.  With necklaces, rings, bracelets, and earrings in a wide range of prices (and various degrees of fierceness), you’ll find that Nadine’s jewelry makes a fantastic gift! This is Nadine’s first Hullabaloo, so please stop at her table and say hello!

Kelly & Co., Plainfield, MA

Erin and her Uncle Don are Kelly & Co., a “small and sturdy collection of thoughtfully designed handmade goods.” Erin designs and sews simple products for homes and people—like aprons, dishtowels, napkins, blankets, bags, scarves, sachets, dolls, bibs, and lunch sacks) out of linen, waxed canvas, and wool. Her palette is earthy and so are her materials, so her products feel familiar and homey. Don lathe-turns rolling pins and hair sticks from local hard woods.  His wood products are heirloom quality and make memorable gifts! Their work shares a refined simplicity and functional beauty—which just makes you want to throw on one of Erin’s gorgeous pinafore aprons and roll out some pie dough! We’re so pleased that Erin and Don are bringing their fine products to this year’s Hullabaloo! 

Vendor Features: Eco Skin Essentials, PKBrown Woodworking, Hawk Dance Farm, and ehstern!

What do these four makers have in common? Not only are they all returning Hullabaloo vendors, they also share a commitment to sustainability, eco-conscious products and practices, and responsibly sourced materials! What an awesome bunch…

Eco Skin Essentials, Phoenicia, NY

After becoming disillusioned with big corporations after working for years in the food industry, Theresa of Eco Skin Essentials started doing some research—and what alarmed her about what was in our food got her thinking about what’s in the products we put on our skin…we’ll spare you the gory details, but it’s pretty scary stuff! Lucky for you, we know where you can get handmade, all-natural, vegan soaps and skin care products, in eco-friendly packaging! There’s a bar soap scent for every nose—like the zesty lemon poppy seed, the soothing lavender vanilla, and the invigorating peppermint rosemary—and even unscented options too! In addition to these fantastic soaps, Theresa makes sprays, body butters, lip balms, and other miracle products (have you tried the Chapped Skin Stick for your winter skin needs? OMG, there should be one in every stocking!). She also has new products to make your baths more pampering. We’re so happy Eco Skin Essentials is back for their third Hullabaloo! 

PKBrown Woodworking, Tivoli, NY

We’re so excited to have PK Brown Woodworking back for their second Hullabaloo! In his studio in Tivoli, which is powered by a photovoltaic system, Kaj creates his pepper grinders, salt and pepper mills, salt and pepper shakers, coffee grinders, jewelry boxes, and French rolling pins (which are new this year!), all from sustainable local wood.  “Each tree writes its own story,” he says…and his mission is to carefully reveal the grains of the woods to let the stories show through. He’s recently developed a new method of laminating the wood to give the finished item a unique look and make the grain of the wood stand out. Eco-conscious and beautifully-crafted, Kaj’s products are fantastically functional gifts for anyone who appreciates fine craftsmanship! 

Hawk Dance Farm, Hillsdale, NY

Hawk Dance Farm is returning to Hullabaloo for their second year, bringing their 100% beeswax candles, nature crafts, and handmade digeridoo instruments (look for their heirloom veggies, herbs, and flowers at local farmers’ markets)! Their charming candles are perfect for the holidays—like, hot cocoa in front of the fire in your Catskills log cabin perfect! And it gets better—they’re donating a portion of their profits from the sale of their beeswax candles to organizations that raise awareness about the declining bee population, and that educate the public about the important role of pollinating insects in sustaining our food growing system! How awesome is that!?!? So pick up some awesome candles (we’re partial to the Christmas trees and the pine cones, but you can’t go wrong with a high-quality taper either!) for the bee-lover, hostess, co-worker, friend, or other special person on your list!

ehstern, Kingston, NY

Emilia is back for her second Hullabaloo! Using silk that is repurposed, remnant, or purchased from Peace Silk (a sustainable, fair trade supplier that allows the silkworms to complete their lifecycle), Emilia dyes the material a variety of beautiful colors, cuts it into cords, and designs her unique hand-crafted silk jewelry. She often adds elements of metal, wood, glass, and organic materials—also obtained from sustainable, fair trade source—to lend texture and variety to her work. The results are one-of-a-kind, soft, light, comfortable pieces of jewelry that are easy to wear and sure to get attention! This year, Emilia has been experimenting with different dyes and color combinations, sourcing new beads and findings, and designing new styles, like tassels and a new version of her fringe necklace on a brass chain. She offers unique jewelry designs in a wide range of price points, so her pieces make great gifts for anyone who would appreciate a pop of color and texture!