By Tara Bellucci

Photo: Mark Craig

As a hearty New Englander, Andrea Williams grew up learning the names of plants and animals native to the Maine shores. Her inlaid stone and metalwork jewelry is grounded and breathtaking, like that Atlantic coast. Her line, Bound Earth, is based in her belief that jewelry isn't just a status symbol to raise us up, but can instead bring us closer to nature, the place where the materials come from. Check it out in person at CraftBoston today and tomorrow.

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Covered with bright colors, playful patterns, and images of fauna of all types, you can't help but feel happy when looking at Hannah Niswonger's pottery. Born into a family of printmakers, quilters, knitters, and painters, it's no wonder the joy of craft comes through in Hannah's work. We caught up with the Winchester resident for an interview before today's CraftBoston show opens:

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By Tara Bellucci

Teresa Crowninshield's collection of elegant coats and jackets are confections of cashmere and silk, just begging to be touched. A craft born from visiting China's silk markets, Teresa's pieces impress — even in presidential company. Before you try them on at CraftBoston this weekend, read up about Crown Coats: FULL ENTRY

By Tara Bellucci

Mass Art grad Lauren Passenti has a bit of a dark side. At least her jewelry does. Striking a balance between industrial decay and the natural world, Lauren's pieces are crafted of materials some might call strange, like coral, horse hair, and fur, and antlers. Even the jewel-like quartz is rough. Her pieces are tough yet elegant — you can check them out in person at CraftBoston this weekend:

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By Tara Bellucci

Chris Osborne of City Lights acquires and refurbishes beautiful antique and Art Deco lighting. Though he also spends some time channeling Dr. Frankenstein, using vintage fixtures from the early 20th century as a starting point for his fascinating steampunk creations. Chris's Diabolical Boxes and other pieces that would be perfectly at home in a Jules Verne story will be on display at this weekend's CraftBoston show. FULL ENTRY

Photo: courtesy of Nicole Deponte

Known by many a hip, young Boston fashion lover by her iconic upcycled silk neck tie creations, Massachusetts native and Mass Art alumna Nicole Deponte returns to Boston for her second spring to exhibit at the Craft Boston market this week — with a new couture line, new offerings for men, and an excitement about where the local maker movement is going.

In this second installment of our Maker Moment series with Massachusetts artists showing at Craft Boston this week, we caught up with this cool emerging designer amidst the madness of packing up her studio for the show.

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By Tara Bellucci

Raised in Pittsburgh, educated at RISD, and now residing in Fort Point, potter Nicole Aquillano is our first in a series of Maker Moments with artists and craftspeople exhibiting at this month's CraftBoston Spring show. A former civil engineer, she turns architectural sketches into ethereal imagery on her ceramic and porcelain mugs and vases. Find out what this (soon-to-be) six-time marathon runner has to say in response to our ten questions: FULL ENTRY

By Tara Bellucci

Ever browse the racks and wish you could change the color of that dress, or the neckline on another? Aubrie Pagano feels your pain and came up with a chic solution. With her company, Bow & Drape, you can choose from a variety of garments and styles and completely customize them, from the hue to the hemline and everything in between.

Since we can't think of anyone more stylish than this lady, we invited her to be our very own red carpet "Kelly" at the 4th Annual #OscarUp this Sunday. Aubrie and our "Ross," Jeff Lehens of DressCode Boston, will be providing the arrival blow-by-blow, asking "who are you wearing?" and handing out the top honors for our Best Dressed Contest.

While you prepare rub well-dressed shoulders with Aubrie on Sunday, she's kindly answered our Maker Moment questions:

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By Tara Bellucci

 

Heidi Murphy/White Loft Studio & styled by Maggie Battista

Some of Maggie Battista's homemade cocktail concoctions.

A doyenne of the DIY pantry, Maggie Battista is a lady you love to know. Always one to make tasty bits and bobs from her garden or bring some delectable morsel back from a weekend trip, she's generous with her goodies as well as her go-to sources. In 2007, Maggie started Eat Boutique as a gift box service to share local, small-batch producers that create "food that hugs you back."

With the recent launch of the the Eat Boutique shop and another of her hugely popular local markets coming up, Maggie takes a break to chat creative cocktails and tipsy Italians in our latest Maker Moment:

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By Tara Bellucci

John and Sherry Petersik do DIY like no one else. On their blog, Young House Love, they tackle everything from simple painting projects to daunting deck building with moxie (and a sense of humor when things don't go exactly as planned). Their conversational style makes them a favorite with first-timers and serial DIYers alike.

On November 7, the pair will be in Boston signing their first book, Young House Love: 243 Ways to Paint, Craft, Update & Show Your Home Some Love. To celebrate, we asked them our Maker Moment questions. Sherry shares her first project and biggest fail, and find out when they actually call in professionals:

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