On the Market.

Former Roanoke City Market Manager, Hope Hollingsworth, just couldn’t stay away from the Market forever. A year later and you can now find her on Saturdays helping Tim Belcher sell his homegrown heirloom tomatoes, squash, and beans. She’s also selling something of her own.

These cute tops designed and sewn by Hope are lightweight and airy - perfect for keeping cool in this summer heat. And of course, Hope models her clothing herself to everyone she sells to!

Also new on the Market are some beautiful casserole dishes by Sherry Tucciarone.

A vase by Jayn Avery.

Lampwork jewelry completely handcrafted by Brian Seckinger.

And Milk Baths by Rebecca Dillon made from healing goat’s milk, high mineral dead sea salts, colloidal oatmeal, and shea butter.

Friday, July 25th, the Market’s own Cheryl Dolby will be hosting an open house for her gallery showing at WVTF. Please come by and see the beautiful sculptures she’s been working on this year for this event. The show is being held at WVTF Public Radio Station from 5pm - 7pm. There will be music by Charlie Perkinson Trio and catering by Edible Vibe Cafe & Coffee House. While you’re there, you can also enter to win one of Cheryl Dolby’s Goddess Ceremonial Necklaces by guessing the number of beads on her car, B-Dazle.  Click here for directions and more information.

Sculpture by Cheryl Dolby; Photograph by Rebecca D. Dillon.

Handmade original purses from C.H. Originals created by Carolyn Hubbard of Bedford, VA. Email choriginals [@]aol.com for Market dates.

Jewelry created by Designs by Gina. Contact gpdesignsart[@]yahoo.com for more information.

Dried flower arrangements by Ann’s Family Tree of Coalton, WV.

Custom wood designs by Shutters Cove Woodworking. See examples of their work on the web. Or contact by email at brwangel[@]cox.net

Sorry I’m late posting photos from the weekend. As you know the pollen has been really bad this year and as a result I ended up with an upper respiratory infection. I’ve spent the past three days in bed, and this is the first I’ve really been functional. So here are a few pics, better late than never.

A lovely vase by Sherry Tuccairone.

A party platter designed by Kyle.

Fresh picked irises by Julia Light.

Outdoor dining at the Little Dipper.

Fresh popped kettle corn.

A woman having her portrait drawn.

A dog enjoying a free ride.

Glass necklaces made by Linda Jo.

And a few pics from Adam.

A sleepy dalmatian.

Columbine flowers for sale from Riverside Nursery.

A bird taking a stroll.

Now that asparagus is in season you’re sure to be looking for all the different ways you can cook it. Peggy Gebauer provides one such option in her cookbook “Country Home Favorites.” The cookbook is available for sale on the Roanoke City Market for just $5 while supplies last.

Asparagus and Walnut Pasta

Ingredients:
1 (4.7 ounce) pkg. angel hair pasta

2 c. water

1/2 c. sun-dried tomatoes (packed without oil, chopped)

3/4 lb. fresh asparagus spears, cut into 1-inch pieces (from Sumdat Farm Market.)

1/4 c. chopped walnuts (Julia Light has her home grown black walnuts for sale.)

1 T. butter

Juice & zest of 1 lemon

Instructions:
Cook pasta according to package instructions. Stir sun-dried tomatoes into water with pasta. Add asparagus pieces to pasta the last two minutes of cooking time. Drain well. Place on serving platter and lightly toss with walnuts and lemon juice and lemon zest. Serve hot with French crusty rolls!

Anne Vaughan is a local jewelry artist from Floyd, VA who sells her work semi-regularly on the Roanoke City Market. Anne creates beautiful one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry. She also gladly accepts custom work in order to meet the unique needs and desires of her customers. Anne’s jewelry is earthy and chunky, yet versatile and elegant, and many of her pieces contain turquoise. In addition to her jewelry, Anne is also the mother of two beautiful children who gave up teaching in order to enjoy her art and her family. Following is an interview I conducted with her about her work.

How long have you been creating art?

I have been creating all my life.

What do you make?

I create various styles and types of wearable art. I create necklaces, bracelets, earrings, pendants and rings.

What got you started making jewelry professionally?

The birth of my second child got me started with my new business, Anne Vaughan Designs. I knew I could not return to my previous profession (demands of time and energy really took a toll on my family), yet I had to do something. My husband encouraged me to place my first bead order and I made a simple of goal of creating just two pieces a day. I now strive to create $1,500 - $2,000 worth of inventory each week.

What was one of the first pieces you made as an adult?

One of the first pieces of jewelry I can remember making as an adult was a funky herringbone weave bracelet using faceted quartz and sterling silver as my medium. This bracelet is far from perfect but one of my most favorite pieces because it symbolizes a new beginning for me.

What inspires the work you create?

I find the beauty of the natural stones to be an inspiration as well as landscapes, textiles and other color combinations I see throughout the day.

At what venues other than the Roanoke City Market have you sold through?

I sell at various venues and I am not quite sure that I have a favorite. I do trunk shows at people homes which are tons of fun. I also do wine festivals, art shows and festivals, the Roanoke Market and wholesale my work in five different locations (Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke Valley Print Works, Over the Moon Gallery, Wildfire Pots and Willow Grove.

What tips do you have for someone doing their first art or craft show?

If I had the opportunity to provide some advice to someone starting their own business, I would suggest doing the research. Find any forum possible relating to the art and read all that you can about other artist experiences creating the product, selling, buying raw materials, success stories and common areas of concern. I would then develop a simple business plan with goals you refer back to monthly, perhaps even weekly. Take the time to reflect on what is working and what is not. Most importantly, treat your customers like GOLD. They are gold and they are what make you successful and allow for you to do what you love doing. Dress for success. First impressions go a long way.

What mistakes have you made along the way that you wish you’d had advice on before you started selling?

I am sure I have made tons of mistakes along the way. I am still trying to figure out how to solve display issues I have with strong wind gusts. I also need to learn when to say no to too many events.

What do you love most about your art?

What I love most about my art is having a customer connect with a piece of jewelry. I often have a customer take the jewelry and put it on and wow, it was like it was made just for them. That is awesome!

You can view a gallery of Anne’s work on her website at Annevaughandesigns.com as well as find out where she’ll be selling next.

All along Market Street merchants have decorated pots provided by Downtown Roanoke Inc. with fresh flowers and plants as part of the effort to clean up Downtown Roanoke. Everyone who participates is being judged to see who has the best pot. This pot, created by Pauline of Shades of Color, is my favorite.

There’s more than one type of hot dog to be found on the Roanoke City Market. Vendors and visitors to the Market enjoy all the friendly fur balls that come down for a stroll.

Barry of Sumdat Farm Market bundles this season’s first crop of homegrown asparagus he has for sale. Try cooking up some Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Browned Butter or Asparagus-Turkey Wraps with Roasted-Pepper Mayonnaise.

Linda Jo brought out a variety of her paintings she has for sale. Painted on wood, this work features two wolves howling at the moon.

You could also buy cheese this Saturday from a brand new vendor, Mountain View Farm Products. They sell their own farm fresh eggs, beef, and cheese. Their Farmstead Cheese was available in colby, white cheddar, swiss, gouda, jack, and a spicy jack. The cheese is excellent. After a tasting I walked away with three different types. You can contact them by phone at (540) 460-4161 or by email at drnkmlk2@yahoo.com. The company is located in Fairfield, VA.

Additionally, Sandy River Pork will have brats back in stock this coming Saturday.

There were so many beautiful things to see on Saturday at the Roanoke City Market I went a little overboard with the pictures. Hopefully your internet service can handle all the photos I want to share with you.

From the Farmers

Rolling Meadows Farms had loads of beautiful daisies for sale.

They were available in a number of different colors.

Tim also had flowers in what he calls his Virgina Tech colors. These flowers came in burgundy and peach.

He also carries a wide assortment of succulents.

Julia Light had fresh cut flowers for sale alongside iris bulbs and hyacinth bushes ready for planting.

Scott sold beautiful wreaths made from dried flowers.

Walter’s Greenhouse offered a huge assortment of plants including this interesting yellow flower that just says “Wow!”

I also thought this pink trailing flower was beautiful.

Riverside Nursery had some neat looking ageratums ready to plant.

John was also selling this beauty.

Jack Ferguson was selling fresh eggs and kale.

There were also delicious cuts of pork from Sandy River Pork.

From the Crafters

Dana James was selling butterfly and dragonfly sun catchers made from fused glass.

Ben Crooks had his usual assortment of rocks, minerals and fossils on hand.

Linda brought her beautiful sea glass jewelry down to sell.

While Little Creek Forge was selling key chains of the state flower, the dogwood.

Penny Lane had more of her wonderful fungi jewelry for sale.

And Steve of Little Blue Woman Candles brought these tea light candle holders to lure potential customers.

Sherry was selling unique, hand thrown vases.

And pots.

Anne brought more of her jewelry down to the Market. I especially like this piece as the stones remind me of acorns.

This pendant also grabbed my attention.

Kari was selling her hand painted, tin wall vases along with an assortment of fun birdhouses and mirrors.

Kyle and Dave were selling their party platters. I thought this blue platter really stood out.

Rebecca’s Soap Delicatessen brought out her new Juicy Grapefruit soap and lotion for a perfectly pampered you.

And Cheryl had a new one of a kind journal for sale.

From the Shops

Okay, so I didn’t really get to focus much on the shops along Market St, but here are a few things I did find. If you’re interested in seeing more from the Market Street shops, please let me know.

Baking dishes on sale at Ladles and Linens.

Yard art from Good Things on the Market.

And a cat shaped watering can from The Gift Niche.

Brian Seckinger, a local vendor on the Roanoke City Market, has become an artist of many talents. While he still creates pottery and the occasional photograph, he also begun making lampwork beads. Read about the process here. He is then turning his beads into lovely necklaces that he now sells for $20 - $25 each depending on the size of the focal bead he’s created. You can find Brian on the Market most Wednesdays through Sundays.

This week, we have a bit of a departure from the norm. Yes, that’s right, today, I’ll let the wonderful images do all the talking. Besides that, I’m really a man of few words and think in pictures anyway. So, enjoy, and come on out to view these wonderful products live and in person. Who knows, something may strike your fancy that I haven’t captured here.