COLUMN: Saying goodbye to CMU farmer's market artisans until next year
I visited the final week of Central Michigan University's 2024 on-campus farmer's market on Friday, Oct. 25. Little white rain tents were set up in a rectangle of yellow tape at the far end of Lot 33. Visitors' enthusiasm evaded the reach of chilly wind and frozen fingers.
Organized by Central Sustainability, this week’s Farmer’s Market lacked farmers. It did have a variety of collectibles not limited to:
- Knitted animals, plants, purses and clothes
- Buttons and stickers
- Necklaces, bracelets and earrings
- Coasters and paintings
Tiffany Jurge at the Central Sustainability table said that from about 100 to 200 attendees have come to this year’s farmer’s market overall.
“The first three weeks were definitely the best,” Cecilia Tresenriter, a CMU student and vendor said. “After wellness break, the veggie vendors quit coming.”
Haggle Crochet
One of my favorite booths had colorful crocheted flowers, animals and clothes by two sisters: Jordan and Taylor Hagle.
"I don't mean to brag, but 90% of the comments we get say 'You guys are underselling yourselves,’” Taylor Hagle said. She added that they don’t make a profit on some of their items, but the two like to sell because they would hoard their creations otherwise.
The sisters said they have been crocheting for 17 years; Taylor is a stay at home mom and Jordan works full-time. They said they fit their hobby in where they can.
The table was crowded with knitted roses, miniature squishable cactuses, stuffed animal possums and other living things made adorably in soft, thick yarn. Over their heads, green yarn vines lit by fairy lights wrapped around the gray tent beams, while a bin to the side was full to the brim with women’s tops in gray, white and blue.
I bought a three-piece bouquet which they wrapped in cellophane and tied with green yarn. They were excited, since they said no one else had wanted theirs wrapped yet. It upped the price from $8 to $10, and I have no regrets.
Kate Shaner
Their sister, Kate Shaner, held the booth to the left, selling hand-painted coasters, knitting placeholders, and more. Her selection of hand-made earrings was beautiful as well, in bright warm colors and symmetrical designs.
“I was actually very happy that it was not a gorgeous day because I’m not emotionally prepared for a large crowd,” said Shaner.
She said she has never tabled at a craft fair and said this is her first time coming to campus.
“I’m a hobbyist," Shaner said. "I’m actually a writer, a copywriter, but (my art is) what I do in my free time. I’m pretty excited to get out and proud of myself.”
Not with knitted nonsense
Tresenriter and her friend Lauren Wallace huddled in sweaters at a table laid with knitted hats and purses. The two also displayed small paintings by their friend, Vivian Wages.
Tresenriter said she doesn’t have a favorite project to knit, and that her creations change month to month.
“Depends on the day," Tresenriter said. "I like knitting hats, they’re fun. I like to make a lot of things.”
Tresenriter came to the market every week. She said that the turnout for the market comes in waves.
While waiting for customers, Tresenriter takes out her needles and knits.
Elowen Kourteva
Kourteva said she has experience selling in the Lansing Mega Mall Market.
“It’s a trade-off, cause here I’m the only jewelry place,” Kourteva said. “At flea markets I have competitors, but there’s more word of mouth.”
She said that last week her turnout was about $150, which she said is pretty good. She added that one customer bought 3-4 bracelets, which is more than average for her.
I bought one as well: A pretty green and purple one. We both thought the beads looked like dragon eggs, which was the selling point for me.
Kourteva said that she learned how to make jewelry from her mom, who did it as a hobby. Around age 8, Kourteva mostly lined up the beads on her mom’s bead board. At the time, her mom and Kourteva were both learning English: Her mom was a Bulgarian immigrant.
Kourteva uses a bead board to lay out and measure her necklace beads so they are symmetrical, before stringing them. She said that before she got her own bead board, she would line up beads in the groove of her coffee table.
She said that she wants to expand to knitting next year, but she wants to improve her craft first.
Crowbones Apothocary
Boyfriends Percy Ziolwski and Mac Hamstra watched their own table which sold a variety of stickers and buttons, some with funny faces of their pets that could be custom ordered.
Hamstra said that Ziolwski created the items for sale. Two of my favorite items were the small knitted bats for Halloween and the watercolor-esque pride stickers which Ziolwski designed.
Hamstra sells the items on Etsy, but said they will soon have a website as well.
The crowd was not super great today, according to the artisans. Hamstra said they were missing some booths as well, including Papa’s Pumpkin Patch. But the enthusiasm of vendors was catchy: the small number of visitors came and left with smiles, as did I.
The year to come
As the time for me to leave drew closer, a cool wet breeze blew up from the south. A seagull cawed.
Hamstra will be leaving on a cruise ship in November for six months on the high seas. But, weather permitting, we can expect the majority of the artisans to return for next year’s farmer’s market.
Lydia Soltis is a Central Michigan Life staff writer. She is a junior at Central Michigan University, majoring in Communication and dabbling in theater. She likes to meet new people and understand their worldviews.
