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From Craft Show Novice to Philadelphia Art Star June 18
Maria Eife takes “Binary” to the Bazaar
It was her first big craft-show experience — the Art Star Craft Bazaar, a juried craft show on the Philadelphia waterfront. With support from a Ponoko Maker’s Grant, jewelry designer Maria Eife brought her “Binary” line of felt necklaces and bracelets to the outdoor bazaar.
“I decided to keep it simple and focus on one line of work,” said Eife. “The grant enabled me to order more of each style. Since I only had a few designs I was presenting, I wanted to have a lot of them!”
And it was a good thing she did. With a mention on the Martha Stewart craft blog and sunny skies over Philly; her first craft show was sure to be a success. ”The reaction from the crowd was great,” Eife wrote back to the Ponoko team.
“They would approach with caution and touch with one finger until I told them what it was. I quickly learned that I needed to pick them up and hand them to people so they could see and feel that the industrial wool felt is soft, but extremely durable. The necklaces do not not have a clasp, they slip over your head. People were afraid they were going to break them. If I had a penny for everytime I said ‘I haven’t met a head too big for these yet’, I’d have a lot of pennies.”
I think she still made a few pennies in the end, especially with her “secretly nerdy,” graphic accessories available in colors like lime and turquoise which she requested through her Ponoko Prime account.
You can purchase pieces from the “Binary” jewelry range at Marie Eife’s Etsy site or Ponoko showroom.
As for her next project, Eife is going to work on some laser-cut display designs. “That may have been the biggest lesson of the weekend; display is very important! And I need to work on mine. Can’t wait to get my next big Yippee! stamped delivery!”
June 19th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
[...] highlighting jewelry maker Maria Eife’s experience at Philadelphia’s Art Star Craft Bazaar, I decided to check out the other vendors from the [...]
June 21st, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Love this work! Ms. Eife has an knack for creating and good taste too. I enjoy watching her designs evolve, been a follower for some time now! Wish i could have made the Craft Bazaar! Guess I’ll have knock on Etsy’s door…..