Storcks Design

Vendor Spotlight: Storcks Design

How many concrete artists do you know? We’ll wait. 

Husband and wife team Rich and Jennifer Storcks started their hand-cast concrete business in 2017 when Rich made the first Single Cigar Ashtray, a patented concrete cigar rest and ashtray combo that is their best seller.  

“A year later we added color to the design and began our signature marbling pour, combining multiple colors in one piece to create a natural stone effect,” Jennifer says. “Today we have seven different stock color combinations and over 20 designs. Our concrete line also includes coasters, other cigar ashtrays and rests, and a collection of cannabis accessories and home goods.” 

Rich and Jennifer work in their home garage shop alongside their miniature schnauzer, Randy. Their designs can be found in stores across 43 states and in backyards around the world.

“We’re always the booth men love because there’s never enough stuff for them at these shows and they flock to us!” Jennifer says. 

Come see Storcks Design on September 14 from 10AM – 4PM at McConkey’s Market in Washington Crossing Historic Park (PA)

Forging Ahead Designs

Vendor Spotlight: Forging Ahead Designs

Jesse Stratowski handcrafts high-quality blades, but his business veered in a second, unintended direction.

“I started blacksmithing and bladesmithing for myself, but when friends and family began asking me to make some for them, I started selling blades online and at small markets,” he says.

Since blades must be stored, Jesse began making leather sheaths. He describes this part of his business as “a happy accident.”

“The same skills used to make a nice sheath have a great deal of overlap with the skills for making wallets, belts, bags, and other traditional leather goods,” he says. “The combination of my own curiosity and queries from folks looking for leatherwork led me to expand my offerings.”

“Everything that I present is made by my own two hands; forged, shaped, and hand-sewn,” he continues. “Forging Ahead Designs represents the intersection of the driving philosophies in my life: reducing my global impact, sourcing sustainable materials, creating goods carefully one at a time that will last a lifetime, and community support.”

Come see Forging Ahead Designs on September 14 from 10AM – 4PM at McConkey’s Market in Washington Crossing Historic Park (PA).

DownCellarRagWorks

Jean Smalley likes to say she’s been making “old things new” since childhood. 

“I learned to sew watching my mom and then I made my own creations from her piles of scraps – that definitely influenced my continued love of creating new from old,” she says. 

Today, Jean loves gathering unique 100% reclaimed textiles and needlework, that have a bit of whimsy, nostalgia, or charm and turning them into items like jackets, skirts, tops, aprons, neckwear, cat doorstops, totes, and more. Each piece is repurposed with creativity, color, and function to create a truly one-of-a-kind item.   

“Finding a different use for leftover textiles has always been the fun, creative part of what I do and I’m glad it adds in a small way to reducing waste and encouraging a more sustainable lifestyle,” Jean says.

Come see DownCellarRagWorks on September 14 from 10AM – 4PM at McConkey’s Market in Washington Crossing Historic Park (PA). 

Blue Fox Studio

Vendor Spotlight: Blue Fox Studio

Many of the items sold at McConkey’s Market are one of a kind. That includes the work of Sue Fox Mitrano, of Blue Fox Studio. 

“A friend introduced me to the art form of Shibori, an ancient Japanese hand-dyeing technique using indigo,” she says. “I was hooked after my first dye session.”

Sue creates hand-dyed Shibori accessories and home goods. The technique involves natural fiber fabric that is folded, bound, twisted, or stitched and then submerged in a dye vat multiple times. Variations are a natural result, making each piece distinctive. 

“I’m inspired by the unique combination of control and surprise in Shibori dyeing,” Sue says. “With careful practice, I can repeatedly create the same patterns in the cloth, but there are always little surprises – and sometimes big ones – and that is part of the appeal.”    

“It really is a magical process watching the color change,” she adds. “Unwrapping the fabric to see the resulting pattern never fails to delight me!”

Come see Blue Fox Studio on September 14 from 10AM – 4PM at McConkey’s Market in Washington Crossing Historic Park (PA).