Memorial Day Weekend at Lithia Artisans Market

Posted on May 23, 2013 by
Anna Bloomquist

Brand new to the market is Anna Bloomquist. She up-cycles old record albums and turns them into journals. Super cool.

Another crazy weather Spring here in southern Oregon. Nothing out of the ordinary really. 90 degrees in April followed by frost warnings the week before Memorial Day. Well… let’s pray for sunshine and beauty along Calle Guanajuato for the upcoming weekend. 31 artisans are signed up to show this weekend including hand-made brooms, silver jewelry, pottery, quilts, leather craft, fine art, photography, flower ornaments, hand pounded copper, hand sculpted stone beads, and much, much more. Amazing lineup of music this weekend… off the chain (see schedule below). There is always something unique to tempt your pocketbook at the Lithia Artisans Market… an ArtWalk along Ashland Creek.

Trace Taber (aka The Spoon Man) and his wife Lydia. Regulars at Lithia Artisans Market. The best handcrafted spoons and ladles on the planet.

Trace Taber (aka The Spoon Man) and his wife Lydia. Regulars at Lithia Artisans Market. The best handcrafted spoons and ladles on the planet.

Saturday there are numerous protests against Monsanto going on throughout the country. A few of our artisans are doing their part to speak out and let their energy be felt by being part of these protests. Here at the artisans market it is not official policy to make political statements. You can make an educated guess as to how most of the membership feels about Monsanto. However, I would like to make the point that supporting local artists, artisans, farmers, and micro-businesses is the strongest statement you can make with your purchasing power. When you don’t buy their products, and instead invest in your local folks, you are consciously making the world in which you wish to live. Support Local, It Matters!

We are so blessed this weekend. The music schedule is amazing. We are welcoming for the first time to our little stage the five piece folk band, “Patchy Sanders”. Right after them “Kites and Crows” take to the stage. The next day is Jeff Fretwell followed by Frankie Hernandez. Really??? Does it get any better than this? I don’t think so.

Great local indie band, Kites and Crows, take to the stage at Lithia Artisans Market, Saturday, May 25 from 3:00-5:00. Great local band!

Great local indie band, Kites and Crows, take to the stage at Lithia Artisans Market, Saturday, May 25 from 3:00-5:00. Lead singer Mysha Caruso is a gifted songwriter. This is one of the most talented bands in Ashland.

Music Schedule

Saturday, May 25

11:30-1:30     “Patchy Sanders” – Folk

3:00-5:00      Kites and Crows – Americana, Indie

Sunday, May 26

11:30-1:30     Jeff Fretwell – Country

3:00-5:00      Frankie Hernandez – Reggae/Rock

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Sidewalk Sale Weekend in Ashland at Lithia Artisans Market

Posted on May 17, 2013 by
Rose G

Rose Gerstner of Sympatico Clothing company will be showing this coming weekend. Amazing art and craft every weekend at Lithia Artisans Market, along Ashland Creek, behind the plaza in downtown Ashland, Oregon.

It is that time of the year again, sidewalk sale weekend in Ashland. All the stores will have items on the sidewalks for sale, and the Lithia Artisans Market will be in full swing on Calle Guanajuato, behind the Plaza, along Ashland Creek. Almost 30 artisans are signed up to participate this weekend including three brand new artisans who have never shown in the past.

“The Broom Mamma”, aka Cheri Hammonds, will be at the market for the first time showing really cool, rustic, handmade brooms. Super stoked to see her work in person.  Joy Light will be showing her handpainted silks for the first time at the Lithia Artisans Market. She is such a pro! We are honored she has joined the ranks of our market. As well, Francois will be showing his extraordinary jewelry for the first time. His stuff is truly out of this world. Looking forward to a very fresh looking and feeling marketplace.

The music is great as always. We are welcoming back to the stage for the first time in over a year, Adey. If you haven’t had the chance to hear this woman sing, you owe it to yourself to come down and listen. She is a remarkably talented local songwriter. It is a gift that she is hanging out with us tomorrow afternoon, Saturday, May 18 from 3:00-5:00. Here is the lineup.

Adey brings her beautiful voice and songwriting talents to our stage, Saturday, May 18 from 3:00-5:00. Super excited to hear her again.

Adey brings her beautiful voice and songwriting talents to our stage, Saturday, May 18 from 3:00-5:00. Super excited to hear her again.

Music Schedule

Saturday, May 18

11:30-1:30     Gene Burnett

3:00-5:00     Adey

Sunday, May 19

11:30-1:30     Aaron Reed

3:00-5:00      Doug Warner

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Mothers Day at Lithia Artisans Market

Posted on May 10, 2013 by
Earthstar makes fairy tale clothing and accessories for children. She will be set up on the corner of North Main and Calle Guanajuato at Lithia Artisans Market.

Earthstar makes fairy tale clothing and accessories for children. She will be set up on the corner of North Main and Calle Guanajuato at Lithia Artisans Market.

It is going to be a glorious weekend to be out with your mom in downtown Ashland. Stop by Lithia Artisans Market, it is the perfect place to find that unique item for that special mother in your life. Over 33 artisans are participating this weekend, the largest showing of our young season. The weather looks like it is going to cooperate with the forecast calling for temperatures in the upper 80′s. Plenty of amazing jewelry, handcrafted clothing, leather work, woodwork, hats, and so much more.

Jan Rice is showing for the first time this year at Lithia Artisans Market. Come by for that perfect custom sign.

Jan Rice is showing for the first time this year at Lithia Artisans Market. Come by for that perfect custom sign.

We’ve been open for one month, yet some of our most consistent members have been conspicuously absent. A few of them are coming back this weekend, so lets give a shout out to Jan Rice of Jans Signs — wonderfully colorful handpainted signs. If you need a custom sign, Jan is the gal. She will be set up down by “Mix” on the eastern most side of Calle Guanajuato. The now famous “Hat People” of Talent, Oregon are back at the Lithia Artisans Market for the first time this season. We’ve missed you guys!

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Cole Cullen, amazingly talented songwriter, will be playing on Lithia Artisans Market stage on Saturday, May 11, from 3:00-5:00pm.

Music Schedule

Saturday, May 11

11:30-1:30     Rod Petrone

3:00-5:00      Cole Cullen

Sunday, May 12

11:30-1:30     Martin Vee

3:00-5:00      Jeff Stanley

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Lithia Artisans Market Welcomes New Members!

Posted on May 1, 2013 by
New member of the Lithia Artisans Market, Mara Jackson, shown here with her Aboriginal Dream Time inspired art.

New member of the Lithia Artisans Market, Mara Jackson, shown here with her Aboriginal Dream Time inspired art.

One of my favorite things about being the manager of the Lithia Artisans Market is the presence of new people, new energy, new art and crafts at the market. This year is no exception. New artisans are magnetized to the energy of a market with renewed vitality. The jury committee has been busy looking at new products and interviewing prospective new members. This blog post will highlights two of our newest members…

Mara Jackson was inspired by a trip to Australia to dive deep into the artist within. She worked with the natives of the area and learned art in the style of Aboriginal Dream Time blessings. Her dream-catchers, original paintings, gift cards, and prints are colorful images of animal totems that inspire and resonate on a primal level. She also makes Native American style flutes.

Dustin Lyons and Tera Ptacek of Alkahest Moccasins and Leathercrafts, shown here in their booth at Lithia Artisans Market, along Ashland Creek in Ashland, Oregon.

Dustin Lyons and Tera Ptacek of Alkahest Moccasins and Leathercrafts, shown here in their booth at Lithia Artisans Market, along Ashland Creek in Ashland, Oregon.

Also new to the market this year are the co-owners of Alkahest Moccasins and Leathercraft. Dustin Lyons and Tera Ptacek are both soul partners and business partners. They’ve been together for over ten years and fell in love with leather just a few years ago. They dove right into the art-form and have been prolifically creating ever since. Their workmanship is impeccable. Be sure to come by and say hello to our new members.

Doug Warner sings the blues. All original tunes! Sunday afternoon from 2:30-4:30 at Lithia Artisans Market, behind the plaza in downtown Ashland, Oregon.

Doug Warner sings the blues. All original tunes! Sunday afternoon from 2:30-4:30 at Lithia Artisans Market, behind the plaza in downtown Ashland, Oregon.

Music Schedule

Saturday, May 4

11:30-1:30    Levi Dean

3:00-5:00     Phoenix Sigalove

Sunday, May 5

11:30-1:30     David Kelly

2:30-4:30     Doug Warner

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Taste of Ashland Weekend at Lithia Artisans Market

Posted on April 26, 2013 by
Jasmine Patten of Dervish Clothing will be showing this weekend at Lithia Artisans Market for Taste of Ashland weekend.

Jasmine Patten of Dervish Clothing will be showing this weekend at Lithia Artisans Market for Taste of Ashland weekend.

It is going to be a glorious weekend for Taste of Ashland at the Lithia Artisans Market. Join us along Ashland Creek, behind the plaza in downtown Ashland, to enjoy the best art and craft open air market in Southern Oregon. 32 artisans are participating this weekend which means the market is jam packed. Stroll the market, pick up something unique and wonderful, enjoy a meal at one of many outdoor restaurants, and be part of the festivities revolving around the annual event… “A Taste of Ashland”.

Lots of new items to peruse at the market this year as we welcome Dustin Lyons and his leather work, Mara Jackson and her aboriginal art, and Romero and his family with more unique leather craft. Creativity abounds at Lithia Artisans Market. Make it a point to venture down to Calle Guanajuato to support local art and music.

Kites and Crows plays the afternoon set on Sunday, April 28 at Lithia Artisans Market. Live music every weekend in Ashland along Ashland Creek.

Kites and Crows plays the afternoon set on Sunday, April 28 at Lithia Artisans Market. Live music every weekend in Ashland along Ashland Creek.

Music Schedule

Saturday, April 27

11:30-1:30     Jef Fretwell

3:00-5:00     “Two ‘Lil Birds” featuring Antonio Melendez and Aliana DiVictoria

Sunday, April 28

11:30-1:30     Martin Vee

2:00-4:00      Kites and Crows

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Beautiful Spring Weekend at the Market

Posted on April 18, 2013 by
Ahlaya Pace is a regular at Lithia Artisans Market, along Ashland Creek, behind the Plaza, every weekend.

Ahlaya Pace is a regular at Lithia Artisans Market, along Ashland Creek, behind the Plaza, every weekend.

The weather forecast is for sun and temperatures in the low 70′s for this upcoming weekend. Spring has sprung! My strawberry patch is loaded with blossoms and tiny berries, the dandelions are popping out yellow amidst the deep greens of my overgrown lawn, birds are chirping, and the sun is warm. It is going to be a great weekend to be out and about, hanging along the creek for the artisans market.

Pat Moore photography is the most recent artisan profile in Locals Guide. Click the link to the left to access the full interview.

Pat Moore photography is the most recent artisan profile in Locals Guide. Click the link to the left to read the interview.

I just finished a very interesting interview with our market president, and talented photographer, Pat Moore. It will appear in the next edition of Locals Guide and will be in the mail and on news-stands the first week of May. In the meantime you can access the interview through this link… Pat Moore Interview. Pat has a very intriguing story to tell. Enjoy!

We have over 25 artisans signed up to participate this weekend including wood work, lots of awesome jewelry (stones, silver, ceramic, and glass), pottery, upcycled clothing, leather work, fine art, and much, much more. The music lineup is once again outstanding (see schedule below). One of my favorite local songwriters, Aaron Reed, plays the early set on Saturday, April 20. It’s 420 dude!!!

Aaron Reed is a local favorite. He plays this weekend in the early slot on Saturday, April 20.

Aaron Reed is a local favorite. He plays this weekend in the early slot on Saturday, April 20.

Music Schedule

Saturday, April 20

11:30-1:30     Aaron Reed (Rockin’ Singer-songwriter)

3:00-5:00      Rod Petrone (Classical guitar compositions)

Sunday, April 21

11:30-1:30      Cyd Smith and Dennis Freeze (Jazz)

3:00-5:00      Doug Warner (Blues)

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Think Sunny Thoughts!

Posted on April 11, 2013 by
Marcus Scott of "The Stone Bead" displays hand-carved stone beads that appear as though they could have been created hundreds of years ago.

Marcus Scott of “The Stone Bead” displays hand-carved stone beads that appear as though they could have been created hundreds of years ago.

Well, the opening weekend ended up cancelled for weather reasons, so we will try our luck again this upcoming Saturday and Sunday, April 13 and 14. I want all of you to put your collective consciousness together and think sunny thoughts. Over twenty lithia artisans are signed up for the coming weekend, so that is a lot of mental power if we put it to positive uses. Let’s call it an experiment and see what happens.

We have a great lineup of art showing including stone jewelry, pottery, photography, upcycled clothing, hemp clothing, hula-hoops, woodwork, leather work, silver jewelry, and so much more. The music lineup is sure to please featuring our very own local folk hero Gene Burnett. See the full schedule below.

Gitano del Norte brings his flamenco style guitar playing to Lithia Artisans Market this coming Saturday, September 22 from 3-5pm.

Gitano del Norte brings his flamenco style guitar playing to Lithia Artisans Market this coming Sunday, April 14 from 11:30-1:30.

Music Schedule

Saturday, April 13
11:30-1:30 Gene Burnett (singer songwriter)
3:00-5:00 Cole Cullen (rock n’ roll)

Sunday, April 14
11:30-1:30 Gitano del Norte (flamenco)
3:00-5:00 Jeff Stanley (singer songwriter, guitarist extaordinaire)

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