Fresh finds at artisan market

Those in search of the rare, the beautiful and the funky had several options in Salisbury on Saturday, May 11.

The Salisbury Handmade group of artisans had 21 vendors set up on the lawn in front of the White Hart Inn.

One newcomer to the group, Cheryl Markin, a graphic designer from Long Island by day, offered her “Upcycled Earrings,” made from bits of Super-8 movie film, floppy disk components, and 45 RPM record adapters.

One set, made from Schaefer beer bottle caps, stood out. The caps had a cork ring inside them.

Markin said she figured they were probably the only extant bottle caps of their kind anywhere.

She said the earrings started as a hobby and a fun gift for friends. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it became a business.

Another newcomer, Sara Collazo Romay, who hails from Spain and currently operates out of Kingston, N.Y., offered colorful handwoven pillows, towel and placemats.

Romay said she has been in the artisan business for about four years. This is her first market season.

She has also worked as a fashion designer and for the TJ Maxx discount clothing chain.

A veteran of these shows, Roger McKee, had his wooden keepsake boxes for sale, along with cutting boards shaped like fish and his own nature-themed artworks.

“No canoes this time?” he was asked.

He shook his head, adjusted his kilt and attended to a curious customer.

Meanwhile at the Salisbury Marketplace building on Academy Street (TK Need to doublecheck that name), the proprietors of Montage Antiques in Millerton were having a big sale of recently arrived pieces.

Chloe Crofut-Brittingham said the sale was the contents of a 40-foot container full of items purchased recently in Europe.

Her parents, Dana and Fritz Rohn, are the people behind Montage. Mother and daughter huddled briefly over the fate of a large table before returning to chat about the antiques.

Dana Rohn said the impetus behind the sale, which they do several times per year, was simple.

“When you get a container, it’s a lot of stuff. We’ve got 6000 soiree feet in Millerton but…”

And the customers get a break on the prices.