The Best of Flea Market Home and Living Magazine.

Boy, were we excited and pleasantly surprised to see Mowers Saturday Sunday flea market mentioned on page 127 of a recent issue of The Best of Flea Market Home and Living Magazine. A friend who lives in Florida sent along the photos. Then, our daughter found the magazine in one of the Kingston big box stores. Imagine- that is nationwide recognition. It looks like we are in some pretty good company! We are open thru October 2022, weather providing. Mowerssaturdayfleamarket.com, woodstockfleamarket@hvc.rr.com, 845-679-6744

Meet Gat and Ranaan

Gat and Ranaan Gabriel 

Gat and Ranaan are part of a new crew of vendors at the flea market this year.  As they tell their story,

“This has been our first season and we are very happy to be here. We arrived in Woodstock three years ago, just about half a year before COVID hit, and since then we’ve been waiting for the opportunity to meet the wonderful community and local residences. Woodstock has been the perfect location between the market’s vibe and all of the people who pass through. We’re grateful to be able to show our community what we do. “

As part of my interview, I ask for a little background as to how our vendors began the journey to where they are today – selling their creations  at the flea market.

“Starting as graphic designers, we both walked our own artistic paths, until we settled in Woodstock and started our collaboration: Word Paintings. We paint words. Visualizing the meaning of ‘words’ is the center of our work, revealing the accents and meaning through shapes, forms, colors, and composition.

We begin our Word Paintings with a single word (though every now and then we use a short phrase). It can be any word yet we find ourselves more drawn to those that which people often forget how powerful they really are. We’re interested in the way we experience them; that is where you feel meaning, a presence, a physical feeling and power that a word can give. With this ‘code’ we start our visual adventure. Think about ‘SOUL’, ‘WE’, ‘BREATHE’, or ‘MOM&DAD’. Think of the emotions that come with reading these words and you can start imagining the vast fields of creativity that are waiting to be explored. Our medium consists of a mix between digital artwork as well as oil and acrylic painting and pencil. The outcome is a sort of conclusion, the sum of both the spiritual & physical means, in other words, a PAiNTiNG.”

Lastly,  I always ask What do you like about being at the flea market?

“Besides meeting all the people who gather at the flea, we love and are grateful for all the feedback and support we received. It’s honestly priceless. We present a selection of our works and introduce new words every week, and in turn receive responses which are truly spectacular. These just continue to encourage us to create more works. Thank you! And please visit us in person or also online! :)”

Gat and Raanan @gat_raanan rg-wordsmith.com

Dorothy and Jill Surrounded by Their Fantastic Collection of This and That

 

Dorothy and Jill have been working Mower’s Saturday Sunday for almost forty years. They have an expert eye for buying a wide variety of items to re-sell.  Their booth has a different look every week.  Vintage jewelry, sterling, clothing from different era’s, including boots, coats and sweaters in season. Also, books and magazines that include an eclectic assortment of topics.  Both women agree that they love the social aspect of visiting each weekend with their customers and fellow flea market vendors as well.  

Ceramicist Olga at Mower's Saturday Sunday Flea market

 

When Olga was accepted at the Cleveland Art Institute for study, her intended medium to work in was  glass blowing. When her family relocated to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. she resumed her studies at SUNY New Paltz and found that clay gave her the challenge and satisfaction she was seeking in her creative life. As it turned out, the clay gives Olga an opportunity to work three dimensionally. The pieces she creates can either blend into the new owner’s life both with form and function or the piece can become a center or focal point for the space it inhabits.

Olga first started selling her ceramic ware at Mower’s flea market in Woodstock, N.Y. in 2015. She is set up most Saturday and Sundays throughout the season. Olga notes that she especially likes interacting with her customers at the flea market.  For inspiration Olga draws on her knowledge about mythology and ritual art of ancient times.  Part of her philosophical process in art is the concept of not following the laws and rules of nature. Her created objects are a result of her ability to work beyond assumed boundaries of thought.  Stop by at the flea to see and touch her one-of-a-kind functional ceramic food ware and her ceramic figures  in person.

Farmer Steve

Each weekend for 36 years, Farmer Steve has made the trip from Columbia County with his van jammed packed full of seasonally fresh fruits and veggies to sell at his farm stand at Mower’s Saturday Sunday flea market. Steve also carries a wide variety of herbs, flowers and vegetable plants in season. An avid N.Y. Met fan, Farmer Steve is in constant motion. He usually has a story or two to share about his escapades protecting his crops from summer thunderstorms or the logistics of watering his crops during a drought. Sixteen years ago, Steve was part of a crew of flea vendors who pitched the idea of a two-day market to John and Janine. There had been a stretch of rainy weather and as the flea was Saturdays only, the flea kept getting cancelled. It was decided to commit to the two days, thus creating a built-in rain day. You will find him every weekend under the beautifully grand old Maple tree, on Maple Lane in Woodstock. The photo and article are from a 1997 Daily Freeman newspaper article.

Sue and Tonshi Mountain products at Mower's Saturday Sunday Flea Market

Sue has been with Mower’s Saturday Sunday flea market in Woodstock NY since 2008. She is one of our vendors who returns every weekend. Her focus is on wire wrap gemstone jewelry, a wide variety of incense sticks, rocks and crystals. Her most favorite medium to work with are the rocks and crystals, many of which she incorporates into her wire wrap jewelry. Sue can be found down the Maple Lane side of the flea market. View her online store at tonshimountain.com or email her at tonshimountain@yahoo.com

Stephen and Julia and Blue Dot Mandalas and Antiques

Stephen and Julia first appeared on the Mower flea field c 1994 as Blue Dot Books and Blue Dot ceramic tile and designs. Stephen was pictured in a Kingston Daily Freeman article about the flea market in 1997, standing in front of his Blue Dot Books yellow school bus. Julia, a very talented artist, would be found at her booth with her iconography, working under the name Universal Saints. Two decades later, Julia, now known as the woman who creates the beautiful Blue Dot Mandalas on perfectly rounded stones, continues to enjoy the creative experience her art work brings to her. The work is similar to her iconography in the past, however as she says, “Wow, imagine working with stones as old as the planet.” Julia can be found at https://www.facebook.com/bluedotmandalas Stephen has changed the focus of his booth to feature antiques and specially selected vinyl records. He enjoys the process of searching for the more refined items that he knows his customers are looking for. Stephen’s discerning eye can expertly spot an item at a sale or an auction. You can find Stephen and Julia every Saturday and Sunday in the shade, under the Blue Dot umbrella. Stephen and Julia are vendors who return every weekend.

Mackinzie's Specially Selected Vintage Clothing and Jewelry

 

Excerpted from the American Tapestry the Mowers of Maple Lane pg 19

“Vendors shop everywhere! All one needs is a car, a roll of cash and a tank of gas and you could be in business. Two of the most popular places to shop are; house sales and yard sales. “Your trash is my treasure: the motto expressed by successful antique seller Len Sickler of Kingston is modeled by many Woodstock vendors. Many will take on the task of cleaning out houses, barns and garages of entire contents, with the hope that one or two valuable items will make the hard dirty work worth the effort.

New vendors and different products for our 45th season.

In the 21^st century, vendors still continue to hunt for resalable items at house sales and yard sales.  However, as we enter into our 45^th season of flea marketing, we notice that what vendors bring to the market has changed somewhat.  Now, there is quite a demand for vintage clothing and wearable items.

Mackenzie is one of our newer vendors who brings along items for sale that are not the usual items you would see at a house content sale. Mackenzie had one season at the flea in 2016 and then had a pause in the selling part of her life, reemerging in the summer of 2021.  By her own admission, she enjoys the “thrifting” side of the hunt for those hidden gems she has for sale at the flea.  Mackenzie sets up every Saturday and she also sells online and can be found at her Instagram page under the name mack_bones.  Her booth is filled with quirky and fun items, a few of which she has created herself. Overall, vintage clothing and jewelry is her focus.

Traveling Musicians in Woodstock NY.

Every Summer we have a visit from the traveling musicians. Their music is fun and alive, just like the Mower's Saturday flea market.