What was once the Quad temporarily became a market square full of booths, treats, and crafts for all to purchase last weekend.
On Saturday, Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Student Activities Board hosted their third annual craft and goods fair, Maker’s Market.
Nineteen vendors set up their stands on the Quad in preparation for a busy morning. The market featured hundreds of pieces of jewelry, dozens of greeting cards, jugs of homemade kombucha, baked goods, and even plants.
“Maker’s Market is such a great way to see your friends and learn about everyone else,” said senior Carmelina Pestritto, a returning vendor who specializes in photography.
Although there were many returning vendors at Maker’s Market several freshmen set up booths as well, including Rachel Schroder, Lauren Smith, Katrin Surkan, Emma Turner, and Katherine Vanderwall.
For Smith, amateur jeweler and novelist, the Maker’s Market was not only a way to share her passions, but also to put her hobbies to good use.
“I started making my own jewelry, and then I got way too many supplies, and thought I should just make a business out of it,” Smith said.
Her earring designs include various color combinations of boba tea, fried eggs, and mushrooms. Smith also sells her own Christian fiction and fantasy novels, entitled “Stories of the Night” and “Made of Mercy,” and is one of two students to sell published works at the Maker’s Market, along with Turner.
Turner also made custom jewelry alongside her children’s book. The book, entitled “My Living Constitution,” is a picture book guide to the U.S. Constitution and its amendments. Turner, like several other vendors, sells her products online at www.stargirljewelryco.com.
While the majority of vendors at Maker’s Market sell crafts made in their free time, Ashlyn Neveau, director of student programs, ran a booth to promote her small business, Hillsdalian Goods, which sells Hillsdale themed merchandise. At the same booth, assistant swim coach Zoe Tracey also set up her extensive collection of homemade earrings.
In addition to crafts, the customers were also able to buy various edible treats, and even brush up on their science classes in the process.
Senior Rachel Ganss sold butterfly pea flower lemonade. The lemonade starts blue, but turns green when a base is added and pink when an acid is added. Ganss said her interest in food science first introduced her to the chemical reaction. She also enjoys making gluten free desserts that she would not otherwise be able to find on campus.
As a more long term hobby, junior Lucy Cuneo has been fermenting kombucha, which she brought in jugs to Maker’s Market. She included her “converted chai” flavor, which is a mild kombucha intended for first introducing people to the fermented drink.
While some vendors have been at their crafts for years, they all continue to experiment with new styles and techniques. Freshman Kat Surkin modified a chocolate chip cookie recipe to become gluten free.
Those with tighter budgets were also able to enjoy Maker’s Market, between free samples, the general atmosphere, and a plethora of free succulents from SAB.
SAB Director Zane Mabry has found that Maker’s Market is a popular event on campus.
“It’s a great opportunity for students that are regularly trying to sell crafts, and to get their business out there a bit more to campus,” Mabry said.
