Vendor of the Month

MARCH VENDOR OF THE MONTH

Writing the posts for Vendor of the Month is the most enjoyable part of the ongoing creation of the Maku'u Farmer's Market website. Every month the stories have become even more interesting and this month we feature an artist that stands among the best that Hawaii has to offer. The March Vendor of the Month selection is: Margaret Lynch of the Paradise Raku Fine Art Studio.

 THUNDER

Raku is an ancient Japanese method of clay shaping, glazing and firing, which originated in the 16th. century. Originally, the only shape used for Raku was the tea bowl. During the firing process, the objects are removed from the kiln molten hot and then placed into a reduction nest to cool and obtain its unique smoky black clay body color and glaze crackles or flashes of metallic colors and patterns from from the nest material and glaze ingredients.

Originally from Seattle, Washington, Margaret made her journey to Alaska in 1973 to become a fisherman and in the off-seasons she would vacation on Maui and return to Alaska for the fishing season. In 1989 she decided to make the Islands her home...first Oahu, then Maui and now Margaret makes the Big Island her home.

ZEN LOVE

 
Margaret wanted to work with clay since high school after taking a pottery class, but it wasn't until many years later, while living on Oahu, that she was invited to visit the Fort Shafter Craft Center where they were doing a Raku workshop. She said that the clay studio made her feel like she belonged, and she was invited back for the workshop the following month. She bought a bag of clay and her journey began. Over the next four years, Margaret worked out of the Craft Center, starting out as a volunteer, and within a year she was teaching the Raku workshop, became the group leader for the Raku Ho'olaule'a for two consecutive years, taught a hand building class on Saturdays and during her last year at the Center, Margaret was asked to manage the Ceramic Studio in charge of the volunteers at the Craft Center.

Margaret has had many milestones and major accomplishments with her art since starting her journey back on Oahu, and today, in her Paradise Park Studio, she creates works through inspirations that come from the oceans and wild natural beauty of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, to her paradise experience of the Hawaiian Islands, embracing  the cultures, the land and endangered species.



Margaret is an active vendor at the Maku'u Farmer's Market, a founding member of the Paradise Studio Tour, held every year in Paradise Park and she is currently showing her art at many venues around the Big Island. At her next local event she will be displaying her work at the Volcano Art Center Show titled: "From the Earth", opening June 23rd. and running until July 30th.  The show will feature artists Margaret Lynch, Patti Pease Johnson and Karen Hagen. You can visit the Paradise Raku Studio and the Volcano Arts Center through the links below.

J. Osprey

Paradise Raku Studio

paradiseraku.net

Volcano Art Center
http://volcanoartcenter.org/








 FEBRUARY VENDOR OF THE MONTH

What do you get when you blend grandma’s best, old-time recipes with fruit grown in the rich, volcanic soil of Hawaii Island?  Only the best preserves, bursting with orchard-fresh flavor.  From the traditional to the exotic, Island Valley Delight’s jams and jellies will tickle your taste buds in a way that… well, let’s just say those buds will thank you for it.

All of the fruit for these jams and jellies is grown right here on the windward side of the Big Island at Steve and Anita’s Mountain View Farm.  Steve, with his enormous green thumbs and his crew of merry helpers, lovingly tends the raised beds and orchard trees that sprout from what may be the most fertile ground on earth.  What isn’t grown on the farm comes from neighboring farms and friends.  The coconuts drop from swaying palms by the sea near Kalapana.  Wild guava is picked in the forest on the farm.  Lilikoi is plucked from the dangling vine in a friend’s overgrown yard.  It just doesn’t get any fresher or any more Hawaiian style than that…

 

Anita Roscoe, co-owner of Island Valley Delights,dba JAMMIN’ JELLIES BRAND, spent much of her childhood in her grandmother’s kitchen.  There, she developed both a discerning palate and a love for cooking and baking.  Today, it’s those same old-fashioned recipes that draw customers in droves to the Island Valley Delights stand at the farmers markets in Hilo, Maku’u and Volcano Village.Top off a slice of Anita’s fresh-baked bread with a dollop of her jam and you’ll see why folks just keep coming back for more!

2011 has been a year of tremendous growth for Island Valley Delights and 2012 is, well..Jammin'. Their  products can be ordered through the website:

islandvalleydelights.com 

Or at KTA stores under the Mountain Apple Brand: EXOTIC PRESERVES

and at AMAZON: groceries and gourmet food/Island Valley Delights. 

And if that's not enough, Anita offers fresh out of the oven- bread, muffins and brownies AND free-range chicken eggs at the Farmer's Market locations.  Drop by Booth # F-26 on Sunday to say Hi and maybe get a taste of Anita's weekly samples. See you there!




DECEMBER VENDOR OF THE MONTH


So we have a Man of Portuguese and Hawaiian descent making an instrument that was brought to the Islands by the Portuguese and adapted by the Hawaiians to fit the local sound and named this instrument the Ukelele: "The Gift That Came Here". 

His name is Thomas Vincent. 

 


Woodworking was always a hobby for Vincent and his dad Gerard, but now it has become a small business and his hands follow his heart to make some of the finest ukelele on the Hawaiian market today.  Beautiful and unique. Using mostly wood from the Hawaiian Islands like Koa, Mango, Macadamia and others, Thomas says that he makes no two ukelele the same which makes each instrument a one-of-a-kind work of art. 



Pictured here is Thomas with his latest Ukulele with a totally rad design with a Hammerhead Shark cut out. 

The ukelele is my favorite creation by Thomas but it is not the only thing that comes out of his woodshop. Jewelry boxes, tissue dispenser boxes and urns are available plus another collection of very cool hardwood pens. 

Thomas and his art can be seen at the Maku'u Farmer's Market every Sunday in booth # B-6. (except for Dec. 4 when he will be showing his work at the Paradise Studio Tour in Paradise Park).You can also see more of his work at tvwoodcrafts.com


OCTOBER VENDOR OF THE MONTH

When I began this series of blogs: Vendor of the Month, I stated that you may find out some interesting things about these Maku'u Market vendors. Well here is one very interesting Lady. Meet Mara Mayo.

Born in San Francisco, California, to artist parents. She moved 26 times before she graduated from High School. Learning how to “see” the world around her was an ongoing lesson. Father was a well known artist (Williamson Mayo) and Mother was a graphic artist/art teacher, who went on to become a Para-psychologist. Ultimately resulting in the book “The Multi-dimentional Mind”

Art became the language by which she expressed herself, as well as the place she would go to escape from external stressors. By age 10, she was creating 3D soft sculptures to sell at the local “head shops”…At age 14, she became obsessed with american indian beadwork and created an unknown number of beaded headbands and beaded belts on the loom. Fabric was the next medium, and she began to create all her own clothing for school… Batik and Tie Dye were explored for years, resulting in many an art fair and creating extra cash flow. At age 21 she came to Maui to visit her father in Hana…and never left. Ultimately settling on the Big Island, she now lives in Keaau.

Then she began her house building projects… House designs became ever more “exotic” incorporating stained glass and mosaic tile, as well as non-traditional architecture. (She drew all her own house plans)

In the meantime, she worked a “real job” as a therapist ( Bachelors in Elementary Education, Masters in Family Counseling, Certified Substance Abuse Counselor) for 15 years. She worked primarily with troubled “local” adolescents in rural schools in Hawaii, but local politics, administrative power trips and managed care, drove her into early retirement. “It was never the kids!”

She is back to what she truly loves… ART! This is designed to showcase some of the stuff she enjoys most which is “wearable art”. She believes that every woman deserves to be a “goddess” and art should be usable and functional. She hopes you enjoy it as much as she enjoyed creating it!

Be sure to stop by Mara's booth, F-3, when you visit Maku'u Farmer's Market on Sunday, or visit her website at: maramayo.com. Meet a beautiful lady and be amazed at her awesome work.  J.Osprey

We are starting a new blog series and page to showcase some really cool vendors from the Maku'u Farmer's Market. We hope you will enjoy.

September Vendor of the Month: Jeremiah White.

Born on the Big Island, Jeremiah says "I have been drawing since I can remember". He has a MFA in art and a minor in Marine
Science and spends much of his time in the ocean. "I love diving and observing sea creatures, especially sharks".His artwork on his t-shirts shows his talent and his love of the ocean.

Quote: "Live simply because the things you own will end up owning you"