Raindrops on Roses

December 16, 2019

And whiskers on kittens. OK, we didn’t actually see either of those favorite things at the Grand Central Holiday Fair. But we did see many other wonderful things on offer from craftspeople and artists drawn to this premier gift bazaar.

“The Holiday Fair Committee spends the year looking for unique vendors with a focus on American-made and handmade products with locally-sourced materials or a socially-conscious business model.”

Long Islander Karla Gudeon took a short break from greeting a steady stream of traffic at her booth to talk with the Gazette. Karla left teaching awhile back before relaunching herself as a full time artist. She combines engraving on metal blanks with hand coloring the prints she makes from them. They’re exquisitely done and feature as subjects icons such as Michelle Obama, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and Frida Kahlo. Some designs are also available on marble tiles.

Swan and Stone Millinery is named for two humans from Vermont, Nora Stone and Sam Swan. Their handmade hats are delightful to look at or wear and they’re built on antique wooden hat forms from pure merino wool and accented with locally found (or grown) objects including metal, roots, feathers, and vintage fabrics.

You’ll need a fine instrument to write all those thank-you cards that you hopefully need to send after the holidays. There’s an amazing selection of them at BG Artforms including examples inspired by Game of Thrones, Steam Punk, and Abalone. The artist, Barry Gross, creates them from re-cycled material such as watch parts, shipwreck coins, cigar labels, cholla cactus, walrus Oosik, beer caps, jeweled beetle wings, surgical blades and sutures. Dick Cheney used to gift these to foreign dignitaries when he was Vice President.

At Saskia, every bead tells a story, usually in the form of a wearable work of art. There are fine necklaces, earrings and bracelets on display that are handmade in the artist’s  studio at Industry City in Brooklyn. Saskia’s designs are also featured at the Rubin Museum on W 17th Street.

The Harlem Candle Company is a luxury home fragrance brand specializing in scented candles inspired by the richness of Harlem. Founded in 2014 by travel and lifestyle expert Teri Johnson, the Harlem Candle Company “is the manifestation of her love affair with fragrance, jazz, and Harlem.”

These are just a few of the outstanding booths at the Holiday Fair. If you’re anywhere near midtown it’s worth a detour, and even if you’re just dashing through the station to or from a commute, check it out. There are 40 booths in all and you’ll surely find the perfect gift for a special someone while you’re here.