This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Business & Tech

5 Impressive Farmer's Market Finds: Handmade Jewelry, Unique Gourds, Fuss-Free Florals and More

From painted gourds to classic wooden toys, Tinley Park Farmer's Market offers the best in handcrafted goods.

Sure, the is a one-stop shop for fresh fruits and veggies, but did you know it also offers the most unique arts and crafts this side of Harlem Avenue? Patch paid a visit to the market and found the best five crafters—in our eyes—that this week had to offer.

So Much Prettier Than Tupperware

“For many years, countries around the equator used hard shell gourds as storage containers and vessels, in much the same way we use Tupperware,” said Karen Caldwell, owner of LaDeDa Gourds.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Following suit, Caldwell takes the hard-rind, inedible cousin to the pumpkin to create art that is not only beautiful, but functional. Customers can choose from gourds fashioned as containers, baskets, decorative pieces, birdhouses and even musical instruments.

Caldwell starts with gourds that have been cleaned and left to dry over the winter season. The outside skin is scraped off; leaving a beige shell that's durable and almost wood-like. She lets the natural shape of the dried gourd dictate its final design. Smaller gourds, for example, make perfect birdhouses, complete with rounded openings and perching rods.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

“I scrape and shake out as much of dried flesh as possible,” she says, “... Though whatever is left over makes good nesting material for birds. Gourds make great birdhouses due to their insulation qualities.”

Simple designs are finished in a couple hours, though some of the larger, more intricate pieces can take up to 40 of design work complete with dying, painting, glazing, metal inlays, and wood burning details.

A Throwback to Classic Toys

Do your kids need a rest from hand-held computer games and other techno gadgets? Give them some classic fun with wooden toys from The Sawyer.

Owner Jason Sawyer offers different options including puzzles, trucks, train sets and doll furniture.

“My father taught me woodworking when I was about 8 years old,” the Tinley resident said. “Many of my toys are made from my grandfather’s designs; some I designed myself.”

A turtle puzzle is his best-selling piece, along with the more complicated block puzzle composed of many curved parts and fragments. Just don’t expect Sawyer to tell you the secret to putting this puzzle together—you’ll have to figure that out for yourself.

Because Your Skin Deserves It

Soap is soap, but with exotic scents and natural exfoliants, Sister Soap is truly a bath-time treat.

Donna Williams started making soaps as gifts for her friends and family. They loved her products and encouraged the Country Club Hills resident to turn her hobby into a home-based business. Now in its twelfth year, Sister Soap Inc. stays true to its company name—with Williams working alongside her sister Elizabeth and sister-in-law, Holly Pryor Harris.

Sister Soaps come in a bunch of scents and colors, with Hawaiian Rain and Oatmeal being their most popular must-buys. Don’t forget to pick up some coordinating bath salts to add to your sudsy ritual.

Flowers Without the Fuss

Love the beauty of floral arrangements, but hate the fuss that comes with keeping them fresh? If so, make sure you stop at the Southwest Enterprises booth and pick up an arrangement guaranteed to last forever.

Nick Smajo is the creative force behind many of Southwest Enterprises’ designs, having worked with silk for the past twenty-seven years. On market days he can be found in the back of the booth snipping away, coordinating and arranging silk flowers and foliage to create fuss-free floral décor, hanging baskets, holiday arrangements and cemetery saddles.

“We’ve been here at the Tinley Park Farmer’s Market for three years. Our selection and colors change from week to week, depending on the season” Smajo said.

In addition to the TP Farmer’s Market, Southwest Enterprises shows at area craft fairs and Indiana’s Shipshewana Flea Market.

A Treasure Trove of Bling

We all know most girls can't resist a beautiful, shiny piece of jewelry. This is especially true when it’s a handcrafted piece from Gemini Treasures.

The Palos mother-daughter team, Pam Lateck and Shannon Leach, use lamp work beads, Swarovski crystals and bling to create one-of-a-kind jewelry—bracelets, necklaces, earrings and anklets—that’s sure to earn "ooos and ahhs" from your friends and family.

“Ankle bracelets are definitely big sellers for the summer,” Leach said. “Everyone wants something pretty they can wear and not worry about taking off if they go swimming in the pool or ocean.”

Gemini Treasures is a popular fixture at the market, attracting regular customers with their unique designs and jewelry repair services on-site. Watch for an additional designer to join Gemini Treasures in the near future—Leach’s 2-year old daughter is already an expert at stringing beads to create her own trendy designs.

The Tinley Park Farmer’s Market is held every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. through September, at Zabrocki Plaza, 17116 Oak Park Ave., in the Metra parking lot. For more information, call 708-805-GROW.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?