Wood in Motion crafts stunning kinetic wood sculptures unlike anything we've ever seen at the Providence Flea! We're completely mesmerized by these unique moving sculptures that remind us both of slithering snakes and the expansive outer space. See for yourself in the montage video above! 

Artist Tim Dawes tells us, "Woodworking has been an avocation of mine most of my life. I also am interested in things mechanical. I came upon wood kinetic sculptures 7 years ago. They appeal to me because they pull together my combined interests in wood, woodwork, and mechanical mechanisms." 

Well we're certainly glad Tim discovered kinetic sculptures so that we could enjoy marveling at them. WOW!

Visit Wood In Motion and order your custom kinetic sculpture at the #PVDFlea this Sunday, July 5 from 10am to 4pm!

This weekend at the Flea visit our featured nonprofit booth to find out how the Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG) is helping small businesses in Rhode Island thrive! The Social Enterprise Greenhouse provides support systems to inspire, launch, grow, and sustain successful mission-driven businesses (hint: maybe even yours!). 

SEG explains, "Social enterprises are organizations--nonprofit, for profit, and hybrid--that strive to 'do well and do good.' They harness market demand to achieve dual missions: delivering social and financial returns." 

The Greenhouse provides 101 workshops to startup ventures in business planning, marketing, finance, fundraising and development, and more. They also offer an Accelerator program for entrepreneurs ready to move their businesses to the next level, provide small business loans, and host the annual, national Social Enterprise Economic Ecosystem Development (SEEED) Conference--the first of its kind in the country. 

"We believe that social enterprises will be the driving force in the state's economic development efforts," says Greenhouse Hub manager, Paula Cunanan. "SEG is now more than ever working to partner with local organizations doing amazing work to grow the local economy and celebrate the many assets of Rhode Island. The Providence Flea certainly embodies that--providing the space for small businesses to flourish and grow the local economy."

Check out the Social Enterprise Greenhouse and find out how your business can get support this Sunday, June 28 at the Flea from 10 am to 4 pm!

Jennifer Howland Hill of Howland Studio makes colorful, affordable jewelry utilizing vintage fabrics and paper mounted under glass cabochons in a variety of settings. The jewelry also features her own photography, (also mounted under glass), often in a funky fractal form. She affectionately calls her jewelry 'eye candy,' as it is often colorful and whimsical--and looks good enough to eat!  Jennifer offers a smattering of mini matted photographic prints, canvases and cards of her work as well.

"I've heard wonderful things about the Providence Flea," Jennifer told us, "by both customers and fellow vendors alike, and have always loved a good 'flea' market since childhood as the daughter of a former antique dealer. I also love the vibe Providence has which I find very refreshing in contrast to Boston, (closer to my own home)." Don't worry, Jennifer, we won't tell...many people...!

See Howland Studio at Sunday's Flea on June 28 from 10 am - 4 pm!

After 34 straight summer Fleas, tomorrow's market is canceled (Sunday, June 21st), the first cancellation since we started in 2013. It was a very good run!! With heavy rain and thunderstorms expected through mid-afternoon, we feel it's not worth the risk to vendors and patrons despite our 'rain or shine' policy. It was a difficult decision to make, but we think it's the right one. We thank you for your patronage, we apologize for the inconvenience, and we hope to see you on the 28th. 

Happy Pride and Happy Father's Day!

Antiques, photography and Rhode Island icons all come together through Rhode Trip Photography. "If you put Rhode Island, a mechanical film camera, and antique photographic frames in a barrel and shake it up, you have Rhode Trip Photography. A blast from the past, vintage Rhode Island memories in a fine art format," artist and photographer Paul Davis explains. "It's not just about taking a picture, but actually making a picture by hand the old fashioned way."

We asked Paul what brings him to the Flea and he had this to share: "The Flea is the future of art/craft shows. Combining repurposed, creative art with antiques--and wash it all down with the amazing food trucks that Rhode Island has to offer." (We're not sure who loves whom more!) 

Find a Rhode Island inspired treasure for your dad at the Rhode Trip Photography booth on Father's Day, June 21!

For centuries craftsmen at large and small factories alike have been put to work creating practical glass housewares. Today, Jesse Yager, owner and designer behind End of the Day Glass, explains that at the end of a long work day, many factory working glassblowers would explore their creativity, skill, and wit by creating unique and entertaining pieces for themselves. Jesse brings that same spirit of amusement and delight to each handcrafted piece from End of the Day Glass.

"I believe it is important for everybody to have handmade objects for everyday use. Unique tools and utensils connect the user to the maker, as well as to the creative world surrounding all of us," shared Jesse.

See Jesse's latest work below and check out End of the Day Glass on the Providence River Greenway at the Flea on Sunday, June 21 from 10 am - 4 pm!

The Opulent Squid returns for Season Three of the Flea on Opening Day, Sunday, June 7 from 10 am - 4pm! Owner Melissa Murray has been with us since the beginning. She designs and creates handcrafted "posh and peculiar" jewelry from vintage assemblages and found objects. She tells us, "I try to use upcycled materials and vintage components as often as possible. I find that incorporating these element enhances the character and uniqueness of my work and helps to give each piece a history of its own!"

When we asked Melissa why The Opulent Squid returns to the Flea year after year she had this to say:  "I wait for it all winter and actually save some of my new summer lines to debut especially for the venue. The freshness and diversity of my fellow vendors inspires me and keeps me coming back for more, and I know my customers feel the same way!" We're glad to have you back, Melissa!

Support local jewelry makers and see more from The Opulent Squid on June 14!

The Carpenter's Wife RI crafts upcycled, OOAK art and functional pieces from various media. The woman behind the magic, Jerilyn Spaziano, tells us that her inspiration often comes from taking walks in the woods and stumbling upon unique and unusual pieces of wood or piles of oversized acorns. She's also been known to use pallets found behind abandoned warehouses. Each time, she tells us she thinks, "Free wood! I'm going to take this home and make something out of it."

Jerilyn began working with wood in 1975 when she made history as the first woman in her high school to take wood shop classes. She later married master carpenter, David Spaziano, and continued developing her woodworking skills and learning from him. But wood isn't Jerilyn's only talent. She holds a master seamstress certificate and enjoys taking classes in jewelry-making and metal working, too. This carpenter's wife is truly a 'Jill' of all trades and a master of many. 

"I feel proud to be part of Providence Flea, which represents an eclectic mix of artists and crafts people from the state of Rhode Island. The vendors are like a family who help each other, while independently hoping to sell their wares." Welcome to the family, Jerilyn!

See the latest from The Carpenter's Wife RI at the Flea on Sunday, June 14 from 10 am - 4 pm! 

Old Notes Vintage Guitars seeks out, restores, and resells vintage guitars and instruments from the 1950s and 1960s. Musicians Ken and Leslie Uhnak told us, "Guitars from this era represented an emerging expression of American music history that is rapidly fading from memory. Our mission is to preserve the spirit of this bygone era, and keep it alive through music played on the instruments of the time." 

When we asked them what inspires their work, they had this to say: "We are musicians; we love the look and sound of these guitars and want to reintroduce them to a new generation of musicians."

They'll have a booth full of boxy-bluesy parlour and arch top guitars ready to adopt. And the other half of their booth features their project, The Brolly Drolly, specializing in Victorian through mid-century umbrellas in all of their glory. 

Nothing will rain on this parade.

Check them out in their double-wide at the Flea on Sunday, June 14 from 10 am - 4 pm along the Providence River Greenway!

Emily Buffi turned her hobby of making jewelry and accessories into a business venture when she opened that hippie chic in December 2013. Previously a salon manager, hairstylis and nail technician, Emily brings her knowledge of the beauty industry to her stunning, simple and hippie-inspired designs. "My motto has been and always will be, 'do what you love and love what you do.' This has been my inspiration since I can remember," Buffi shared with us. 

When we asked Emily what brings her to the Flea she told us, "I love crafting and being outside, so selling my jewelry at the Providence Flea is perfect for me! I love the energy from the minute you arrive until it's time to pack up. I sell my jewelry at other outside events but nothing compares to the overall experience of the Providence Flea." We totally agree, Emily! 

See what that hippie chic has to offer on Opening Day at the Flea on June 7!