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! 

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!

The Opulent Squid brings whimsical, lovely handmade jewelry to The Flea and it is always a big hit. Melissa describes her handmade, one-of-a kind pieces as "luxurious, blingy and a bit off kilter."  We love them. Brand new and premiering at The Flea are her fortune cookie necklaces. These "words of wisdom" are often funny, sometimes inspiring and frequently lost in translation. Each necklace is made from an actual fortune culled from a huge collection she has amassed over the years--personally having eaten every cookie!

And Melissa really loves being at The Flea. She says:

She'll also be debuting some statement necklaces featuring upcycled vintage hardware with each perfectly imperfect centerpiece well worn and with a history and character all its own! Stop by next Sunday, meet Melissa and see her wonderful work.  Buy local!

Maureen of Inside My Cranium is The Guitar String Chick.

She collects guitar, bass and mandolin strings from local musicians and repurposes them into funky, cool jewelry.  

She adds other well used things she finds like keys, key plates and coins to enhance the weathered, layered metal feel of her pieces.  She says, "Everything is repurposed and I never buy new to make my work!

Look at the beautiful results:

Awesome, right?

Meet Maureen and see her work at The Flea next Sunday.  If you have guitar strings you don't want, bring them to  her!

Lola's Vintage Closet wants to add some zang to your life. Lola's collection of clothing includes anything from the Victorian era to today. A sampling could include a Victorian dress and shoes to match, men's shoes from the 1960s and vintage Hawaiian shirts.  

But you can also find housewares, jewelry and all kinds of other interesting things at Lola's booth.

How did you get your start?
Linda has been in the business since she got her driver's license as a teenager and started driving her great aunt to rummage sales and auctions. Linda says, "She was an antique dealer from Warwick Neck, and I learned a lot from her and other family members. When I went to college for nursing I used the antiques to help support my two young sons." 

And who is Lola?
"Lola is my wiener dog. She's 7 lbs of energy, purpose and determination and has been with me for 6 years."

Come meet Linda at The Flea this weekend and she what's she's found to share!

All of the shimmer and glam of a star is infused in the design work of Naomi King, the visionary behind Starlite Designs & Vintage. Naomi creates one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry, tailored handbags, organic perfumes and carries a line of vintage vanity accessories. 

Since 2008 Naomi has used locally-sourced vintage jewelry components in her work--including uncirculated pieces from the Rhode Island jewelry manufacturing industry, some more than 50 years old.  She uses  precious and semi-precious gemstones and vintage crystals to make her earrings, bracelets and necklaces sparkle.

Naomi has also expanded her work to include a line of tailored, glimmering leather handbags. Just what that Little Black Dress needs...

Naomi is influenced by a love of history, art and nature in her designs. Meet Naomi and see Starlite Designs & Vintage firsthand at The Providence Flea this weekend and throughout the summer. Photos cannot capture the true shimmer, people!

Barbara Moss is lovely.  So is the Barbara Moss Antiques collection of jewelry.  You *must* stop by her booth for a chat and a slow trip through her glass cases.  “All my items are vintage or antique and for the most part, jewelry,” says Barbara. “Some are old collectibles, others are sterling silver or gold. Many pieces have a story to tell and I love to tell them.”

Barbara has been in the vintage and antiques world since 1967.  (That’s a minute or two!)  She previously had a store in Wickford, but now you can find her at flea markets.  “For me flea markets are a way of life. Even when times were lean, I'd still set up. Many of my best friends are the people I met doing the fleas. I will always be a Flea Marketer.”

Barbara loves seeing all of the dogs at The Providence Flea so bring your pooch by to meet her this Sunday, July 13 and occasional dates through the summer!

Anthony Defilippo caught the entrepreneurship bug and started Earth Custom Designs, an ecologically aware jewelry line, as a high school student.  Yup.  How's that for awesome?

Earth Custom Designs started by designing leather bracelets that feature non-precious stones from developing countries. The sale of the bracelets helps support the growth of poor villages where the stones originate. Each wonderful bracelet comes with a story of origin explaining the stone and is presented in a hand-stitched gift bag. Wow. This year Anthony will introduce necklaces and earrings to his line and plans are in the works for t-shirts and bags that will help support impoverished communities in Guatemala.

We're so impressed with Anthony's vision and commitment. Anthony says, "I really appreciate what the Providence Flea is trying to accomplish. They are helping grow small businesses throughout Rhode Island."

Stop by and meet Anthony this summer at The Flea!

Black Sheep Designs jewelry is crafted from vintage and antique treasures.  That's right, Pamela Laurenzo hunts for tokens, tags, keys, and other tiny finds to make NEW treasures just for you.  Mount Hope bridge tokens, weathered coins and Boston T tokens are paired with locally sourced vintage beads and mixed metals to make tailored-but-funky necklaces, bracelets, earrings.  

Black Sheep Designs comes to The Providence Flea (and your wardrobe) from their Pawtucket studio. Meet Pamela and find your perfect patina June 22 or in July or August!