On Tuesday, 193 Coffeehouse, located in the University of Rhode Island’s Memorial Union, hosted a flea market for small business owners to display their crafts in hopes of sales.
There were a number of different booths, ones that included works of art, handcrafted jewelry, printed clothing, prints and stickers. It was an opportunity for these creators to feel supported and to showcase their talents, as stated on 193 Coffeehouse’s Instagram, @193coffeehouse.
A woman named Mariana Quiros Porras owns a small business with her mother called Krystallos Art, which was one of the booths within the coffeehouse. Quiros Porras and her mother handcraft their own jewelry to sell. They sell bracelets, rings and earrings that are all either handmade or retailed previously, making sure that they are safe and able to be resold.
“We make the jewelry with genuine crystals, gems and stones,” Quiros Porras said. “We also make hypoallergenic earrings and rings.”
Krystallos Art has been producing jewelry for about a year and a half. She and her family will come to URI’s campus often and set up a booth in front of the Memorial Union where students are able to come and check out their products.
“My mom and I really love crafts,” Quiros Porras said. “We like doing crafts that are economically viable and also entertaining… It’s a great way to express yourself.”
URI student Alexi Clause also had her own booth dedicated to her artwork and jewelry that she makes herself. She is an art major, focusing more on school at the moment, but said that she wanted to start focusing on building her business.
“I want to be a tattoo artist after I graduate, but I want to keep my small business on the side,” Clause said.
She takes inspiration from her mother who is also an artist. Clause also had her mother’s art displayed in a QR code, and she said that her entire family is artistic.
More of Clause’s art can be found on Instagram at the handle @obliviousrats. She also mentioned that she is open to commissions.
Another table was hosted by Kelsi Stickels, a jewelry designer who uses recycled or vintage beads for each of her designs. She started her business, Off the Hook, in seventh grade as a fundraiser for her step-mother who had breast cancer at the time.
“I started making jewelry to help her out,” Stickels said. “And after that, I just fell in love with it. I love seeing my jewelry on people and watching it boost their confidence.”
Stickels prefers jewelry that makes a statement, such as one piece she had that was black and gold, with different beads all throughout it.
“There are ones that are more of an art piece and ones that are a little more simple,” Stickels said. “And the ones that are an art piece are more fun to make.”
Second-year Hazel Peters has owned the business Natural High for a year and a half so far. Peters hand carves and creates prints on her own. She said that she mainly sells T-shirts but brought prints into the flea market to keep it affordable for college students.
Peters was inspired by her sister who also did the same sort of art. She likes more intricate designs that are filled with color.
“The whole thing with Natural High is to inspire you to go out and find your passion and something that you enjoy,” Peters said. “The art is fun, colorful and creative, like the feeling you get when you do something you love.”
More of Peters’ work can be found on her Instagram, @naturalhigh.te.
As the flea market at 193 Coffeehouse concluded, attendees had witnessed a diverse display of artwork, jewelry, clothing and crafts throughout the afternoon. Information on future events at 193 Coffeehouse can be found on their Instagram page.