As Seen On : Lindsay Jordan
I started doing craft fairs + makers’ markets 11 years ago. Early on I was doing about 30-40 market days a year. There have been some great ones, and some duds, either money-wise, weather-wise, foot-traffic-wise, or just overall experience-wise. I’ve had dogs pee on my table cloth, I’ve had heat-stroke and I’ve lost my tent out of the back of my car on the way home. I’ve had OMG-I’m-so-rich-epic sales days and I’ve had I-should-probably-quit-I’ve-only-sold-one-thing-all-day days.
But one thing that I have learned is that you can’t always judge a market on the day of said market…sometimes they lead to meeting a store owner who wants to carry your work, or sometimes that single sale is the first of many to a longtime loyal customer. Or sometimes, just sometimes, those market days lead to a new friendship. If you are lucky enough, you are neighbors with someone you click with, and your artist hearts just keep crisscrossing over the years.
That’s Lindsay Jordan and I; 10 years ago as vendors at a soggy and cold May market day, both in tents, both stamping our feet to stay warm, both trying to sell our work to customers in raincoats, braving the rain. Fast forward to now, to years of being market-buddy-neighbors (criss), to me designing custom necklaces for Lindsay’s family (cross), to Lindsay and I seeing each other every Wednesday at our weekly pottery class (criss), to Lindsay opening up a holiday pop up shop in Haverhill, Massachusetts and carrying my typewriter stationery (cross). If I had judged that market on that day, it would have been one thing. But if I judge it now, it has crisscrossed into another.
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Lindsay, please tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up in Newington, Connecticut and currently live in Haverhill, Massachusetts (2 towns away from Amesbury!) My husband Tim and I are parents to four kids - soon they’ll all be out of high school and in college, with one already finished with college.
What do you do for work? Hobbies? Enjoyment?
All three wrap into one - I work as a handmade artist making pottery, quilts, bags and jewelry. I love making things and will explore other types of art forms for enjoyment. I also like to cook, spend time with family and friends, go to the gym
What has your path as an artist/maker been like? What are your favorite mediums/subjects?
My path has taken me through interior design, to making beaded jewelry, leather and metal cuff bracelets, wristlet pouches, city totes, backpacks, mittens, quilts, and now pottery. They’ve all been favorites at different times, and I tend to rotate between them whenever I feel my inspiration shifting.
Right now, my biggest obsession is pottery - I can’t get enough of it. I feel like I’m only scratching the surface of what’s possible, and I’m always excited about the next idea I want to try. Quilting is a close second. I love fabric for its pattern, texture, and color; combining them in a quilt feels like figuring out a puzzle of all my favorite fabrics to create something entirely my own - and that never stops being thrilling.
How was creativity and self-expression fostered for you?
I’ve always felt this need to make things. As a little kid, I was always making something. I loved camp because that’s where I first learned to make friendship bracelets, taper candles, and leather bracelets, and worked on all kinds of arts and crafts. I also enjoyed creating my own Halloween costumes. In middle school, my favorite classes were the home ec ones - cooking and sewing - where I made a skirt, pillows, and a simple quilt. In high school it was the same story: wood shop, metal shop, plastics, jewelry making, and interior design. I couldn’t wait to get to those classes and never wanted to leave.
How does it shape your life now?
I still feel the same way. I almost don’t know how to function without making something - it’s what helps me feel most like myself.
Who is a mentor to you? And how have they helped you in your creative or life journey?
I’ve been lucky to have so many teachers and instructors along the way who shaped me as a maker. Right now, Patty at Angel’s Sewing & Quilting teaches me all the quilting techniques, and the community of potters at Purple Sage Pottery in Merrimac, MA, has been incredible for learning different pottery techniques. My main mentors have been my teachers Jenny Graf, Iris Minc, and Lisa Mistretta. They’ve given me both the instruction and the encouragement to try new things, then see where it leads. That support has pushed me forward at every stage of my creative path.
Please tell us about your pop-up shop in Haverhill. How did you come up with the idea?
I’ve been wanting to have my own space to show and sell my work in a comprehensive way for a while, and the holidays seemed like the perfect time to create a fun shopping experience full of unique, handmade gifts. I love the idea of featuring other makers alongside my own pieces - it allows me to create gift bundles, show how my products can be used, and make the shop feel alive and full of things to enjoy.
I also wanted to do this in my own community. I think Haverhill could use more spaces celebrating locally handmade products and art. I’ve seen how these kinds of shops enhance downtown areas in other towns, creating a ripple effect for other small businesses. The opportunity came about through Creative Haverhill.
The space is provided by Creative Haverhill as an incubator space for Cogswell ArtSpace (a future 21,000 square foot communtiy art center being developed by Creative Haverhill). Since June, 43 Washington Street in Haverhill, MA has been a vibrant hub for exhibitions, classes, and community events - thanks to a grant from the Creative County initiative of Essex County Community Foundation.
Part of my stay at 43 Washington Street will include two holiday-themed makers’ workshops: cookie decorating and wreath making. I love making things, but I don’t always have time to make everything I’d like. Workshops are a great way to scratch that creative itch and try something new outside of my usual work.
Ultimately, my hope would be to get the opportunity to expand this concept to Cogswell ArtSpace either through a curated gift shop full of makers’ products, coordinating workshops that explore all kinds of making, and/or by making my own work there through a studio space. But for now, I’m thrilled to welcome people to 43 Washington Street, Haverhill, and we are open: Wed–Sat 11–7, Sun 11–3
How are you curating the space and the products you’re carrying? What are you excited about, nervous about, hopeful for?
My holiday pop-up is a collection of my handmade pieces, each tied to a maker I love and a story we share. I’m excited to bring these products to life in a space where people can see how they can be used, bundled together, or gifted. I’ve also included products from other makers I admire to enhance the collection and create a more complete, inspiring holiday shopping experience, giving people ideas for how to use the pieces together.
I’m a little nervous about whether it will all come together the way I imagine, but I’m hopeful it will bring joy to the community, spark connections, and maybe even inspire people to try making something themselves.
How did you and Amy come to know each other?
I met Amy for the first time at a market through my friend Mary of Farm + Sea. We were all vendors, and Mary told me I had to meet Amy to see her jewelry. She thought I would love it and she was right. I was instantly hooked.
And how have your paths crossed since?
I’ve followed Amy’s work ever since, keeping up with her on social media and going to events she’s part of or stopping by her Amesbury studio to pick up pieces for myself or for gifts. I also take a pottery class with her at Purple Sage Pottery in Merrimac, MA. And this season, I’m excited to be carrying her holiday note cards in my pop-up shop in Haverhill, MA.
What pieces of Amy’s jewelry line do you wear? What drew you to those pieces? What do you like about wearing them?
I have so many pieces from Amy - from large and small hoops to studs, rings, cuff bracelet and necklaces. I was immediately drawn to her jewelry because it’s classic and timeless - the kind of pieces you can wear every day and with absolutely anything. I even got three holes in each ear just so I could stack different AVE earrings. Right now, I wear Cavo Necklace, the Aldo Hoops and a pair of Giorgia Studs every day. I also wear two gold rings - The Selma Ring and the Winnifred Ring - stacked with my great aunt’s vintage ring. Amy’s classic, timeless designs make her simple bands the perfect complement to vintage pieces.
How are you most often seen wearing these pieces?
Jeans, sweater, dressy to casual shirt, sweater or jacket, Dr Martens, short leather boots or cute casual sneakers.
Is jewelry the first thing you think about or the last thing you adorn with when it comes to outfitting for the day?
Jewelry is the last thing I think about, but I’m always wearing it. I wear pieces that stay on all the time so I don’t have to think about it.
Thank you so much for reading the latest installment of As Seen On. You can learn more about Lindsay + her beautiful work here.
You can visit Lindsay at her pop up shop at 43 Washington Street, Haverhill through December 14th (Wed–Sat 11–7, Sun 11–3)
And in honor of Lindsay, each of her favorite designs will be 20% off on my website through the end of December.
If you or someone you know wears AVE jewelry and is interested in being featured in this “Ode to the Wearers", please reach out so that I can learn more about you and what you wear.