Vendors Ply Their Wares At Balloonfest: One-Of-A-Kind Finds

Vendors Ply Their Wares At Balloonfest: One-Of-A-Kind Finds
Grace Usher / 12 Jan 2019 / No Comments » Comments

By Grace Usher

Though the balloons are the main attraction of the weekend, most foot traffic can be seen in the vendor walk. With nearly 50 booths, visitors are bound to find items that aren’t quite what you’d find in the typical store.

Here are some top picks for the unique, and one-of-a-kind-finds:

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Touch lamps made of repurposed antiques

Company: Patrick O’ Brien, Reilluminated

Location: Phoenix

Fun Fact: Originally an electrician turned motorcycle technician, O’Brien turned his one-time hobby into a functional-art business, On average, it takes about 1 hour to make each unique piece but his prized trumpet took nearly 14 hours to create.

Learn More: reilluminatedlamps.com

Grace Usher/RiverScene

Clothing, Accessories and Home Decor that give back

Company: Drew Grizwald, Wander and Co

Location: Milwaukee, Wisc.

Fun Fact: Each product sold gives back to particular wildlife or social cause charity. Shirts that save animals, candles that plant trees, purchase without guilt

Learn More: https://wanderand.co/

Grace Usher/RiverScene

A sweet tooth’s paradise

Company: Edward Jacobucci, Aufeiro Inc, Licorice Factory

Location: Needles, Calif.

Fun Fact: These oversized licorice whips are chemical and preservative free. They are handcrafted in Spain and come in 4 types (sweet, sour, traditional, hot n spicy) and include 20 varieties!

Vendor recommendation: Pina Colada

Grace Usher/RiverScene

Accessorize with handcrafted art

Company: Jessica Robertson, Burly Babe

Location: Hudson, Wisc.

Fun Fact: This artist uses basswood to create earrings and home decor. Any sticker purchased will become a donation toward the Joshua Tree National Park.

Learn More: burlybabewoodworking.com

Grace Usher/RiverScene

A glass replica of your happy place

Company: Dana and Karen Robbins, Robbins Ranch Art Glass

Location: New Mexico

Fun Fact: This artist duo focus on hand-blown furnace glass hot air balloon replicas. They also design decorative, functional, sculptures, and totem pieces.

Favorite piece: New Mexico Inspired Totem

Learn More: http://robbinsranch.com/

 

Grace Usher/RiverScene

A piece of nature on your dinner table

Company: Cappy, Montana Wildwood Bowls

Location: Billings, Mont.

Fun Fact: Burwood bowls take nearly a year to create through a vigorous steaming, drying, shaping, and oiling process. Each handcrafted bowl comes with a lifetime guarantee.

See what treasures you can find at the 2019 Balloon Festival and Fair Vendor Walkway!

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