Join us for Ornamental: Handmade For Less!

United South End Settlements is excited to host its first ever craft fair! Ornamental: Handmade for Less is a craft event for local artists, residents, businesses and USES' programs to come together and sell handmade gifts for the South End/Lower Roxbury community. All items will be priced under $50. Ornament making workshops, Mudeye Puppet Company performs "Wacky World Tour" Show and entertainment by Royer's One Man Band featuring a handmade guitar machine. This show is open to the public and admission is free!

Event Information:  

Saturday, December 3rd

11-4pm

One of the many talented artists with work for sale at Ornamental is Allison Buttiglieri, a MassArt graduate who makes and sells hand painted decorative plates. Allison introduces us to her work below:  

Q: Describe your work that will be for sale.

A: I hand paint terra cotta dishes with decorative floral and plant patterns.  They make great jewelry holders, wall hangers (some with hook on back), or just look pretty as a decorative dish!

Q: How did you get started making these items?

A: I was making bottle cap art using resin, and then started experimenting with larger surfaces. I started making these as gifts for friends. 

Q: What is the best gift you've ever received? 

A: A hand made book created by my friend. Illustrating a short story based on fond memories of our time at MassArt.

Stop by Ornamental on December 3rd from 11-4 at the Harriet Tubman House to see and purchase Allison's work, along with our other talented vendors and work from our youth, adult and senior programs.

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The holidays and winter season are a great time to teach your child about the act and importance of giving. Making presents for family members and friends is a simple and meaningful way for families to connect and create together! Here is a simple and beautiful project appropriate for children ages 2 and up that can be enjoyed all year round.

Nature Collage Sun Catcher

Materials Needed:

• 1 embroidery hoop (these inexpensive hoops make fantastic reusable frames for all kinds of art projects and can be purchased online or at craft stores)
• Clear contact paper
• Natural materials (flower petals, small leaves, pine needles, etc.), dried for several days
• Small piece of string or ribbon

Instructions:

• Peel off protective paper on half of your sheet of contact paper and lay contact paper out on table
• Place hoop on top of clear paper, and encourage child to stick leaves and petals down inside the hoop, arranging them however they would like.
• Remove hoop and carefully double over the contact paper so the leaves and flowers are sandwiched in between two layers of the paper.
• Remove inner circle from the embroidery hoop and stretch the contact paper over the frame, tightening the screws so the paper is stretched tightly over the circle.
• Attach a small piece of ribbon to the screw and hang from a sunny window (or give as a gift.) Enjoy your sun catcher all year long!