Built to last generations, some skillets and pans available at an upcoming multi-venue market were hand forged from carbon steel plate by master blacksmith Dennis Kehoe.
When local event organizer Kelly Fiore set out to curate the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail’s inaugural Makers Market Crawl, Kehoe and similar crafters came to mind as shoo-ins for the program’s vendor spaces.
“I tend to hand select vendors that I want to personally shop from and ones that I think will resonate with the audience, as well as the theme in this case,” Fiore told the Sun in an email interview.
“He [Kehoe] makes beautiful and functional hand-forged cookware, truly a work of art,” said Fiore, the founder of Pop Up Project.
Her company produces community-focused and family-friendly events throughout the Santa Ynez Valley, and this summer’s Makers Market Crawl marks her latest effort. The main events will be held on July 20 and 21 at 11 wineries located along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail.
Leading up to the crawl, there will be about two weeks’ worth of gift giveaways online, Fiore added.
“I am very thankful that my vendors and vineyard partners have been gracious enough to offer up some of their products for a giveaway promotion,” said Fiore, who recommends following Pop Up Project on social media for updates on snagging those giveaways.
While admission to all of the Makers Market Crawl events is free, attendees will have the option to purchase a $60 passport that grants them wine tastings and shopping discounts at each winery on the docket along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail.
Spanning a 30-mile stretch of countryside between Los Olivos and Santa Maria, the Wine Trail “is such a beautiful slice of paradise … that I feel is often overlooked by locals,” Fiore said.
“Unless we have friends in town that are looking for the wine country experience, it’s out of sight, out of mind for many,” the organizer said. “Since this event is free and open to the public, I hope that it will engage our local community and encourage them to come out and experience the wine trail in a new way and be reminded of how lovely it is, and how wonderful these properties are.”
The 11 participating wineries along the Wine Trail are Andrew Murray Vineyards, Bien Nacido Estate, Riverbench Vineyard and Winery, Rancho Sisquoc Winery, Cottonwood Canyon, Foxen Winery, Zaca Mesa Winery and Vineyards, Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard, Koehler Winery, Firestone Vineyard, and So Far Out.
Pop Up Project’s website specifies the crawl’s full schedule of happenings at each of these venues, including book signings with cookbook author and comedian Anna Vocino at Riverbench Vineyard and Winery, clay artisans and clothing boutiques at Bien Nacido Estate, and more.
“One thing that I was especially excited about when crafting this weekend experience was the ability to theme all of the markets,” Fiore said. “There are so many wonderful vendors that offer really unique products or services, and I was thrilled to be able to create markets with them in mind.”
At Andrew Murray Vineyards, for example, the market’s theme is “sustainable” and will feature thrifted fashion and home goods, a botanical dyeing workshop, and repurposed wearables.
“I definitely will be picking up a few pieces from Red Wagon Wardrobe. Cayden Naughton is a seamstress that upcycles quilts, tablecloths, and secondhand fabrics into beautiful, one-of-a-kind clothing,” Fiore said. “I have my eye on many pieces she has made.”
Regardless of theme, each market will include at least one complimentary kids craft activity, said Fiore, who listed leather charm necklaces, tissue paper flowers, fabric friendship bracelets, and lavender sachets among the kid-friendly projects.
“There will be something to keep them busy at each market,” Fiore said. “I have three school-age children and there aren’t a lot of family-friendly events in the Valley, so I am excited to be able to weave them into this experience as well.”
While each of the 11 markets has family appeal, the market at Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard is specifically themed as “kids,” with face painting, ice cream bars for sale, children’s handmade clothing vendors, and a custom hat merchant that Fiore is pretty excited about.
“I will most certainly be creating myself a custom cap from Gray Rain Hat Bar,” the organizer said. “I am a huge cheerleader for my boys at the baseball field and want to create myself a hat with some fun patches and their numbers.”
Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood’s favorite Monopoly token is the top hat. Fill his hat with comments at [email protected].
