Support Local Makers At Mississippi Made This Saturday

If you've been around here long enough, you'll know that supporting creatives is kind of our thing. From the beginning of Laurel Mercantile Co.'s inception in 2016, our team sought out a way to elevate American makers and promote locally made goods. We've learned over the years that it takes a village to make a creative community flourish. That's why we created Mississippi Made, a Saturday market that features local artisans and makers from Mississippi. 

This Saturday, May 28th, we will have a dozen or so local vendors to showcase along with a delicious, local food truck. Some vendors are jewelry and accessory creators, like Twin Stars and Novi Creations. 

Novi Creations is a handmade jewelry company in Laurel, Mississippi, owned by Shauna Stockstill. Each piece Shauna makes is uniquely handcrafted from beginning to end. She carefully selects her materials for quality and uniqueness and forges her pieces with essential hand tools. Most recognize her work, most recently seen on season five of Home Town with Erin as they cut, formed, and hammered copper into carved, wooden bowls for the Fukuda House.

Mississippi Made is also the festival that celebrates sweet treats and even local honey (and honey lollipops!)

Wells Lazy Acres is a owned by local honey maker, Judy Wells. After retiring from 43 years as a nurse, Judy yearned to find a way to remain productive, create meaningful relationships, and inspire younger generations to do great things. She has always been particularly interested in helping the environment and helping children and adults learn something new.Little did she know, she would find her new role (or hive, we should say) as a local beekeeper. 

Judy makes buying her Wells Lazy Acres honey a learning experience as well. At local events, she displays one of her bee colonies in a safe, contained space to demonstrate how each colony thrives with its queen bee. She offers gifts for children that remember "bee facts" when they return and hopes to inspire children, and specifically girls, to become beekeepers.

If you're a collector of ceramics, Mississippi Made vendors Xapa Studios will be attendance, as well as Amber Spence of Spence Pottery. Amber is a small batch ceramicist in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, our city's southern neighbor. She is a full-time Physical Therapist Assistant by trade, but her pottery demands her full attention when inspiration strikes or when she has a show to attend. While ceramics is just her creative outlet, her work has been turning heads at our Mississippi Mercantile events for the past two years. Her speckled blue dish ware disappears as quickly as she can put it out! 

Our other talented vendors include:

Stained Glass made by Jones College Jasper Center Stained Glass Class,

David Wayne Shoot's beautiful, landscape photos,

Gingerbird artwork by local artist, Jon Rappleye,

handmade dog treats by Jones Bones,

Emma Wilder Farm's handmade goat milk soaps,

old time wooden toys by A Wood Working,

and colorful stationary by Be Amazing Paper Company

 

Stick around for lunch and grab a bite to eat from Smashed & Loaded, a southern cuisine lover's dream or check out our food truck park at the Scotsman General Store.

Laurel Mercantile Co.'s upcoming festivals are on May 28, June 11, and September 3. Each Saturday market is open from 10am to 4pm and conveniently located in the Mercantile Yard at 414 Front Street in Laurel, Mississippi. We'll see you there!