Anyone who appreciates handmade craftsmanship or puts a premium on supporting Nashville artists and artisans has probably been to — or at least heard of — Porter Flea, a modern handmade market that puts a spotlight on local and regional makers twice a year.
Porter Flea’s Summer Market is set for Saturday, June 6 at Track One in Chestnut Hill (with a ticketed Preview Market on Friday), and while we’d recommend going to just about anyone, it’s a particularly great shopping stop for new homeowners and house-hunters who want to bring something unique to their space.
Along with makers sharing everything from handbound books to hand-stitched baby toys, Porter Flea’s crop of vendors includes furniture designers, ceramics artists, woodworkers crafting one-of-a-kind kitchenware and lots more. Those vendors make The Flea a must-stop if you’re furnishing your new place, putting the finishing touches on it or collecting perfect pieces while you’re looking for the perfect home (if you haven’t already, we hope you’ll reach out to us for help with finding that perfect home).
Since Saturday at Porter Flea can get really busy (Friday’s ticketed preview is more intimate, but Saturday admission is free), we wanted to point you toward some vendors you might want to head straight for — these artisans’ booths will definitely be stocked with creations that can add something special to your home.
Suburban Pallet
Custom woodworking from Nashville guys Nick Sherrod and Josh Nava — you’ll find handcarved spoons that really show the human touch, and items like this desk lamp, which is minimal and cool, and not your usual piece of office decor.
Groh Artifact
Local Caleb Groh’s needle-felted animals would make pretty adorable (and unique) nursery decor, and if you’re not drawn to the more popular sheep/deer/bunny, he goes a lot further — jackalope, armadillo, three-toed sloth…
Bear it No More
If you love mid-century furniture design touches — hairpin legs, particularly — Murfreesboro’s Bear It No More might have the perfect pieces. This hairpin desk was made with local cherry, and though it has a classic look, thought was given to modern functional needs (like slots on the back side to accommodate your Internet connections).
Sonadora
Nashville’s Lisa Garcia works with fiber, like hemp and wool, to make a lot of her home decor. This jute hanging pendant lamp gives a sense of her style: clean lines with natural textures.
Handmade Studio TN
Dishware can be utilitarian, and it can be artful too — Nashville’s Morgan Williamson proves that with her work, which is rugged and organic, graceful and beautiful.
Handy Dandy Productions
Nashville’s Handy Dandy Productions make lots of different types of home items, from modern, delicate bud vases to industrial candle sticks. HDP’s hand-cut state silhouettes are particularly cool if home has your heart — whether it’s Tennessee or any other state in the U.S. — and you want to wear it on your wall.
HollerDesign
If you’ve been in Rolf and Daughters in Germantown or Barista Parlor in East Nashville or The Gulch, you’ve probably seem HollerDesign furniture, made by designer Matt Alexander in Lascassas. The HD design sensibility — Southern simplicity with modern cool — flows through everything from tables and chairs down to small cheeseboards.
These makers — and many, many others — will all be at Porter Flea on Friday and Saturday. The Preview Market runs Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. (tickets are on sale through PorterFlea.com), and the full market runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, all at Track 1 (1211 4th Avenue South).
If you make it out and snag something great, we’d love to hear about it — leave a comment, or drop by our Facebook page and let us know!
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