The Jewelry Market @ The Boston Open Market

Join us on Saturday, July 26th from 12 - 5pm for our Jewelry Market!

Located at The Boston Open Market on Boylston St. between Arlington St. and Charles St.

Discover local indie jewelry designers showcasing stunning, handcrafted pieces in every style and medium imaginable — from bold metalwork and intricate beadwork to gemstone, polymer clay, gold, silver, and more.

Whether you’re looking for a statement piece or something timeless and delicate, this is the place to treat yourself (or someone special) to one-of-a-kind, locally made treasures.

Meet the vendors of the 2025 Jewelry Market

We hope to see you on Saturday, July 26th from 12 - 5pm for our Jewelry Market!

Em of Leaf Pile Studios | Small Business Interviews | Issue #3

For this installment in our Small Business Interviews Series, we are interviewing New England Open Markets’ very own Em Peacock! Not only does Em and their wife, Allie, run their fiber arts business Leaf Pile Studios, but Em also works on the administrative side of NEOM. You can find Leaf Pile Studios this Saturday, June 7th at the Boston Pride Market, a special edition of the Boston Open Market!

Read on to learn about how Em’s business got its start, advice they have for fellow queer-owned small businesses, their favorite piece they have created so far, and more!

The logo of Leaf Pile Studios, featuring a smiling green frog in a pile of leaves on a white background.

Please introduce yourself! What is your name & your business name? How do you identify?

My name is Em and I run Leaf Pile Studios! My pronouns are they/she and I identify as nonbinary and as a lesbian! I co-own the business with my wife, Allie (she/her), who is trans. Allie is a crochet artist herself and runs Petal Pile Studios.

Where are you based out of?

West Boylston, MA

How long have you been running Leaf Pile Studios? How did your business get its start?

I started Leaf Pile four years ago, almost by accident. I have always had a love of fiber art and oil painting. During the pandemic, I started to use my background in oil painting to develop my unique, painterly style of needle felting. I needle felted a portrait of my sister’s Dalmatian for her birthday, and my mom posted the photo on Facebook (like moms do). I suddenly got a flood of commission requests, and Leaf Pile Studios was born. About a month later, a friend invited me to vend at a market her fiancé was running, and after that, Leaf Pile grew rapidly.

How would you describe the mission of Leaf Pile Studios?

My passion is to bring whimsy into people’s lives, all while keeping this historic art alive. My original work draws inspiration from nature, my needle felted earrings are made with functional embroidery hoops designed for doll houses, and my kits are fun, unique, and accessible! Almost everyone I meet has never even heard of 2D needle felting, never mind tried it. By offering hand-designed and hand-packed kits in addition to my own original work, I hope to spread my love of needle felting and make it accessible to everyone. 

Do you have any advice for queer-owned businesses who are just starting out?

Starting a business as a queer person offers its own unique set of challenges, but you can and will find spaces that will accept you for who you are and center and celebrate your voice. Do not try to limit yourself and your business because you think that conforming to a specific mold will help you further your business. You are your business’s best asset, and you owe it to yourself and your business to be authentic. 

What is your favorite aspect of vending at in-person art markets?

I love getting to teach people how to needle felt at our little trial station! So many people think needle felting is too hard or too complicated or takes too long and it’s so fun to watch people discover the joy of felting right at a market!

How has New England Open Markets impacted your business?

NEOM is the reason I was able to go full-time with my business. Their mission of centering and uplifting diverse voices gives me a space to fully be myself and pursue my business in a way that is authentic to who I am.

Being a queer owned business, there were many opportunities that I was blocked out of, even being in Massachusetts in the 2020’s. I had a church fair withdraw my acceptance after learning my wife (who is trans) would be in attendance. Being a part of New England Open Markets, where my queerness is not only accepted but celebrated, has made all the difference.

In addition to vending, you also work for New England Open Markets - please tell us more about that!

I became involved on the backend of New England Open Markets in 2023, helping with public relations and social media. Later that year, I became the lead on-site manager of the Harvard Square Open Market after the previous manager left, and then in 2024 I was the lead on-site manager of the Boston Open Market. This year, I’m excited to be working on the backend of NEOM, serving as the Director and handling permitting, expansion, and grant work. 

Please tell us about your creative process - where do you find inspiration? How do you go from inspiration to a finished piece?

Most of my work, both original work and kit designs, are inspired by nature. Needle felting is a highly textural art, so I draw much of my inspiration from things in nature that have interesting textures and patterns that can be replicated well with wool. 

What does your workspace look like?

My workspace is a creative mess! I wish it were neater, but it is full of bin after bin of rainbow colored wool. I am very lucky to share a studio space with my best friend, housemate, and fellow small business owner & artist Mia Whittemore, so I am constantly surrounded by both of our work and another creative to bounce ideas off of!

Do you have a favorite piece that you’ve created?

My favorite piece I’ve ever created was my first large scale original, a 24-inch buck that I felted the night before my very first market. It now hangs in a nursery!

What advice would you offer to someone interested in learning needle felting?

Have fun with it! Needle felting is such a forgiving medium, if you mess up, you can just take it out and start over. There’s no need to worry about making it perfect.

Outside of running Leaf Pile Studios, what do you enjoy doing?

Outside of being a professional artist, I am a very non-professional poet and spend every Monday at the @dirtygerund open mic. You can also usually find me wandering through botanical gardens and reading Greek mythology retellings. 

Where can you be found online?

leafpilestudios.com & @leafpilestudios on all socials!

Thank you so much for sharing about your business, Em! Find more of our Small Business Interviews here!

Avery of Citizens Crochet | Small Business Interviews | Issue #2

We are so excited for the next installment in our Small Business Interviews Series! Throughout the market season, we want to highlight the wonderful small businesses of the New England Open Market community. For this interview, we talked with Avery of Citizens Crochet, whose business you can shop this Saturday, May 17th, & throughout the season at the Boston Open Market!

Please introduce yourself! What is your name & your business name?

Howdy! My name is Avery Tronson, and I run Citizens Crochet. We make ethical crochet for adorable people. I'm originally from Los Angeles, but I've been living in Boston since 2017. 

Where are you based out of?

I'm currently in Dedham, MA but I will be moving to Allston soon and I'm SO excited. I miss the city dearly.

How long have you been running Citizens Crochet? How did your business get its start?

I've been running Citizens Crochet since 2022 and I'm going to celebrate three years in June!  I got a nasty concussion at my old job that removed me from day-to-day life.  I had an incredibly hard time seeing, was nauseous constantly, and often felt like my head was going to explode.  Crochet was a way for me to cope and still enjoy creating in a way that was accommodating for my disabilities.  I fell in love and just never put down my hook. 

How would you describe the mission of Citizens Crochet?

I'm on a mission to improve the world through the joy of creation. I designed my company to not only be a joy for the community I sell to, but my future employees. I think that the world needs more businesses that care about their community, employees, and the people they serve.  I've done a lot of foundational work since the start of the year to make sure that Citizens Crochet can grow into a massively successful business supporting so many amazing people. 

So adorable plushies that will make your heart melt? Yes. Ethical wages and community support for employees? Also yes.

Please tell us about your creative process - where do you find inspiration? How do you go from inspiration to a finished piece?

In the last few months, I've pivoted to only selling plushies designed in-house, which means a lot more work and a lot more creativity.  Most of my inspiration comes from nature and I love crocheting animals and food!

My opening line of fruit whales was created to embody a farmers market fruit stand. Growing up my mom always took us to the farmers market to pick out our produce for the week.  I would usually snag a pint of blueberries in my little red wagon and eat them as we strolled around. I wanted to bring that same childlike joy and wonder to kids of all ages. 

In terms of going from inspiration to a finished piece, I've learned to fall in love with failure. The fastest way to get from an idea in my head to a finished creation is just trying and failing over and over again.  Most of my pieces are remade 5-7 times before the pattern is finalized and I come out with something I'm really proud of. 

What does your workspace look like?

With the move coming up, I'm actually renting a space at the Boston Figure Arts Center!  I'm so excited to be sharing a space with other creatives and to be a part of such a banging community.  As for the setup...that's a work in progress that will be shown on my Instagram in the upcoming weeks!

Do you have a favorite piece that you’ve created?

My favorite piece that I have created is my 5.5-foot octopus Otis.  He took over 75 hours and is just such a stunning creation.  I've always loved drama, movement, and creating more complex pieces, so it was really fulfilling and important to create on that scale.  If you want to see him, he is on display at the Brighton Emporium until November 2025 or until someone buys him :)

What advice would you offer to someone interested in learning crochet?

Most of crochet (and I would argue life) is just putting one foot in front of the other. It can be frustrating and repetitive, but once you get down your foundational stitches, there is no limit to what you can create.  If you can put your head down and finish your first project, I promise you will be so impressed with yourself. 

What’s your proudest moment that you’ve had so far in running your business?

I feel most proud of myself when someone comes up to my booth holding the product they bought months or years ago and tells me how much they love it. I know I create good products, and to have someone be so excited to have one of your creations is an incredible experience. 

What is your favorite part of running your business?

My favorite part of running my business has to be how therapeutic crochet is. Creativity is an amazing coping mechanism and nowadays we need all the help we can get. No matter how I'm feeling, I can always lean on the accomplishment and joy of creation to help brighten my day. I get to spend most of my days creating new shapes, handling soft yarn, and being creative. That is an insane privilege, and I'm so grateful that people resonate with the art I create. 

How long have you been participating in in-person art markets?

I've been participating at in person art markets for almost three years now.  My first art market was in June of 2022, I remember the insane sense of joy I had when I got that acceptance email.  It's still so cool and a little surreal to be invited and asked to be in these spaces.

What is your favorite aspect of vending at in-person art markets?

My favorite part of vending at in-person markets is seeing the joy on people's faces when they see my product. Most of my work is done alone in my office, and of course, I think everything is incredible, but seeing people's faces light up is something completely different. Sometimes, people will even apologize for getting excited or squealing with joy, but truly, those reactions give me so much light and joy. 

Outside of running Citizens Crochet, what do you enjoy doing?

If I'm not crocheting, I'm probably playing video games with my friends!  In the last year I have been loving Baldur's Gate III, Lethal Company, REPO, and Fortnite. 

I also enjoy hanging out with my two cats and wonderful partner.  We are all great sunbathers.

Where can you be found online?

You can find me online at citizenscrochet.com and @citizenscrochet on Instagram, Youtube, and Tiktok!

Thank you so much for sharing about your business, Avery! Find more of our Small Business Interviews here!

Mother's Day Gift Guide 2025

Looking for that perfect Mother’s Day gift? The small businesses of this week’s Boston Open Market have you covered! From candles to ceramics, jewelry to art prints, and so much more, shop for the moms and caring figures in your life. Preview a selection of the businesses that you’ll see setting up shop along Boylston Street this Saturday, May 10th, from noon to 5pm & find the full list of vendors below!

Sacred Flame | Candles

Sacred Flame, based out of Rhode Island, creates candles that are non-toxic, eco-conscious, & “infused with intention and spiritual energy, designed to support your personal journey.”

Weare Pottery | Pottery

From bowls and tumblers, to vases and more, Weare Pottery offers a wide range of small-batch pottery made in their North Falmouth studio.

Ash & Rose | Accessories & Home Goods

Find that special something for the mother figures in your life at Ash & Rose’s booth. This woman-owned business creates and curates a variety of gifts including apothecary products, jewelry, and accessories.

Copper & Print | Stationery & Accessories

Copper & Print is an art and stationery business run by Mary-Kate Reis from her home studio in North Attleboro, MA. She specializes in creating greeting cards, art prints, and more, infusing bold and often colorful palettes into each piece.

GOODFORM Designs | Jewelry

Melissa of GOODFORM Designs creates pieces that “live at the intersection of whimsy and practicality and are meant to inject a little bit of fun into your day.” Whether you are looking for an everyday pair of dainty earrings or a bold & colorful statement piece, GOODFORM has you covered.

Laurel Greenfield Art | Paintings & Prints

Creating original artworks “inspired by moments of joy around the table,” you will be sure to find the perfect piece for the food lover in your life at Laurel Greenfield’s colorful booth.

Nadlet Studios | Stained Glass

Do you know a mom who love flowers, plants, and all things whimsical? Then you should explore the colorful and beautiful stained glass designs created by Nadia of Nadlet Studios for a fabulous gift!

Leaf Pile Studios | Needle Felting Kits

Give the gift of a new hobby with one of Leaf Pile Studios’ needle felting kits! Designed to take about two hours for an absolute beginner, choose from a variety of colorful designs.

Mia Whittemore | Art Prints & Stationery

Mia Whittemore, based in West Boylston, MA, creates art prints, cards, bookmarks, and more from her vintage-inspired floral and botanical artwork.

May 10th Vendor List

Banai | Ostra Jewelry | Rye & Co. | The Artful Cushion | Krikraf Design | Love Nene | AIRI Jewelry & Gallery | Early Morning Art | Black Cat Sustainable Art Co. | The Jane Doe Soap Company | Teesies | Kaden & Kai | Fridgedoor | Incandescent | Weare Pottery | Custom Cube Mods | MICH | Nadlet Studios | Ash & Rose | Sarah Pizzi Art | Leaf Pile Studios | Laurel Greenfield Art | B and B Glass Studio | The Science Boutique | Elemental Ceramic | Sparkletown Studios | Copper & Print | Tasteful Skin | birchouse botanicals | AceArts | Georgia Marie Designs | Daphne Rae Creative | Toadie Bird | Cocco the Great Designs | GOODFORM Designs | La Folie Press | Equals Me | Morrison Mae | Just Rosy | Sacred Flame | Mia Whittemore | Alwaysjean | FLYN

Juliana of Ostra Jewelry | Small Business Interviews | Issue #1

Get ready to meet the people behind the businesses with our brand new Small Business Interview Series! We’ll be exploring the stories of the creators who make our NEOM community so wonderful, starting with our very first interviewee, Juliana of Ostra Jewelry. You can shop Ostra Jewelry on the opening day of the Boston Open Market, Saturday May 3rd!