2012 Spring Bada-Bing Vendor Q & A: Inedible Jewelry

Inedible Jewelry

Jessica & Susan Partain
www.inediblejewelry.com

What is your favorite thing about spring?
The farmer's markets starting up again! We can't think of anything better than looking forward to 9 months of wildly fresh local produce and seeing all of our craft show friends!

What's your newest crafty creation? Is there specific item you'd like to feature for the show?
We've been having fun making all kinds of tiny pies. And for math nerds, we've even made some Pi pies! We do have lots of other fun new goodies too: a cool cheese platter, beautiful ombre layer cakes, adorable little honey bears, and exquisitely detailed artichokes.Is there a story behind your shop name?
We make jewelry that looks like food, and have a love of wordplay. We started out at a farmers market in a very food-obsessed town, so we were playing with people's expectations, especially when they were surrounded by the scents of freshly fried cinnamon donuts, spicy tacos, melty cheese, and tons of fresh fruits and veggies. We've lost count of the number of times folks have wandered over, hungry, asking, "So, you can eat this jewelry?!" It's a fun way to start a conversation, and we like to think being inedible is memorable.

What's your soundtrack while you're working?
A very happy mix of 80s pop, salsa music, and anything upbeat and cheerful. Or episodes of Arrested Development, Law and Order, or Modern Family.

What are your influences?
Food, in all forms! We love to cook real food, so we draw our inspiration from everything food-related. The farmer's markets, magazines, foodie blogs, all those awesome food photos that come across our instagram feed, having a quick dinner with friends (SO many times we've exclaimed- "ooh- this would make a great necklace!", much to the confusion of the waitstaff.) If it's edible, we're interested.

Trend spotting: foxes, hedgehogs, mustaches, oh my! - What do you think will be next hottest craft trend?
We keep pushing for pie to be the next big thing. Thing of the possibilities with pie: sweet or savory, fruity, haute cuisine with innovative crusts. Even more versatile than cupcakes, and people already incorporate bacon! Imagine a wave of handmade pie shops, pies on tea towels, pie pops at weddings and birthdays, "I like pie" tshirts with clever graphic design, and of course pie jewelry.