Not just for tourists: Find local art and more at Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market is one of Seattle's symbolic icons and most locals recognize that it houses some of the city's freshest produce. But, as one market seller told me recently,  "A lot of people identify the market with cheap tourist goods, but what some don't realize is that there are a lot of fine artists here with quality craftsmanship." With that in mind, I perused the market on a recent summer day for items that locals might want to seek out for their homes and wardrobes.

Almost immediately I spotted Michael Quispe's jewelry and metal works booth. With copper wire at the heart of his work, Quispe transforms the materials, which include semiprecious stones, feathers and colorful string, into intricate hand-fabricated accessories. Like his father before him, Quispe creates one-of-a-kind rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings. Each accessory is priced depending on the amount of time and effort taken to produce the item and ranges from $10 for a simple ring to $50 or more for an intricately shaped necklace.

Just a few steps away on a busy market corner, people are bustling around Moon Valley Organics. Their all-natural and organic body care products are handcrafted from beeswax. They offer a 1.9 ounce lotion bar for $8.95; a muscle rub, to naturally stimulate circulation and calm nerve pain, for $10.95; soap bars in six scents including chocolate comfrey and orange spice for $5.95; and, of course, a variety of pure Washington honey, among other products. In addition to being a staple in Pike Place Market, Moon Valley Organics can also be found online at www.moonvalleyhoney.com.

Self-taught crochet artist Laura Killoran used to skip school to come to Pike Place Market when she was younger and is excited to be able to have a business, Croshay Design, that allows her to revisit the market frequently. Killoran crochets daily for six to eight hours to create her unique '20s-inspired designs. She specializes in hats (everything from a flapper hat to berets to beanies) and accessories ($8-$48) and is constantly coming up with new designs and styles to keep her looks fresh. Killoran also sells her patterns for $6 to aspiring crochet artists so that people can DIY. Croshay Designs can be found online at www.croshaydesign.com.

Killoran pointed me in the direction of the booth of fellow artist Emma Roscoe. England-born Roscoe is a professional at creating adorably stylish handcrafted bags and accessories. Her bags are canvas and embellished with cottons, corduroy, and tweeds. No durable material is off limits. One of her most popular bags even has chopsticks for handles. Roscoe focuses on making her bags, dubbed Red Delicious (www.reddeliciousseattle.com), not only look great, but also  be hardwearing and practical. "I love to make bright liners for bags so that people can actually find what they are looking for," Roscoe says. Her bags range in price from $47.95 to $127.95.

Though not all artists have set days for their market appearances, there's always something to discover there, so you can never go wrong with a visit.

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