
Colorful baskets from a West African women’s cooperative.
Any given Wednesday you’ll find me at the Farmers Market at Marco Island’s Veterans Park. While I do love to amble among the stalls, absorbing the aromas, colors and textures of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, and skillfully prepared delicacies, it’s not always about the edibles.
The most delightful group of artists and artisans also bring their talents each week. High quality work handcrafted locally by knowledgeable folks who are ever so pleased to spend time with you in the easy-going ambience of Market Day. So grab your reusable shopping bag, and follow me…
Beth Brown-Rinella is a charming and soulful woman who, alongside her own semi-precious stone jewelry creations,

A tiny treasure by Katherine French.
Further up meet Katherine French of Katherine’s Bead Designs. Beautiful lampwork glass beads and jewelry in designs ranging from elegant to whimsical and each one is completely original. Katherine loves the Marco Farmers Market, “It’s a beautiful location, has great management, and I get to meet friendly people from all over the world.” 239.353.1638.
Now come the Grab-A-Bag ladies who seem to be having more fun than just about anyone else at the Market – a lot of laughter comes from their tent and everyone leaves smiling. Marcia

A quartz creation by Tiffany Graefenstein.
Keep moving, because next is the delightful and insightful Tiffany Graefenstein who offers energy-healing jewelry and crystals under the name Earth’s Aura. Garnet, Camelian, Citrine, Peridot, Lapis Laxuli, Amethyst, and Quartz are worked into exquisite designs and offer relief to their related chakras. She’ll explain. www.earthsaura.com.
Around the bend is

Pottery from Annabelle Johnson, beauty meets function.
The powerful photographs

Photographer Barry Howe is a familiar face at Marco Island Art Shows.
By the way, Barry’s booth is next to his wife’s, well-known clay artist and instructor Sandy Moore Howe. Dedicated readers will know my last column was on Sandy and her fantastic life and work. Introduce yourselves.
I know you’re getting tired, but we

A touch of glass by Jo-Anne Tentschert.
Okay, now I’m tired.
Tara O’Neill, a lifelong artist, has been an area resident since 1967. She holds Bachelors Degrees in both Fine Arts and English from the University of South Florida. She has a studio-gallery at the Artist Colony at the Esplanade on Marco Island and can be contacted through her web site www.taraogallery.com.
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