WHAT WE LOVE: A makers market in a restored historic Upstate New York barn featuring artisans from local studios and workshops throughout the region.
WHERE: At the Barn on Hubbard, Callicoon in the Western Catskill mountains of Upstate New York, picturesque countryside of green grass, lush hills, orchards and farmland.
WHO: Shawn Lang and Kris Prepelica, two boys who left city life and embarked on the project of a lifetime; historically renovating a 216 year-old farmhouse in upstate New York.
THE MARKET
What is The Farmhouse Project Makers Market known for? The Farmhouse Project home goods collection is an assortment of things that bring us joy. Each piece is designed and handmade by us and other local artisans in our region. We believe in the foundation of a waste-free environment. Repurposing and reusing are how we live a simple life and how we start our design process for new products.
How many vendors participate in The Farmhouse Project Makers Market? The Makers Market last year had 35 unique artisans. This year we will expand our footprint to accommodate more makers. You should see about 50 – 60 artisans this year. We’re excited to team up with our friends at Foster Supply Hospitality who will create delicious, local farm-to-table cuisine.
Has market evolved? We’re evolving to not just be a place to shop but a place to spend the day or even weekend. We’ll have different bands playing throughout each day along with a farm-to-table dinner, meet the makers reception and some more surprises we’re currently working on.
Who are your customers? Our customer is ageless, they appreciate shopping local, supporting the arts and contributing to the community.
When is the next Farmhouse Project Market? Labor Day weekend 2019
THE SHOPKEEPERS
Shawn Lang & Kris Prepelica
Who or what inspired you to start market? We were always envious to visit beautifully produced markets in other parts of upstate New York and Manhattan. We knew we had the talent and we certainly had the community who was hungry for it. We started planning with our friend and event planner, The Family Tie Project, about eight months out and it all fell into place naturally, which is pretty amazing for your first event!
What are your backgrounds? Shawn: Product designer within the fashion and home industry. Kris: Oncologist and hobbyist chef.
What was your journey? Six years ago, we escaped the city and purchased a historic home in upstate New York. Documenting the process of restoring an old home, The Farmhouse Project was born. With a loyal following we now share tips on decorating, entertaining and living a simple life in the country.
What inspires you? We’re constantly inspired by nature and our surroundings.
What do you love about having the market? What we loved most about our market and what was most important, was bringing the community together. Our local farmers and neighbors, weekenders, tourists passing through and our loyal followers near and far, came out to spend the day with us and to celebrate and support local artisans.
Where are your favorite places to shop? We love to support our local businesses and get so excited when we see a new shop opening nearby. Meg from Upstream Wine in Livingston Manor, NY knows our palette perfectly and has an incredible selection of delicious wines and spirits. Tucked away down a little ally in Callicoon, NY is Spruce Home Goods, where you’ll find a lovely assortment of tabletop items, artisanal cheese’s and local breads. Our friends from Hudson Naturals recently opened their shop, Field Trip in Newburgh, NY with a variety of handcrafted goods all made in the USA.
We love exploring new towns throughout upstate New York and have recently been obsessed with Kingston, NY. It’s a little slice of a big city with great shops, restaurants and bars. You’ll fall in love with the historic townhomes and storefronts! Hamilton and Adams is our go-to menswear shop and just down the street, bookshop meets pub, Rough Draft Bar & Books.
Whats on your wishlist? We always get the question, when are you boys opening a shop? While our focus and strategy is our online shop to capture a broader audience, brick-and-mortar is certainly not out of the question. We’d love to create a destination space rather than just a retail shop. A place where you can shop but also just hangout (without giving away too much). It’s definitely a plan for the future but something that we’ve been exploring lately. In addition to the Farmhouse Project Makers Market we are also working on some other fun eventsfor the community this summer.
ON THE FUTURE OF RETAIL
“I think we’re starting to see a shift in the way people are buying things lately, the younger generation in particular. We’re now more aware of handmade products and we’re willing to save a bit more for something special and unique. We want to hear the story behind the product, where it was made, how it was made and by whom. I think it’s an exciting time for artisans and small businesses and hope we can keep the momentum going forward.”
The Farmhouse Project Makers Market
28 Hubbard Road, Callicoon, New York
Photography by Juan Ogando
Shopkeeper portrait by Lawrence Braun