Salem Open Market THIS Weekend!!!

I'm so excited for the Salem Open Market this weekend! Why am I awake at 11:50, the night before a craft fair??? Because I'm too excited to sleep.

And so, here are the essential details for the market:

What: Salem Open Market
Where: Derby Square (along Front Street), Salem, MA
When: Saturday, October 27th + Sunday, October 28th (11-6)

I'll be the one with bright pink tent and neon pink Jack-O-Lantern. And mini orange Jack-O-Lantern. And hair teased to the hilt. And modern-yet-vintage cat eye sunglasses. If it's sunny. Fingers crossed that it will be sunny!

Happy (weekend before) Halloween!!!

Weekly Song List: Friday, October 26th

Craft fair mania!!! It's been a crazy week getting ready for the Salem Open Market and (as always) there are a few key songs that have helped keep my energy up. Stylistically, they're all over the place. But for me, they work wonders. 

And so, I give you this week's song list. Enjoy!

1. Paddling Out. Miike Snow: As all of my Twitter followers know, Miike Snow has been one of my favorite bands to listen to while getting ready for this craft fair. Their music blows my mind all the time, but the energy of album Happy To You really set the tone for my week. I also saw these guys live in Portland, ME this past weekend, so that experience is still fresh in my mind. I love this song with all of my heart. They played it live and it was a blast to dance to with a theater full of happy people.

2. Joy Ride. The Killers: From their 2006 album Day & Age. Again, I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something magical about this album that helps me to be super focused on my work, and yet full of energy and spirit. This song is a particular favorite. Love the whole album. Also, Sam's Town holds this same magic for me.

3. In Particular. Blonde Redhead: From their 2000 album Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons. I was completely obsessed with this album in 2000. I remember listening to it over and over again in my studio (I went to art school, so I spent a lot of time in my studio). Such a great album. And again, that inexplicable motivating force.

4. Movement & Location. Punch Brothers: Talk about motivating. This song literally moves forward, and at a great and steady speed. Such a beautiful song. This song was my introduction to Punch Brothers. Upon hearing more of their music though, and seeing them live a few weeks ago, I'm now totally enamored with these fellows. If you haven't heard it yet, listen to this song immediately.

5. Poor Tom. Led Zeppelin: I think that this is the first Led Zeppelin song I've featured on a weekly song list, which is crazy bananas. I have so much love for Led Zeppelin. Oh my sweet goodness. Like "Movement & Location", "Poor Tom" has amazing forward movement to it. The drums!!! I mean, seriously. The drums. Awesome. I recently invested in the Led Zeppelin complete studio recordings box set. Excellent idea on my part.

6. You've Got Her In Your Pocket. The White Stripes: I know that this song has already been featured on one of my weekly song list, but that just goes to show you how much I love it. Jack White and his guitar. I would do a variety of very dramatic things to hear him play this song live, as is. Just Jack and his guitar. Oh my! A beautiful, heartbreaking song.

7. Cooling. Tori Amos: From the 1999 double album To Venus and Back. This particular song is from the live album portion. I initially heard this song on the PBS live music/interview show Sessions At West 54th during which a musician or band would perform and then David Byrne would interview them about their music and creative process. Amazing show. I saw Tori on this show and it completely changed my feelings toward her music. I felt so connected to her creative process and ideas, and I really enjoyed her live performance. "Cooling" was her closing song and it blew me away/made me cry. Gorgeous song. I'd say it's one of my all time favorite songs. On this recording she talks about how she only plays it live "because it just didn't want to be on any of the records". She also refers to it as "one of her best friends of all the songs". I love this idea of her songs taking on their own identities and having a will of their own. Brilliant.

Photo: Miike Snow

P.S. Woah! I wrote so much about that Tori Amos song. I guess I just has a lot to say about it??? It didn't seem like that much when I was writing it, but alas.

Weekly Song List: For Friday, October 26th

As you likely know (from my pervious post), I am in the midst of craft fair craziness getting ready for the Salem Open Market this coming weekend. I've been sewing up a storm, making all sorts of Halloween themed pot holders, dish towels, aprons, and more.

And so, my weekly song list will be posted on Friday this week. Hmmm. Halloween theme, perhaps???

Also, stay tuned for my weekly American Horror Story post, also on Friday. Oh, how I love this show!

Photo: Natasha Khan of Bat For Lashes

P.S. I just bought the new Bat For Lashes album The Haunted Man. Can't wait until it arrives!!! I'll most definitely be writing about it. And soon.

Salem Open Market THIS Weekend!!!

I'm heading into heavy sewing mode this week getting ready for the Salem Open Market this weekend. I'm crazy excited to be selling my Fussy Gussy handmade goods at this market, and oh so close to Halloween! I'll likely be writing more on the market later in the week, but for now, here are the essential details.

What: Salem Open Market
Where: Derby Square, Salem, MA
When: Saturday, October 27th + Sunday, October 28th (11-6)

I'll be the one with bright pink tent and neon pink Jack-O-Lantern.

Rock & Roll Yard Sale Tomorrow!!!

I'm happy to announce that I'll be at the Rock & Roll Yard Sale tomorrow, from 11AM to 5PM. That's Sunday, August 19th, in Union Square, Somerville, MA. This yard sale is the BEST. It's so much. Not only are there crafty darlings (like yours truly), but also vintage goodies, home baked deliciousness, live music, and tons of records. And you know how I love records. I'm so excited!

What: Rock & Roll Yard Sale
Where: Union Square, Somerville, MA
When: August 19th (11-5)

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Holiday Craft Fair Season Is Here!

It's that time of year again! Yes, it's holiday craft fair season. My favorite time of year!

This weekend Fussy Gussy will be at not one but two holiday craft fairs: the RISD Alumni Holiday Sale and the Harvard Square Holiday Fair! Fussy Gussy will be selling all of the usual handmade goodies, from pot holders to dish towels, hostess mini aprons to super cute grocery totes. It's gonna be a blast!

What: RISD Holiday Art Sale

When: Saturday December 3rd (10-5)

Where: RI Convention Center, Providence, RI

Click ♥Here♥ for more details, like directions and such!

What: Harvard Square Holiday Fair

When: 13 days throughout December
Where: Church Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA
Click ♥Here♥ for dates, times, and other info!

Hope to see you there!!!

Old Firehouse Craft Fair

Come one, come all...to Rockport!!! Fussy Gussy will be selling her usual goodies at the Old Firehouse Craft Fair this Saturday, September 4th (11am-4pm). The fair is held in the center of Downtown Rockport, MA, and you can't beat Labor Day weekend by the ocean. Right!?!

I'll be selling pot-holders, hand towels, tote bags, & pocket mirrors. And my sister and niece will be selling handmade goodies as well.

We hope to see you there!!!

P.S. The photo above is of the Sweet Remembrances, one of my favorite places in Rockport. It's an old fashioned photo parlour. You dress up in old fashioned garb and have your photo taken in those gorgeous sepia tones of old fashioned photos. Let's see how many times I can use the words "old fashioned" in one very short paragraph!?! ;)

Anyway...definitely worth the trip.

RISD Alumni Spring Art Sale THIS Weekend

Visit Fussy Gussy THIS weekend at the annual RISD Alumni Spring Art Sale in beautiful Providence, RI. The sale is held along historic Benefit Street at the heart of the RISD campus. I always love doing this sale...it's nice to be back on my old stomping ground. I feel SO lucky to have had the opportunity of studying at RISD.

Thank you Painting Department!!! :)

And so, to sum up...

What: RISD Alumni Spring Art Sale

When: THIS Saturday, May 1st (10am-5pm)

Where: Benefit Street, Providence, RI

For more information, visit ♥RISD Alumni Sale♥

Wintertime Hibernation

Hello all! It's been a while (since early December, yikes!), in large part due to the totally crazy holiday season I had with Fussy Gussy. The holidays were FANTASTIC, and very, very busy. I sold my handmade goods at the Harvard Square Holiday Fair for 13 days between Thanksgiving weekend and Christmas Eve Eve. I love doing this particular craft fair, and the other vendors are very sweet people. I also met so many new customers, and have added a few new retail shops to the ever growing list, "where to find Fussy Gussy".

After the fair was finished, I headed North to spend time with my family through the New Year. Since then I've been in heavy hibernation mode. Watching movies, cooking & baking, reading a ton. It's been SO relaxing and much needed.

My Etsy shops are all open for business as usual, and I'll be starting up with craft fairs again in April. It's going to be a busy Spring and Summer! I'll be selling at the Annual Gore Place Sheep Shearing Festival this year for the first time and I'm SO very excited. It's a fun event, and the sheep are too darn cute.

I hope that you have had a great New Year so far!

Fussy Gussy + The Boston Globe

Fussy Gussy was featured in an article this past weekend about the Harvard Square Holiday Fair!!! To check out the article (and photo of one of my Hostess Mini Aprons!), visit ♥Fussy Gussy in the Boston Globe♥

♥Hello + Welcome To Fussy Gussy♥

Hello and welcome! My name is Meagan, and I am the beauty, brawn, and brains behind Fussy Gussy. I live in a charming 1930s era house, complete with plenty of dormers, nooks, & crannies. I've been told that my home reminds people of a gingerbread house. For me, this is a great compliment.

Fussy Gussy began out of my own need for the perfect shopping tote. One thing led to another, and I started making pot holders. And now I'm know as "the pot holder lady" at craft fairs. 

I have a fondness for vintage pinup girls, glitter nail polish, and all things kitsch, but having lived in antique New England houses all of my life I like objects that have lots of history and the inch thick layer of dust to prove it. I'm inspired by mid-late 19th & early 20th century art & fashion & design & culture, vintage gothic romance novels from the 60s & 70s, horror movies, ghost stories...the list goes on and on. 


I collect vintage cake decorating books, and the occasional vintage cookbook. My favorite is the "Gone With the Wind Cookbook". I'm both terribly romantic and (somehow, also) fairly practical. I love watching (and talking about, and writing about) movies, especially horror and classics. I love, love, love music. I love to dance. I (clearly) love using parentheses. Clover honey is my sweetener of choice. I graduated with a BFA in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design. I love what I do, and feel fortunate to be a part of the ever growing local and handmade community.

You can find all sorts of domestic delights, as well as the lovely lady above in ♥my Etsy Shop♥, as well as at boutiques and craft fairs across the country. Enjoy!