Come to The Hassle’s Black Market Flea this Sunday from 12-6 & sample the very best of what our finely-curated local vendors have to offer! In the days leading up to the event, we’re going to be featuring some of our favorite vendors on the site to talk about what they’re selling, where they got their inspiration, and how they make their stuff.
Meet Ruth from MudHedz:
How has business been since MA legalized weed in 2016?
The my Etsy shop and flea market business has been steadily growing since I began it in August of 2016. It is hard to tell if legalization has increased that end of things. However, I don’t think that it has made much of a difference to date. What has increased are requests for wholesale accounts; in Massachusetts and other legal states, especially California. I plan to work on growing that side of my business in the 2019. What has changed is attitudes. Since legalization, when I’ve told some folks about my business, I tend to get more positive,responses, like a wink and a pat on the back, versus raised eyebrows and silence.
Where did you get the inspiration for your “gassy bather” pipe?
behold, the michelangelo’s david of pipes
Which of the pipes do you use ~personally~?
To date, my favorite pipe is the oyster. Although I am not a frequent smoker, when I partake, I love the oyster pipe. It has three different glaze finishes, is very tactile, fits comfortably in my hand, positions like your are slurping an oyster and has a smooth, cool smoke.
puttin’ on the ritz
What is the process for creating your pipes? do you cast or sculpt? What type of clay do you use?
My pipes are made from earthenware clay. They are formed in plaster molds that I cast from real objects, hand sculpts or a combination of the two. After casting, each piece is hand cleaned, smoothed and the bowl is shaped. They are then fired, painted and glazed and then re-fired.
Which pipe do you think makes the best gift for, let’s say, a young, hip bostonian tastemaker who loves goin to flea markets?
I try to create pipes for all different interests, so it’s pretty easy to find one that will make a thoughtful, personal gift. I also have some holiday themed pipes. A Christmas Pickle pipe, a Lump of Coal pipe, new tile topped tins and grinders, blunt stone pendants and holiday ornaments.
just hear those sleigh bells pickling…
Come kick it with Ruth and tons more vendors this Sunday at the Cambridge Community Center!
