In the Press
In the Press
Here at Craftland, we are dedicated to showcasing the weird and wonderful wares of Rhode Island's creative community. No wonder so many people have cited Craftland as a must-visit destination for anyone looking to take home a piece of "The Creative Capitol"!!
"Along Westminster Street, there are several local boutiques, notably Craftland, which sells jewelry, home goods, stationery and more from local producers and designers."
Lilit Marcus, CNN Travel
"If it’s a rainy day, plan a visit to Craftland. The shop began as a pop-up shop for local artists, so it’s truly unique to Providence. Over the past few decades, it has developed into a must-see destination. The shop features the “off-beat sensibilities of independent creators from here in Rhode Island,” including handmade items by a wide variety of local artists and artisans."
Robert Rosenthal, Travel Awaits
"It was a familiar slogan in an unfamiliar place.
We were browsing inside of Craftland, a downtown Providence gift shop dedicated to supporting the local arts community, when we saw it — a postcard featuring an outline of the state of Texas with an outline of tiny Rhode Island inside and the words, “Don’t mess with Rhode Island either.”
During a recent trip to visit family, we would learn that whatever Rhode Island lacks in size, it more than makes up for in personality."
Kristin Finan, the Austin American Statesman
"Locating stores selling high quality souvenirs and collectables can be hard, but not so in Providence. [C]heck out Craftland in the downtown district. It boasts its range ‘is all handmade, all the time’."
David Hudson, Gay Star News
"And before you go, be sure to check out [...] nearby Craftland, filled with locally-made artisan jewelry, cards, bags, clothing, toys, and the like. Eye candy."
The Boston Globe
"Providence is populated with small shops selling art and crafts made by local artists. Downtown’s Craftland is filled with prints, jewelry, felt creations and other works by local artists including Rachel Blumberg and Meredith Stern, as well as artists from a bit farther afield."
Michelle R. Smith, Associated Press
"“Providence has a rich vein of creative weirdos,” said Andrew Roidoulis, who works at Craftland and sells his pieces here. “We are celebrating the idiosyncratic nature of handmade crafts.” The retail shop grew from a holiday pop-up to a year-round retail store carrying about 130 artists, many hailing from the area. Owner Margaret Carleton, for one, transforms melted Mardi Gras beads into lamps, night lights, pins and rings. She is also a beekeeper, though she uses soy for her candle line, the Night Gardener. (Scents include lemon poundcake and whiskey vanilla.) Paul Davis frames classic images of Rhode Island — Del’s lemonade, Newport Creamery’s Awful Awful milkshake — in photo developing trays. Roidoulis, whose family printed T-shirts for such bands as the Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, weaves tie-dye scraps into wall hangings using the Scandinavian rya technique. There is a veritable petting zoo of cute and cuddly animals, which appear on jewelry, hair clips, wallets, mobiles and even gauges for knitting needles. However, several pieces may require a PhD to wear, such as the bracelets made with a 3-D printer, and necklaces and rings by the Massachusetts design company Nervous System. You might have also seen their 3-D organs on the May cover of Science magazine.
Andrea Sachs, The Washington Post