The cool, creepy and unconventional: Local vendors showcase their creations

Anyone walking down North Graham Street on Saturday would’ve heard the groovy music seeping out onto Franklin Street. Nestled into the alleyway, past Rumors and Al’s Burger Shack, was this year's Horrorfest Oddities Market — just in time for Halloween.

Back again for its second year, the market had everything from taxidermy work, jewelry and Halloween style paintings, to stuffed animals and antique goods. Many of the booths featured were local to the Triangle area, and were craftsmen of their own style of art styles, each bringing something unique, fun and even creepy to the market. 

One of the vendors was Taurean Treasures, run by Sophie Heldt. Taurean Treasures had set up shop with preserved bugs of all kinds, some as small as a bead and others as big as spiders the size of a hand. Heldt uses these bugs to make terrariums, framed works and shadow boxes all featuring plants and made with up-cycled material from CommunityWorx.

Heldt was in charge of organizing the market this year, while also joining the list of vendors for the second time. 

“It was a lot. Everything never turns out to plan when you run a market, but it was great,” Heldt said. “I met a lot of fantastic vendors. And honestly, everyone's stuff looks super cool.”

The market was frequented by students, locals and everyone in between, all finding something creepy, or even crawly, to take home. 

The visitors finding these unique creations, Heldt said, is one of her favorite parts of the market.

“I really just enjoy all the people who come by, and they don't expect to see what they see," Heldt said. “And they're just like, ‘Oh, my gosh, this is something I've never seen before.’”

Among the unconventional and novel was Myoflorae. Run by artist and massage therapist Rendon Foy, Myoflorae is a collection of artworks of all kinds made by the different bones and furs of the rabbits they raise personally. Foy said they want to prioritize connecting with the rabbits during their lifetime, as a departure from typical meat production.

Myoflorae, Foy said, is about bringing together the anatomical and the artistic.

“I like to bring in a little bit of the anatomical background for people to be able to see, ‘Hey, these bones are really similar to what goes on in our body,’” Foy said. 

The market, Foy said, was a great way to meet with other makers. 

“So really what I love the most is being able to connect with people and have interesting conversations," Foy said. “Finding the people that are on the same leaflet and looking to the same goals is always such a reward.”

Another vendor featured was Albus Agate, a lapidary jewelry business that specializes in rings, pendants, bolo ties and more. All of their stones are ethically sourced and come from all over the United States.

Addison Correll, one fourth of Albus Agate, was at the market on Saturday. The business includes Correll, his partner Brittney, their cat named Duke and their dog named Albus, who is Albus Agate’s namesake. 

Most of their pieces are sourced from the Southwest or the Pacific Northwest, but they also source various stones, like garnets and rubies, from parts of North Carolina. 

Correll and his family had moved from Oregon to North Carolina two years ago, unsure of what they’d find. Now living in Raleigh, Chapel Hill is only a skip away.

“My family's all from around here, like they're all Tar Heel people," Correll said. "So, we've heard of Chapel Hill and seen some of it, but this little area is super cool.”

When it came to the market, Correll, like Heldt and Foy, enjoyed the time spent with the other vendors and locale, and appreciated the opportunity to connect to the Chapel Hill community. 

“Expanding my outreach in the community and other artists from different parts of the Triangle, meeting new people — kind of putting Chapel Hill, Carrboro on the map in terms of makers markets and fun stuff like that," Heldt said.

@dthlifestyle | lifestyle@dailytarheel.com