Sarah K. Benning, who proclaims herself “nanny by day and artist by night,” lives in Albany and stitches these little needlework artworks framed in embroidery hoops, in addition to her other more serious works (she graduated from the Art Institute of Chicago, after all).
These hoop art pieces, which I found on Hunter’s Alley, the online vintage marketplace recently launched by One Kings Lane, are thoroughly charming. They picture on trend designs (cacti! faceted diamonds!) and cute sayings. I’m tempted. She offers a set of hand-stitched notecards too.
Below, I’ve also included a few of her pieces from Sarah K. Benning’s Imaginary Landscapes series. These works are based on failed disposable camera prints with stitched landscapes and nature-inspired images. Benning says, “These whimsical thread drawings are replacing the lost imagery of the original photographs.”
In late January, the team behind One Kings Lane launched a new venture, Hunters Alley. Hunter’s Alleyis an online resale marketplace that features one of a kind antique and vintage, handmade and crafted, and contemporary pre-owned items.
Individuals and professional vendors sell finds and designs which are lightly vetted. A specific seller and his or her finds are highlighted daily up front, and users can follow sellers they like best. One can also “love” an item, causing the gray outline of a heart to fill in red, which is very satisfying. “Top 10 Most-Loved” items are featured on the home page, pulled from the pieces with the highest number of “loves.”
Hunter’s Alley curators also pull together themed sales. Recent collections have included: “Space-Changing Art,” “Romantic Safari,” and “Handmade for Entertaining.” Prices start at $25, and new items are added every day at 10am ET. Each seller has a profile, with a bit about themselves, and the aggregate of their offerings.
The design is crisp and clean, much like OKL. The products are mostly silhouetted on a white background (though not all of them), and some tend to get a bit blurry when enlarged on the product page, but still, the good news is that it displays large enough to get a good sense of the item. There’s not a ton of items on there yet, but it’s still new, and there’s enough to make it worth a browse (and if you get lucky, a buy).
Hunter’s Alley has more personality than Dering Hall (though I love that site too), which skews somewhat closer to 1st Dibs (big fan, been browsing since its inception, though high prices means I’ve never bought). Given Hunter’s Alley more accessible price points and products, fun tone, and of course, the success of parent company One King’s Lane, it’s a definite hit.
