Fall semester is in full swing, and with it comes one of Ithaca’s most beloved weekend rituals — the Ithaca Farmers Market. Nestled along the Cayuga Lake waterfront, the farmers market offers a vibrant blend of gourmet food, handmade goods, local produce and live music.
While there are over 85 vendor stalls on any given weekend, there is one that often draws a steady crowd: Sandy’s Jewelry. At Booth 18, a miniature explosion of intricate handmade earrings lines the walls. The front table, with its built-in wooden shelving, holds what must be hundreds of earrings meticulously arranged by theme: flowers, birds, mushrooms, animals, tiny foods and many more.
The person behind the creative operation of Sandy’s Jewelry? Alexander E. Soule, who has been making and selling jewelry under the name Sandy’s Jewelry since 1985, when he first joined the Ithaca Farmer’s Market.
“I got interested in jewelry making when I was dating a woman who dealt in antiques,” Soule explains. “I saw old costume jewelry and started thinking about how I could combine different pieces to make something better. I began selling from her place at first, then signed up for the Ithaca Farmers Market to reach more people.”
Soule’s process is entirely hands-on. He formulates and assembles each piece himself, sourcing charms, beads and materials from a variety of places. Over time, he’s developed distinctive styles where almost anyone can find a pair of earrings that they love.
While quite unassuming at first, the stall is almost always filled with people digging through the piles of jewelry. Each piece is almost entirely unique, and all of Sandy’s earrings are quite reasonably priced (ranging between $8 and $15). Each piece of jewelry is assembled by hand with sterling silver hardware as well. The affordability, paired with the originality of each design, makes it easy to understand why so many farmers market goers linger at the stall, turning over the piles of earrings in search of the perfect pair. While many designs are playful or whimsical, others are subtle and stylish, like simple beaded dangle earrings or tiny birds in flight.
After nearly 40 years as a vendor, Soule has become part of the fabric of the Ithaca Farmers Market. So whether you're looking for a thoughtful gift, a quirky pair of earrings or a one-of-a-kind accessory for yourself, Sandy’s Jewelry is well worth a stop. Although Sandy’s doesn't have a standalone store, the shop is almost always in Booth 18 at the market every weekend during the season, which runs through December. Just be sure to give yourself enough time to dig through the piles of earrings; you may just end up spending longer than you think, flipping through the jewelry and walking away with more than you planned!
Vivien Dobrescu is a sophomore in the College of Architecture, Art and Planning. She can be reached at vmd33@cornell.edu.
