Under sunny October skies, Marblehead’s Fall Festival was bustling with families, visitors, and local artisans, but one booth in particular drew both seasoned sailors and curious newcomers.
Patsy Wiswell, the creative force behind Patsy Kane Nautical, showcased her timeless coastal jewelry to a steady stream of festivalgoers.
“The festival was a delight. We had a great day,” Wiswell said. “The weather was fantastic — a little warm, but better than cold — and we had steady foot traffic all day. It was both Marblehead locals and visitors. Some were exploring Salem and popped over, which was terrific. It was a good mix of new people and my regular shoppers.”
The Fall Festival, organized by Discover Marblehead in partnership with the Marblehead Museum, brought together a vibrant array of artists, craftspeople, and local businesses. In addition to the artisan booths, families enjoyed the annual Pumpkin Festival.
Melissa Stacey of Discover Marblehead said Shubie’s donated approximately 70 pumpkins for children to decorate with proceeds benefiting the Marblehead Food Pantry.
Patsy Kane Nautical’s pieces are inspired by maritime symbols and crafted with a mix of traditional techniques and contemporary design.
“We manufacture the majority of our items in Rhode Island, which used to be the costume jewelry capital of America,” Wiswell explained. “There are still some old-school jewelry manufacturers there. It’s a little more expensive and time-consuming, but the quality is just great, and we love working with them.”
Her collection includes buoy pendants, lobster traps, shackles, and monkey fist knots, a nod to the age-old sailor’s knot used to throw lines from ship to shore.
“If they’re familiar with the nautical theme, people get excited. If they’re not, they ask questions, which I love,” she said. “We explain the history of the monkey fist, sailors would tie a knot around a cannonball or rock to help throw a line, though eventually they switched to something a bit less painful if it hit someone in the head!”
Her pieces are available in sterling silver and gold-plated finishes, often incorporating nylon cord reminiscent of dock lines and sailing rope. The designs are classic and clean, perfectly suited to Marblehead’s maritime aesthetic.
“I hate to toot my own horn,” Wiswell added, “but a lot of people really like the jewelry. They like the design, they like the clean, classic coastal style.”
Wiswell has been in business for 12 years and sells her jewelry through both retail and wholesale channels. Her pieces can be found on her website and in roughly 50 stores. At events like the Fall Festival, she gets to connect directly with customers, both old and new.
She’s also very appreciative of the community effort that goes into making the festival possible.
“Melissa from Discover Marblehead works very hard on it, and the Marblehead Museum donates their space. If it had rained, we would have been inside, different vibe, but still wonderful,” she noted. “We’re very lucky. It’s been successful for six years, and I hope it keeps going for many more.”