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Brothers Tony and AJ Jordan have set up a stall selling homemade bookmarks.
Tony Jordan’s black widow bookmark that is available for purchase online or at the Historic Downtown Farmers Market.
A gold bookmark with celestial charms created by Tony Jordan. The bookmarks are available for purchase online or at the Historic DTLA Farmers Market.
Brothers Tony and AJ Jordan have set up a stall selling homemade bookmarks.
In the center of the thriving Historic Downtown Farmers Market, brothers AJ and Tony Jordan have set up a stall selling homemade bookmarks that inspire literacy.
The creative teens produce intricate origami designs to personalized creations, capturing marketgoers’ attention with their collective passion for crafting and literature.
The teens are positioned on Sundays in front of The Last Bookstore, which is located at 453 S. Spring Street Ground Floor. Each bookmark has its own story and reflects the style and persona of its creator. Customers can sense the mindfulness and dedication that go into each handmade piece, showcasing the teens’ creative spirit.
AJ is a poet, writer and author of the novel “Eerily Wrinkling and the Prodigal Return,” as well as the creator of the “Eerily Wrinkling” world. As a full-time student, he focuses his writing on cultural diversity and social and environmental justice with a hint of fantasy thrown into the mix.
Tony found his affinity for character development when he helped AJ with “Eerily Wrinkling and the Prodigal Return.” Since then, Tony has grown to love character development and using his hands to create new things.
Tony Jordan’s black widow bookmark that is available for purchase online or at the Historic Downtown Farmers Market.
“I just started selling handmade bookmarks at the farmers market last week and it’s already going so well,” Tony said. “All of these creative projects have been a work in progress for years. During the pandemic, my brother and I grew very bored, so we took a creative leap and created our own world — this is what we call ‘Eerily Wrinkling.’ My brother AJ saw this as the perfect opportunity to write a book about the world. The book itself was written by my brother, and my role there was to help in character development.
“The idea of creating bookmarks came about when I was thinking of ways to promote AJ’s book, and bookmarks seemed like an interesting option. Most of the bookmarks out there, however, are pretty ordinary and are, in most cases, made with paper or plastic.
“To help the environment and to make something unique and extraordinary, I decided to make metal bookmarks at an affordable price for readers of all ages. I went ahead and took some soda cans and melted down the metal from a furnace I rented out, then used a small knife to begin creating individual designs. Once I saw the end product, I knew this was something I wanted to sell to other readers.”
Customers can learn about the influences on creating each bookmark when engaging with the two young entrepreneurs. Some take inspiration from nature, incorporating pressed leaves and flowers into designs. Others experiment with varying materials and textures, adding a feel of individuality to each piece.
Setting these two teen entrepreneurs apart is their artistic flair and business-like mindset. AJ and Tony have taken their hobby of creating bookmarks and shifted their love of the craft into a business opportunity, learning invaluable customer service, marketing and financial management skills. At the Historic Downtown Farmers Market, the brothers engage with customers and share the stories behind every handmade creation to build personal connections.
A gold bookmark with celestial charms created by Tony Jordan. The bookmarks are available for purchase online or at the Historic DTLA Farmers Market.
“I’m so excited to sell our products at more farmers markets,” Tony said.
“I love creating bookmarks because I know that they’ll go in the books people read throughout their day or the year. I’ve even seen my bookmarks utilized as things other than what I’ve designed them for. They’ve also been used as backpack charms and hair accessories. It’s fun to see people be unique with my creations. Not only is selling my work satisfying but making those connections with buyers has made some lasting friendships and impacts on me. I can’t wait for all the people I’ll meet at the upcoming farmers markets.”
WHEN: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays
WHERE: Historic Downtown Farmers Market, 209 W. Fifth Street, Los Angeles
COST: Bookmarks start at $10
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