One of the best parts of any convention is discovering the wares offered by the booths at the show. And with a show as big as this year’s Emerald City Comicon, there were so many unique vendors to check out that it almost seemed impossible to stop by them all. But I persevered, and here are just a few of my top picks of popular shops at the con that you can also browse through from the comfort of your computer chair.
Badali Jewelry
Lord of the Rings fans will immediately notice the door of Bag End in these striking jewelry pieces, but to other people it will just look like a unique necklace or pair of cufflinks. Not only does Badali Jewelry offer officially licensed jewelry from the Lord of the Rings movies, they also carry pieces from some of your favorite fantasy book series. Mistborn, Wheel of Time, and Kingkiller Chronicle fans will find something to ooh and ahh over in their one-of-a-kind catalog.
Cute Glass
“Adorable” sums up the unique designs of the creatures that adorn the glass jewelry at Cute Glass. Each handmade glass trinket is breakable, but not fragile, so they can dangle from your ears or neck without worry. The little animals are fantastic for fans of chibi art, and the wide variety of animals (I just love the Boston terrier) means you’ll probably find just the right mini-pet for you or someone special.
Sparkle Designs
If you’ve been on the hunt for a charm necklace that shows off your fandom, look no further than Sparkle Designs. From Whedon to Walkers to Who, if you’re a fan of a certain TV show or movie, chances are you’ll find a piece that speaks to you. Not only does the shop offer necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, Sparkle Designs also sells fandom-inspired lip balms that they make themselves. “Albus Dumbledore’s Lemon Drop Lip Balm” sounds like it would work magic on chapped lips, doesn’t it?
Truffle Cottage
Fandom-inspired chocolates? You really can find just about anything at Emerald City Comicon. The Truffle Cottage creates chocolate concoctions with designs from your favorite shows, books, and games. Minecraft truffles, chocolate dragon eggs (with a chocolate dragon inside), Hogwarts House truffles, and many more delectable geeky treats are yours for the tasting.
Woolbuddy
If you love felting, or you’ve always wanted to learn how, head over to Woolbuddy. Not only can you request your own fuzzy creature, Woolbuddy also offers yarn, books, and kits to get you started making your own. At the convention my daughter spotted a wool R2-D2 necklace that she begged for, and then wore it the entire rest of the day. It may be small, but the little R2-D2 still big enough to snuggle.
All photos: Kelly Knox
