Every Tuesday from 3-6 p.m., vendors gather at the Champaign Farmers Market in downtown Champaign to share the things they love with the community. On Tuesday, three vendors shared what their pop-up shops mean to them.

Carnation Bookhouse sells queer literature. Owner Sam Ehlinger said she used to work at libraries, where she noticed queer, political and BIPOC-centered books were often difficult to find. She created her shop because she thought farmers markets would be a good way for people to access queer literature.

“My mission is just to make queer books and books that help us take action more accessible in our community, and to kind of build queer community in our area,” Ehlinger said.

Ehlinger said the store offers a selection of new and used books, some of which are donated by community members. She also offers store credit in exchange for books. Having worked in publishing, Ehlinger has access to advance copies of new books, so she assesses them before adding them to her inventory.

A marketgoer stops by Strictly Wicks’ tent on Tuesday. (Sam Rink)

Kelli Davis, owner of Strictly Wicks Candle Company, said she has been selling her homemade candles for 5 1/2 years. She said her candles have extremely long burn times, with some lasting as long as 70 hours. She also said that every candle burns until all of its wax is gone.

Davis said she doesn’t like candles typically sold in stores because they’re full of chemicals and preservatives. She said her candles are unique because of their lack of chemicals and their appearance.

“(I want to) add some positive prettiness into sometimes a world that’s kind of ugly,” Davis said.

Beverly Johnson, founder of Beverly’s Bizarre, sells spooky homemade knickknacks. These include bottled “potions” that change color when shaken, decorative coffins, cups with spider legs on the bottom and jewelry.

“I’ve always been drawn to the macabre, the spooky, the odd, the weird,” Johnson said. “I just think that it’s really fun to embrace that other side of yourself and really dive into something that maybe makes you a little uncomfortable.”

Johnson said she makes some of her crafts out of reclaimed objects to give them a “second life.” She reclaims chandelier crystals to make sun catchers, china pieces to make sculptures and keys to make jewelry.

Lauren Pellant and Anna Logan, who perform as Chambana Bards, play a duet at the Champaign Farmers Market on Tuesday. (Sam Rink)

Johnson said she spent the last 15 years as a manager for Ulta Beauty and recently left the position to pursue her store full time.

“I want (the store) to be something where somebody sees it and is like, ‘Wow, that’s something I’ve never seen before,’” Johnson said.

No matter how niche, the Champaign Farmers Market welcomes vendors to open a booth and put their passions on the table.

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