Erin Allen
Visual Artist & Designer
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- Pop-Up Shop Event
We're thrilled to invite you to our in-person pop-up shop featuring six talented artists from the Hillwood team. Come meet the makers, explore original works, and shop one-of-a-kind pieces in the beautiful setting of the Conservatory.
Date: October 10, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: The Conservatory
Visual Artist & Designer
Erin Allen is a visual artist and designer specializing in vintage-inspired stationery and decor that is both useful and beautiful. Growing up in a family of creatives, she works in a variety of mediums and is always interested in trying out new crafts. She holds a Master of Arts in British Art History from the University of York, and her art practice draws on her study of Victorian art and textiles. She sells her work under the brand name Mere Folly, which you can find on social media at @merefolly. Be on the lookout for her website, merefollyshop.com, launching later this fall!
Jewelry Artisan
Alia Bakry is a Maryland-based artisan who works in a variety of mediums and art forms, but she began her business during COVID when she discovered the fabulous art of Chinese knot making. She thought making and selling woven bracelets with semi-precious stones might be a fun way to make a little extra cash during the shutdown. What started as a hobby eventually grew into a passion when she discovered the art of decorative weaving known as macrame. Ever since, she has been enamored with the beautiful and sometimes playfully intricate designs, and she is always seeking new and innovative ways to incorporate stones, beads, and charms into her work.
Photographer
Connor Beaty has always been more comfortable behind a camera than putting things into words. He doesn’t consider himself an artist or even necessarily a photographer—just someone who enjoys noticing the small details, interesting moments, and scenes worth remembering, then standing behind a camera and hitting a button.
His postcards are a collection of those moments, captured around Washington, D.C. and beyond.
Maya Cross has been a creative spirit since childhood, immersed in drawing, painting, and crafting with a passion for fashion. She realized early on that she could merge art, fashion, and design into a career. Maya studied Fashion Design at both Savannah College of Art and Design and Virginia Commonwealth University, earning her Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design. Since then, she has built a multifaceted career as a freelance designer and creative professional. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she founded The Sewcialite, a luxury loungewear and accessories brand that celebrated comfort through elevated design. Lately, she has been exploring accessory design using mostly upcycled denim, her favorite choice of fabric. Maya also continues to work as a freelance designer, stylist, and wardrobe consultant, helping clients express themselves through thoughtful design, personal style, and creative storytelling.
Portrait Artist
Michelle Green creates live continuous-contour portraits, capturing each person's essence in a single, unbroken line. Her work explores the beauty of imperfection, observation, and connection, inviting viewers to see themselves through a playful, approachable lens while asking,"Who is Portrait Worthy?"Green works across fine art, photography, mixed-media collage, and upcycled materials. A former public-school art educator with more than a decade of teaching experience, she continues to share her passion for creativity through private art lessons, homeschool curriculum design, and community art events. Green has brought her art and educational experience to Hillwood through its Interpretation Department, engaging learners of all ages through art and museum experiences. At the heart of her practice is a simple belief:everyone deserves to feel seen. Sometimes the simplest access point is through a quick sketch, and as she often reminds her portrait sitters, “Everyone looks good as a scribble.”
Cartoon Artist & Graphic Designer
Jadah Thomas is a cartoon artist from New York. From a young age, she loved animated shows and character design. This led her to California to study Media Arts and Animation, and later gain her Bachelor's in Graphic Design with a focus on merchandise production. During COVID, she bought an embroidery machine and mixed her love of craft-making with her colorful, fun character designs. She continues to experiment with both digital and traditional mediums to bring her designs to life.
This event is free and open to the public. We look forward to seeing you there.
