Maker of the Month
Welcome to this month's edition of Maker of the Month! Each month, we highlight one of our Member-Makers so you can learn more about their background, their craft, and their creative process.
Paula Karol
Vineyard Confections
You may have seen her walking through hospital hallways wearing a white coat with a clipboard in hand as a Nurse Practitioner, but to us at Martha’s Vineyard Made, she’s the candy maker. Meet Paula Karol, founder of Vineyard Confections and April’s Maker of the Month!
While some of us honed into our sourdough making skills in 2020, Paula took a sweet escape and began making delicious, small-batch craft candies and founded Vineyard Confections.
Paula was born in Madrid, Spain and says it’s where her initial inspiration came from during a visit. Unlike store-bought, mass-manufactured candy, Vineyard Confections is quite simple––Paula uses high-quality ingredients that most of us can pronounce and chooses them very carefully. Some of her first candies were inspired by delicious violet ones she found in Spain!
Some of her seasonal candies include Pumpkin Cinnamon Spice lollipops in the Autumn, handmade Easter Eggs in the Spring, Mango Habanero for those hot summer days and others. What makes Paula’s sweet treats so special is her knack for different flavor pairings and the creativity behind crafting them. Each treat is unique, some bearing bold shapes, designs and colors. She also makes fabulous cashew brittle and Sea Salt Caramels which can always be found year round!
A fun fact? She even makes delicious dog biscuits. Available in-store at Martha’s Vineyard Made and online at www.vineyardconfections.com.
Paula resides in Edgartown, making fantastic confections in her own kitchen. Every now and then she can be found dropping by Martha’s Vineyard Made with a tray full of her sweet treats ready to be put on display and sold. We anticipate her Easter haul, which will include her signature, handmade Easter Eggs and other Vineyard Confections Spring specials.
Paula and Vineyard Confections will be hosting an Island-wide egg hunt! The exclusive event will be held the weekend of April 2nd and 3rd. Clues for each egg hunter will be sent out each morning throughout the weekend. This year, there are over 100 eggs that will be hidden! There will also be Doggie Eggs filled with dog treats––those locations will be released soon. For those who didn't find an egg, a limited amount will be available for purchase at Martha's Vineyard Made over Easter Weekend and on Vineyard Confections website! Follow VC on Instagram and Facebook for more information such as clues and locations!
Martha’s Vineyard Made is so excited to be a part of this event! We will be opening our doors for the weekend beginning Friday 10-5, Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 11-4.
Interested in ordering online for Easter? We suggest doing it sooner than later! On Island? Don’t forget to visit us in Vineyard Haven where you can find Vineyard Confections just in time for the holiday!