After years of running my jewelry line, Bad Habits by Morgan Hill, I began creating pieces inspired by the spirit of the fair—and even started entering them into fairs themselves. This piece, Smorgasbord, truly captures the essence of the brand.

Inspired by Templeton the rat from Charlotte’s Web, it’s a tribute to that unforgettable moment when he finally indulges in the fair’s nighttime chaos. That scene—wild, joyful, and excessive—perfectly embodies the fine line Bad Habits explores: the space between pleasure and over-indulgence.

It’s that exact burst of excitement I aim to bottle up in every piece I make—the same feeling we all get when the fair rolls into town.

Smorgasbord

2024

Holly, resin, silk thread, paint, steel, and sterling silver

23.25H × 14.625W × 1.25D in.

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Gift of Diane Charnov and museum purchase through the Windgate Foundation Living Artists Acquisitions Fund, 2025.18

Photos Courtesy of Smithsonian American Art Museum