Oh to Be a Renegade

Hello there.  How’s your week going?  I had a wonderful birthday weekend.  I was very good to my creative-self… starting several projects but not forcing myself to finish any.   But I have to say I am very excited to share the word-art canvas with you once it’s done… it is really coming along well! 

Since that will be my next “We can make that Wednesday” post… I wanted to share some fun things from the Renegade Craft Fair I attended in Chicago weekend before last.  

Segway in thought please?  Sure…

Remember “Opposite Day” in high school?  Where you wore your clothes backwards…. or the football team wore cheer-leading uniforms (yah that was never pretty)…. well today is ‘Opposite’ We can make that Wednesday, featuring items from uber-talented crafty people I had the chance to meet that I could never, ever make!  Well I could try… and make my own version of course.  But most of the day was spent silently bowing down to their greatness. 

And coolness… people that showed their art at Renegade had a cool factor that I could never hope to reach in this lifetime.  (I am more cheesy than cool… some would call that coolsey…)

See?  Not happenin there.

I had so much fun walking the booths at the fair.  Even Alan had a great time.  I could have spent days pouring over every little item and grabbed their cards to remember to share some faves with you.

First is Alan’s favorite, Tugboat Print Shop from Pittsburgh.

These pieces of art were absolutely amazing.  They hand-etch large wood blocks, ink them, and then create beautiful and crisp images for display. 

(“Wavejumper”)

That is STAMPED… from a hand-carved stamp!  Such beautiful work.  I loved their Woodland series featuring the cutest animal prints with so much personality.  Their prices are very reasonable for the amount of work and quality in their pieces. 

Another favorite stand-out was Bubbles Binsburry. 

(Now that’s just fun to say)  I thought their creations were some of the Cutest at the entire fair.  And there was some heavy competition. But just look at these little darlins!

So precious!  Check out their Etsy shop here.

 Next was Jessica Gonacha  from Atlanta who creates the most beautiful, fantatiscal artwork.   I had told Alan this would be more like an art show than the “craft” fair he was picturing before we left (with the Kleenex cozies and the glitter covered what-not), and it was in her booth he started to believe me. 

Case in point:

( “I See the One I Love”)

Gorgeous!!

I also need to give a shout out (“shout out”… that’s a “cool” phrase right?) to my favorite vendor that was from Chicago.  I saw so many that were right here in our back yard that I had no idea.   Souldier creates guitar and camera straps (other things too) from recycled seat-belts and vintage fabrics.  Oh they were so lovely.  I wanted one of each.  I also could have talked to the gent running the booth at the time for quite awhile.  He knew where each and every fabric had come from and what it represented.  (“Jimmy Hendrix had this style at Woodstock” for example… now that’s knowing your fabrics).  This one is a definite fav.

Someday soon when I actually do pick up that guitar again.

And finally, I of course have to mention the highlight of my day… of which my scrappy friends already have heard much about….

Meeting Elsie:

She and her guy were running a booth for Red Velvet Art and it was full of SO much goodness I can’t even begin to tell you.  Her adorable paintings, t-shirts, and just amazing art-work in general.   She is such a sweet person (Jeremy is too) and we exchanged little gifts.  Vintage sunglasses from me to her and an adorable set of stationery and mini-prints from her to me.  I was over the moon I tell ya! 

And very proud of myself by the way.  She ia the first person that I admire so much to whom I did stutter all over myself upon meeting.   THAT’s how sweet she is.

It was such a great fair – I cannot wait until next year.  It was like Etsy live.

Thanks so much for stopping by today friends.  Be sure to visit the shops above and spend some time admiring their work, there are some truly amazing artists in the world and I felt so refreshed after seeing so many of them with packed booths full of people that appreciate and support them for it.   I think buying handmade is just about as supportive of each other as we can get right now, don’t you?

Have a wonderful day, hope you get to create something fun, and see you soon.