renegade craft fair 2008: highlights, pt. 2

more wonderful things from the talented and clever artists at the renegade craft fair in chicago this weekend, which is open today, september 14th, 2008 from noon-10 pm:

vibrant tableware from circa ceramics

pretty jewelry made of vintage ephemera from the foundling

politically aware accessories and toys from rebexa and abbeychristine

colorful screenprints from the little friends of printmaking

letterpress cards and stationery from luckybeepress

photographic jewelry from le photique

beguiling prints from catia chien

 recycled sweater toys from caitlin wicker

share this story

renegade craft fair chicago 2008: highlights

conditions were pretty intense at the renegade craft fair in chicago earlier today. the rain started in the morning and continued for hours and hours today. and it wasn’t a drizzle either; i am talking torrential downpours that left me soaked to the bone. i am happy to report that the shopping was absolutely terrific though, with plenty to see from vendors old and new. my camera survived thanks to the macgyver-styled ziplock bag cover i fashioned, and i came home with a big messenger bag filled with crafty goodness. i’ll be showing you the highlights in a few posts, starting with this one…

charming prints and sweet stuffies from denise simon

pretty porcelain jewelry from sofia masri

handmade boh bon soaps

berkley illustration wallets and prints

whimsical plush from kinderfluff

vintage typewriter key jewelry from the weekend store

elegant textile designs from maramiki

prints from the talented artists at charmingwall

the fair is on from noon-10 pm tomorrow (sunday), so if you’re local come on down and get inspired by some fabulous artists! if not, stay tuned for more highlights and links to the artists.

share this story

cardboard cat playhouse

for those of us who have cats with active imaginations, i proudly present the flat pack, fold together cat playhouses from suck uk…

what they need to do is sell an add-on kit for opposable kitty thumbs, so they can build it themselves. after all, cats need to feel empowered sometimes too.

it’s £15.00, and it’s (almost) available right here.

share this story

sara kirkpatrick softies & prints: miniview

i think serious looking animals are whimsical, and since i like to laugh, there is something about lighthearted anthropomorphic imagery that i highly enjoy. it’s probably because i am convinced that my beloved pets are talking, reading the paper and doing card and circus tricks to pass the time when i am not around. when i look at the plush and paint work of sara kirkpatrick i know i’m not alone in my ways of thinking. sara creates imaginative felt animals and very funny and expressive portraits of bunnies, bears and other animals. there is a pleasing story behind each worried, innocent or gruff-but-loveable character and it makes me want to know more! so i asked…

q: where do you live and where do you make your art?
a: i live in a little house in athens, ga with my husband and our very sneaky cat. i share a tiny studio room with my hubby’s guitars and keyboards, but i usually end up working on projects in my living room (often listening to this american life archives or an old friend of a movie that i’ve seen dozens of times.) my couch is perpetually covered in glitter and felt scraps and lost sewing needles! (be careful where you sit if you ever come over…)

q: what inspires you to create?
a: i am inspired by dreams, music, stories, film, dogs with beards, cats with one eye, the sound of the wind through the trees, other people’s amazing creations… inspiration is a bit tricky and usually visits me in random spurts. sometimes i feel very uninspired for weeks at a time, and then i’m flooded with ideas. i keep a sketchbook on my bedside table and usually reach for it when i’m very sleepy. when i look back, i find i’m most attached to the little doodles that i barely even remember drawing.

q: who is your favorite in your shop right now (we won’t tell the others)?
a: hmmm… i think my favorite in my shop right now would have to be sunny (below). i love the way the colors came together, though i am thinking of making a little birdie friend to sit on sunny’s head. i get very attached to every creature (or painting) that i make. sending them off to their new homes can be difficult. i actually cried when i sold olive (below, second photo)… i was thiiis close to keeping her for myself!

q: who exactly is the blueberry bandit?
a: i guess you could say the blueberry bandit is me, or maybe my alter-ego. i once made a little softie (it’s my etsy and blog avatar), he was very simple and kind of sad, and i instantly felt like i had made a self-portrait in the form of a softie. the blueberry bandit is shy and timid on the outside, but secretly a bit mischievous and fierce, a quiet little creature that steals blueberries when no one is looking! (i’m not sure i’ve ever actually stolen a blueberry, but you know what i mean…)

purchase these pieces at sara’s etsy shop (and make sure you take advantage of her two year etsy-versary (now through june 28th!) and be sure to cruise over to her blog to say hello too.

thank you sara!

share this story

organic cotton veggie toys (cute)

it’s farmer’s market season and what better way to teach your child about the benefits of organic farming than with this adorable set of 100% organic cotton vegetable toys, from janice masoud and the folks at the sekem farm in egypt. little ones can use them as teethers and bigger kids can engage them in creative play.

the set comes in a useful wooden crate and is available at janice’s online shop and also at uncommon goods.

share this story

la pomme sewn toys and pillows: miniview

i am back from my weekend in nola, which was lovely (more on that later). equally if not more lovely are these soft linen and cotton pillows, sachets and toys from philippines-born, french-based artist apol lejano-massebieau, aka etsy seller lapomme. many of the pieces in apol’s dreamy collection are crafted from rescued and recycled materials and stuffed them with delicious dried lavender. each and every piece also has a wonderful and quirky story behind it. i wanted to know more of apol’s personal story, so i asked just three questions…

q: where do you live, and where do you make your lovely things?
a: i live in a little village in southwestern france, and i used to sew on my dining room table, until it stopped being fun finding pieces of thread in the salad. so i recently bought myself a little mobile home and installed it on the property, beside my dry garden. i painted the walls a shade called raspberry, and from march to mid-april i have a view of flamingos feeding in the marsh in front. it is wonderful to finally have a space for all my mess!

q: do you have an art background? how did you get into making these sachets and pillows?
a: what i am, mainly, is a writer, who had always had a deep appreciation for the visual arts and the fabric arts. sewing was something that i did on-and-off, and had always wanted to do more of, except that life had always been too busy.

when i was a child, my sisters and i would prepare for christmas by making handmade toys to give to cousins, although sometimes the toys were so freaky our cousins would cry. then at university i was part of the costume department of a theater group, and i got to make fun objects like a stuffed octopus and metallic dance suits. then i stopped for more than a decade as real life and a high-pressure job happened.

after a serious rearranging of my life, finally, after a long iI am able to again handle fabric, needle, and thread. this time, i have no plans of stopping.

q: would you rather sleep with lavender or eat it?
a: lavender in food requires a light touch, otherwise you feel like you’re eating a garden. so unless i really really trust the kitchen, i’d rather just sleep with the herb.

purchase these pieces and see the full collection at apol’s etsy shop, and say hi to her on her blog too.

thank you apol!

share this story

twins and doubles art (round up)

so i’m minding my own business driving in the car and then a song comes on the radio that rattles around in my head for hours. does this ever happen to you?

today’s song was a tasty treat by beloved 70’s rock band foreigner. and it stuck around in my dome and that’s when i got this idea (perhaps a way to exorcise that demon song out of my brain?)

fill my eyes with that double vision…

the double-sided vivienne print from matte stephens

hand hammered sterling double bubble earrings from brooke medlin

double lolly tote bag from charlie and sarah

handprinted double bunny card (with carrot heart) from floating palace

double mint lip balm from cavendish soap works

the unappreciated gift print from sunny buick

two peas in a pod crocheted plushie from the yummy pancake

vintage lovely ladies figurines from racheltrouble

twin chairs pincushion from rabbits moon

twin pop print from anna tillett designs

ahhhh… it’s out of my head now. thanks for the help, etsy!

share this story

dan goodsell art

i am extremely fond of the work of prolific california artist dan goodsell and his food themed motley crew of characters that have sprung from his fount of imagination. this happy roving gang features the irrepressible mr. toast and his homies, like shaky bacon, lemonhead and joe the egg. they join each other and support each other as friends do, together at milestone moments or just chilling out.

warning! love fest: i love his sense of humor and the super smiley color palette. the simplicity of his drawings evokes a lot of joy. i love how kids and adults alike can have a shared laugh when viewing his artwork. i love seeing food as everyday people in unexpected places. i love how he has made these art pieces available in all types of ways - original paintings, online comics, plush toys, buttons, books and cards. and i love being a collector of his work.

this kind of whimsical imagination is like a giant magnet to me. i can’t help but put myself right alongside these instantly beloved characters and be part of the gang. i’m thinking i’m an eggplant. or something else purple. maybe a fig?

right now my mr. toast doll is looking at me and winking.

be sure to check out dan’s flickr stream, blog and etsy shop - there is so much quality content that you’ll be quickly immersed! and don’t miss the archive of vintage photos and advertising too!

you can also find select merchandise of dan’s at mahar dry goods.

share this story