It’s a good thing I didn’t take any cash with me today to the Renegade Craft Fair, or I would be broke. What’s also good is that, thanks to the internet, not buying something at a craft fair doesn’t mean you’ll never be able to find it again as long as you remember to ask the vendor for a card.
I went to the fair by myself, which was great for being able to move at my own pace, but I missed out on the fun of oohing and aahing over discoveries with a friend. So I’ve gone through the fistful of cards I collected today and have narrowed my favorites down to eight artists that I want to ooh and aah over with you.
First, of course, is Marketa New York. If I didn’t already have a summer bag, I would definitely spend $113 on her turquoise Soho. Today was my first time to handle the Soho in person. I had thought that, being fabric, it might feel flimsy, but the heavy cotton duck lining really makes a difference–much better than the thin, cheap cotton I’ve been finding in other purses this past week. The bottom of the bag is a couple of inches deep, which helps in keeping things organized, so forget my comment yesterday about needing a slightly wider bottom. All I need now is to convince Marketa to make this for me in black leather, and my search is over.
Second is Rfive Design, where I made my only splurge today–on a summer hat with a layer of silk organza with squiggly seams on top.
It’s even reversible.
I love this hat. Interestingly, it isn’t on Reiko Tomita’s website yet, so there’s definitely an advantage to finding things in person at a craft fair.
Third, I also loved this hat (on the right) at the Artikal booth. It’s difficult for me to find a flattering winter hat that isn’t generic, so I’m delighted to know about this resource.
Fourth is Moth Designs. The craft fair was inundated with tee shirts (mostly crewneck, of course,) but this was the only one I had to hold myself back from buying.
Thanks to the internet, I can still buy it for my favorite vet someday, although it isn’t yet on Mary Robbin’s website. I love how Mary is incorporating the beauty of Arabic caligraphy into something so mundane as a tee shirt.
Fifth, is Denise DeLong’s ceramics. Her ornaments and tiles really capture images that New Yorkers can appreciate beyond the typical tourist shots. This is the ornament I want to buy for our tree this year.
Amazingly, Denise won’t raise prices for her ornaments as the holidays draw closer, and she charges a little less at craft shows than online. Talk about no-pressure sales. I gladly put myself on her mailing list to be reminded of the holiday market she’ll be at in Manhattan after Thanksgiving.
Sixth is another New York subway scene, this time from Prismpop and in a postcard.
Thanks goodness Lisa took checks because this was my only other must-have of the day, and it’s not on her site yet. Last year I conducted a futile search for interesting postcards, so this year I stock up whenever I find them.
Seventh is Shelley Barandes’s Lines cards at Albertine Press. I’m always looking for simple, classy cards like these. Now I’m mad at myself for not stocking up while I could because they’re not available online! I’ll have to trek into Manhattan to Kate’s Paperie or some of the other stores listed on their site. At least I live in one of the 14 states where they’re sold in stores.
Eighth, I really like Chocolate and Steel. It’s partly because Christine Street, the designer, was so nice, but also because I love the delicate, whimsical designs. This ring in all blue stones was my favorite for me, but there are several pieces I would like to give as gifts.
Now that I’ve told you about everything I loved today, my day is complete. And I wasn’t tempted once to approach a stranger to be a fit model for my shirts. A true day of rest.
