In 2003 I had a company called
Flying Fish Design and took a trip to Chicago to participate in the very first
Renegade Craft Fair. It is amazing to look back now and see how casual a lot of us treated that first experience, I mean, don't get me wrong it was a ton of work and I was terrified. For example, I didn't even have a tent or a way to run credit cards. I had JUST got my first cell phone & my photos (the few I took) from that weekend are shot on film. That first Renegade I met some of my current best friends, people who inspired me to start
Art vs. Craft, open
Paper Boat and make
Handmade Nation. Needless to say, it was a life changing weekend.
Renegade Craft Fair in 2003, Wicker Park
Over the past 8 years, O.M.G 8 years, I've been to quite a few Renegade's both as a vendor & shopper. I made the trip to sell under Flying Fish Design at the first Brooklyn event & promoted
Handmade Nation at the first San Francisco show. For those of you who have been at Renegade know that they are huge
juried events featuring 200+ vendors from around the country (sometimes international) slinging their handmade goods of every medium, shape and color.
The 2010 Chicago show was no letdown. I made the drive from Milwaukee solo since I like to move at my own pace when shopping and catching up with old friends. The day started out gloomy and wet, but by the time I made it through the traffic and parked the sun was shining down and people were out in hoards.
Often all the people shopping make it very difficult to see the work, it also can make it difficult to snap photos (as a courtesy, I always ask before shooting peoples work at shows & give them my card). Of course I ended up coming home with some goodies for myself plus some inventory for the
Sky High pop-up Boutique. My new treasures include a beautiful bowl from
Meow City Ceramics, stationary from both
Bison &
Beau Ideal Editions, an entire new outfit from Milwaukee's own
Little Ocean plus a beautiful print from the show organizer herself Sue
Daly of
Timber! I also got in a trade for a t-shirt from the peeps over at
Pinecone & Chickadee.
I've
definitely seen my fair share of handmade work since I see so much while I travel, so when something stands out, I get really excited. I'm often on the look out for fancy looking displays and how people merchandise their work. Here are some of my
fav's from Saturday-
Erin
Peachee's booth was a beautiful mix of handmade & very select vintage finds.
I really liked the organic simplicity of Nicole
Seisler's hand thrown porcelain jewelry.
Laura Lombard created this tranquil environment inside her space, super calming & beautiful.
As the woman behind Renegade, Sue
Daly is no beginner at making things look good and her line Timber! was no exception.
Pregnant ladies who keep working always amazing me. Nearly at full term my friend Janelle
Gramling, designer behind Little Ocean had a select line of her clothing and accessories available all showcased with fantastic displays constructed by her lovely husband Mathew.
Some other spaces/designers I loved that I couldn't get photos of were
miki christopherson,
Miss Natalie,
maric fine goods and
Hillery Rebeka Sproatt + her mother who is behind the fantastic dresses I couldn't decide on by
rebe.
NOTE: my show that I produce
Art vs. Craft has announced our 2010 vendors.
