Renegade Craft Fair
Until three years ago, craft fairs came in your standard grandma, dried eucalptus, church lawn variety. Enter Chicagoan crafters and visionaries Sue Blatt and Kathleen Habbley. The two saw the craft movement gaining serious online momentum but realized there were no fairs to accomadate the new generation of crafters. And so in 2003, the Renegade Craft Fair was born in Chicago. Met with huge success, the duo brought the fair to Brooklyn's McCarren Park last year, and their baby grew fast. This year there were nearly 200 vendors selling handmade goods: comic books, purses, cards and stationery, rock posters, puppets, t-shirts, jewelry, and pretty skirts.
It was hotter than hell the day Sebastian and I stopped by, but the fair's friendly energy was palpable and infectious. Artists and crafters were proud to share their wares, and the resourceful and positive DIY spirit ran from booth to booth in a ring around the softball field. It was inspiring to see people making what they love and that, in turn, making them happy. Better still, I loved stepping out of the circle of my daily life and connecting with a larger community of people passionate about making beautiful things. Sebastian bought a super cool t-shirt screenprinted with the bust of Serge Gainsbourg. I picked up one of Betsy Ross' sewing kits. Bust, Venus, and Readymade were there with their newest issues; a super sweet lady from Repro Depot was selling fabric remnants for cheap; the lovely letterpess works of Rar Rar Press were on display and ready for the taking; the Austin Craft Mafia ladies were right near the entrance reigning supreme. Honestly, it was the best day of celebrity sighting ever. All my favorite online personalities were camped out in one place, fanning themselves to the tune of the ice cream truck parked on the corner. We ended the day with margaritas and the best fish tacos ever. Can an afternoon get better than this?
Comments
sarah, what did you buy? and where does one find those wonderbread clutches?
Posted by: Katy of the Luke | June 27, 2006 12:36 PM
Katy, I bought one of Betsy Ross' cute little sewing kits to encourage me to do my mending. As for the Wonderbread clutch, you should try going to the designer's website. She doesn't have an online shopping feature, but I bet if you ask real nice you could strike a deal.
Posted by: Sarah | June 27, 2006 2:39 PM
Yay Sarah! A great video. I wished it didn't finish!
Posted by: Baerbel | June 28, 2006 3:49 AM
i had been looking forward to this and somehow i missed it! i've been kicking myself ever since. oh well, there's always next year...thanks for giving me a peek.
Posted by: kristen | June 28, 2006 9:32 AM
oh! i'm so jealous! i wish they had something like that in the south!
Posted by: Sara | June 28, 2006 1:01 PM
Greetings,
I just discovered your fantastic blog via...humm I can't recall the link but I'd so love to have your blog in our new directory, Delightfulblogs.com. So, if you have a minute or two can you submit? I know the gals visiting the directory would love it as much as I did.
best,
Lynda
delight.com
delightfulblogs.com
Posted by: Lynda | June 30, 2006 12:01 AM
Sarah, darling, where did you go?! Too long without an update; I might have to go watch Martha Stewart! (the horror!!!)
Posted by: Rogue | July 11, 2006 10:25 PM
Rogue, Oh no! You are so right, it has been too long. The good news: we've got a new episode on the way that should be up by week's end. Stay with us!
xo,
Sarah
Posted by: Sarah | July 12, 2006 1:44 PM
nice video on the Renegade Craft Fair. youre right it did seem endless at times, there was just soo much neeto stuff. did you catch that guy selling wooden glasses, his stuff was far out, if you missed him the site is www.urbanspectacles.com thanks again for the video, cant wait till next year.
Posted by: Jona | July 13, 2006 8:12 PM