#artstarcraftbazaar Thank YOU!

We just wanted to thank everyone that played a part in making the Art Star Craft Bazaar such a huge success!  Our small weekend staff, Philebrity, volunteers, the bands, our community partners and sponsors, all the vendors, DRWC – there are too many people to list! Most of all, we want to thank YOU, our customers, for coming out in droves to shop handmade and support so many talented makers.  We REALLY loved how many of you Instagramed your purchases – that was so awesome to see.  Please keep sharing.  We especially love seeing your purchases in action – hanging on the wall, being worn, used, etc.  Be sure to #artstarcraftbazaar so we can see them all!

Here are some of our favorite customer pics from the weekend – enjoy!  And please continue to support our vendors by going to this link to be directed to all their websites. We’ll keep our vendor page up throughout the year.  And don’t forget – we carry work by many ascb artists, so come by the store to shop in person, year round!

alison_lucile

@alison_lucile shared a pic of a whole bunch of goodies that she picked up at the bazaar. I see a Xenotees Pizza Tank, Red Prairie Press top, Anthropolis Design Print, Andrew Zangerle Drawing, T-Rex by Lenny Mud, print from the 50/50 Company and a few more gems.

 

babyjives

@babyjives and her kiddos picking up some felt masks from Opposite of Far

caitlinthetoute

@caitlinthetoute picked up a new tank from Wear Liberty!

chrissylicious copy

@chrissylicious shared her entire bazaar haul! Lots of good stuff there – Olive + Bo, The Maple Ridge, Laura George (from us), Leroy’s Place, Trinity Framing, etc.

elle_melinda

Another good haul from @elle_melinda – I spy Seeing In Fabric, Cut + Paste Photobooth, Nice Things Handmade, Mai Autumn, Paper Sparrow (from us), Kayte Terry and more!

kittfraser

@kittfraser looks great in her new Jay McCarroll Top!

leeannfenderson

@leeannfenderson in her new necklace by Old Blood Designs

nilorthenile

@nilorthenile scored these awesome Bowie cufflinks by Leroy’s Place

soydark

@soydark shared her new woodcut by Red Light Press

staceydoespics

@staceydoespics posed in a felt unicorn mask by Opposite of Far and one of our Unicorn masks made by CherryBox

youmisheardme

and last, but not least, @youmisheardme lookin’ cute in a Better Than Jam handprinted dress

Thank you again to all of our customers for supporting us + our vendors and for generally just being awesome and having great taste!

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Kelly Kozma Solo Exhibition at Paradigm Gallery

chattersphere detail

Detail of “Chattersphere” by Kelly Kozma, mixed media on canvas

As many of you already know, Kelly Kozma is our first Artist in Residence.  If you’ve been at the shop, you might have seen her diligently working in her studio space in our side room that is off of our back gallery space.  For the last couple of months she has been busy finishing up her latest body of work for her solo exhibition at Paradigm Gallery.  Her exhibition, titled “Chattersphere”, will be the first at Paradigm’s brand new and much larger space at the NW corner of 4th and Fitzwater.

detail of four words, sounds like

Detail of “Four Words, Sounds Like” by Kelly Kozma

Kelly’s process driven, mixed media work typically begins as a flat piece of paper or canvas and is meticulously worked with brightly colored shapes and patterns that are created with layers of drawing, painting, hand embroidery, + jewels. The end result is a rich tapestry of abstracted patterns and textures that looks more like a textile piece, rather than the flat canvas or paper that it began as.

back of four words, sounds like

detail of the back of “Four Words, Sounds Like” by Kelly Kozma

I learned a fun fact about Kelly’s work since she moved into our space –  the backs of each of her pieces are almost as interesting as the front, which led her to create prints of the backs of each finished piece.  These prints are then transfered onto a blank canvas, becoming the first layer of her subsequent piece. This creates a lovely continuity in her body of work.  I’ve seen each piece for Chattersphere and they are all amazing on their own.  I cannot wait to see them hanging all together.  The show is now up at Paradigm Gallery.  Please join us at the opening this Friday from 5:30 – 10. And if you can’t make it to the opening, the show is up through June 21st.

Important Links
Facebook Invite
Kelly Kozma’s Website
Paradigm Gallery Website 

 

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Get a Free Ride to the Bazaar with UBER!

ARRIVE TO OUR ART STAR CRAFT BAZAAR IN STYLE WITH 

UBER

We’re excited to announce we’ve partnered with Uber to offer all guests who are new to Uber a complimentary ride up to $20 using the promo code ARTSTAR 
Uber is an iPhone/Android app that lets you tag your location and summon a professional driver to your side within minutes. Once in the car, the driver will take you wherever you need to go. The fare is billed to your card, with no need to tip, so you don’t have to worry about handling cash.

 Just click the promo code below and sign up! You’ll be riding in style in no time at all.

 PROMO CODE: ARTSTAR

HOW TO UBER 
Order a car
Use the iPhone or Android app, or visit http://m.uber.com to request a ride 
Your Driver Comes to You
Sit back and relax. We’ll text you when your Uber arrives.
Hop in & Hop out

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An Interview with Bmore Papercuts

I cannot believe the Art Star Craft Bazaar  is in just a few days! Time flies so fast! Oddly enough, we are totally ahead of the game + prepared!  Here is a little interview we did with first time bazaar vendor,  Demaris Howe of Bmore Papercuts.  Her intricate cut paper pieces really wowed us, so of course we wanted to learn more.  Visit her at booth # 44 this weekend!

bmore papercuts 3Art Star: What will you be selling at the Bazaar?
Demaris Howe: I will be selling one of a kind papercuts that I design and cut by hand, I will also be selling prints made from my original papercuts as well as some limited edition t shirts for men and  women.

AS: Describe your process.
DH: I begin by sketching my ideas – then I fold my paper and cut what I can that will be symmetrical and then unfold the piece and cut anything that is not symmetrical like words or images.

bmore papercuts 4AS: Are you professionally trained? If not, how did you learn your craft?
DH: I have a fine arts background but the way I got into papercutting was from working as a shadow puppeteer for 10 years with a Baltimore based visual arts organization- We made hundreds of shadow puppets and I made the connection between silhouettes and
papercutting mostly as a way to make gifts for friends.

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AS: Are you able to make your work full time? If not, what do you do for a day job?
DH: I have transitioned into papercutting full time over the last year.

bmore papercuts 6AS: Where would you like to see your craft business in the next 10 years?
DH: I would love to be using my papercuts to design textiles, surface design and I would love to do some book illustrations.

AS: Any exciting projects in the works?
DH: I have some fun large scale papercuts in the works for some restaurants in DC and Baltimore.

bmore papercuts 5

AS: What is your favorite thing(s) about Philadelphia?
DH: The Mummers Parade and Spiral Q Puppets!!!

AS: What are you reading / listening to?
DH: I love listening to podcasts while I work- My favorites are Professor Blastoff, Comedy Bang Bang, How Did this get Made and of course After the Jump from Design Sponge!

bmore papercuts 1

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ASCB Shopping List: For the Home

Whether it is an accent pillow, vase, printed textile, decor piece or whatever, the Art Star Craft Bazaar is the place to find that perfect handmade addition to your home!  Here are a few of our picks “for the home” to help you plan your shopping strategy.

SONY DSC1. Boutique Textiles Lauren Rossi’s small local company, Boutique Textiles, prints the most gorgeous, colorful patterns on tea towels, napkins, pillows, fabric yardage + more! Booth #25

hannahs2. Hannah’s Hannah Simmons is the lady behind this line of products all made from local, sustainably harvested cherry trees.  Simmons, along with her father Jonathan, create everything from hair accessories to these very useful and aesthetically pleasing IPhone Stands. Booth #100

happy despina3. happydespina ltd Every home needs a chalkboard!  Lucky for us, Chicago based artist, Despina Papadeas cuts them into cool shapes.  Find everything from the United States, hot air balloons, instruments, to any adorable animal you could think of, and much more! Booth #27jennyjen424. jennyjen42 Baltimore based, Jennifer McBrien, draws birds with her sewing machine on fabric. The result is really beautiful!  She also adds elements of felt applique, which adds a splash of color that contrasts nicely with the simple black stitching. Her line includes pillows, kitchen aid / sewing machine covers, pot holders and more! Booth #63

littlegreenthings5. littlegreenthings Leah Boelman of littlegreenthings makes unique, reclaimed wood art pieces that she paints and also hand embroiders.  Each piece is one-of-a-kind and her selection is huge, which makes it kinda hard to choose – there are so many good ones! She stitches up outlines of states, rvs, bikes, love notes, inspirational sayings, pretty much anything you could think of.  Find the perfect piece to hang in your home! Booth #30

nikkuu6. Nikkuu I love Melissa Moore’s line of wood planters!  These are made from a variety of woods and cut into different geometric shapes.  Some are painted with a pop of bright yellow or turquoise, while the wood is left to shine on others.  These are great for air plants.  Buy a bunch to set on your windowsill or coffee table. Booth #81

peg and awl7. Peg and Awl Husband + Wife duo, Margaux + Walter Kent’s goods always begin as an item that they need for their own home and family.  All their products are made from old things – reclaimed wood, antique gunsling leather, vintage zippers, etc, that are given new life in the form of housewares, accessories, jewelry and journals.  This apothecary cabinet is made from reclaimed cypress and finished with milkpaint.  Made to hang in your washroom to store all your toiletries. Booth #93

redraven8. redraven studios Pittsburgh based artists, Amy Hamley, makes this gorgeous line of porcelain keepsakes. The home collection includes planters, jugs, good luck horseshoes, whiskey decanters, and more.  The pure, white porcelain shines in each piece and is sometimes accompanied by a line of gold luster or a pop of color.  Booth #78

rider designs9. Rider Dirt Work I am in love with local Philly ceramicist, Lauren Rider’s, line of henna inspired pottery.  Each wheel thrown porcelain piece is glazed and food safe.  Use as your everyday dishes or for display. Booth #84

taylor ceramics10. Taylor Ceramics Art Star artist, Cara Taylor, is traveling from Easthampton, Massachusetts to sell her porcelain planters, vases, pots, and jewelry.  The surfaces of her pieces are kept to a minimal so the simple, yet beautiful details in her forms, carvings and glazing can be appreciated.  Delicate line work, hand formed ridges and beading adorn these stunning pieces.  Booth #103

the 807
11. The 807 Faye Zimmerman of The 807 makes unique wood shelving for the home.  Display your collections in an interesting way with her triangle, gem, arrow, and zig-zag shapes.  She also makes fun, hand cut wood banners with phrases like “uhghhh” and “cheers bitches”.  Booth #48

trinity12. Trinity Framing Last, but certainly not least, our friends from Philadelphia’s premier custom framing shop will be selling their awesome ready made frames that they hand make from reclaimed wood.  Bring all the prints you score at the show over to them and pick out the perfect frame.  I also hear that they will be giving out coupons for custom framing with purchase.  Booth #53

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An Interview with New Academy Press

New Academy Press, founded by Justin George and Michael Burch, is a collaborative screen printing shop in Pittsburgh, PA.  New Academy Press will be vending at our Art Star Craft Bazaar for the first time this year, so we were interested in learning more about them.  Check out our interview and come visit them at the bazaar at booth # 110!

portraits

Art Star: What will you be selling at the bazaar?
New Academy Press: We will be selling screen printed paper goods, such as illustrated prints, postcards, bookmarks, and paper sculptures.

AS: Describe your process.
NAP: We take original illustrations and designs and screen print them by hand.  Some of our prints are then cut, torn, folded, and glued to create 3-dimensional paper sculptures.

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AS: Are you professionally trained?
NAP: Justin holds a BFA in printmaking and Michael has one in photography.

AS: Are you able to make your work full time?  If not, what do you do for your day job?
NAP: We work full time hours for New Academy Press, but to stay afloat we also spend additional time as a bartender and restaurant manager.

print01 (1)

AS: Where would you like to see your art/craft business in the next 10 years?
NAP: We would like to move our operation out of our living room and into a larger, dedicated workspace allowing us to increase our creative output, and eventually spread our love for art making through teaching classes and workshops.

AS: Any exciting projects in the works?
NAP: We are currently working on a suite of new prints for a gallery show in August at the Irma Freeman Center for Imagination here in Pittsburgh.

studio01AS: What are your favorite things about Philadelphia?
NAP:  So many things! Michael spent a brief time living in Philly, and the things he misses most are the Museum of Art, bicycle lanes and beautiful old buildings. Justin enjoys the Mutter Museum and Ben Franklin.

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AS: What are some of the inspirations for your work?
NAP: We are heavily influenced by past eras of scientific exploration, design and manufacturing. We love learning about the people who have spent their lives searching for answers and discovering new things about the natural world.

 print02

AS: What are you reading / listening to?
NAP: That is a very big question.  We love talk radio, podcasts and audiobooks that teach us about this crazy universe, but when it comes to getting thing done we like really loud rock music.

 

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ASCB Shopping List: Baby + Kids

We’ve got a great group of vendors making things for the little ones in your life! Is it weird that I just want all of it in my size?  Here’s a list of vendors that will be selling goods at our upcoming Art Star Craft Bazaar for babies + kids.

As the crow flies and co1. As the Crow Flies & Co: The West Philly husband  + wife behind this line of goods is Wilder + Mike Scott – Straight. Mike makes broken plate jewelry and wife Wilder makes vintage inspired skirts + dresses for kids.  Also, I hear that she is now making matching apparel for us grown-ups too.  Yes PLEASE!  I would totally rock this fox dress!

Cutesy but not Cutesy2. Cutesy but not Cutesy:   Every cool kid in town owns one of Diane Koss’ super awesome monster plushies!  We love her new fuzzy monster hoodies too! If you’re lucky, you’ll see Diane prancing around the bazaar in her huggable monster head piece.

oh hello dear3. Oh Hello Deer Cute screen printed tees + onesies for babies + kids, plus these awesome printed super hero tops with a cape that can velcro on + off. 

Olive and Bo4. Olive  + Bo Philly crafter, Lori Thomson of Olive + Bo stitches modern quilts, mobiles and plush rattles for babies and kids.  Her grey, black + white palette always includes a nice pop of  color like neon yellow or purple. These simple, yet striking, geometric designs would be a stylish addition to a kid’s playroom, bedroom, or nursery.

Opposite of Far5. The Opposite of Far What kid doesn’t like to play dress up?  Jessica Near of The Opposite of Far is travelling all the way from Indiana to bring Philly her popular line of felt animal masks + tails.  Her vast collection includes zoo, woodland, barnyard animals and more! You can also find a smaller selection of non-animals, including super heros and robots.  And, um, P.S., she also makes adult sizes.

Sewn by Shylo6. Sewn by Shylo Shylo Egenski makes the most precious clothing + accessories for women and children in Wilkes Barre, PA.  Her peplum + halter style dresses for little girls are particularly adorable and are made from vintage bed linens.

Sundae Matinee7. Sundae Matinee Rosalie Hick’s fun + quirky animal portraits are made with stitched fabric + felt and are sure to bring a smile to your face.  Napoleon Longslice, Roxie Fox, Bobby Feathers and others each come with a handwritten “Life Details” card.  Though these aren’t made specifically just for kids, I think little ones will really have a fun time coming up with stories about each of these funny characters.  The little felt pillows and framed portraits would look great in a playroom or nursery too.

Tadpole Creations8. Tadpole Creations Renee D’Amico creates an ever expanding line of handcrafted goods for little ones. Her booth is always bright, colorful and cheery and filled to the brim with the sweetest plush toys + rattles, appliqued onesies + bibs, baby quilts, purses, DIY kits and more.  Renee’s creativity is boundless and I always love to check out her latest creations.

The Wind and the Sail9. The Wind and The Sail Laura Stantz’ line of sweet+ modern plush toys are a favorite among bazaar shoppers and we are happy to welcome her back to our line-up again this year.  Her plushies include hippos, giraffes, kangaroos, and more! Most have move-able limbs and all are superbly crafted and made from top quality materials.  Her collection of goods also includes happy vegetable baby rattles.

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Northern Liberties Spring Sidewalk Sale THIS WEEKEND!

PosterWe will be slashing prices on tons of stuff!  Outside we will have $1-$5 bins and racks of clothes marked down.  We will also fill our back gallery space with sale items.  Expect discounts between 20-80% off select merchandise! Light refreshments provided.

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An Interview with Marcus Benavides of Red Light Press

Red Light Press is Marcus Benavides’ Fine Art Printing Press that specializes in limited edition woodcuts, lithographs and other prints on paper.  This will be Marcus’ first year participating in our Art Star Craft Bazaar, so we were interested in learning more about him. Visit his booth #50 at our upcoming bazaar or check out his website

Red Light Press2

Art Star: What will you be selling at the bazaar?
Marcus Benavides: I’ll be selling Woodcut and Lithographic prints.

AS. Describe your process
MB: I carve tiny marks into wood, roll those carvings up with oil based inks, and reproduce the images on paper. I also draw images on Bavarian Lithographic Limestones, chemically alter the stones with acids and solutions, roll the image up with ink, and print the image on paper.  Both of these methods are printed with the help of Lula, a 100 year old, cast-iron, hand-cranked printing press.


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AS: Are you professionally trained?
MB:  I received a BFA, MA, and an MFA in printmaking. I’ve been making prints for 10 years and I’ve been making art as far back as I can remember. Years of honing my craft, sharpening pencils, and grinding down stones can only stem from a love of hard work and printing beautiful images.

Print1
AS: Are you able to make your work full time?  If not, what is your day job?
MB: Sadly, I am not. I work at a commercial print-shop here in Philly.

AS: Where would you like to see your craft business in 10 years?
MB:  
Owning a printing press allows me to make multiples of not only my own work, but collaborations with fellow artists. I would like to see Red Light Press’s expanding portfolio include more collaborative prints. I want to provide an artistic outlet for the ideas of like-minded individuals. Today, this is achievable with local artists; however, in the future I hope to build a fund for visiting, nationally-recognized artists.

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AS: Any exciting projects in the works?
MB: I am currently in conversations with two local artists about printing collaborative prints.  That, and I’m working on a new piece entitled “Surf Mothers Must Die!”

AS: What is your favorite thing about Philadelphia?
MB: Dim Sum Garden’s soup dumplings.

Red Light Press 3 AS: What are some of the inspirations for your work?
MB: I’m inspired most by the things that scare us as civilized beings; Indecency, the Grotesque, the Occult, Rebellious Behavior, Moralizing Folklore, and the Sleaze and Grime of back-alley cultures. I’m also influenced by the pop culture and cartoons of my childhood.

Red Light Press

AS: What are you reading / listening to?
MB:  
I listen to a lot of early Blues and Rock & Roll music. Mostly stuff from the 30’s to 50’s. But my taste runs the gamut of music genres.

PrintingPicture
AS: Anything fun readers might be interested in knowing about you or your business?
MB: I grew up in South Texas.  I have a rifle-scope scar on my left brow.  That, and I have a collection of voodoo and Mexican witchcraft paraphernalia.

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ASCB Shopping List: Clothing, Part 2

Part 2 of our Clothing Shopping List.  Click here to check out Part 1. Find all these vendors at our upcoming Art Star Craft Bazaar! (please note: the vendors may not be selling these exact styles. It is just an example of the type of work they make)

Ace Blakley6. Ace Blakley by ChaCha N’Kole
Local Philly designer ChaCha N’Kole  creates classy and stylish pieces with an edge.  The best part is that she makes a wide range of sizes to fit all body types – Small – 3X.

Better Than Jam copy7. Better Than Jam Brooklyn based Karin Persan’s pieces are handmade from start to finish.  Each piece is one-of-a-kind and made from her own hand printed fabrics.

Jay McCarroll8. Jay McCarroll
This Season 1 Project Runway winner will be back with all his latest spring designs.  Jay expertly pairs bright patterns and colors that you would never think to put together, but it really works!  I love his new line of maxi dresses!

Luksin9. Luksin Daria Norviaan will be joining us all the way from the coast of Maine.  Her line of earth friendly clothing is made from organic cotton and other sustainable fabrics.  Each piece is hand dyed and screen printed with her own original drawings. 

Nicoles Threads10. Nicole’s Threads
Nicole’s Threads is an eclectic line of handmade women’s clothing, using mainly organic cottons, bamboo, hemp, end of the mill fabrics mixed with vintage prints to create one-of-a-kind looks! You’ll also find cute button jewelry, cuff links, and other sewn accessories. 

Phea Jean11. Phea Jean Amber Zaraza of Phea Jean hand sews the cutest summer dresses and capelets made from primarily vintage and upcycled materials.  I love how she mixes color, pattern, and texture to create her one-of-a-kind pieces.

Pretty Pretty Rebel12. Pretty Pretty Rebel
Leah Delfiner creates “fun pretty girly rocker clothes for badass chicks”. Her adorable line of clothing is inspired by 80’s punk rock music + cult icons.  Think lots of pink, lace, & skulls!  She will also be debuting her rockin’ line of kids clothes!

Sardine13. Sardine Clothing Co.  Maryanne Petrus Gilbert is the lady behind this line of skirts + accessories made from recycled clothing.  She brings new life to some of the most awesome t-shirts that she finds at thrift stores by turning them into the perfect A-Line Skirt!

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