ASCB Volunteer Picks: Heather DeRonck

Posted on May 11, 2011 by artstar-artstar

Hi. I’m Heather. I have been volunteering at ASCB, I guess since the 2nd or 3rdyear – a long time. My friend Patty and I started back then and more friends joined in over the years. Now there are about 5 of us who help out every year. We always work the first shift of the first day; setting up tables and helping vendors find their way to their booths and lending a hand with hauling their loot. So if you see a pack of small women trying to unload your car for you, fear not, we are there to help – not mug you.

Art Star Craft Bazaar is one of those events I look forward to all year. I squirrel away money for months, I make lists of whose booth I must be sure to get to, and what things I can’t go home without. Every year I make sure to pick up a couple of pieces of distinctive jewelry, a cute bag or two, a summery skirt, a fun print, and usually t-shirts for my husband. And that is just for myself, then there is time spent looking for stuff for my shop!

The aforementioned husband and I own Bicycle Revolutions, an independent bike shop in the Queen Village neighborhood here in Philly. One of the unique things about our store is that we sell all sorts of bicycling lifestyle items. We love supporting other small businesses and craftspeople and we stock loads of local + handmade hats, jewelry, shirts, and all kinds of bags – mostly from people I have met at ASCB. My first order of business for the day, once my shift is over, is to touch base with some of my favorite folks from previous years.

Endless Hats

First stop – Emily and Nick from Endless Hats. They are the nicest people and make the loveliest hats. Each year I buy more and more of them, our customers love these hats and so do I. They use repurposed fabrics: breezy linens, soft corduroy, cozy wool. Endless hats = perfect.

Vaya Bags makes cycling bags and accessories that are well made and look good; who could ask for more. The recycled inner tube bags and pouches make me week in the knees. I have more than one of the hip pouches and we have been selling them at the shop for a few years. They are incredibly handy, totally waterproof, and super sturdy.

Maureen Duffy Bicycle Carcass Necklace

Two year’s ago I met Maureen Duffy at Art Star and instantly fell in love with her bike carcass necklaces. She takes photos of abandoned bicycles and makes jewelry out of the image – genius! She also has lovely silhouette earrings that are affordable and so cute.

Horrible Adorables is a vendor I am so happy to see coming back. I didn’t make it to their booth until late in the day last year and missed out big time. Their plush taxidermy is so indescribably wonderful. I am not leaving without one this year.

Ipad Techee Sleeve by Rogue Theory

There are tons of amazing new vendors on the line up this year. My must see list is long, but the highlights include:

Rogue Theory makes small bags that are so perfect. From fabric choice to smart design, to impeccable stitching, to reasonable prices – they really have nailed it. Not to mention that they could very well be the nicest people on the planet. No, I do not exaggerate.

Amy Blasco’s jewelry is one of my favorite things ever. Her thought bubble pins are such a great gift (to yourself or someone else). I love anything personalized and being able to pick out just the right word or saying makes me too happy. I am starting a collection for sure.

Fabric Horse – I swoon, so many wonderful things. Carrie has created some often copied cycling accessories that are smart, practical, and fun. Lock holsters, utility belts, spats, tote bags, wallets and phone cases, oh my! We carry bunches of Fabric Horse stuff at the shop and they fly off the shelves.

I hesitate to even mention my last (but definitely not least) pick: Katie Henry’s Made by Hank. She is the first stop on my list as I am sure she will have a sell out. Her tough ruffle bags and sewn drawings are nearly impossible to get your hands on. I covet nearly everything she makes.

Thanks Megan and Erin for having such a great event year after year. You ladies are the best!

*No really, you ladies are the best – Megan

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Matt Snow from Ex-Boyfriend Shares His Creative Process

Posted on May 9, 2011 by artstar-artstar

Check out Ex-Boyfriends collection of T-shirts at Booth #73 at the Art Star Craft Bazaar
or visit his website

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Where It All Began by Gretchen Seel

Posted on May 6, 2011 by artstar-artstar

The lovely lady behind Dahling Accessories (formerly known as Lolo & Gretch when we first started), Gretchen Seel, reports on the early days of the Art Star Craft Bazaar & how far the show has come since then.  Visit Dahling Accessories at booth #47 at this year’s ASCB.

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ASCB Staff Member Picks: Lisa Castellano

Posted on May 4, 2011 by artstar-artstar

The Art Star Craft Bazaar would not be possible without the AMAZING Lisa Castellano.  We met her back in the early days of the ASCB when she asked to volunteer at the show, along with her then boyfriend Rich Molina.  The two of them literally saved our butts the first year we had the show along Germantown Avenue, up by our old shop on the Liberties Walk.  We didn’t realize how heavy the rented tables were & they saved the day by letting us use their truck.  They also helped us break down the show during a massive rain storm.  They did such a good job that the following years we asked them back as paid staff.  Lisa is friendly, outgoing, & incredibly smart, but best of all, she is assertive & has initiative.  We don’t have to tell her what to do – she knows what to do.  In fact, many times she tells US what to do.  Over the years we have become close friends with Lisa & consider her a part of our Art Star family.  Here are her insider tips & picks from this year’s lineup of Art Star Craft Bazaar vendors.
– Megan

Hello Attendees of the 2011 Art Star Craft Bazaar –

My name is Lisa, and I am an employee of the Craft Bazaar annually.  You can always see me running around from booth to booth checking in with vendors, taking care of business on my walkie talkie, & taking care of sales behind the Art Star tent.  I LOVE this event & I am super excited that I get to come back & help facilitate it from year to year.

There are a few things I recommend about the Bazaar – so here are my insider notes:

Definitely get there early!! Really enjoy the day at the ASCB – take your time visiting all the various vendor booths!  Leaving yourself time will definitely make your shopping experience more enjoyable.

Also, get some of the yummy organic & vegan grub by the Soy Cafe & A Full Plate, which are both regulary represented.  Whether it is awesome wraps, home brewed green tea, or some awesome vegetarian pulled pork with a whoopie pie – there is plenty to eat for everyone!  While you are eating, sit by the stage & listen to the variety of tunes played by some local musicians!

Finally, check out the vendor page and plan to spend some time with a few key vendors.  Here are some of my regular favorites:

1. For fun & funky clothes, you definitely cannot beat Holly Hue! These crafty threads will keep you warm and/or fashion forward.  They also have an awesome selection of handbags that I cannot resist! They also always have a great one-of-a-kind selection.  (It is a helpful bonus that they are some of my favorite people to visit at the ASCB!)

2. Whether it is nostalgia you are looking for, a bit of history, or just something really different, Peg & Awl has it all.  Check out the variety of interesting goods they have & pay attention to my personal favorite – the little book necklaces.  I absolutely love mine & plan to buy another this year!  I also plan on spending money at Fisticuffs. These one of a kind recycled belt wrist cuffs are only sold in person, so bring your $$ b/c you can’t get them online later!! (Ok, so these are some of my favorite people too!)

3. Guess what? BUNNY BUTT has all you could want in soaps, scents, & lips!  Their mojito soap smells like a party in the shower, & their mineral tint balms leave your lips soft with the perfect amount of color.  Plus, they are some of the most fun people to visit & spend some time chatting with!  (noticing a trend?)

A few honorable mentions on my “frequently spending my money @ the ASCB” list include Recycle My Dress (to see those terrible old prom & bridesmaid dresses become rockin’ frocks), John Murphy (for amazingly gorgeous art in beautiful frames), The Broken Plate Pendant Company (for the best jewelry you will ever see made from dinner ware!), Girlscantell (an old high school friend who can tell you the parts of anything screen printed on everything imaginable from towels to coasters), & Yellowcake (for unique fashions from a former Project Runway contestant). The purchase possibilities are almost as endless as all of the hats by the wonderful vendor, Endless Hats!

Faceted Gold Cube Earrings by Knock Knock Studio

Some of the vendors I am excited about seeing for the first time include Peppersprouts*, because my kitchen could certainly use some jazzing up with new, fun accessories (& I could always use some for me too!).  Speaking of accessories for me, some delicate little cube earrings would be fun from Knock Knock Studio.  Back to my kitchen & throwing in my love of penguins brings me to SKT Ceramics, because relaxing with a warm mug with a fuzzy penguin on it is just the cutest thing ever!

Penguin Cup by SKT Ceramics

*Peppersprouts was at last year’s ASCB – Lisa must have missed them!

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Guest Blogger: Jahje Bath Ives of Baby Jives

Posted on April 30, 2011 by artstar-artstar
We are excited to have Jahje Bath Ives of Baby Jives as our guest blogger!  She has a son of her own & has lived in Philadelpia her entire life, so she is the perfect person to share with you her favorite family friendly places in Philly.  Jahje creates colorful mobiles that can be hung above a baby’s crib or hung as decoration in your child’s bedroom.  Little fabric birds perch sweetly on branches, butterlies flutter around your little one’s head, and fluffy clouds drip patterned fabric rain drops, amongst many other wonderful scenes.  Whichever one you choose, your baby is sure to love it! – Megan
The Art Star Craft Bazaar is enjoyed by all ages, so bring the kids!

Coming into Philadelphia for the Art Star Craft Bazaar?  Make a day of it with the entire family!  There are so many amazing places to visit, eat, and play in the city.  I wanted to share a few of my family’s favorite spots in Philly.

I have a little boy and he is obsessed with vehicles, so he is in heaven when we head down to Penn’s Landing because of what he can find there – boats!  Just walking along the waterfront there are plenty of ships to see.  You can visit the Independence Seaport Museum to look at all things Maritime & where you can even tour the Cruiser Olympia.  Another fun option is to head across the river to the Camden Adventure Aquarium after you are done.  There are tons of amazing fish to look at!

At Penn’s Landing there will be plenty of great food to eat and bands to dance around to, but if you want to take the kiddos somewhere special, you can’t beat a visit to Franklin Fountain at 116 Market Street, where you can travel back in time by sipping hand made ice cream floats from paper straws and nibbling on their delectable candy.  It’s one of our favorite places to go for a treat to cool off!  After that you could head over to Franklin Square at 6th & Race to burn off some energy on the playground.  Play a round of mini golf or ride the carousel.

If you are thinking of heading over to Northern Liberties to visit Art Star Gallery & Boutique, you could also grab some food at Honey’s Sit ‘n Eat at 800 N. 4th Street.  This restaurant is one of our favorite spots to eat, especially now that we have a kid.  They have an amazing selection of food, including vegetarian and vegan delights, such as a fried green tomato salad that appears seasonally and their own veggie burger with thick cut fries.  Yum!  We have actually celebrated both of my son’s birthdays here with a slice of their incredible carrot cake (gotta get the veggies when you can!).

So grab your kids and come discover Philadelphia – there are plenty of other places to go, such as the Smith Playground, Please Touch Museum, Franklin Institute, Museum of Natural History – the list goes on!

Make sure to hit the Art Star Craft Bazaar first and please swing by and visit me, Jahje of Baby Jives at Booth #41.  I have been working nonstop to create some new delights for the show, including my mobliles, which feature birds, clouds, butterflies, and even dragonflies (or as my son calls them – airplanes).  I’ve also got a new line of necklaces that you can treat yourself to as well.  You can see a sneak peak of them on my blog, or visit my online shop.  Stop on by and I’ll be happy to give you some more travel tips around Philadelphia – I’ve lived here all my live!

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Featured Product: The Baby Ball by Namoo

Posted on April 27, 2011 by artstar-artstar

Namoo makes simple, modern quilts, hand sewn fabric accessories and hand printed goods for babies, kids and the home. Insung Kim created Namoo along with her sister not long after her daughter was born. Her work is inspired by the geometric shapes she finds both in the city buildings and in the wood blocks that her daughter plays with. She also finds inspiration in shapes and colors found in nature—the colors of the sky, leaves, trees, or even the squirrels in her back yard. Namoo is a line of simple and fresh modern pieces designed for someone who appreciates craftsmanship, creativity and natural beauty.

Namoo is busy making items for the upcoming Art Star Craft Bazaar! She will be debuting her new product line – The Baby Ball.

Babies and toddlers love to play with this soft sensory ball. They are safe for play & can be gently thrown and rolled on the ground. Colors, patterns, textures and shapes, will awaken your baby’s mind and interests.

The Baby Ball doesn’t have to be just for babies. Pick up a bunch in assorted colors to display in the home or use them as pin cushions.

Visit Namoo at the Art Star Craft Bazaar at booth #71. They will also be selling a variety of quilts in spring colors made from high quality designer fabrics & organic cotton batting.

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ASCB Staff Member Picks: Bob Brewster

Posted on April 22, 2011 by artstar-artstar

The Art Star Craft Bazaar would not be possible without the help of our small staff & generous volunteers.  We are lucky to have the same people coming back each year to help us out & I mean it when I say we’d be absolutely lost without them!  I asked some of our staff members/volunteers to introduce themselves to you & pick out some of their favorite returning vendors & new vendors that they are looking forward to checking out.  First up is my brother, Bob.  He is responsible for moving around all the tables & chairs, helping vendors w/ load in & load out, & well, basically anything else we need done.  He does it all w/ a big smile, a great sense of humor, & loads of charm!

– Megan

Hello ASCB Attendees,

I’m Bob (aka: The Reverend, local table curler, loyal brudda).  You can catch me lifting heavy objects, moving tables, putting up tents, setting up vendors, running errands, directing you to the things you want to see, and dancing with a smile in front of the Art Star booth.  I’m personally proud to be a part of such a great event.  It’s my favorite weekend of the year.  That being said:

Get ready to get HOT AND HEAVY with some of the best artists the ART STAR CRAFT BAZAAR has ever had!

Now, I’d like to make a suggestion or two to ASCB first-timers and veterans alike:  Get there early and take a look at everything.  Do what I do.  Take 3 or 4 passes.  You’re bound to find something extraordinary tucked away in one of the booths that you just can’t live without.  Don’t fall victim to this rookie mistake – you can’t see everything in one pass.  Suggestion #2:  Make this a family outing.  ASCB has something for everyone – young, old, and in-betweens.  Share some quality time with family and friends, enjoy a relaxed lunch by the river (the array of food selections is amazing), and groove to the sounds created by some of Philly’s most talented musicians.  Finally, learn from my mistake.  Bring sunscreen.  Guaranteed you’ll get a jump-start on your summer tan.  The ultimate goals is to come out, have fun, and support the arts!

If this is by chance your first time coming to this event or you feel as if you want to meet some new artists that you have not gotten the opportunity to meet, here is my list of 2011 ASCB vendors that I enjoy:

1.)     Spaghetti Kiss – being the comic book/graphic novel nerd that I am, I can’t leave ASCB without purchasing one of Michael Bracco’s new installations of NOVO.  The story line is original and the artwork is magnificent.  I honestly can’t wait to pick up whatever new installations to the series that he has.

2.)     Cutesy but not Cutesy – Do you have a little monster at home or the son/daughter of your little monster?  Then make sure to check out this booth.  They carry a wide variety of plush pillow and toy monsters for you to choose from.  They make a perfect gift or a great conversation starter on the living room couch.  They also look as if they’ve designed some monster skin that you can rock during those cool nights and cold winters.

3.)    Adam Smith – Now this is a vendor that I have yet to meet and when I saw he was placed on the list of vendors this year, I got really excited.  Much of his work mixes a graffiti/skateboard vibe with everything that you love about Philadelphia.  I’m really excited to pick something up from this gentleman, and check out all the other great stuff that he may bring to the event that is not up on his website.

4.)    Fuzzy Ink – All I need to say is mustaches and mustache accessories.  I really don’t have to say much else except MUSTACHE COOKIE CUTTERS!!!!!!!!

5.) BirdQueen Designs – Looking for that wonderful piece of jewelry for that very special someone?  Well look no further.  BirdQueen Designs puts together fun yet elegant pieces of jewelry that say “I love you” while peaking her interest.  Peacock feathers, octopi, and bow necklaces.  If you want to be the talk of the room, make sure to invest in a piece of their jewelry. 

I’m going to be honest, when I first saw many of the vendors that will be at the 2011 ASCB, I kind of got excited and depressed at the same time.  Excited because of all the great artists and depressed because of all the money I KNOW I’m going to spend.  Now, I STRONGLY suggest that you check the vendors section of the ASCB web page and get to know all of the vendors.  Take a few minutes and cruise their websites and get an idea about where you’re going to spend most of your time.

Best,

Bobby B.

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Spotlight on Specks & Keepings

Posted on April 19, 2011 by artstar-artstar

Specks & Keepings is a brand new online shop where you can browse & purchase beautifully hand-crafted items to wear & display in the home.  It is owned & operated by Art Star Craft Bazaar vendor, Hillery Sproatt.  You can find her work here, as well as work by Rebe (her booth mate at the bazaar), Anschtecka, Adam Wolpa, Eric Stiner, Karen Thurman, & Kotoa.

The artist states, [Specks & Keepings] is a showcase of thoughtfully made goods that aim to inspire a simple lifestyle that is carefully shaped and chosen.  When browsing the shop, I hope people will be overwhelmed with a sense of wonder at the beauty of a handmade life. I aimed to create a shopping environment that encourages people to think about what it is they are bringing into their homes and into their lives. I believe on some level, our possessions are an extension of ourselves and they should speak to who we are as individuals. Things are always more beautiful when they mean something to us.

www.specksandkeepings.com
Visit Hillery Sproatt & Rebe at Booth #51 at the Art Star Craft Bazaar!
You can also find Rebe’s clothing at one of our favorite shops – Arcadia Boutique

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An Interview w/ Jordan Perme from Horrible Adorables

Posted on April 16, 2011 by artstar-artstar


Meet Jordan Perme, a Ohio based artist who creates fabulous felt taxidermy!  Each piece is hand sculpted & then covered w/ colorful felt pieces.  We met Jordan at last year’s Art Star Craft Bazaar where she introduced Philadelphia to her vast array of creatures.  Some were free standing, but most were mounted to painted wood plaques.  My husband & I snagged 2 for our home & I can’t wait to see what she brings this year.  I was curious to learn more about her.  Check out my interview w/ her below, as well as some photos of her working in her studio on a new piece.  You can purchase her work at art star or at booth #95 at the bazaar.
-Megan

Megan: How did your idea to create your felt taxidermy come about?  Did
you begin making these while you were at art school?

Jordan: I am fascinated by the famous hoaxes of showman P.T. Barnum,
sideshow trickery, curiosities, Crytozoological wonders (such as
Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster) and by the enthusiasts of this
study who passionately collect evidence in an effort to prove these
creature’s existence.  My cumulation of interests inspired a thesis
show at the Cleveland Institute of Art where I created a Room of
Wonder for a delusional collector.  Within the space there was framed
tintype documentation of the collector ‘hunting,’ a hand drawn field
guide and plenty of curious faux taxidermy creatures!

M: What is your creative process like?  Do you begin w/ a sketch or
just start sculpting?

J: I do a lot of quick sketches for ideation, but I don’t think too
much about what the final product is going to look like.  Once I start to
sculpt the foam, the shape changes and evolves.  I will start to see a
new creature emerge and the majority of the time, it ends up looking
quite different from my original drawing.

M: How do you come up w/ ideas for your different characters?

J: Each sculpture is unique and one of a kind.  I visualize existing
animals and wonder what they would look like if they had strange
features such as horns, a long snout or gangly teeth.  These new
additions further distance the creatures from being a specific,
recognizable animal and also give them an other worldly appearance.  I
am often asked, while showing my art at various fairs, what type of
animal a given sculpture is supposed to be. My response is usually
something like “Oh, it’s an antelope-kitty-giraffe hybrid of course!”

M: What is a typical day like for you?  Do you have a day job or do
you make your art full time?

J: I am in my studio all day, every day!  In addition to creating
fantastical creatures, I am also a freelance soft toy and repeat
pattern designer.  I work for major toy companies to ideate new plush
concepts and produce prototypes of soft toys.  I also work a lot on
the computer making graphic repeat patterns that are used to decorate
everything from plastic to fabric toy components.  Working in this
industry has definitely influenced my art work, as it has become more
playful in appearance.  Many people have even bought my faux taxidermy
to decorate their nurseries!

M: When did you launch your business & how has it grown over the years?

J: Upon graduating from college in 2009 I began to look for a ‘real
job.’  I found that with no industry experience, it was extremely
difficult to find any position in my field that was looking for recent
college graduates.  I had dabbled in freelancing before and decided to
take a few projects here and there until I could find something more
permanent.  I found that the projects that I was taking on were
incredibly rewarding and since I was able to make up my own schedule
(wake up in the afternoon, work till 4 in the morning) there was a lot
more time for me to do my own art work and keep a good studio
practice.  With a normal 9-5 job, I don’t think I would be able to
travel to as many art fairs and have much time to build up stock.  I
have had an Etsy site for years, but decided to relaunch the ‘Horrible
Adorables’ line again in 2010.  I haven’t been doing the indie craft
thing for that long, but it has led to many great networking
opportunities and I have been getting nice feedback that has made me
feel even more secure in my pursuit of a non-traditional line of
work.

M: Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?

J: In 10 years I would love to be able to support myself solely from
my art work and continue making the things that I love.

M: Are there any specific artists that have inspired you and your work?

J: My favorite artists are Yinka Shonibare, Kiki Smith and Yoshitomo
Nara.  I am inspired by indie crafters and am on Etsy at least once a
day checking out whats new!

M: Out of all the felt sculptures that you have made, which is your favorite?

J: I get pretty attached to each sculpture after I complete it and
often times, my favorite is whatever my newest creation is!  I am glad
that other people enjoy my art too, enough to purchase a piece for
themselves, otherwise I would probably hoard all of my creatures and
have an entire space as a faux-trophy room!

M: I would love to see a giant felt sculpture.  Any plans on doing any
large installation pieces?

J: I would also love to make a giant felt sculpture!  I’ve had it in
my head for a while to make something quite large (as big as a full
sized deer??) but I can’t seem to find the time that it would take, to
create something at that scale yet.  I almost need to have a gallery
show in the works to get me moving on it!

M: Aside from having your work at art star, where else do you sell
your work?  Do you have any exhibitions booked in the future?

J: I will be at the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn this summer (June
11-12) and will be applying to a handful of other shows this year.  I
have also been talking to a local Cleveland gallery and boutique about
having a little Horrible Adorables storefront within their space.. but
we are still discussing all the details.  More on that later!

M: Any special projects on the horizon?

J: I am passionate about puppets and I would love to do some
exploration into making my creatures as marionettes and animating them
in short films.  I also love vinyl artist toys.  It would be so great
if some of my creatures could be produced into limited edition toys
that an even wider audience could enjoy!

M: Anything else we should know?

J: I have a lot of new horribly adorable creatures in the works.
Please stop by my booth at the Art Star Craft Bazaar to check them all
out and say hello!

Find more about Jordan & her Horrible Adorables on the following sites:
her website http://www.jordan-elise.com/
her etsy page http://www.horribleadorables.etsy.com
her blog http://horribleadorables.blogspot.com/

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Awesome new video by Cutesy but Not Cutesy

Posted on April 8, 2011 by artstar-artstar

Check out this new video by Philadelphia artist & one-of-a-kind stuffed monster maker, Diane Koss of Cutesy but not Cutesy.  I had to share it with you all b/c I think it is AWESOME!  This is the 2nd in what I hope will be a series of videos.  I love this direction that she is going in.  I may have to commission Diane to make my Halloween costume next year.

see the world without going anywhere. from Cutesy but not Cutesy on Vimeo.

also check out her stop motion animation that she made with David R. Popolow of  Right Brain Animation http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/monster-compilation-by-diane-koss-of-cutesy-but-not-cutesy-3556/

Cutesy but not Cutesy will be at our bazaar this year in booth #107, so you can take home a furry friend of your own!

or visit http://www.cutesybutnotcutesy.com/ to shop now

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