Category: Featured Artist

  • An Interview with Amber Zaraza of Phea Jean

    First time ASCB booth mates Jamie Williams of Dop Dop Designs and Amber Zaraza of Phea Jean interview each other and find out what is in store for the upcoming bazaar! This first post features Jamie’s interview with Amber of Dop Dop Designs.  Enjoy!

    How did you find sewing and what influenced you to turn your skill into a business?  I began sewing around the age of 12. I found my mothers old Kenmore sewing machine and an assortment of my grandmother’s notions and thought I could make things. I didn’t have any fabric so I cut up clothing that I got at the thrift store.  Of course I had no idea what I was doing but managed to make a very simple cross body handbag out of an old blue and white houndstooth polyester suit. I took a crystal clasp off of one of my mothers sweaters to use as a closure and wore that bag for years. I was immediately hooked! I took sewing classes in high school where I was able to hone in on my skills and really learn proper techniques. I went to college for fashion design and during that time made handbags for myself, and then friends, and soon after strangers were asking me where and how to order. So in 2005, phea jean was born, sort of by accident, but once the ball started rolling I just went with it and I love it! It’s still funny to think that I originally set out to be a bridal designer!

     Where did the name phea jean come from?  Settling on a business name seemed daunting at first- what name would I always want to be associated with and never be tired of?!  phea jean, of course, had to be it…phea (Phyllis) and Jean are my two grandmothers, both wonderful and strong women in different ways and both very dear to me.

    Describe your personal style and how that translates into phea jean.
    I love vintage clothing…dresses, coats, hats, etc. The fabric really draws me in, as I find the bright colors and bold patterns hard to resist. I use primarily vintage fabric because I find it so intriguing, I, too, sometimes find inspiration in vintage styles. For example, one of my hat patterns is loosely based on the cloche style made popular in the 1920’s. I also just really like unique, funky pieces. I like when unexpected fabrics are used for traditional silhouettes. I love mixing fabrics and patterns which I do in my designs. In my personal style, I pretty much go for it- wearing and mixing things that other people wouldn’t think to, but somehow (most of the time) ends up working. I never take fashion too seriously, but I want to look good. I want people to look good (great!) in my designs but I also want them to have a good time with the pieces and mix and match them together.

    What inspires your work?
    I am inspired by all the vintage fabric patterns and textures. I “treasure hunt” in attics, basements, estate sales, thrift stores, etc for fabric and I never know what I will bring home, so I have to let each piece speak to me and inspire me as it comes. I’m even often inspired by buttons and will sometimes start with the buttons and design around them. Everything I make is one of a kind and even though I have patterns in place, I do very little planning when it comes to the production aspect of sewing. My process consists of looking around my studio and seeing what catches my eye at the moment.
    My clothing designs are definitely inspired by women, of all shapes and sizes. I really try to accommodate different body types and design pieces that will fit a variety of sizes. I want anyone to come to my booth and be able to find something flattering and leave feeling confident.

    In a literal sense, I am inspired to make things that I want or need for everyday life. My head is cold, therefore I should make hats. I need a specific size/shape handbag so I’ll make it.

    What items will you be bringing to the bazaar? phea jean will be bringing things to keep you warm:  Plenty of hats and scarves of course. I’ll also have my unique wrap tops and ponchos for stylish winter clothing options.

    What item is perfect for gift giving?  The scarves are a great gift and an easy way to spruce up any outfit. At $35-$45 you really can’t go wrong.

    What other artists at the bazaar are you excited to check out?  Considering the shows are our only chance to do our holiday shopping I am excited to see and support all the other vendors!  First thing, I’ll be hitting up my booth mate dop dop designs for a housewarming gift. I’m also a huge fan of miss millie and will be dropping hints to my partner on which of her latest work I need to have. I’m interested to see the coffee drip cones from Melissa Weiss Pottery and the jewelry by Maureen Duffy.

  • An Interview with Jamie Williams of Dop Dop Designs

    First time ASCB booth mates Jamie Williams of Dop Dop Designs and Amber Zaraza of Phea Jean interview each other and find out what is in store for the upcoming bazaar! This first post features Amber’s interview with Jamie of Dop Dop Designs.  Enjoy!


    How and when did dop dop designs develop into a business?
    Where does the name dop dop come from?

    The name dop dop comes from my youngest son, Kiefer.  When Kiefer was nearly 1, he didn’t say many words, but he sure loved flip flops. Having difficulty speaking, he would always call them dop dop’s.  As time went on, he would say dop dop whenever he was happy.  So, eventually, dop dop came to mean “all things good”.   My design focus started with an emphasis on aprons due to Kiefer’s acid reflux and my need to protect my clothing during feedings. There were a ton of cute burp cloths and baby coverage, but nothing for me.  So, I started designing aprons that were durable, easy to care for and pretty without being over the top. Therefore, I felt it only right to immortalize Kiefer’s role (and sweetness) in the development of my brand,  In July 2011, dop dop designs became a legitimate business.  Three years later, here I am expanding my products and hoping to transform your kitchens.

    Describe the dop dop style.
    My style is fresh, and clean but with an element of whimsy. Specializing in kitchen accessories,  I like to merge utility and practicality with a dash of happiness and turn the things that we need into the things that we want.  dop dop designs is all about versatility, quality, easy care, and pops of color.  I put the extra care into production so that you don’t have to.


    What inspires your work?
    As for inspiration,  I am totally inspired to create a comforting haven at the dinner table where my family and yours can reconvene at the end of each day.  Life is full of fast paced activities, dinner  shouldn’t be one of them.  Even when my children are getting mac n’ cheese for dinner,  I love how they feel like it’s the most special thing ever! Simply using a cloth napkin and a place mat transforms the everyday into an occasion.   Many expected and unexpected events can become inspiration.   Inspirational things (for me):  sounds and smells of the ocean, walks in the woods, running water in the shower, blooming flowers,  80’s/90’s industrial music (oddly enough),  old photo albums, and canning.

    What items will you be bringing to the bazaar?

    dop dop designs will be bringing a slew of items to the ASCB November 8th and 9th.  As always, full and half aprons in fantastic fabrics will be available,  potholders (deluxe and mini grabbers),  reversible placemats, double-sided deluxe napkins, linen napkins,  reversible table runners, and market tote bags made of vintage tablecloths~ perfect for any excursion.   All items are made of 100% premium cotton and handmade in Chester Springs, PA.


    What dop dop item is perfect for gift giving?
    All of my items are the perfect gift for anyone who has recently moved into a new home or apartment, an avid cook, anyone who has recently remodeled their kitchen, or someone who loves to create intimate dining spaces.  dop dop designs’ potholder gift sets are the perfect hostess gift,  placemats and napkins are the perfect gift for the new homeowner, and a fantastic one of a kind market tote would please anyone with a heart!

    What other artists at the bazaar are you excited to check out?
    I am so excited to be a part of the ASCB this fall, not only as an artist/maker, but as a shopper!   I’m a big pottery fan and love giving pottery as gifts….so, I’m looking forward to Little Flower designs for those needs.  As a sewer, can’t wait to see Group Hug Quilts!!!  Big quilt fan and love their work!  For my nieces, I am sure to be hitting up Dahling accessories.  AND, of course, I am looking forward to Phea Jean.  Nobody works vintage fabric like Amber.  Can’t wait!

  • Guest Post: Melissa Weiss Pottery


    We are thrilled to welcome new Art Star Craft Bazaar Vendor, Melissa Weiss, to our November 8th and 9th show at the 23rd Street Armory and as a guest writer on our blog today!  Melissa is a studio potter from Asheville, NC.  She digs all of her own clay off her land in NW Arkansas and each piece is made entirely by hand.  Enjoy her post about her work and process. Be sure to check out her website and her booth (#47) at our upcoming bazaar!

    Melissa Weiss in her studio

    About 6 years ago on a visit to my land in NW Arkansas I dug a bucket of clay out of the ground and brought it home.  I made a cup and fired it.  It withstood the firing but had some issues. On my next trip to Arkansas I dug a few hundred pounds.  I brought it back to my studio in Asheville, NC and started adding feldspars, sand and other commercially available dried clays.  I made about 13 variations of clay bodies incorporating my hand dug clay in different percentages.  I tested all of these variations with all of my slips and glazes and after hundreds of tests came up with a working clay body that was what I wanted based on functionality and aesthetics.  The clay I dug from land is 25% of the body and this is the clay I use to make every single pot.  The process is arduous but the reward is grand.

    About once a year I drive to the land I bought in 2002 with friends.  I was not a potter then.  We bought 75 acres of wild woods an hour from town.  This land is full of a beautiful iron rich, red clay. I dig about 1000 lbs on a trip and bring it home.  This will enable me to make 4000 lbs of clay.  I make clay at my studio in batches of 1000 lbs.  I put the Arkansas clay in a 55 gallon drum and add water.  I let it sit for a while and drill it up until it’s a slurry.


    Then I screen it to remove the big rocks and debris.  This now liquid clay is in a giant metal trough.  I then add all my commercial ingredients and drill it up.  At this point the clay is mixed and is the consistency of yogurt.  I remove this liquid clay by the bucket full into racks lined with old bed sheets.  The racks are basically wood frames with a chicken wire bottom.  These racks get stacked upon each other until they are all filled with the clay.  They will then sit for 2 weeks or more depending on the weather.  At this stage the water slowly drains through the sheets and screen and eventually I am left with a useable clay.

    the clay’s water slowly drains through bed sheets

    The reason I do this is not to save money on clay.  After all the labor and driving it costs much more than buying clay at the store.  I do this for many reasons.  The most basic is aesthetics.  The clay I make looks different.  It is imperfect and slightly varying.  Small rocks and bits of iron remain, which melt out in the firings and give the pots a raw, wild look. This clay also feels different.  It feels alive.  It has a character and a life of its own.  I also love the process of autonomy.  I like being involved in the making process from the beginning to the end.  The finished pot was made by me every step of the way.  It gives me a connection to my work I don’t think I would have if the clay was more easily come by.

    hand formed spoons made from Melissa’s own clay body

    I work out of an 8000 square foot warehouse in an industrial section of Asheville, NC between the railroad and the river.  It’s called SouthSide Studios which I founded in 2013. I run the studio which houses about 20 other artists working in a variety of media.  My studio hours are dictated by the fact that I have a 10 year old in public school.  I get to the studio by 8am, Monday through Friday.  I work until 3 most days and later when I have the opportunity.  I spend time there on weekends when I can.  On average I spend about 40-50 hours a week in the studio.


    I work in a rhythm. It starts with making clay, slips, glazes and washing ash for glazes.  I then make pots.  I usually have the pots I want to make laid out by weeks.  This is dictated partly by orders and deadlines.  This system seems to give me structure and keep me from becoming overwhelmed with too much to do.  For example, I will lay out the month of making by Week 1: slab pots, Week 2: mugs and drip cones, Week 3: pitchers and animal pots, Week 4 thrown bowls and teacups. This is never rigid and I ALWAYS make or do something new in every cycle.  When the making is complete I bisque fire all the pots. Then I glaze and decorate all the pots.  They are now ready for the final firing.  I fire the pots in a gas reduction kiln at the studio.  The firing lasts about 10 hours.  The kiln cools for a day and then I unload the pots.  All the pots get their bottoms sanded to make them smooth.  They then get washed and priced.

    Everyday I am in my studio I feel grateful and lucky.  So grateful that I do what I love for a living.  It takes a strict discipline and sacrifice of certain things but they are all worth it.  I will be making pots in my studio, listening to music with my dog and drinking coffee thinking – “I am at work right now!”  I work hard and it feels easy.

    Iron + White “V” Lidded Elephant Jar by Melissa Weiss Pottery

    Purchase Melissa’s work at our upcoming bazaar or on her website here

  • Guest Post: “Power of Three” by Forge & Finish

    The women behind Forge & Finish jewelry collective invite you into their Philadelphia studio to catch a glimpse of their creative process through these fun short films.

    You can find their work at Booth #20 at our upcoming Fall Art Star Craft Bazaar on November 8th + 9th! Look out for more Guest Posts by participating vendors in the days leading up to the show.  Enjoy!

    Demure de Rigueur’s Little Shaker Necklace from Fo Sho & Tell on Vimeo.

    Lace Army’s Fortune Cookie Necklace from Fo Sho & Tell on Vimeo.

    Bombita Designs Raw Diamond Ring from Fo Sho & Tell on Vimeo.

  • 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!

    Art 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.

    AS: 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.

    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.

    AS: 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.

    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!

  • 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.

    1. 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!

    2. 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.

    3. 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. 

    4. 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.

    5. 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.

    6. 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.

    7. 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.

    8. 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.

    9. 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.

  • ASCB Shopping List: Clothing, Part 1

    The Art Star Craft Bazaar is less than 1 month away!! With around 140 amazing artists/crafters participating, it is easy to become overwhelmed and want to buy everything!  We recommend coming to the show with a game plan. We will be sharing ASCB Shopping Lists until the big day (May 10th/11th), so you can come with a plan of attack.  Today’s shopping list is devoted to clothing b/c we have a pretty large group of vendors in this category this year.  This shopping list does not include screen printed T-shirts, onesies, etc – I will devote a post to them in the coming weeks!

    We have a slew of vendors selling unique, fashion forward clothes just in time for you to freshen up your spring/summer wardrobe!  Which one of these vendors are you excited to check out?  Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you!

    1. Pretty Snake  Joseph Aaron Segal is the genius behind this line of cool clothing.  He had me at CATS! But seriously, his prints are amazing! He is on my personal ascb shopping list this year.  Joseph was a contestant on Season 11 of Project Runway and currently teaches at the Rhode Island School of Design.  This will be his first year participating in our bazaar.

     2. Meerwiibli  This line of clothing is expertly hand made in Phoenicia, NY by the lovely Sarah-Maria Vischer-Masino.  Sarah-Maria recently opened up a shop called the Tailored Mermaid in Beacon, NY, which showcases clothing & accessories handmade by Sarah and other talented designers.  She will be setting up a Tailored Mermaid pop up shop at the bazaar so she will also be selling clothing by Snoozer LoserVilma Mare and Quel Theatre.

    3. Rebe by Debra Weiss We are happy to welcome back Art Star Craft Bazaar alum, Debra Weiss who is the talented woman behind the clothing line, Rebe.  Each piece is truly a wearable work of art and her line is a favorite among ascb shoppers. Debra’s clothing is sold exclusively at craft markets and her daughter (and booth mate!) Hillery Sproatt’s online shop called Specks & Keepings.  Don’t miss this chance to shop her line in person!

     

    4. Temperate creates ethically responsible and timeless pieces made from 100% organic cotton and non-toxic, plant based dye.  The clothing is not only beautiful but also comfortable and designed to be worn in a temperate, two-season climate.  Their production process is low impact and their clothing is grown, milled & sewn in the USA so you can feel good about your purchase.  This will be Temperate’s first time participating in our bazaar and we are excited to check out their clothes in person!

    5. Megan Auman I have had Megan Auman’s leggings on my wishlist for a while now and I plan to finally pick up a pair at the bazaar.  I love the colorful, painterly prints the she has designed for these.  She has a bunch of different colors & patterns.  I am having a hard time choosing which ones to get…. These prints are also available on clutches, pillows, and scarves.  Plus, she makes incredible steel jewelry.  She is a very talented lady and I am always looking forward to seeing what she makes next.

    There are so many great clothing vendors this year that I have decided to break this up into two posts.  Soooo, To be continued…………

  • Featured Artist: April Hale


    April Hale is a traditionally trained metalsmith who has been practicing her art for over ten years. Creating jewelry in her small studio in Bozeman, Montana, she derives her designs from forms and colors that she sees in the landscape. Because of her jewelry’s connection to the environment and her desire to create sustainable jewelry, all work is made from a minimum of 50% reclaimed materials. By using reclaimed steel or roofing copper as a base for colorful enamel, hand-forming earwires from recycled sterling silver, and forging steel baling wire into rings, bracelets, and components of necklaces and earrings, April creates jewelry that transforms everyday materials into expressive, finely crafted adornment.

    When she is not working in the studio, April can usually be found wandering in the woods, either on foot or cross country skis, looking at birds and finding wonder in her surroundings.

    “Flowers on Branches Necklace” by April Hale / forged steel, enameled copper, and sterling silver.
    April in her studio.
    Dangling Flower Earrings in Blue + Green by April Hale / sterling silver and enameled copper
    Enamel + Steel Linked Bracelet by April Hale / forged steel, enameled copper, and sterling silver
    Flower Post Earrings by April Hale / enamel + sterling silver

     We are so happy to be carrying April’s line of bright + colorful jewelry! Check out our entire collection of her work here.

  • NEW! Nugget Planters by Nikkuu Designs

    Even though we are supposed to get snow later today (ugh), it actually is spring!  We just got in these awesome new handmade wood planters by local Philly artist Melissa Moore of Nikkuu Design.  Cut from a variety of woods (oak, pine, walnut), these planters are the perfect size for air plants or succulents.  If you are like me and can’t keep plants alive, these will be perfect for you!  If you kill these, you really aren’t meant to own plants! Comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors.  Some are painted with splashes of bright white or aqua paint for a pop of color, while others just show off the wood grain.  Grab a couple for your window ledge to try to evoke some warmer weather! $12-$38, each comes with an air plant.



  • Meet Jewelry Artist, Ashley Gilreath



    We are thrilled to welcome recent Philadelphia transplant, Ashley Gilreath to our roster of artists.  Ashley graduated from East Caroline University in North Carolina with her BFA in metal design in 2010 and then went on to exhibit her work across the country, teach and hold various artist residencies, most recently at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Tennessee.  Her multiple lines of beautifully sculpted jewelry are inspired by the “decay of memories, architecture, and heirloom objects”.  We are really excited to carry a few of her lines of jewelry in the shop!  Here is a look at each series of jewelry that we are carrying PLUS a statement by Ashley about each one. Enjoy!

    Weathered + Broken Wood Series

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Pieces within this series are inspired by broken and decaying wooden fences, barns, or farming equipment. I’m interested in the process through which these functional structures are built, utilized, and abandoned over time. I enjoy how splitting and water marks on the surface of the wood provides a visual timeline for the life of these crafted objects. – Ashley Gilreath

    Water Castings

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    These earrings are made out of sterling and fine silver water castings. During the casting process the silver is poured into cold water and as it sinks it cools very quickly, and forms these little cups! Sometimes looking like nests, drops, or blobs, I save the best formed cups and fill them with colored glass! Enameling is a process that allows for fusing glass to metal, and it adds a wonderful reflective dimension to these earrings!
    – Ashley Gilreath

    Inscription/Book Cover Series

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    This body of work explores the tradition of writing notes and inscriptions upon the inside covers of books, and how a confluence of stories and people come together to create these objects. The words of the characters, the choices of the author, the artists of the covers, the writers of the secret inscriptions, and the owner of the book all effect how an individual would interpret the personal messages. Through time, as the book passes from hand-to-hand, these stories continue a dialogue whose original intimacy has faded.

    – Ashley Gilreath

    Botanical Jewelry 

    The designs in this series are directly influenced and inspired by the gardens of my past, specifically the hydrangeas that my mother rooted from her childhood home in Louisiana and brought with her to North Carolina. This transplanting of roots from one place to another directly reflects the paths we follow in life, and how home is given new meaning through time.

    These flowers are so delicate, their blooming so quick and fleeting, yet their impression on our senses endures. I attempted to merge those characteristics into a wearable object, so that one could wear a shadow of the blossom.

    Check out our full collection of Ashley’s Jewelry here and visit the shop to see it all in person! Any of her pieces would make a wonderful gift for Valentine’s Day!

     

     

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