Art Star

Category: Gift Guide

  • ASCB Staff Member Picks: Lisa Castellano

    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!

  • ASCB Staff Member Picks: Bob Brewster

    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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