Hello, I’m Jen, and my business is called Zooguu. I live outside of Boston, MA and making things has always been a part of who I am. I have a background in graphic design for the audience of kids and families. For ten years, I worked alongside a creative team designing logos, websites, product design and toy packaging. Translating an object from 2D to 3D is a challenge I enjoy very much. I started hand sewing little creatures as a hobby in the early 2000s, bought my first sewing machine in 2008, and left my full-time design job six months after that to start Zooguu.
Zooguu’s original product offering was handmade toys, but in the last few years the focus has moved onto home decor. The faux taxidermy pieces appeal to a wide range of ages and I sell to people decorating kids’ rooms, students outfitting their college dorms, and adults sprucing up their offices with a bit of humor. I love doing craft shows, and meeting all of the people who will be taking our work home. We spend all week sewing, cutting, painting and stuffing, so it’s always a treat to see people react to the work. We get a lot of smiles and laughter in our booth, and it’s a great feeling.
The Zooguu studio is located in Nahant, MA, in a historic schoolhouse on an island just north of Boston. I have to say, working every day on a beautiful island isn’t so bad. I used to have a studio at home, but as the business grew, it became important to separate work and home life. I now have a couple of wonderful studio assistants that come and help with various stages of production work, but I still have my hands on every piece. Hiring help has allowed me to get better sleep, meet the growing demand for the work, and have time to dream up new designs.
I am inspired by animals, textures in nature, street fashion, pop culture, and the wonderfully supportive community of creative small business owners I have been lucky enough to know over the years. One of the best things about owning a tiny business has been meeting others that are doing the same thing and sharing knowledge and support.
Hello! Greetings from an 18 mile sandbar that hugs the Atlantic Ocean. My name is Kristin, and I am a visual artist living in Surf City, NJ. It’s a beautiful place to live and is a constant source of inspiration. I haven’t always been an ocean inspired artist, however. In fact, I grew up outside of Philadelphia, and had early ambitions of becoming a cartoonist like my favorite artist, Charles Schultz.
While I spent the majority of my youth drawing cartoons, I also spent my summers at the beach fine tuning my deep appreciation of the ocean. I have been a surfer since before I wore a training bra and always figured I would grow up to be a famous beach loving, surfing cartoonist. Well, that sort of happened…
I received my BFA and MFA from great art schools where I studied the masters of art throughout history, the rules of color theory, compositional techniques, the theory of art (a whole lot of b.s. in my opinion) and why every artist feels the need to use the word “juxtaposition” to describe their art. I loved being an art student, even though I wasn’t the best student. If I’m being honest, I would have to admit that I regularly cut class to go surfing whenever the swell was up. What can I say? The ocean and art have always been my two greatest loves. After a total of seven years in an academic setting, three years working in a gallery, three years teaching college level classes, countless travels to foreign countries with coastlines still striving to find that perfect wave, I think only recently have I finally started to figure out what makes an artist, and more importantly, who I am.
Not surprisingly, my art has always been about the ocean. Drawing and the ocean are my true passions, as they are intricately connected. My drawings are about fusing that connection with meticulously detailed lines and an attention to the fluid spontaneity of the ocean. (there’s the art school/academic coming out in me!) Sometimes my art incorporates some of my favorite ocean themed stories such as: Moby Dick or Jaws. Other times, I am more interested in describing my last perfect wave or a recent trip to a new coast in as much detail as a .005 micron pen will permit. Almost all of my art is in some varying color blue and involves ink salt washes, repetitive wave patterns or an obscene amount of detailed lines. I also build my own frames, which are made from found and scavenged wood. I am always on the hunt for unique and weathered looking wood. A sea weathered piece of driftwood makes an absolutely perfect frame to display the great white whale attacking the Essex and if you don’t know the reference, I can’t help you.
When I’m not hunched over a new drawing in my studio, I can be found walking the shores of my local beach, surfing or playing with my dogs. And if you are wondering what happened to that little girl who wanted to create the next generation of Snoopy and share it with the world, don’t worry, she is still very much apart of who I am today. In fact, I love dogs and doodles so much that I even paint doggie portraits in my spare time. So maybe I didn’t become a famous cartoonist, but I am still the beach going, surfing, doodler that I was so long ago.
This will be my first Art Star Craft Bazaar and I’m stoked for this new experience. I will be selling original paintings and drawings, prints of my originals and handmade frames, so come out and visit me at booth #79 this Mother’s Day Weekend.
Hello, I’m Erin Gardner, the artist behind Grey Fox Felting. My decision to launch my business came after I had my first child. I wanted to build a creative career that would allow me to work from home. An artist all my life, I had earned my MFA in painting, and I had taught myself how to needle felt after stumbling upon some felting materials in a small art supply store in southern Vermont several years earlier. My fascination with this art form has continued to grow since then. I still work out of a home studio, where you’ll find me when I’m not building with blocks, running around outside, or reading to my two daughters.
For those who are curious or may be new to needle felting, this portable and meditative art form involves the use of a special barbed needle that is repeatedly poked into a bit of wool to lock the fibers together, forming felt. Concentrated pokes in any area of the wool result in it becoming smaller and denser, thereby allowing one to sculpt a three-dimensional form. Different colors and layers can be added to build up the form and create detail.
I love seeking out different animals to portray, and I often learn new facts about them in the process, be it scientific or symbolic. Each animal has a unique story. I also adorn some of my animals with floral and botanical imagery that is specific to either their geographic region or their cultural/symbolic significance. I have always admired arctic foxes, and it was while I was creating this one that I learned they are the only native land mammal in Iceland. I chose to adorn this fox with arctic poppies, a flower that is native to Iceland.
After researching so many materials and learning the different techniques that worked best for my own studio practice, I decided to begin offering the same wool and felting tools I use in my felting work, and I began to design my own line of felting kits. My line continues to grow, and you’ll be able to find my newest kit at the May Art Star Craft Bazaar! See if you can guess whooo it is…
I hope you’ll stop and say hello! You can also find Grey Fox Felting online:
Hello my name is Devin and I’m the maker behind Saffron Creations. I work from my home studio in the Germantown section of Philadelphia where I live with my husband and two sons. I design and create jewelry from vintage tins that were manufactured in the 1960s and 70s in England to store items such as tea and cookies.
The very first time that I cut up a tin was about eleven years ago, when I had been making various types of “regular” jewelry for a while. I had a lovely purple Art Deco tin that belonged to my maternal grandmother and got the wacky idea to utilize the gorgeous patterns by turning it into jewelry. A few frightening moments later (wondering if I was just destroying a sentimental treasure!) I realized that it works! It works really well. And that was the beginning of my journey as Saffron Creations.
I start by cutting the tin canisters into flat sheets using metal shears, then with my ever growing collection of steel disc cutters, I hammer out little bits here and there that speak to me. Each piece of tin is then carefully filed, sanded shaped and drilled. I utilize “cold connections” which is a jewelers term for connecting pieces of metal without using a torch, as the heat would destroy the colors and patterns on the tin. I incorporate a lot of forged sterling silver and brass wire into my designs, which compliments the sometimes intricate tin instead of competing with it.
When I cut up a tin I marvel at it’s beauty and get SO excited for a glimpse into it’s next life as jewelry. I use every little piece that I can and the bits that I don’t use get recycled. Instead of this particular 4 inch tall vintage tea tin (above) collecting dust on one person’s kitchen shelf it will be loved, admired and worn out in the world by 30+ people. Customers often ask where I find my tins and it’s a long answer because I have many sources. I search the usual places like rummage sales, flea markets and antique malls, but after running Saffron Creations for so long, family, friends and customers have caught on and bring me loads of tins on a regular basis. It’s like having a fleet of “tin spotters” and I’m so grateful. I also have a handful of patterns that are my best sellers and those tins I source on Ebay or Etsy.
2018 will be my 6th (!) year returning to the Art Star Craft Bazaar and it’s one of my absolute favorite local events. Each year I discover new makers from all over the country and bring home at least one little gift for myself. Visit me in booth number 65. Just look for my bright and colorful tent display!
Hi, my name is Rachael. I love jewelry, dancing, and my dog (not in that order). I started by ren two years ago with absolutely no knowledge of how to make jewelry or what the jewelry industry is all about. This may sound oversimplified and unhelpful, but I started my jewelry brand because one day I simply made the decision. In the beginning there were no long nights considering the risks and rewards, no thought-consumed days wondering about the business side of creativity. All of that came later. In the beginning all I thought was, “I love jewelry. How do you make it? How can I learn?” The University of Google along with trial and error taught me everything I know.
I have always loved jewelry and the power that it can hold. Throw on a necklace and get a boost of confidence. Slip on a statement pair of earrings and feel like you can take on the world. We wear it because we love how it makes us feel. Whether it’s an heirloom piece that has been passed down for generations or a quirky flea market find, jewelry is truly a wearable time capsule capable of storing memories and influencing our mood.
Before I started metalsmithing I never considered myself to be very creative. I thought art was for “artists”. Art is for everyone who is willing to give it a try. When I first turned on my torch, I was terrified, but once the initial nervousness passed it all became fun. My creativity started to appear in the metal I was hammering, sawing, and soldering. I work fulltime in a spare bedroom in my apartment here in Philadelphia. It is littered with tools and metals, but it’s functional and inspiring. My weekends are generally filled with pop-up markets and festivals, but during the weekdays you can find me hunched over my bench with a fist full of silver. I design intuitively and all at once. My pieces never turn out like their sketches anyway, so I save myself the time and just go for it. I often end up with a piece that looks nothing like I imagined in all the best ways. It keeps designing exciting and challenging, and that’s how I like it.
I love that this small business I’ve created has connected me with so many other hardworking, creative people, Erin and Megan being two of them. Their work ethic is inspiring, and they have built something that’s not only impressive, but also works to uplift fellow artists. Art Star Craft Bazaar is one of my favorite markets of the year. I used to go with my mom before I even started making jewelry, so to be able to come back another year is so exciting. You can find me there at booth #61! Come say hi. I’d love to meet you!
How’s it going? I’m Amelia of Felt Up by Amelia! I make colorful, fun, and sassy home decor made from one of my favorite materials: felt!
I grew up in a creative household where my mom always encouraged me to make, create, and experiment with all sorts of crafts.
About 6 years ago, I started getting more serious about my art and I made the switch from something that I only do on the weekends to something that I do every day. One of my favorite things about working with wool felt is cutting fine details by hand, it’s almost a form of meditating for me. I get lost in it and appreciate every little snip!
I like to speak my mind through my felt and it seems to resonate with lots of people! Whether it’s through my sweet but sassy “fuck off” banner or my straight to the point “pls leave by 9” banner.
My goal through making and crafting with felt is not just to add a little color & fun to your day, or make people laugh or smile, but to also be a part of special and meaningful moments of your lives. I love making that bouquet to celebrate a dance recital, a wedding, a baby shower, or a new home. I love being behind that gift that will make you and your best friend laugh together for years to come.
You can find me in Mt. Airy surrounded by felt scraps, my supportive husband Max, and my chubby dog Bandit. I can’t wait to see you all at the Holiday Art Star Craft Bazaar, please come say hello to me at booth #47!
I’ll start off by introducing myself to all of you Art Star fans and followers. My name is Kelly Kozma and I am fine artist, knitter, and maker of things. I live and play in Northern Liberties and work out of a studio on 1241 Carpenter Street, a building that is filled with many talented artists. I also sell my line K knits at Art Star and occasionally fill in at the shop when these gals are running around doing other awesome things. Hats off to Erin and Megan for doing such an amazing job curating the ASCB this year. When I was making my top 5 list I noticed that Cisco, Andrew and I all chose different vendors which means there will be something for everyone! Check out my picks…
I love work that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing so Cho’s mugs, goblets and vases were right up my alley. He has amazing craft and technique and his hand drawn imagery is beautiful. I’m also diggin’ the neutral palette with occasional splashes of color. It’s a nice mix between traditional and contemporary styles. Can’t wait to see what he brings in May.
What’s better than hot dogs, cupcakes and honey bears you ask? Miniature versions that you can adorn your ears and neck with! This sister-duo team makes the most adorable line of jewelry, featuring clay based earrings and necklaces that look like all of your favorite foods. They’ll satisfy your sweet tooth and your salty cravings. They are the perfect accessory to brighten your day!
A few months ago I had the privilege of modeling some of Rachel Sherman’s line, Malagueta for Art Star. When I put on her tops I thought ‘now here is a designer that knows a woman’s body’! Everything fit so well and in all the right places:) The detailed appliqués make each piece feel unique and would make a stunning addition to any wardrobe. Her clothes are fun, modern and will have people asking “Where did you get that?!!!”
I chose Rebe because I really haven’t seen anything like it before. The silhouettes and layering techniques are really different, and in the best way possible. Each piece is interesting to look at and kind of tells a story in a way. Her dresses look really easy to wear and they have POCKETS which is a major bonus for me (and I’m sure most women out there)! I’m looking forward to seeing some of her hanging wall pieces that she mentioned in her Art Star Blog interview. They look really intricate and textural in the picture and I can’t wait to see them in person.
5. Yardsale Press Hot Tots Screen Print by Yardsale Press
How ’bout a little sumpin sumpin to spruce up your walls? Yardsale Press has funny, light hearted prints that will bring a smile to your face everyday. Perfect for the kitchen, bathroom, living room… okay, really you could hang these anywhere in your house and they will look great. I’m already a proud owner of their “Looking Good” print and I’m hoping to see some exciting new work from them this year! A little bird told me that Yardsale Press designed a Tshirt specially for Art Star, so you should stop in the shop and check ’em out.
There you have it folks…housewares, jewelry, clothing and art! Have a great time at the ASCB this year:)
Thanks so much Kelly! Please check out her amazing art work here and follow her company K Knits on Facebook!
The week before the bazaar, we lost a dear friend, Lara Long. Lara was the owner of plaidponyvintage.com. Art Star hosted several Plaid Pony Vintage pop-up shops in our brick-n-mortar over the years. Lara lived over in Fishtown & used to come in Art Star when we first opened over on the Liberties Walk. We became instant friends. Its always nice to chat w/ a fellow Philly business owner, especially over drinks. We became closer over the years & Lara used to watch the shop for us whenever we needed. She never hesitated to lend a helping hand. She literally saved our butts during the early years of the ASCB by carting around heavy tables for us in her truck!
We loved it when Lara would watch the shop b/c the next day everything would be completely organized. All the T-shirts would be neatly folded & she would come up w/ clever ways to organize our space without us even asking. Lara had a talent for organization. She also had a real eye for vintage & I used to love going on long thrifting trips w/ her. She would quickly scan each thrift store aisle and was able to find the perfect pieces in what seemed like minutes. I would still be on the first rack & she would already have her hands on all the gems the place had to offer. I used to help her pack orders for her company as well & used to love it! She had racks of clothing, piles of sweaters & t-shirts, boxes of jewelry, shelves lined w/ retro ceramics… and it was all organized by type/style/color of course. She would leave me w/ a map of the space & I felt like I was hunting for treasures in her home.
Lara really impressed me after her brother passed away in August of 2009. She was devastated by the loss, but she got right to work organizing a memorial fund in his name. Lara’s brother, Adam Goldstein (aka DJ AM) was a recovering drug addict who had amassed a giant collection of sneakers. Lara took time off from running her business to devote herself full time to spearhead a massive auction of his entire collection. 100% of the auction profits went to his memorial fund, which aims to help other drug addicts recover – an effort he began & was extremely passionate about during his lifetime. Lara was one of the strongest people I have ever met & her strength will continue to inspire me.
I will never forget our fun dinners out, our girls’ nights, & our epic rockband sessions. She was so much fun to be around & was one of the few friends I could talk on the phone w/ for hours. One of my fondest memories w/ Lara was a beach trip that we took last summer. My husband & I, along w/ Lara & her husband Ben, spent hours in the water. We both remembered that day as being one of the best times we had & resolved to go many times this summer. We remembered that day together, on a particularly difficult one & it brought us both comfort. I am sad to go to the beach without her now, but she will always be with me. So here’s to you Lara! I will never forget you – especially your laugh. Thank you for being such an incredible friend to me personally & to Art Star.
We asked Art Star artist, Ryan Myers, to create an exclusive piece for us & I love what he came up with: Naptime Was His Kryptonite, oil on canvas (below). The original can be purchased for $350 or you can pick up an archival pigment print for just $25!
"Naptime was his Kryptonite", oil on canvas
I thought this would be a great opportunity to highlight Ryan & his work! Check out my interview with him below.
What is your art background? Where did you study?
Art has always sort of been part of my life. I can’t think of a time growing up where I wasn’t at the very least drawing. I have a degree in illustration and art history from Hartford Art School in Ct..
How long have you been painting?
I started painting in college. I got serious about showing my work the way it looks now in about 2004.
Have you always painted children? How much of your own childhood inspires this imagery?
I definitely haven’t always painted children. I came out of art school content on being an editorial illustrator, so my work was focused on whatever the job required. There wasn’t a lot of personal work then. I am not sure there’s a lot of my childhood in the kids I paint now, but obviously all my experiences help inform the paintings.
"Adoration of the Snozzwanger", oil on wood
The way that you draw the children & the overall color palette is very cute & sweet, but I get a deep sense of sadness & loneliness when looking at your work. I am assuming that is intentional? Do you have back stories for these children? I am curious why they are so sad.
This is a tough question with a few parts, so I’ll do my best to tie this one up with a nice little bow. The cute and sweet colors matched against the feelings of sadness and loneliness are definitely intentional. To use a loaded art word it’s basically for the juxtaposition of the emotions. I don’t typically think of the kids as sad. There are some of the teary-eyed exceptions, more typically though I like to think they are just completely indifferent to everything going on around them. They may not be happy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are sad. I feel like much more emotion can be attached to a non-smiling face. Obviously I have some sense of a story when I begin work, but they don’t really have back stories. I like to include just enough in the paintings to hint at a back story, but leave the scene open to interpretation. The viewers are interrupting something that’s going on in the painting and it’s their job to figure out what.
How much of the work is autobiographical? I notice that your dog makes a bunch of appearances with a little boy, which makes me wonder if that little boy is supposed to be you.
I wouldn’t say that the little boys are me beyond the dark hair and eyes. I use some aspects of my daily life to inform some of the symbols and elements that reoccur in my paintings. It’s more like a familiarity that I am comfortable with, like keepsakes in a curio cabinet, than an autobiography.
"The House Call", oil on canvas
You are a father with two small children now, correct? How much is your imagery inspired by them?
Yes that’s right, I’m blessed with two beautiful children. I’m not sure that they themselves inspire my imagery, it’s more like their stuff does. The tiny clothes and toys usually give me a good jumping off point. Having two big eyed models at my disposal certainly helps though.
What is your artistic process like? Do you begin with an emotion / story & then go from there?
I’ve never been really good at explaining the process, but I can give it a go. I really always start off with an idea that makes me laugh – it’s sort of strange to say that though considering people so often speak of the sadness or haunting feelings of the paintings. For a long time I came up with the titles for paintings first and then worked out an image to suit. Occasionally I still do that, but more typically now I’ll get myself in the mood to work with music and depending what I am working on I’ll either start a drawing on paper or work things out right on the canvas.
Are there any particular artists that you are inspired by?
Inspiration is a funny thing… I feel like I am probably more inspired by Pee Wee Herman or something than another artist, but there are a few artists I really enjoy who have probably helped me towards my style. Artists like Giorgio de Chirico and Magritte really did a lot for the weird stillness I use in my paintings. I have got a few others, but I can’t give away all my secrets. Contemporarily though, I really like artists who work graphically, Toki Doki (Simone Legno) comes to mind first.
Do you paint full time? If not, what do you do for a day job?
I don’t actually paint full time. I work for the Post Office and am one of those rare people who really enjoys their job.
Any upcoming shows on the horizon?
I do have a few things lined up for the future – some I can’t talk about yet, but coming up soon I’m going to have a few pieces in a group show in Santa Fe.
What are you working on right now?
It always feels like I am juggling a few things. Right now I am working on some new types of images, but I’ve got a backlog of canvases that I’ve been working on in my studio for a while that I will try and wrap up soon. I also have some private commissions as well as some fun give away plans in the works.
Saturday, December 1st, 11-8pm + Sunday, December 2nd, 11-6pm
The NoLibs Holiday Spree is a progressive sale – customers get increasing discounts the more they shop. *Nominated for “Best Shopping Event” by Philadelphia Magazine in 2012*
Here’s How it works:
1st Participating Store: Customer receives 10% off their purchase + a spree card w/ one sticker on it
2nd Store: Customer shows spree card w/ 1 sticker & gets 15% off their purchase + a 2nd sticker
3rd Store: Customer shows spree card w/ 2 stickers & gets 20% off their purchase + a 3rd sticker
Once the customer’s spree card has 3 stickers, they will receive 25% off at any additional participating store that they shop at throughout the event.
Participating Shops Include: (shop in any order you choose!)
Follow Saffron Creations:
The more you shop, the more you save!