Follow Us on Instagram. Share this photo with #artstarcraftbazaar (make sure you change your privacy settings so we can see your #) We will randomly select a winner at noon Friday. Items generously donated by Art Star Craft Bazaar Vendors – Dahling Accessories (clutch) and Dollhousefossils (embroidered print).
Tag: art star craft bazaar
-
Art Star Craft Bazaar Instagram GiveAway #2
-
Meet Jeffrey Brown of Greenmarket Purveying!
Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study?
Jeffrey Brown: Yes, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, studying Interior Architecture.AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
JB: Our hand poured candles, in unique packaging designed by us!
AS: What materials do you work with?
JB: We only use American made materials that are as all-natural as possible, including food-grade soy wax, all-natural fragrance (no icky synthetic perfumes), cotton wicks, recycled paper packaging and handmade paper boxes.
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
JB: We hand pour all of our candles in batches no greater than 35, in traditional warming pots. No hoses, no industrial equipment–the old fashioned way. Our candles are also all hand signed and numbered…
AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job?
JB: We are lucky to be able to be busy enough to do this full time! If I had to work on the side, I would go back to decorating and photo styling…
AS: Who are some of your favorite artists?
JB: I collect vintage and antique oil on canvas landscape paintings, most of which are unsigned, or signed by artists of little notoriety. I tend to gravitate to works that were clearly done solely for personal pleasure, and handed down and inherited through family members (until they end up on eBay or flea markets)… As for works of established artists that I covet and would LOVE to collect, I enjoy the work of photographers like Stephen Shore, Gregory Crewdson and Diane Arbus who transform people, places and things we see everyday, into extraordinary imagery.
AS: What are you reading/listening to right now?
JB: Sirius XM 70’s on 7. I’m old.
AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year?
JB: I LOVE Twig Terrariums–their tongue-in-cheek humor is right up my alley! I have also always loved Volta Organics soaps when I come across them in stores, so am pumped to have their entire assortment in front of me (although I might implode with excitement). Additionally, I’m a dude that likes his small accessories, so am also intrigued to see Bregga & Co.’s leather goods up close and personal.Thanks for Sharing Jeffrey! Visit him at the Art Star Craft Bazaar this weekend at booth #101
-
Meet Art Star Craft Bazaar Vendor Hillery Sproatt
Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study?
Hillery Sproatt: I did. I studied printmaking and book arts at The Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland.AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
HS: I will be selling hand-colored etchings, drawings, embroidered objects and perhaps some very small weavings.
AS: What materials do you work with?
HS: I keep many scraps for collage. Many drawings soon become pieces of other drawings. I use embroidery thread, linen, many colored yarns, and a small thing of gouache. Colored pencils, a few nicely colored markers, crayons, fine paper, and pva are also staples in my small studio.AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
HS: I am an intuitive maker. I find I often just begin and I try to look closely at what is happening in the work. Relationship building is a big part of making anything for me these days. I use my imagination quite a bit.
AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job?
HS: That is something I hope to work towards. Along with making my work and running Specks & Keepings, I work four days a week as a production assistant at a small textile company, called Unison, based in Chicago. I get to work with many lovely handprinted fabrics, which is a pleasure.AS: Who are some of your favorite artists?
HS: Cy Twombly and Claes Oldenburg excited me. I am often inspired by children’s drawings, the quilts made by the women of Gees Bend, the flatness of Grandma Moses, and many other wonderful artists I find and share on my blog. So many beautiful things in the world worth seeing.
Horse Mobile by Hillery Sproatt AS: What are you reading/listening to right now?
HS: At the moment I am reading At Home by Bill Bryson, which is very good! I am also enjoying watching Treme on HBO. This is one of my very favorite shows.AS: Where would you like to see yourself and your art/craft business in the next 10 years?
HS: I would like to be able to support myself and to be showcasing the work of many other fine artists through growing the Specks & Keepings shop. I would also like to be designing fabrics for Debby Weiss, the designer of Rebe, to make her wearables from.
“Henri & Hanna” Soft Sculptures by Hillery Sproatt AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year?
HS: The ceramic mugs by Earth and Wears. Printed Wearables by Red Prairie Press.Visit Hillery Sproatt at the Art Star Craft Bazaar at Booth #71
-
Meet New Craft Bazaar Vendor Meera Lee Patel
Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study?
Meera Lee Patel: I did not go to art school; I graduated from Rutgers University with degrees in English & Journalism.
Pillow by Meera Lee Patel AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
MLP: I’ll be selling original paintings (watercolor & gouache), along with hand-sewn tea towels, pillows, and a slew of illustrated paper goods.AS: What materials do you work with?
MLP: I work primarily in watercolor & gouache and the tiniest of brushes.
Superfood Tea Towel by Meera Lee Patel AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
MLP: Every item starts with a loose pencil sketch, followed by a tighter sketch in color. Then I begin blocking large areas of color in, adding light layers until the painting is finished. My favorite part of the process is the last one, where I use tiny brushes to add little flecks of paint that become the detail & life of each piece.
the artist’s studio AS: Who are some of your favorite artists?
MLP: I love the work of Carson Ellis, Diana Sudyka, and Teagan White, to name a few, but the list is pretty long and ever-growing!
We Are Made of Stars Postcard by Meera Lee Patel AS: What are you reading/listening to right now?
MLP: I am reading Crush by Richard Siken for the seventh or eighth time, and listening to Paul Simon perpetually and probably for the rest of my life.
AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year?
MLP: I’m especially excited to see work by Andrew Cho, Betsy Olmsted, and Foxglove Factory.Thanks for sharing Meera! Follow her work on Etsy, her website, & her blog. Visit her at our craft bazaar next weekend in booth #65
-
Meet Lauren Rossi of Boutique Textiles
Photo Credit: Andrew Nicholas
Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study?
Lauren Rossi: I went to a liberal arts college for my undergraduate degree and followed that up with art school for my graduate degree. I received my Bachelor of Arts from Scripps College in Claremont, California majoring in Studio Art. My Master of Fine Arts was earned from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan from the Fiber Department. After completing both academic programs I spent a year at The Fabric Workshop and Museum as an apprentice before beginning my own studio practice and business.
AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
LR: I will be selling products for home: Tea Towels, Napkins, Pillows, Table Runners and Tablecloths and personal accessories: Envelope Clutches and Totes all made from my hand printed fabrics.
AS: What materials do you work with?
LR: I use a variety of materials to make work. To list a few: architecture pencil, water color, India ink, gauche, tracing, watercolor and drawing paper, paint brushes of all sizes, a scanner, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, mylar, emulsion, silk screens, duck tape, spray adhesive, nail polish, masking tape, linen, burlap, leather, cotton and hemp fabrics, digital camera, t-pins, squeegees, water color textile pigment and twine.
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
LR: I keep notebooks and lists everywhere that are a collection of print ideas to be. When I begin working on a new design this writing is translated to sketch and then original drawing. From paper I scan and then trace my drawing using a Wacom tablet, adjusting shapes, adding color layers, rearranging each component until the composition is complete. Each color layer is printed out onto mylar film and then the corresponding screens are “burned,” a process that exposes the light sensitive emulsion coating, transferring the image to the screen. I often proof colorways digitally before mixing ink, and then I print test squares of each color on fabric. There are many steps in the print process, including color tests, registration, scale and the translation to finished object. I love to experiment when I design and print, by considering the repeat to be more like an endless painting, pushing boundaries of the traditional and the process. I usually have an end use in mind before I begin the design and print process, but I have fun in the studio by keeping an open mind about what the fabric could turn into. The last step is to produce the finished products using the printed yardage. I use a number of local sources for sampling and production including sewing, upholstery and digital printing.
Photo Credit: Andrew Nicholas AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job?
LR: I get to print and design full time!! And I am so grateful for it. When I am not in the studio I love to spend time with my husband and great dane. I also love to cook (I was a line cook and pastry chef for a short time).
AS: Who are some of your favorite artists?
LR: To name a few off the top of my head: Marimekko, Lotta Jansdotter, Hable Construction, Hella Jongerius, Studio Droog, Issey Miyake, Louise Bourgeois, Jean Claude and Christo, Draga Obradovic, Joseph Beuys.
AS: What are you reading/listening to right now?
LR: I am slowly reading “The History of Love” by Nicole Krauss and hope to have my hands on Julia Child’s book, “My Life in France” immediately following. In the studio I am listening to a lot of Mumford and Sons, Ratatat, the Roots, Talking Heads and First Aid Kit Pandora mixes.
Photo Credit: Andrew Nicholas AS: Where would you like to see yourself and your art/craft business in the next 5 years?
LR: I hope to expand my collaborations with other businesses, employ 2-4 people, begin doing Saturday workshops and have product available in a variety of locations and shops.
AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year?
LR: I look forward to meeting them all!A list of a few of my favorite things: Huevos Rancheros, Peonies and Wisteria Vines, flip flops, vintage bangles, pink and orange combination, oysters, artichokes, avocado and mochi ice cream
Thank you Lauren for telling us a bit more about you & your incredible work. Check out this video portrait of Lauren by Andrew & Jenn Richey Nicholas. Be sure to bookmark her website + Visit her at our upcoming Art Star Craft Bazaar at Booth #20!
-
Meet Devin McNutt of Saffron Creations
Lemon Peacock Cuff by Saffron Creations Art Star: What materials do you work with?
Devin McNutt: I make jewelry from vintage tin canisters, boxes and trays. I’ve been collecting these tins over the years by scouring flea markets, yard sales and antique stores. Most of them were manufactured during the mid 20th century in England and Holland and were used to package loose tea, cookies and candy. They now line the walls of my studio and serve as a colorful paint palette of sorts, from which I draw my inspiration.
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
DM: I start by breaking down a tin from it’s three dimensional form into flat sheets of metal. Then, based on the printed designs, I select an eye-catching portion, draw a shape to highlight it and cut it out. The edges of the tin are then carefully sanded and ground down to a smooth finish. Holes are drilled and the tin component is then used to create a unique piece of jewelry by riveting, wire wrapping or embellishing with beads and chain.
Devin at work in her studio AS: Who are some of your favorite artists?
DM: One of my favorite artists is Alexander Calder. Better known for his famous sculptures and mobiles, Calder is, in my opinion, a wire jewelry genius. Every time I page through my 10 pound ‘Calder Jewelry’ book my brain is flooded with ideas and I can’t stop myself from running to my studio…
jewelry by Calder & Saffron Creations AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job?
DM: I’ve managed a bead store for the past 6 years, where I teach classes, help customers design jewelry and do lots and lots of repairs. Recently, I made an exciting (yet scary!) change to reduce my hours at the shop to only one day a week. With my full focus on my business, I hope that Saffron Creations will really be able to blossom.
Earrings by Saffron Creations AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
DM: With my recent career change I have so much more time to do what I really love: make jewelry. This spring, I am excited to have my biggest inventory of work… ever! There is sure to be something for everyone.Check out Saffron Creations in person at the May 11th & 12th Art Star Craft Bazaar. She’ll be at booth #70!
-
Meet Rachel Sherman of Malagueta
Rachel Sherman makes impeccably crafted clothing and accessories under the name Malagueta. Her surface manipulation on each garment is pretty amazing. Learn more about her techniques & what inspires her. And be sure to check her out at the bazaar at Booth 48 – all of her items are always neatly displayed by color!
Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study?
RS: I went to Moore College of Art and got my BFA in Textile Design.AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
RS: Skirts, tops, dresses, and wristlets….all of which will display some type of surface manipulation.
AS: What materials do you work with?
RS: Lots of jersey and woven fabrics all of which are plain on the surface, nothing printed, and textures are kept to a minimum. Whenever there is any leftover, which there usually is, I save it and use it for appliques, piecing, etc.
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
RS: I buy limited amounts of yardage that I first cut into the pattern pieces. Some styles I assemble COMPLETELY before I add any surface detail to them, while others can only be assembled AFTER the pattern pieces are cut then covered with surface work. The techniques I use are found in traditional folk textiles such as Kuna Molas, Rahasthani dresses, and Korean Bojagi cloth. Those techniques are reverse applique (layering fabrics then removing one layer at a time to reveal specific colors underneath), couching (sewing yarn onto fabric with thread, either by hand or sewing machine), piecing (gathering fabric pieces of different shapes and colors and sewing them together to emphasize bold color compostions or using the opaque seams to emphasize line compostions).
AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job?
RS: Malagueta is almost full-time work, however I do squeeze in block-printing one day a week, the occasional sewing project for someone, then top it off with a samba performance or a gig teaching design to high school students.
AS: Who are some of your favorite artists?
RS: EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY ARTIST FRIENDS of course and Lee Bontecou, Friedrich Hundertwasser, Francoise Gilot, Jay Ryan of The Bird Machine…
AS: What are you reading/listening to right now?
RS: Chet Atkins, The Might Sparrow, Jorge Ben and other Brasilian Artists. I will be reading Bossy Pants as soon as my sister is done with it. -
Meet Stephanie Harvey of exit343designs
Local silkscreen printer, Stephanie Harvey is an Art Star Craft Bazaar veteran. We always love checking out her cute & colorful printed t-shirts, plushies, stationary, prints & more! Learn more about her technique, the artists who inspire her & what she is listening to these days. And be sure to see it all in person at Booth #18!
The lovely Stephanie Harvey in her booth! Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study?
Stephanie Harvey: Technically I didn’t go to “art” school, but I do have two fine arts degrees. I received my B.F.A. with concentrations in Printmaking and Photography from Rowan University in South Jersey. I also have my M.F.A. in Printmaking from Penn State University.AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
SH: My booth features all silkscreen printed work, hand printed by me (with alittle bit of help from my studio cat, Buddy) in a workspace just outside of Philadelphia. I primarily make art prints and stationery, but also dabble with small plush creature pillows and tee shirts. Recently, I’ve begun crafting small watercolor illustrations that I sell as giclee prints, badges, and magnet sets. If you like bright colors, hand drawn type, and patterns, be sure to come check out my booth!
Eat Local Food & Drink Local Brew Silkscreened Print AS: How are your items made? Describe your process?
SH: Everything starts with a drawing, on good old-fashioned paper. I sometimes use digital help to clean up or enlarge my drawings and make the layers to burn screens from. However, often times I consume many Sharpie opaque paint markers from hand drawing the layers. In silkscreen printing, every color is a different layer so the preparation can be really time consuming! After I make the screens, mix the inks, and trim the paper, I crank out each print- layer by layer. It’s a rewarding process, watching your work come to life in color one piece at a time.
exit343design HQ AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job?
SH: I’m an artist/designer/freelance event photographer by night and weekend and a production assistant at a local screenprinting company by day. I’m continually striving to make the former my all-of-the-time by doing shows like Art Star Craft Bazaar, taking on freelance design projects, selling my work at brick & mortars, running an active blog, and more.
Lily of the Valley & Pansies Flower Cards by exit343designs AS: Who are some of your favorite artists?
SH: I look to contemporary graphic and poster designers, many who do the same craft shows I vend at. I love the bold stylized illustrations of Charley Harper and the sweeping lines and muted colors of Alphonse Mucha. Textile patterns, unique illustrations, and hand drawn type are all artistic components I’m drawn to.
AS: What are you reading/listening to right now?
SH: I’ve been in kind of a musical funk as of late, so I’ve turned in to a huge podcast fan. My favorites right now include: Adventures in Design by Mark from Hero and Billy from Delicious Design League (great for any artist + entrepreneur), WTF with Marc Maron, and Planet Money.
Fruit Prints AS: Where would you like to see yourself and your art/craft business in the next 10 years?
SH: In ten years, I simply hope to be my own full-time boss. I have many other short-term goals, which will hopefully get me to that point!
AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year?
SH: Of course! Checking out other vendors’ work is half the fun. I also try to feature all of the great work I see after each show on my blog, thehappysqueegee.comIn no particular order, my 2013 must-sees include:
Atelier Grafico – Gioconda was my neighbor last year and her booth was packed with children having a blast with her creative stamp sets! I’m hoping to beat the rush of youngsters this year and see what new sets she has.
Everyday Balloons – This talented screen printing duo from Pittsburgh also makes the majority of their prints the old school way – by starting with a drawing, not digital. Even their business cards are tiny works of silkscreend art! I always make it a point to stop in and see what new images they created.
Laura Berger – I can’t even tell you how many cards of hers I’ve purchased at this point -too many! Her quirky sense of humor shines in every piece she creates, making her one of my favorite illustrators and stationery creators.
The Wind and The Sail – Laura is so incredibly talented! You have to get to her booth early on to see her full stock of cuddly creatures. Why? Everyone else knows she’s so talented and buys up all her finely crafted (and adorable) plush!
Yardsale Press – Bryan has print and badge dispensing vending machines. Enough said.
-
Meet Renee D’Amico of Tadpole Creations
Renee D’Amico of Tadpole Creations makes the most darling plush & appliqued bibs, onesies & more! I especially love her little Russian Babushka Dolls & DIY Pirate Doll Kits. Any one of her items would make a great gift for a baby shower or b-day party for a little one. Though I must say, I wouldn’t mind picking up a few of her plushies for myself – I’m young at heart! This will be Renee’s first Art Star Craft Bazaar & we are so happy to have her, so get to know her & visit her at the bazaar at her bright & colorful booth #43!
Renee D’Amico of Tadpole Creations with her Mermaid Dolls
Art Star: Did you go to art school? If so, where did you study?
Renee D’Amico: I attended University of the Arts and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. I have a BS in Elementary Education with a minor in Fiber Arts.AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
RD: Sewn and appliqued baby goods as well as soft dolls and toys for the very small. I create primarily for little ones, however a grown up has been known to go home with a pirate or mermaid for themselves. New this season are DIY Pirate and Matryoshka Doll Kits.
A selection of items by Tadpole Creations AS: What materials do you work with?
RD: Primarily brightly colored cotton fabrics and threads, with stuffing and a bit of fabric paint thrown in at times.Trained as a painter, I work with fabrics and thread in a way similar to using paint and pencil, using larger shapes of colored fabric, adding outlining and detailing with machine stitched threads.
Babushka Russian Matryoshka Cloth Doll
AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
RD: My creations begin with a basic drawing on paper of a playful idea that I’ve been pondering for a while. When I’m happy with the initial design, I work with paper to create my own patterns and templates, folding and cutting until I find the right shapes. Fabric selection comes next, with experimentation of different combinations until I get to that “ah-hah” moment when I have found the right fabrics to use.My favorite part of the construction is sitting down to sew at the machine and appliquing the different fabric elements together. I stitch with a variety of different patterns to complete the design with colored thread.
Cloth Elephant Toys with Rattle AS: Are you able to make your work full-time? If not, what do you do for your day job?
RD: Tadpole Creations is a full time pursuit.AS: Who are some of your favorite artists?
RD: I am drawn to primitive folk artists and Early American Art, whether it be a weather vane painted sign, piece of pottery or portrait of a child.AS: What are you reading/listening to right now?
RD: My teenage daughter playing the theme of “The Avengers” on her viola.
Whale Plush Toy AS: Where would you like to see yourself and your art/craft business in the next 10 years?
RD: That’s a great question, I am always thinking “okay what is the next step?” when it comes to Tadpole Creations. One goal is to have a separate studio and workspace, as I work out of a home based studio right now. I’d also love to be involved in some exclusive freelance design for a larger company in the future.
Organic Gnome Dolls AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year?
RD: The line up looks incredible! I am so honored to be included with this great group of craftspeople. My desk is begging for a Cutesy but not Cutesy plush to keep me company while I do computer work. My daughters are really big fans of Inedible Jewelry, I am sure they will be adding to their collection.
