and an all day (70 mile) motorcycle trip to the Renegade Craft Fair held in McCarren Park, Brooklyn, New York. The Lenster and I grew up in Brooklyn, went to High School there (Midwood) , got married there & lived there the first 2 years we were married. It's always nice to "go home", especially for a craft show.
There were tents set up all over the park and all the exhibitors were ETSY designers and sellers. When I asked if I could take pictures & blog about them they jumped for joy....they were all the kindest lovliest people with marvelous handmade items. And I never saw such an assortment of fun dogs before.....it was so adorable. It seemed like everyone there had a dog on a leash or in a carry bag !
So..I will try to blog about everyone I stopped to chat with over the next few days. As artists we all know how important it is to support other artists...it's that Pay It Forward thing.
Today lets start with Megan Stelzer Designs
I fell in love with her keys..she takes real ones and uses a coping saw to alter them...Bravo for her..they are completely unique and she'll do custom orders with your keys ! Plus all of her metal work was really cool & completely affordable.
Then I really liked Claire McDermott...she takes used skate boards and makes the most unusual & uncommon jewelry and luggage tags I've ever seen. I was fascinated. They look hand painted and they are...but not in the traditional way....
and then I had such a laugh (and a fun purchase) at Schmutzerland...where they had vintage thread & other tchotchkes that are, as they say, repurposed on purpose.
and I waited on a long line at Erica Weiner
who had all types of vintage stuff at very reasonable prices. I saw old bottle openers from the 50's and barrettes that were once 29 cents back in the 50's in their original package. I found one with the name "Maureen" which I picked up for my office manager...it's older than she is ! LOL
and I also want to highight a good friend of mine.....Terri Ventura aka Dime Store Emporium...she has AMAZING, AMAZING STUFF.
here's a small sampling...go shop her too !
Then we said bye-bye to Brooklyn....giving us a view of Manhattan ( see the Empire State Bldg) as we biked by on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway...
so, after a very busy day the best advice is "Relax...take a break...breathe deeply....look at the sky and step out of the mayhem for a moment."
Just something worthwhie from "1001 little wellbeing miracles" by Esme Floyd.
watch for more ESTY vendors in future blogs.
There were tents set up all over the park and all the exhibitors were ETSY designers and sellers. When I asked if I could take pictures & blog about them they jumped for joy....they were all the kindest lovliest people with marvelous handmade items. And I never saw such an assortment of fun dogs before.....it was so adorable. It seemed like everyone there had a dog on a leash or in a carry bag !
So..I will try to blog about everyone I stopped to chat with over the next few days. As artists we all know how important it is to support other artists...it's that Pay It Forward thing.
Today lets start with Megan Stelzer Designs
I fell in love with her keys..she takes real ones and uses a coping saw to alter them...Bravo for her..they are completely unique and she'll do custom orders with your keys ! Plus all of her metal work was really cool & completely affordable.
Then I really liked Claire McDermott...she takes used skate boards and makes the most unusual & uncommon jewelry and luggage tags I've ever seen. I was fascinated. They look hand painted and they are...but not in the traditional way....
and then I had such a laugh (and a fun purchase) at Schmutzerland...where they had vintage thread & other tchotchkes that are, as they say, repurposed on purpose.
and I waited on a long line at Erica Weiner
who had all types of vintage stuff at very reasonable prices. I saw old bottle openers from the 50's and barrettes that were once 29 cents back in the 50's in their original package. I found one with the name "Maureen" which I picked up for my office manager...it's older than she is ! LOL
and I also want to highight a good friend of mine.....Terri Ventura aka Dime Store Emporium...she has AMAZING, AMAZING STUFF.
here's a small sampling...go shop her too !
Then we said bye-bye to Brooklyn....giving us a view of Manhattan ( see the Empire State Bldg) as we biked by on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway...
so, after a very busy day the best advice is "Relax...take a break...breathe deeply....look at the sky and step out of the mayhem for a moment."
Just something worthwhie from "1001 little wellbeing miracles" by Esme Floyd.
watch for more ESTY vendors in future blogs.
Hi Suze...
So nice to see the note about Terri's new
store.. great place!
pamela
Posted by: pamela huntington | June 09, 2009 at 07:19 PM
What fun! I buy from Terri at Dime Store Emp. All the time, her stuff rocks! Those other artists had super cute stuff too!! Thanks for showing us some of them today :)
Posted by: Tina Wright | June 08, 2009 at 06:06 PM
Thanks for the trip and tour, Suze! I experienced some emotion because my son, who has lived in Brooklyn (Bushwick) for 2 years, just began his most recent job as evening sous chef at Five Leaves, also in Brooklyn (Greenpoint, I believe). It just boggles my mind that my small-town-raised kid is living in the very big city. Great to see the photo.
Posted by: Evelyn in Oregon | June 08, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Sounds like a wonderful day. Thanks for sharing the Etsy vendors. I plan on checking all of them out.
Penci
Posted by: Penci Petty | June 07, 2009 at 09:44 PM