At the Renegade Craft Fair

Just an update on a recent post about tea cup pendant lights. By a twist of fate I happened to be in San Francisco this weekend at the Renegade Craft Fair and spotted them in person. I must say they are really cool and if I had the right space for them I totally would have bought a few. I live in an apartment so I can’t get too crazy with the lighting.

And speaking of the Renegade Craft Fair, definitely check it out when it comes to your area. Renegade started out in Chicago, featuring artists in the new modern craft movement, and has since branched out to Brooklyn and San Francisco. These are not lacy, frilly, country kitchen type of crafts. The ideas are modern, innvoative, and fun. All the artists have websites, etsy stores, and blogs and many have managed to make the jump to full-time careers creating their handmade goods.

It was very cool to see artists I’ve stumbled upon on the web and get to chat with them. I was also impressed with how many artists are creating goods from recycled materials or finding new uses for old items. I could have walked away with many MANY items but I settled on two. My first acquisition were earrings from artist, Anna, who creates new modern pieces from vintage items. Then I found collage artist Lorena Siminovich of Petite Collage, whom I’ve admired on the web through sources like Design Sponge and Amy Ruppel. She uses vintage papers to create her graphic pieces. I bought a collage of an owl and bird that’s so sweet. I really wanted to purchase a piece from Figs & Ginger, who make jewelry from recycled metals, but darn it, she was sold out of most of her stuff by the time I was there on Sunday.

Renegade takes place once a year in Brooklyn, San Francisco, and the originator Chicago. Last chance to catch the fair this year will be September 13th and 14th in Chicago.