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Since leaving Renegade Craft Fair last weekend, I’ve been nursing achy muscles and complaining about all the heavy cases I hauled, all the standing I did. I’ve been groaning about not making enough money to justify the San Francisco flight and hotel. But today, as my energy returns, I’m feeling happier than ever to be a part of the DIY movement, and I’m proud that Re-Construct and Honeydoux were accepted to this competitive show.
I couldn’t have asked for better booth buddies than Garth and his artistic wife, Claire, who drove down from Eureka on Friday. We started our adventure with a visit to jewelry and sculpture gallery Velvet da Vinci, then had cocktails at the Bigfoot Lounge. The bar’s theme apparently inspired Claire, because the following day she wore a sasquatch-appliqué dress!
Clockwise: Thousands of craft fans visited the sun-filled fair; Garth and Claire show off their "unflattering portrait" by Rev. Aitor; the DVD cast strikes a PR pose
At the show we took turns ogling more than 200 booths hawking the highest-quality indie merch I’ve ever seen. The marketing techniques were no less creative—Kayte of Dorklandia, for instance, pushed around a belled cart that displayed her ice cream plushies. None of us could resist gobbling up souvenirs of artwork, jewelry, and clothing.
To my excitement, one shopper asked, “Is the theme of this show recycling?” While the answer is no, crafts featuring found objects and recycled materials were everywhere. Some of my favorites were Isla Corbett’s wool sweater collages, and Emiko-o and Shana Astrachan’s jewels made from toys.
Emiko-o and Shana Astrachan demonstrated jewelry from trinkets; Isla Corbett recycles sweaters into art
We visited with several movers and shakers of craft, such as Jacob Storm Deatherage of Ex Libris Anonymous recycled journals, and Kpoene Kofi-Bruce, buyer at the San Francisco Museum of Craft and Folk Art store. It occurred to me that I used to find “networking” horrifying—before I realized it means chatting with fascinating people about exciting interests we share!
While I may have returned to Atlanta with a few bruises and fewer dollars than I’d like, Renegade ultimately showed me how lucky I am to be living a crafty life.
