4th Annual Renegade Craft Fair LA - Recap and Haul

The Renegade Craft Fair returned to the Los Angeles State Historic Park last weekend (7/28-7/29) and I took a break from my market stall at CRAFTED to head to Chinatown to check out this years festival. As always it is free to attend with no parking or other fees proving to make this an event to put on your list of cool free things to do on the weekend.

I jokingly tell everyone that SHOP. is in our name for a reason! I LOVE, love, love supporting handmade artists and crafters. Lots of times I buy things for gifts but sometimes I can't help to buy stuff to indulge in myself.  I scooped up my fair share of great stuff this year, here are my highlights:

Major Haul! Everything from a new dress pattern to sew myself something awesome to rubber stamps that are hand-carved for me to stamp TERRIBLE! (humorously) on things. Items from Christine Haynes, Lets Be Friends, Yes & Yes Designs, Clean Getaway Soap Co., We Love Citrus, i wish i had a penguin friend, Enchanted Leaves, Cheltenham Road, and Paper Pastries.

Looks like I wasn't the only one to break away from CRAFTED...

SalvageShop

Kelso Doesn't Dance

I first met Jennifer of Merrily Yours last Summer at the 3rd Annual Renegade show.  I couldn't resist her Narwhal Herd and purchased it from her on the spot! Every night and every morning I get to look on it and smile when I look across my bedroom from my bed.  I got blessed with the pleasure of showing next to her at this past Patchwork Culver City show and I am just obsessed with her work. SERIOUSLY, I am obsessed! Check her work out!!! Merrily Yours here.

If you sew and haven't come across anything by Christine Haynes then you are missing out on something awesome! I met Christine at the Craftcation Conference in Ventura this past spring and we made jam together ;) Gush! Anyway, back to why she is a seamstresses dream is she is one of a handful of independent pattern makers. Along with her patterns and online classes for Craftsy she has a fabulous book with patterns for 20 projects that make sewing tangible and easy for even the beginning sewer.  

Christine Haynes

Also one of my new pals from the Craftcation Conference who traveled all the way from Tucson, AZ for both the conference and Renegade is Lindsey from Clean Getaway Soap Co. I really like their product line.  There is humor, the names are awesome, and the scents are delicious!

Clean Getaway Soap Co.

Enchanted Leaves

Here are some of my new favorite Artists who showed this year:

Yes & Yes Designs

Lets Be Friends

I will be going through my pictures so if I snapped some pictures with you and you don't see them here, I will hopefully be rounding them up soon.  Some of my pictures came out weird because it was so bright and then dark inside the tents in the shade - My amateur photography skills are still a work-in-progress ;)  I had a wonderful time at the Renegade Craft Fair and can't wait until the Holidays when the show returns to Los Angeles

XOXO, KC

Grand Opening of Our Shop at CRAFTED Tomorrow!

We are so excited... this is happening tomorrow! Please join us for the grand opening... but if you can't make it, we will be at CRAFTED at the Port of LA every weekend!

CRAFTED - Move in Begins

 

CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles will be Make Shop Live's first permanent store.  We are so excited for the grand opening on June 29th!  It's open every Friday-Sunday and will feature local handmade artists and tons of food and crafty demos!  

Crafted before renovations in Feb. 2012

kc hard at work on an upcoming project for the store

checking out the space

Let us know if you are excited and planning on coming July 4th weekend (June 29th, 30th and July 1st) for CRAFTED grand opening! You can RSVP on Facebook and find more details on the Grand Opening here.


XOXO KC & Kevin

Patchwork Culver City Spring 2012 Wrap-Up

We had such a wonderful time last Sunday at Patchwork's Culver City Spring 2012 show. Thanks so much to everyone who came out to the show and stopped by to say "hello"!

We were able to break away and snap some pictures of the fun.  Here are some of our friends that will be at CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles with us in our soon to open, permanent home :) 

Cake Bar 

Cake Bar is always so yummy I can't keep myself away! Grace is a real treat and I am not sure which one is sweeter, her or her boozy desserts.  I think I have almost tried the whole menu. Hopefully I will have them all tested by summers end :)

Fruition

My favorite take home is this FAB pearl ring from Fruition. It makes me smile every time I look down at it!

Kelso Doesn't Dance

Kelsey is so ridiculously talented that I could go on FOREVER on why she inspires me.  My main favorite in her unique display that is a must see - the card catalog table cover shown above. All of her handmade displays are as fabulous as her actual products. Can you say Ah-Mazing?!?

Pooka Queen

Amazing, Avant-garde hats. Each one is sewn by hand and has its own unique form. These fun accessories definitely are a statement piece!

Merrily Yours

Lucky us, our booth was right next to Merrily Yours since A) I am obsessed with Jen and her artwork & B) Merrily Yours will not be at CRAFTED where I can get my fill of her awesome-ness weekly. I purchased a Narwhal Herd Textile Art last summer at the Renegade Craft Fair and it has fueled my obsession for her artwork. Miss Gypsy scored one of Jen's amazing felt cat bows. I couldn't resist grabbing one up for my fluffy lady :) 

Jenny Smith Plush Artist of Teddy Bear Republic:

We met at CAFAM's Etsy Craft Nights a few months back and I was totally blown away when I saw all of her wonderful plush friends in person. The level of detail on each piece is awe inspiring. She has a real gift!

Bird and Feather

Modern and fun twist on all types of terrariums. I especially liked the illustrations to show the pricing for each different product. Super cute!!!

Sweet Perversion

With a motto "Goods made with bourbon and love" how can you not fall in love with their quaintly crass greetings, sweet stationery and printed goodness.

MandaLanda

I really, really, REALLY love these displays they made to shelve their products. Definitely something for us to keep in mind as display inspiration.

And last, but not least-
Hallo Jak!

This is the second show we had the pleasure of being next to the talented sisters of Hallo Jak and they never cease to amaze us. Their products are upcycled and eclectic just like we like it ;)

Overall it was a super great time! We can't wait until the next Patchwork Show!!!
XOXO, KC

Patchwork Find: J. Holden Designs

One of the nice finds at Patchwork Sunday was these handmade wooden beer holders at J. Holden Designs.

And the creator himself below...

Kevin has always needed an excuse to make and drink beer, so be on the lookout in the coming weeks for his tutorials and blog journals of his first batch!  Now, is it necessary to grow a sweet mustache as well?

Let us know what you think!  Thanks to J. Holden Designs for the great Handmade product!

XOXO, KC

Coming Up this Week Nov. 28th- Dec. 4th

Happy Cyber Monday! Did you use our Cyber Monday Deal today in Our Etsy Shop? 

There is just a few hours left to get 30% off your entire purchase-

Use code CYBERMONDAY2011 at check out.

Tomorrow is a full day of travel back to the West Coast and I am anxious to get back to all the work we have this super busy week. Hope you had a wonderful weekend and packed your online cart full of Cyber Monday deals.

Thursday is the west elm + Etsy workshop & mini-market which members of SCAD+ Etsy = LOVE Team as well as the Team EcoEtsy members in the LA area will be demonstrating a demo on how to make a paper ornament. (free for all to attend and make a take away project) More details here.

Friday, we have set-up for UNIQUE LA at the California Market Center Downtown.

All day Saturday and Sunday we will be vending in booth #146  at UNIQUE LA's Holiday Show!!! The first 10 people to drop "Make Shop Live" at the door gets *FREE Admission to both days of the show.  Also, let us know that you are a fan of the blog for a free gift :)

Best of luck wrapping up November to y'all and Hopefully we'll be seeing you in December.

XOXO, KC & Kevin

Weekend Wrap-Up: Patchwork Culver City

We were able to take our time setting up Saturday  AND our booth was in a location where we could paint the wall- double bonus. :) 

Patchwork Culver City was rad yesterday! When we applied we certainly thought it would be cool, but I had no idea they were going to crank it to 11 the first time at the Helms Bakery.  Not only was this the 1st time the show came to Culver City, but it was also the first time indoors. Usually Patchwork is held outdoors under tents and thankfully with the possibility of bad weather Delilah & Nicole the co-creators/producers of the Patchwork Show were able to secure us indoors!

Here are some pictures of our booth set-up:

Even thought the space was a bit tighter than a 10'x 10' the set up was quite easy to walk around this time. I actually kinda like the indoor without walls vibe--nice and airy. We were located in the building closest to Venice Blvd. and there was three, count'em 3 buildings worth of shopping and indie vendors and fabulous finds!!!

These little hand made pillow boxes were last weeks tutorial. Wanna make them? Go here.

Note on the Fashion/ What I Wore: Kristin is wearing one of her own creations & my outfit is a vintage find.

I like to check out the other vendors and One of my all time favorites is Enchanted Leaves. I love husband and wife teams and Nedda and Aaron are an inspiring duo. They are  one of my favorite places to get presents from at the shows! I really like their concept and all of their products really make me feel like I am transported to my fantasy spot in nature where all my favorite animals and creatures come and then are displayed using fun accessories. I wanted to share a picture of their booth/ website info because their range of products could fit just about anyone on your holiday list and keep your budget intact too. 

A must to check out: The line of wooden butterflies and moths pretty, graphic and inspired by vintage entomology illustrations- they are in the bottom right bellow:

Our friends Annette and Zach stopped by which was perfect. Annette could fill in at the booth with me so that Kevin and Zach could sneak off to Father's Office for a minute. Man I wish I could have gone and gotten a Maudite at the bar since its hard to find it is totally my favorite beer. Thank goodness we live close, I'll get one another time...  

 annette

 kevin

 me (kc)

We had such a fun time at the show! Best day ever filled with decorating our booth, meeting wonderful customers, seeing  friends, great shopping, topped off with some silly portraits--Yay!

Thanks again for everyone who came out and said hi! 

Best Wishes,

KC & Kevin