Hello Creative Friends!

I was a busy girl this weekend and I left Orange County and headed up to Los Angeles two days in a row!  On Saturday night my husband and I had date night at Tom Colicchio’s restaurant, Craft, for LA Restaurant Week. We had mixed reviews about our experience which I’ll detail in a Yelp review at some point.

On Sunday I went with some friends on a fun shopping adventure to the Renegade Craft Fair which featured over 250 indie crafters, make-n-takes and workshops, food trucks, popsicle stands, a dj, a beer garden, and amazing people watching. The Hot Trends right now are succulents, laser cut jewelry and stationery, repurposed and recycled items, more succulents, screen printed wearables and posters, all things knit and crochet, including crocheted cactus and succulents, ceramics and pottery, letterpress, and of course, more succulents!

Terrarium Shop by Urban Anonymous

If you spend time on Pinterest then you know that Terrarium’s are HOT right now! There were several booths with Terrariums but this one with the different colored sands was my favorite.

I adore the pastel colors and organic shapes of this pottery from Me Like Clay.

Whimsical animal masks from Biddy Bopp Shop

Upcycled bottles made into lamps from Moonshine Lamp Co

This unique piece of art from Moonshine Lamp Co stopped me in my tracks!

I bought some delicious smelling soap from Padua Farms Bath & Body. It smells heavenly! Becky Morgan told me about her shop in Claremont, CA called Heirloom that is filled with her sweet smelling body products and wonderful handmade treasures. I think another field trip is in my future!

I have a little obsession with bunnies and deer and Lizbeth Navarro makes the most adorable ceramic deer and she has Jackalopes!!!

I was on cuteness overload yesterday. LOVE these adorable greeting cards from Le Trango.

There was lots of jewelry to be seen at Renegade but these delicate lace pieces from Topiary really caught my eye. So fun and so unique!

Cupcakes are still hot!  These adorable, yummy looking candles are from Koko Candles.

I’ve tried needle felting and loved it so it took all of my willpower not to buy up some of this beautiful hand painted wool roving from Blarney Yarn.

I bought some Chai Tea from these handsome gents of T-We Tea.

There were several booths with gorgeous cards and prints from letterpress printers. Being amongst all of the beautiful stationery inspired me and makes me want to return to my print studio and start printing something, anything! These cards from iLee Papergoods were particularly colorful and whimsical with sailing ships surrounded by swans, gnomes dancing around mushrooms and owls and foxes and mermaids, oh my!

And more succulents!  I loved these birdhouses and home decor frames crafted by Christopher Curtis from reclaimed wood.

For lunch there was a plethora of food trucks serving up burgers, organic vegan food, gelato, indian food and more!

What a great day of shopping and being inspired by all of these talented makers!  If you live up in the Bay Area, the next Renegade Craft Fair will be held July 27 & 28.

Thanks for joining me, Friends!

xo,

Christine Barker