I had a fantastic weekend! Renegade Craft Fair and Unique LA took place downtown this past weekend and it was an inspiring 2 day adventure. In this post I will compare the two holiday fairs and include pictures of the booths I liked the most and of course, what I bought!
Unique LA (Sat Dec 12th 2010)
Summary: Bi-Annual Fair for independent artists, designers and crafters of LA
Location:California Market Place Penthouse (in the middle of downtown near Fashion District among Historic Deco buildings)
My Conclusion: More hipster fashion-centric, some beautifully created booths and really yummy food!
Interesting Booths : 50’s inspired artwork by Brittney Lee, felt and fabric jewelry by Homako, gorgeous thread jewelry by Alexandra Dewey and designer mints in collector art boxes by Hint Mint.
Favorites parts of the day: Seeing some interesting and creative booth setups, talking to artisans and trying Flying Pigs-smoked tender pulled pork in curry sauce topped with pickle cradled in a fluffy cloud-like steam pao bun.
Renegade Craft Fair (Sun Dec 12th 2010)
Summary: The foremost handmade craft fair in the country with local and visiting vendors, also Bi-Annual.
Location: Park Downtown next to Chinatown
My Conclusion: Some AMAZINGLY creative folks from all over, very inspiring for the special blend of craftiness, great design and refined handicraft. My favorite of the two events.
Interesting Booths: Vintage postal stamps on envelope kits by The Postage Service, awesome vintage repurposed book-journals by Ex Libris Anonymous, witty toddler-inspired artwork by Pickle Juice Prints, jewelry from wood and bark and clock hands by I am Dorkas.
Favorite parts of the day: Being outside at a downtown park in beautiful 75 degree weather, seeing a sewing machine powered by a bicycle, browsing through buckets of vintage bookjournals and finding some new favorite artists!
Now for my purchases-middle row far right and bottom row: my 5 vintage bookjournals with beautiful vintage illustrations with my favorite being The Cat Club, a journal made from an old book with illustrations featuring a cute little cat club; a curved box of pomegranate hintmints, several Catia Chien’s dreamy postcards (she is my new favorite artist, INCREDIBLE work!), a magic wallet made from vintage book covers (I know, there is a book theme going on!) and a screenprinted business card book by bookbinder artist Erin Zamrzla.