Renegades and Etsy

Weekend before last Kitty and I zipped downtown to the Palmer Events Center here in ATX to check out the Renegade Craft Fair.  Like Etsy coming to a convention center.

As an Etsy seller I felt it was my duty to visit with my fellow craft-a-holics.  Which I did.  I even met a few that I stalk admire.

The absolute first artist I met was Molly McGrath from molly m designs.  I am soooooo in love with these laser cut designs, especially the one I’ve circled. I could’ve stopped here and not gone on.

 

If you stalk Etsy like I do, you will see lots of laser cut things, but Molly’s stand head-and-shoulders above the crowd.  Visit her site and you will see what I’m talking about.

 Little Red Thimble stole my heart with these adorable owls nesting in muffin tins.

 

 And these adorable bow ties.  You know I have a bit of an obsession with bow ties.  All vintagey and cute.

The “stole my heart” award goes to Joelle Medici from Mr. Sogs.  I wanted to get the Oddvark and Platypus for my grand-loves, but Kitty (who has to clean up after them) discouraged me adding to the boy’s never ending stream of grandmother love.


Kitty gets the “crazy stalker award” for practically buying the necklace off the neck of Oh Hello Friend, Danni.  I admit, I’m a bit of a Danni stalker, too.  Her taste and style are unique.  And I love her blog.  Ok, so I’m the real stalker.
 


I still regret not buying that letter stamping set. There were so many goodies, I got overwhelmed.
  

I got a chance to visit with Danielle from Merriweather Council.  I have long loved her Etsy shop and it was great to meet her and tell her I am a huge fan.  She does ALL of the design and stitching – can you imagine.

Speaking of adorable stitched goodery, Hello Lets Be Friends marched their adorable Hipster Bear Parade into Austin.  I have a thing for moustached bears.

I met the lovely Helen from Cloth and Ink, another Etsy seller.  She designs and hand screen prints all of her designs onto lampshades and pillows. And she only works with organic fabrics.  LOVE it!

 All in all, an afternoon well spent among like-minded crafters.  While there were a few Austin sellers, most were from places like Portland, Boston, and San Francisco.

Hat’s off to them.  Think about it, first they crafted these items by hand, schlepped them halfway across the country and then set up shop in a convention center for two days.

You have to really love your craft to do all of that.

And it showed.