The 2011 Chicago Renegade Craft Fair: Too Much Good Stuff

This year's Renegade Craft Fair in Wicker Park was the highlight of my weekend.  First of all, I'm very happy to report that this year it didn't rain!  It seems like for the past few years I've attended that it has always rained at some point during the time I was there.

This year there were so many amazing artists and artisans selling their goods that I will have to make this a pretty long blog post.  I was glad to see many of my old favorites there, including Jessica Swift, Orangy Porangy , and Dolan Geiman.  All of them have continued making wonderful things and it was great to see them all there.  But now I'd like to introduce you to some new artists.

I'd like to start with Steadfast Bags since I happen to know Emma, one of the artists who designs these sturdy messenger bags. 

This was her first year participating in the show and I wish her all the best.

Another Renegade artist I know is Ryan Kapp, the first Harrington professor who taught me how to render.  I really like his illustrations.

And now for some other artisans of note:

Twig Terrariums

Viva Zapata Bags

Nourishing Notes by Letterform, Inc.

My Zoetrope

I Am Home

Michelle Caplan

Material and Movement

Lauren Beacham

Nice

LuciusArt

Staci Sterenberg Mosaics

Katie Blair Designs

Red Velvet

Nicole's Threads

Amanda Jozaitis

Octavia Bloom

Avec Mes Mains

Reuse First

 Bison Bookbinding & Letterpress

Folded Pigs

 

The Little Friends of Printmaking

Migration Goods

Shapes & Colors

Mokuyobi Threads

Little Things Studio

Kit Paulson

So as you can see, this year's show was incredible.  I'm really looking forward to next year's show.