by Noella Noelophile®
Autumn is here! And one of my favorite signs of autumn? The craft fairs!
Some great ones are coming up. With Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas headed our way, now seems like an opportune time to give you the dates to mark your calendar.
Let’s start off with…
Sunday, October 14 – San Pedro Art Association Craft Fair. 10 am to 5 pm at 10th and Pacific, between the Watercolor Society and the B of A, San Pedro. Admission is free.
So far, says SPAA Board Secretary Bill Boisselle-Schalaba, about a dozen artists and artisans have signed up.
While that sounds like a small number, we had the opportunity to attend their first Spring Craft Fair, and were impressed with the high level of professionalism. Bill says this pop-up will be “better” than last time, but the artists we met before were fantastic!
So, for their Autumn Craft Fair, what might you see ?
We know for a fact that you’ll get to admire some extremely cool jewelry, courtesy of talented artist/artisan Carlos Boisselle (not sure if he’ll bring his his dreamlike watercolors, but we can certainly hope!).
Sterling silver and copper are among the metals in which Carlos crafts his jewelry.
Meanwhile, woodworker Liz Stark is similarly going to wow you with her handcrafted boxes.
What can’t this gifted woman create, in wood? She makes furniture, jewelry boxes and takes custom orders. Her art involves lots of warm colors and contrasts, so that her media of paint and colored pencils just seem to glow, enhanced by her carving.
(But be sure to check in with her early, if you have someone in mind for whom you’d like to order a special Christmas gift. Liz says she needs about a month’s lead time, depending on how complicated a design you have in mind.)
Now, about San Pedro Art Association…
Since 1936, SPAA has been supporting artists and art education. Every summer, they host their “Harbor Wide All Grades Student Art Competition” at CRAFTED. Every entering student wins a prize, and gets to exhibit his or her work, all summer!
In addition, SPAA offers classes. Jewelry design and photography classes are currently listed as available on their website! Here’s the link for more information.
Meanwhile, let’s continue with…
Saturday, November 3 – Patchwork Show Oakland Makers Festival, Jack London Square, Broadway and Water Street, Oakland, 11 am – 5 pm. Admission is free.
DIY crafts areas, vendors, food trucks, music–a creative celebration doesn’t get much better! If this is anything like the Santa Ana and Long Beach Patchwork Shows I’ve attended in the past, good luck leaving without a bag. Or two. Or ten, filled with your new treasures. Unique earrings. handcrafted cards. terraria and ceramics have all tempted me there in the past. And be warned: the line for Front Porch Pops (artisan popsicles!) tends to get long–deservedly so.
Of course, Patchwork Show, the brainchild of Nicole Stevenson and Delilah Snell, is just kicking off its autumn appearances.
They’ll be in Southern California, as well, for their Long Beach show on Sunday, November 18th, from 11 am to 5 pm. That location’s Long Beach Marine Stadium, 5255 East Paoli Way.
Then, look for them to return to their first city, Santa Ana, Sunday, November 25th from 11 am to 5 pm, at 125 North Broadway! And, of course, admission is free to all Patchwork Shows.
Meanwhile: how come a lot of our favorite shows keep happening at the same times?
You guessed it–Torrance Craftsmen’s Guild hosts their “49th Annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Faire” on Saturday and Sunday, November 17th and 18th. Look for them to fill the rooms and plaza of the Torrance Cultural Arts Center, at Madrona and Torrance Boulevard, with dichroic-glass jewelry, Christmas ornaments, wind chimes, one-of-a-kind photography, handcrafted dolls, ceramics, candles and a lot more.
Like SPAA, Torrance Craftsmen’s Guild is all about serving and encouraging artists. Every year, TCG awards scholarships to high school seniors with an interest in the areas of arts and crafts. The Holiday Faire and their Spring Faire raise scholarship funds.
Torrance Craftsmen’s Guild’s “49th Annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Faire” runs from 9 am to 4 pm, both Saturday and Sunday, and admission is free.