by Noella Noelophile®
Mark your calendar! And it you’re out and about, get out your walking shoes. (And remember the mask, hand sanitizer and social distancing–we want to keep everyone safe and healthy!)
Patchwork Show Modern Makers Festival, one of my all-time favorite indie artisans’ shows, has a show happening every weekend this month.
AND–they have a December show planned, in one of their brand-new locations!
Patchwork Show Festivals are free-admission events, featuring a veritable cornucopia of jury-selected, handmade vendors. They feel like, and are, a celebration of local creativity, with DIY activities, food trucks and live music.
And they’re starting off their November schedule in their newest location: the Farmers Market Lot in Old Town Tustin!
Before I go into what to expect this weekend, here’s their at-a-glance schedule.
- Tustin, Saturday and Sunday, November 6th and 7th.
Hours: 10 am – 4 pm PST, at 245 El Camino Real, between 2nd and 3rd Streets.
- Long Beach, Saturday and Sunday, November 13th and 14th.
Hours: 10 am – 4 pm PST, at Marine Stadium, Bayshore Avenue and Appian Way.
- Santa Rosa, Saturday and Sunday, November 20th and 21st.
Hours: 10 am – 4 pm PST, at Old Courthouse Square between 3rd and 4th Streets.
- San Francisco, Saturday, November 27th (Small Business Saturday!)
Hours: 10 am – 4 pm PST, at Westfield San Francisco Center, 865 Market Street, top floor, under the historic dome!
AND–if you can’t make it on Thanksgiving weekend, Patchwork Show returns to the Westfield San Francisco Center on Saturday and Sunday, December 11th and 12th, 10 am – 4 pm PST!
A look at the Tustin show
Now–how about this weekend? What will you see in Tustin, if you go to the first show of the Christmas 2021 shopping season?
In addition to all the talented makers offering their wares, you’ll get to expand your DIY talents, in three workshops: pin press, fall succulents and rag dolls. And small creatives will have their imaginations captivated with Kids’ Storytime (Saturday only, according to Dear Handmade Life’s “events” page for the Tustin show) and Patchwork Junior!
Meanwhile: the shopping. Clothing, jewelry, art, ceramics, home goods, apothecary items and more, are among the treasures you’ll find. I personally love the scented soaps, unique earrings and woodworking I’ve seen in the past, but you’re certain to find your own favorites.
Should you get hungry from all the shopping, their map lists both a pizza truck and Italian ice–admittedly, if I could go, you’d probably see me in line for both!
Patchwork Show’s website advises that they are following both government and local regulations for masking, social distancing and all other protocols in place at the time of the shows. Think safety, and if you don’t feel well, please plan to stay home.
But if you’re in excellent health, taking precautions and out and about, Patchwork Show’s website also encourages you to stop by during both days of the festival. They’ll have different onsite, each day.
An overview
If I wrote about all the fun facts behind Patchwork Show, you’d BE here till Christmas.
I’ll just tell you that it all started with a small, 25-vendor Christmastime craft show in Santa Ana in 2007.
Since then, talented artist Nicole Stevenson, CEO and Creative Director of parent company Dear Handmade Life, has expanded her brand into curating events, education and community for creatives. Annually, Dear Handmade Life hosts “Craftcation”, a week-long crafts and business workshop. I know of no other event like this, and keep promising myself I’m going, once we can say “goodbye” to COVID, once and for all.
And this summer, Dear Handmade Life also premiered their Camp DHL Virtual Summit! I don’t have specific facts yet, but let’s hope it becomes an annual event. If you, like me, can’t quite stop isolating from the virus just yet, this would be a fantastic Christmas gift to give someone special–including yourself.
And–a quick look forward
Of note, for the upcoming Patchwork Shows:
- The Long Beach edition is the largest of the Patchwork Show festivals. It features more than 250 makers, junior artisans, musicians and other talented creatives.
- The Santa Rosa show will have more than 100+ vemdors, the DIY crafts stations will include a DIY ornament workshop on Saturday only. AND you can book ice skating!
- AND, the big news–if you plan on attending either of the shows in San Francisco, you can stay overnight at the Aciom Hotel, right across the street from where the show’s happening, if you’d like (this is optional) and they have pet-friendly rooms! Here’s the link for information about their special Patchwork Show rates.
Enjoy, and stay safe.