by Noella Noelophile®
How would you like to spend Christmas Eve in an overcrowded mall? Where you frantically grab six kinds of the same “whatever” for friends and family members?
Me neither.
So, here’s a “roundup” of some favorite upcoming crafts and artisan fairs–and some new ones!–that you might like to put on your calendar. I can recommend at least three of these from experience, for unique, locally-made gifts with a story–and a gifted artist–behind them.
And the best part is, the first one happens in the Bay Area this weekend.
The Patchwork Show comes to Oakland tomorrow, this Sunday, October 25th. It’s happening 11 am to 5 pm in Jack London Square, and admission’s free.
Then, in November, they’ll have two Southern California shows: in Long Beach, at Marine Stadium, Sunday, November 15th, 11 am to 5 pm. Or, if you’re free Thanksgiving weekend, you can also check out the Santa Ana edition: Sunday, November 29th, 11 am to 5 pm at 2nd and Sycamore.
This one’s a total favorite, created by Dear Handmade Life artists Nicole Stevenson and Delilah Snell in 2008. Cool jewelry, soaps, clothes, a hands-on crafting booth and those hard-to-resist artisan popsicles are just a few of the fun things you’ll find!
(Graphic courtesy of Sara Vausbinder/Jackalope Art Fair, and used with permission.)
New this year is the Jackalope Art Fair, now gearing up for their second appearance in Southern California. They’ll be hosting their Fall Show on Saturday and Sunday, November 7th and 8th, in Pasadena’s Central Park. Hours are 10 am to 5 pm, both days, and admission’s free.
This is a juried fair with more than 200 vendors, and their website reveals a wide selection of very imaginative creations. They’ll also be offering some onsite workshops! I’m hoping to see this particular show firsthand in November.
I’ve just had the pleasure of interviewing Jackalope Arts co-founder Sara Vausbinder. She and fellow creatives Melissa Shipley and Laura Fischer have implemented their special event in all three of their home cities, to give their communities a chance to meet the artisans. So, another Winter Jackalope Fair is happening in Denver, the following weekend: Saturday and Sunday, November 14th and 15th, at EXDO Event Center. Then, there will be a December “Jackalope” in Phoenix, Saturday and Sunday, December 12th and 13th at Steele Indian School Park.
(Graphic courtesy of Jamie Chan/Urban Epic Fest, and used with permission.)
In San Francisco, meanwhile, something new has been added! San Francisco Bazaar creator Jamie Chan is evolving her event into “Urban Epic Fest”, as a first-of-its-kind Bay Area convergence of artisan foods and drink with the work of talented makers. Billed as “A Festival of Food, Drink and Design”, the Urban Epicurean Festival happens Saturday and Sunday, November 7th and 8th, at Fort Mason Center’s Festival Paviilion. Hours are 11:30 am to 6:30 pm, both days, and admission’s free.
So, what might you experience at Urban Epic Fest? They’re having workshops including craft brewing, air terrarium creation and easy cheese making–in under ten minutes! (There is an admission charge for workshops, and advance registration is recommended). Meanwhile, I count more than 170 exhibitors in the “craft and design” category alone–without even telling you about the artisan coffee, chocolates, tea and other items that will delight “foodies” in their vendors’ gallery!
(Graphic courtesy of Mosaic Craft Fair, and used with permission.)
Just heard of another relatively new craft show, as well, happening in Southern California. The Mosaic Craft Fair.
“There are so many talented and creative vendors!” emailed founders Claudia and Leslie. “We are up to 75+ vendors now.”
Also, according to their flyer, they’ll have kids’ activities, artisan foods and music at their second annual holiday show in Alhambra, on Sunday, November 15th. Hours are 10 am to 4 pm at “The Alhambra”, at 1000 South Fremont Avenue.
I haven’t yet experienced this one. However, considering the beautiful photographic art prints, jewelry and handcrafted leather items on their Facebook page, I may just have to do some investigative reporting!
And of course, no roundup of crafts events would be complete without the Renegade Craft Fair. They’re the “indie” craft fair groundbreaker, started in 2003 to showcase independent artisans. They’re currently in eight cities, including London, Austin and Chicago.
They, too, will be coming to San Francisco’s Fort Mason Festival Pavilion, the weekend of November 21st and 22nd, for their “Holiday Renegade Craft Fair”. Hours are 11 am to 6 pm, both days, and admission is free.
They promise more details forthcoming, but their webpage mentions that they’ll have DIY workshops, in addition to their artisans’ exhibits. I can certainly tell you, from experience, that these do not disappoint! I’ve loved the inlaid wood cutting boards, antique-key jewelry and scented soaps from among the treasures their independent “artrepreneurs” create.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles can also look forward to a Holiday Renegade Craft Fair. The Southern California edition is set for the weekend of December 12-13, in Grand Park, downtown L.A. Hours for the L.A. show are 10 am to 5 pm, and this is a rain-or-shine event, with admission free.
And–last but never least? A don’t-miss Christmastime event for me is Handmade in South Bay’s Third Annual Holiday Boutique! Doesn’t seem possible that this all-handmade group of passionate entrepreneurs will have been doing this for three years already. But this third special Christmastime event happens Saturday, December 5th, at CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles, 112 East 22nd Street in San Pedro. Their hours are 11 am to 6 pm, and admission’s free.
HMSB’s Holiday Boutique has really grown since the first one, with an Authors’ Alley that may just tempt you to curl up, one afternoon, and give yourself a pre-Christmas treat of a great read accompanied by some hot chocolate and cookies. Their all-handmade vendors, last year, offered everything from handsewn quilts to steampunk jewelry (which resulted in a note with the words, “You know what we like!”, from some favorite Christmas gift recipients!).
Best of all, though, they’re a “give-back” kind of group. So in addition to supporting the local artists and entrepreneurs in their journey, they’ll be hosting a Young Entrepreneurs’ section, as well as supporting DTSL Arts students. And while there’s no official word yet this year, last year, the local Cub Scouts were on hand to gift-wrap purchases, in return for donations to their organization.
So–these are just a few of the excellent independent-crafts events at which you may find some amazing gifts to give those you love, for Christmas 2015. Enjoy, and I may very well see you there. Writing this has made me feel “Christmasy” already!