Top Five Prints at the Art Star Craft Bazaar

This last Saturday and Sunday, Philadelphia hosted the annual Art Star Craft Bazaar. People who sew, people who paint, people who make art out of old teeth, all descended upon Penn’s Landing for an explosive display of artistry. This was nothing like the craft fairs my Mom took me to as a kid - no macrame in sight! Just booth upon booth upon booth of pretty little things. There were so many precious finds; I decided to break them up over the next few days.

Today I am featuring my favorite prints from the day.


No. 5 - "Octopi" by Octopie Paperie

Octopie Paperie displayed this grey and soft yellow octopus with bright pink accents. Sadly, I didn't make a purchase. Because now I can't find them anywhere on the internet. Not even ETSY. Anyone out there that can help?


No. 4 - "Underwater Circus" Silkscreen by Jamie Zollars



Jamie Zollars' images nearly always feature a young female heroine facing an emotional dilemma. Indeed, most of her work could be perceived as dark. But this colorful and light piece mirrors our fair mermaids vanity. It's just pretty, colorful and makes me smile.


No. 3 - "Pork is a nice sweet meat" by Spread The Love

Okay, I can't resist bacon. This sweet image and pastel color palette will blend in well in my increasingly feminine bedroom. The delectable square card is a perfect fit for my Ribba IKEA frame. And there is not much that fits in that frame. I personally feel that every gallery should feature a "Ribba Friendly" postcard section.


No. 2 - Octopus by Popidiot

Hands down, best wearable art at the fair! These creative creatures, robots, skeletons, hula girls and monkeys adorn a variety of fitted tees in mens, womens and childrens sizes. The vintage design aesthetic gives them a warm cozy nostalgic buzz, while bringing a totally fresh dollop of hip and now. I snatched up two for my little disabled honey and I'm guessing he'll want more once he wears them out in Rittenhouse and gets a few jealous glances from the boys without cool GF's that buy wearable art. Boys and their robots.


No. 1 - "WAVEJUMPER" by Tugboat Printshop

Coolest prints ever! I wish I could buy the entire "Deep Blue Sea" series. Tugboat Printshop hand carves their design into wood blocks and uses them to create their crisp and vibrant prints. This one is by Paul Roden and Valerie Lueth.

This last photo features shows the carved wood block, and the print.

Tugboat Printshop gets my vote for the most beautiful prints of the day. And who got yours??

When I have money, art-crafters will rejoice!

I have a feeling all of us at OFP were down at Penn's Landing this weekend for the Art Star Craft Bazaar, at one point or another. I'm sure each of us had favorites--here were mine!

First prize goes to Rachel Sherman of Malagueta. Her card says "wearable art, surface design, upholstery" and she ain't kidding. The skirts and tops she designed each featured amazing modern graphic designs in stitching and layers of applique, both subtle and stunning at once, and exquisitely (and ingeniously!) fitted. The pillows displayed similar abstract topstitching and intricately pieced fabrics. There were even sweet little fabric handbags! I fell in love with a skirt that I would have bought a week ago, before Quicken informed me what my monthly expenditures have been of late ... as it was, I came ever-so-close to blowing my budget and buying at the very least a pillow. Instead, I took pictures. Sherman doesn't have an online shop yet, but maybe drop her a line at rachelsherman@hotmail.com and let her know she should!

Second place goes to the duo of Alexandra Snook of adorn natural and Edward Way of wook woodworking with their beautiful wood jewelry and furniture. Way's bamboo honeycomb shelving was the talk of the bazaar, and I absolutely adored his tiered cherry cabinet with sliding doors. And I have every intention of visiting Snook's website to buy her three-circle necklace, a cleanly modern design in ebony and sapwood. (Image courtesy of their shop at etsy.)

And third place, with special mention for what-a-great-idea!, goes to Nicole Kulp of Recycle My Dress. Got a bridesmaid's or special occasion dress that you shelled out a bunch of cash for but can't imagine ever wearing again? A dress that while lovely, simply SCREAMS "someone else is making me wear this so that I match a tablecloth"? Send it to Nicole! She'll collaborate with you to come up with alterations that will make that dress both beautiful and wearable. I gotta check my mom's closet to see if she saved any of those old prom dresses from the 80s ... or, dare I say it, my wedding dress? Oh, fun!

I managed not to buy anything at the bazaar. I did, however, just buy that necklace online. After all, the recession can't last forever, but a beautiful piece of wearable art can last a lifetime!