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??

City of Love

My favorite block in Philadelphia right now is the 1900 block of Waverly, on the east end. A narrow street, tree-lined, the houses lining it have eight or so steps up to the front door, pressed flat against the building in an inverted "v" so that each house looks like it has a moustache. Flowers and polished wooden doors complement the homes, and children playing ball in the street often complete the charming picture. There's a house for sale on this street, but as I can barely afford my rent each month, I won't be buying there anytime soon. Still, on my walks home from the train, I try to guide my steps down this lovely little block, and I sigh as the traffic sounds fade for a moment.

What I love about Philly is that the city is full of charming blocks, quirky buildings, community gardens, and neighborly people. There's the family who let my son into their home one evening as we were walking past, because he needed to use the bathroom and their daughter overheard him say so; the elderly woman in my friend's building who gives advice and tells anyone who'll listen about her days growing up in racist North Carolina in the 30s and 40s; the man who runs my laundromat and knows everyone within a four-block radius by name; the locksmith who, though he still charged me to open up my door, offered me a receptionist job when I cried that I had no money. (Too bad I'd have needed a car to get there!) Then there's the drunk guy who hangs out on his stoop with his cat and tries to look up women's skirts, the fevered youth preaching hellfire and damnation with a bullhorn in Rittenhouse Square, the inescapable campaigners with their clipboards, and the bus drivers who keep going when you run three blocks to try to catch them. The city is full of beautiful blocks and bombed-out shells, of meticulous parks and rambunctious cottage gardens, of drag queens and society queens. I can't guarantee you won't get mugged here or berated by the homeless or cheated out of a cab by a drunk debutante. But I can guarantee that Philadelphia can blossom for you too, if you smile at it and say hello. And I promise I'll keep sharing with you the little gems I find in my daily meanderings.

Arthur Kade for a Good Cause

I've decided to piggyback on Arthur Kade's fame and push my own agenda. I sent him the following email today (Monday). I am awaiting his response...

Dear Arthur,

A few weeks ago you followed me on Twitter and that is how I learned about you. I have followed your story with great interest and am interested in following your quest for fame and celebrity. I have dreamed of being famous and am curious to see how your work pans out.

In your quest to outshine the greatest of celebrities, I realized there is something missing in your PR and self-promotion. And that is having a cause. A reason to get up in the morning other than for your self aggrandizement. I work for an AIDS organization and many of the most famous have raised money for this cause including Elizabeth Taylor, Elton John, and countless others. So I challenge you to do some philanthropic work just as the world's greatest celebrities have. As you may recall after Princess Diana died, many recalled her humanitarian efforts dealing with ridding countries of mines that were maiming children.

So if you want a legacy, I suggest you get involved in some sort of cause. In these times of economic recession, political instability, and world misery, I'm sure you could find something to sink your teeth into.

While I want to be ironic with this email, I actually am quite serious. As you rise to the top, maybe you can bring some people with you.

I'd be happy to discuss this further with you. Feel free to email me or call me on the phone.

I'm just another Philadelphian.

Sincerely (really),


Caroline Leopold
Twitter: @caroline815

Day 7 - Blogger Challenge