My Renegade Trip

I realized I never wrote about my day at the Renegade Art Festival. I had such a wonderful time. I got a shot of the booths but was mostly too shy to ask people if I could take personalized booth photos. I need to get over my shyness I suppose.

Instead I took photos of shadows...

I was not too shy to ask my friend Maranda for a photo and I'm glad I did. She has such beautiful work and just opened a shop on Etsy called Cloud Story Books. Maranda and I went to undergrad together so I was very excited to see her in my current neck of the woods. She's doing amazing things so keep an eye out. Her sketchbooks would make wonderful presents.
Here are a few photos of what is in her shop...


I was on a very tight budget, sadly, so I could not go wild with spending like I would have loved to. I did buy a necklace just like this one from Caitlin's Nice shop. Her store title could not be truer. She was the sweetest, just like last year when I bought a little deer plaque from her. She has lots of beautiful goodies in her shop.
I also fell in love with Arcane Arts. My friend and I were shopping for a birthday gift for my friend and we picked up this gift (we haven't given it our friend yet but I'm sort of pretty sure she only reads my blog every once in a while so hopefully she won't see this...Look away Camerson, Spoiler alert). Check out this store for all kinds of beautiful artwork.
I was very surprised at myself for spending so little on this trip. I'm really starting to gain some willpower because I definitely could have blown my bank account. Renegade is so much fun. If you live near one and haven't gone yet be sure to go to the next one! Start saving now!

Renegade

I have several different things to post about and it was hard deciding which one I should talk about first but since I gave a sneak peak to the Renegade Fair last time I figured maybe you would like to see what I bought? I'm eager to show you.

There were so many booths and so many amazing things to buy but I was on a tight budget so I tried to make purchases based on work I've admired for a long time. You know, those etsy shops you could look at all day long?

The one exception was Owly Shadow Puppets. I don't think I have seen this work before the craft fair but as soon as I laid eyes on it I knew I needed something. There was no hesitation. The owner of the shop was very sweet and so talented. There were amazing silhouette puppets that I was nuts for but this heart really caught my eye. If you've seen my work you know I love hearts and drawing scallop edges on EVERYTHING! Those two factors helped me pick out this piece. LOVE!

I'm not sure if I call this shop Eek Design or Fox in the Woods but either way this is definitely one of those shops I've loved since I opened my own Etsy shop. I love Erin Paisley's illustrations. The characters in her work are very haunting in a beautiful way. Read her profile in her shop, she has a great way with words and describing her work. I have a beautiful frame that was custom made for this piece just waiting to be it's final home.
I wish I had taken pictures of the booths because this one was beautiful. The shop is called Nice and the name couldn't be more true. Caitlin, the owner, was very very nice and kind and I was happy to buy this little deer plaque from her. She has more on her etsy site here and you can see her own pictures of her booth on her blog.
I've loved the I'm Smitten site for years and years and always had a fondness for this piece. So when I saw their booth I snatched it right up without any hesitation. They have other great pieces of work but this is the image I always think of when I think of I'm Smitten.
How many times can I praise Michele Bosak's work? Lets find out. I absolutely love her work and was so happy to finally have my own piece of hers. I'd been admiring these wood block drawings for quite awhile. You can see more of her work in her shop called Mimi Doodles. Also learn more about Michele and her many art projects on her blog.
I love Ryan Berkley's illustrations of animals dressed in clothing. I think they are creepyfunnybeautifulweird. My favorite combination. I also enjoy reading the blog he and his wife keep so I felt a little star struck when I saw them at the fair. I knew I wanted to get a print but I was having trouble deciding which animal I really wanted and then I found this garland and it solved all my problems. It was like I didn't have to choose just one anymore. I don't think this garland is in the shop but there are plenty of other great things just waiting to be purchased. Check it out!

I'm still getting used to my new camera so I don't think my pictures are coming out as awesome as they could be. But it beats camera phone pics, right? Have a great Sunday!

Food Rituals

So I had hoped by now I would have gotten those much anticipated student loans so I could purchase my new digital camera. I'm so tired of using photos from my phone because the quality is pretty poor. But! No loans yet! My bank account is looking pretty bleak. I have to pet it and talk sweetly to it so that it knows it should fill up again soon. Meanwhile I've been sort of shying away from my blog because I want to post better pics and can't. But I feel like I've been away too long. I've been away from the blog world too long. I haven't read any of your blogs lately because I've been so busy and I feel guilty guilty guilty because other than Bust magazine, your blogs are what I look forward to the most. I need to make this part of my new semester routine.

My semester is really going well so far. I love my class that I'm teaching, I really lucked out and have amazing students that seem to enjoy what they are doing/learning. My work is coming along which is nice because I can breathe easy over it. Also the people in my life make me smile and laugh all the time and it can't get any cozier than that. Good year so far!

Also! I'm going to the Renegade Craft Fair this Saturday in Chicago! It's my first time going and I can't wait. Maybe just maybe I'll have a camera by then. Everyone cross your fingers for me, please!

So what are these hard-to-see photos I've posted here? I was going through my phone and remembered I took pictures of all the food that was sent to my house when my Granddaddy died. It really got me thinking about the rituals of food and eating and how food is used as nourishment and comfort. So many amazing people came to us with all this delicious food. I love this sort of ritual that happens when someone dies because it's a way to see how thoughtful people are and how much they care. Everyone really chips in and takes care of everyone else. The food really symbolizes how people come together for others and there is absolutely nothing more comforting than that. When I came back to school my friend Emmi made me a plate of cookies and again I felt that warmth and comfort. I love moments like those. It's what keeps me the eternal optimist that I am because I know how good people are.

Just something to think about.

I sincerely hope you are all doing well. Take care and have a great great weekend!