Last year I heard so many wonderful things about Clover Market but had conflicts with almost every date. So yesterday I fought my way through the traffic of Philadelphia to get to Ardmore and see things for myself. It was a lovely day to be out and about, so lovely that I made it a family affair with Tom and Lucy. I met some new local vendors with handmade and vintage wares, including Made by Liddy, whose paper Kusadama balls made me want to get an early start to Christmas shopping (I’ve done it before). 

I even loved her signage, which was the nailhead-and-string effect that I’ve been noticing a lot lately. Nevertheless, Liddy’s booth was simple and inspiring - I’m looking forward to what she cooks up in the future!

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This image greeted my this morning in my mailbox from Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co., making me wish for sunshine, fresh flowers, and brunch with friends and family. Despite springtime palettes on my Pinterest boards, this shiny black is doing the trick. All handmade in the US of A, too? Bruce would be proud.

Colette Bream = Oeuf + Donna Wilson, yes? Yes. And I love it. Handmade in the US with Scottish lambswool, her playful shapes and muted colors are full of fun and whimsy. I’m pretty sure I need a few of these knitted pillows, and Lucy requires a fox tail and party hat for her evening dance parties.

I hadn’t planned to get to Art Star Craft Bazaar this weekend. In fact, as most things do these days, it sort of snuck up on me. However, after fellow Philly creative Susan over at Fleurishing kept tweeting about such lovely things, I squeezed a little time out of my Sunday afternoon to get over there and experiment with my new camera. Yeah, I looked all sorts of official with a camera - too bad I was so busy chatting that I didn’t notice my focus was way off.

Skylark Studio - I had seen Karen’s work before but it was lovely to see and touch it in person. She explained to me her continuous development of designs that have outlasted the indie scene’s anticipated expiration date, such as the birds and antlers that still seem to dominate sales. My favorite piece was a simple pendant with a new variation of her fish-scale design. Unfortunately, my camera skills were off to a rocky start and the photos didn’t quite turn out. No worries, though, as I was having a lovely time chatting with her! Quality time with an artist is worth a few blurry shots.

Kin Ship Press - They were featured etsy sellers this summer, where they share the inspirations and process. By the way, I need this mug to remind me to actually enjoy my coffee.

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Trophy Elk Wire Sculpture by Bud Bullivant. His unique, handmade wire sculptures often use found materials and express his love of nature. He describes them as “one of a kind, three-dimensional drawings [that] delight viewers as their appearance changes depending on the angle and the lighting.” Truth.

Handcrafted Rainbow Trout Stream Wire Sculpture

via Etsy

What’s a guy to do when he has too much stuff for pockets but doesn’t want a man purse? hard graft is bridging the gap for those too timid to embrace their inner metrosexual with their Square1 Holdall. It’s a bag, it’s a backpack, it’s perfect! And the Personal Pouch - an excellent means to carry your notebook, pens, and a snack while biking about town. Don’t have a bike? Carry a u-lock in your back pocket - people will get the picture. Both are available in a light DRIFTWOOD or dark CAMPFIRE hues.

Also new, the BACK2BACK Rucksack (below) in black, brown, or my favorite, grey. They perfectly describe it as a “multi-functional bag. 100% rucksack. 100% messenger bag. 100% briefcase.” So business or party, you are ready to go. Consider it the mullet of man bags… actually don’t. Mullets are bad.

I’ve been a fan of Darling Dexter for years now, traveling along with Whitney as she left her graphic design job in New York for photography classes at SCAD, then back up to NY for fashion when her photography passion uncovered a love for fashion design. Along the way she and her “hub” (so funny when she talks about Dustin) started up an amazing photography company. My “hub” and I are hoping we can one day commission the two for some family portraits. And maybe, through osmosis, catch some of their entrepreneurial amazingness.

Now she’s back down South and just covered a new line of wedding gear that is just what the industry needed - heartfelt, homemade, and fresh. While I’ve already had (ok, survived) my own wedding day (3 years yesterday!), I can’t wait to tell my engaged friends about her new line. Maybe I’ll get myself a purdy little dress for their big day. Or any day, really. These dresses can really work anywhere! So congrats, Whitney! You work hard and I’m proud of you.

Here’s another little gift idea: Sanna Annukka’s new Soul Bird, handcrafted in England from sustainably-sourced oak.

In Karelia there was an ancient belief in the Sielulintu or Soul bird. The Sielulintu was thought to deliver the soul to newborn babies and also to transport the soul to the afterlife at the moment of death.

It was believed the Sielulintu protected a persons soul at it’s most vulnerable; when dreaming, and it was tradition to keep a carved wooden bird by the bedside to keep the soul safe during sleep.

Haptic Labs has finally released a their fabulous hand-stitched City Quilts in a new queen size and is offering a nice discount (only $395 and originally $450) with code “EARLYBIRD.”. But the sale only runs until August 29th, so order up! Think about all those weddings and holiday gifts you’ve got to get. Paris and London are calling…

On a miserable and rainy Saturday afternoon, I stopped by the Art Star Craft Bazaar. I was fumbling with my umbrella, coffee, and iPhone, and wasn’t able to get any good pictures. However, here is a roundup of some faves with photos by the artists & crafters themselves:

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