Hi everyone! I thought I’d start travel week off with someplace I wanted to go to for ages and ages: Renegade Handmade in Chicago! Have you heard of the Renegade Craft Fairs? Well, the shop is an extension of the fairs and features over 300 artists — it’s a permanent location for people to buy and sell unique handmade items year ’round. Kind of like a fair that doesn’t move!
Oh my, how I squealed when I stepped inside! (I think I startled everyone in the shop, ha ha!) Here are just a few things that I had to have. (I could easily have bought the whole store, but then J probably would have squealed when he saw the credit card, ha!)
From top to bottom:
A cute Happy Woodlands pin from Custommade UK. I know I’ll be happy wearing it! And, I happen to have that fabric already — I got it from Torendi a few months back. Maybe I should get some more…! It’s by Shinzi Katoh, one of my all-time favorite designers.
An iron-on transfer book from Sukie — I just love their super fun style. I can’t wait to use these iron-ons — I’m thinking of putting them on tote bags and little drawstring travel bags, and maybe even a wall hanging. Love their blog, too.
Then there’s the Renegade Craft Fair posters — I got the one for the first ever Austin fair in the top left. Somehow I missed it when I was at the fair. I plan to frame it and hang it next to a prairie print that I have, it will go perfectly.
And then I let out a major squeal when I saw this belt by souldier.us. It was handmade in Chicago out of a seatbelt! And it’s orange and brown. And owl-icious. How could I resist?
And then. Then there was this sweet little donut by my paper crane. The funniest thing was that I’d just drooled over them as I read Handmade Nation. So of course I had to have one!
I also got J a cute card that he loved — it had a library pocket and a card that pulled out that said “I’ve been checking you out all day.” — hee hee :)
Check out the Renegade Handmade online shop for more goodies, or their blog for lotsa crafty inspiration. You may not want to look until you are in a squeal-proof location, tho! And! If you’re in Chicago September 11-12 you can go to a Renegade Craft Fair! Lucky you.
Back tomorrow with some sewing goodness,
We go to the one here is the city near Chicago! Love all the goodies in there.
What FABULOUS finds.
That belt it just wonderful. :)
i LOVE my sukie iron ons and they work so well!!! they honestly look screenprinted if you use it right. have fun :)
Oh Lisa!! That’s my hometown! i love that spot! thanks so much for sharing all the goodies – they made me squeal with delight! :D
SCORE! You picked up some cute stuff! Thanks for mentioning Torendi! All fabric in the store is actually 50% off right now. :)
I LOVE Shinzi Katoh! My Dad is getting married in Japan in November, so I’m going to ask him to hit up one of the crafting mega stores! They’re huge over there!
Oh lucky for your dad! I’ve been to Japan twice and can’t wait until I get to go again! Yay!
Oh and I emailed ya to see if you want me to share my favorite places to go :)
Looks like for had a good time and found some good stuff.
You find the BEST things!!!! Love all of these Lisa…..
This shop sounds WONDERFUL!! Now I want to go to Chicago. Or at least to the NEXT fair if it come back to Austin!
awww… such fun finds!! LOVE da donut! thanks for sharing, Lisa!
I had never heard of Renegade until I started blogging…and now I know I want to go to one!! Sounds like such fun and lots of goodies to see. What a fun trip!! The iron-on book looks way too fun
I really love the smiling donut, too cute!
i’ve been to this store twice in the past week. i am in love with it, and every time i go there, i walk out with something.
so sorry i haven’t gotten your swap package out to you yet :( I’m in the final stages of putting it together and HOPEFULLY i will have it out to you by next weekend :)