Archive for the ‘Favorite Things’ Category
Craft Crush: Kit Paulson
Tuesday, September 7th, 2010
While things are buzzing at Renegade HQ in preparation for this weekend’s Renegade Craft Fair, we couldn’t help but develop a little CRAFT CRUSH on local crafter Kit Paulson. Read on to find out the secrets behind this glass-blowing wizard. (Also, a little bird told us Kit is a pretty great singer. Check her out here.)
When did you first start crafting?
I’ve been making stuff for as long as I can remember. My grandmother taught me to knit when I was 5 or 6 years old. I can’t even remember when I first started sewing. When I was 12 or so I was digging up clay deposits in my parents’ yard, shaping it into cups, bowls and tiny animals and then “firing” it in little bonfires behind the chicken coop. I started blowing glass in college, was horrified at first and then somehow got used to it.
What is your creative process?
I draw stuff in a sketch book, I look at lots of old pictures in books, I mess around with glass and see what I can make it do. I am always trying to streamline all of my glassblowing processes and make them faster and more efficient. I’m constantly timing myself when blowing glass and trying to set records for how long it takes me to make a particular piece and then trying to break those records.
Do you have a best seller?
Drink Me! I can’t paint “Drink Me” on hip flasks fast enough. It’s eerie how many people seem to want “Drink Me” written on the side of a flask.
Are you working on anything new that you’re particularly excited about?
I’m working on a process for making my own fire-on enamel decals for my glass. I’m not meeting with much success so far but my goal is to have it all ready to go in time for the September Renegade show.
Who are your favorite artists and designers?
I totally dig the illustrations of Aubrey Beardsley and Arthur Rackham. I think Banksy is brilliant. I can’t get enough of the glass work of Carmen Lozar.
What’s a typical working day for you?
This summer I’ve been getting up and getting into the glass shop super early in an effort to avoid heat exhaustion. I come home around noon, eat lunch, mess around with my Etsy page. Since becoming involved with Etsy I have been spending more time at the post office than I ever thought possible. I also spend a lot of time sending and
receiving emails. I try to get all my business stuff done by 5 or 6 so that I can make dinner for my husband and tidy up around the house.
Can you tell us something silly about yourself?
I cherish a latent envy for Civil War reenactors because they get to wear complicated and spectacular costumes and hang out in homemade tents.
Thanks, Kit! You can check out more of her awesome pieces here or up close and in person at the Renegade Craft Fair this weekend!!!
Happy 9.02.10!!
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
Yes! It only comes once a century! It’s September 2, 2010!
It’s 9.02.10 Day!!!!!
To celebrate, we picked out some jewelry for the ladies of Bev Hills and have a very special announcement!
Since Kelly, Donna, Brenda and Andrea are such trendsetters (well, okay, maybe not Donna, she’s more a follower, right?), you can pick up any of these jewelery delights not at the Peach Pit (or even The Peach Pit After Dark), but right here in our online store!!!
What do you buy the girl who has everything?! Well, for our beloved spoiled little rich girl Kelly Taylor we’ve got a gorgeous crystal cluster necklace from Nous Savons – nothing less than crystal would ever do! – and an adorable circular locket necklace from Lauren Haupt. Now remember, Kelly, this locket is for storing memories – not diet pills or for when you go skiing – yeah, we saw Season 6, girl.
Raven haired vixen Brenda Walsh may have started sweet, but by the time of her departure she had to worry about matching jewelry with her studded leather jacket! Well, VERAMEAT’s zombie queen necklace + a coiled snake ring from Species By The Thousands will surely match Dylan’s motorcycle and simultaneously give good ole Mr. + Mrs. Walsh something to worry about!
Oh, Donna Martin. We don’t even know where to start! Well, your choice in color-palette is certainly unique, so these X’s and O’s laminated earrings from Ina Weise will surely match any spandex ensemble you throw together + since you did save that deer from a forest-fire that one time, we know you’ll love this storybook ring from The Weekend Store. With these great items, maybe Donna will finally quit her whining!
If only Andrea Zuckerman had come to us sooner, we could have helped her bag Brandon with this fashionable ensemble! Ever the environmentalist, Andrea will surely love making a statement with these bamboo and suede branch earrings from Molly M + can preside over the West Beverly Blaze newspaper with added authority wearing a brass pencil necklace from Gold Teeth Brooklyn!
Imagine the handmade-craze these girls would have caused wearing these items about the halls of West Beverly High!
Happy 9.02.10 Day once more!
And since we’re on the subject of LA….
Yes! The rumors are true!
We will be returning to Los Angeles State Historic Park this December 11 + 12 for the 1st Ever Renegade Craft Holiday Sale in Los Angeles!!
This past July’s event was such a hit, we just had to come back for more!
Mark your calendars – Applications Open September 17th!!
SO many more details to emerge soon!!
Stay Cool!
Monday, August 30th, 2010
While in San Francisco for the Renegade Craft Fair in July, we had the pleasure of seeing the Clare Rojas: We They, We They solo exhibition at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art. It was the most inspiring show I’ve seen in a while – I wanted to stay there forever! If you’re in SF, you should definitely check it out!
Here are some photos of the show – hope you enjoy them! And to learn more about Clare Rojas, you can read more about her and her folk-inspired process here.
Stop Motion Awesomeness: The Creative, Inc. Ladies
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010We’ve been slowing but surely building up a pretty solid collection of great DIY books at Renegade Handmade, and some of our most popular titles come from Meg Mateo Ilasco & Joy Deangdeelert Cho. So we were super excited to see this awesome trailer they made for their newest book, Creative Inc.: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business. Seriously, how adorable is this video? Stop motion gets us every time.
(Found via design*sponge.)
Hollywood Trend Report
Monday, August 9th, 2010T H I S J U S T I N :
Caseybot Fleece Hats take Hollywood by storm!
.
Funnyman Zack Galifianakis models the Dino Hat, on the cover of GQ no less!
.
Haitian Presidential hopeful Wyclef was spotted wearing the Fawn Hat at a recent concert.
.
Our new favorite Girl Crush/Imaginary Best Friend Rashida Jones in the Yeti Hat on the set of her next movie.
.
And, if Justin Bieber’s wearing one, you know these puppies are about to EXPLODE! The teen heartrob seen wearing a Bunny Hat at a recent event in Hollywood.
.
Seriously, folks, these hats are gonna be HUGE! Get yours in person or online before Rachel Zoe comes in and snags ‘em all. Literally.
Beard Love (Or Hate)
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010
…And the Cake Had an Owl On It!
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010HUGE thanks to everyone who helped make the Renegade Handmade 3rd birthday celebration a mega success! We had swag bags, we had special sales, and we had an owl cake. Who could ask for anything more? Thanks for 3 great years, and here’s to 3 x 3 x 3 more!
Dog Days of Summer
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010
The dog days of summer are upon us, my friends. And to celebrate the occasion we offer for you some of our favorite handmade goodies, modeled by a gang of canine friends. Everybody loves a dressed-up dog, right?
(top left) Bulldog Magee is wearing one of our shop favs, the Greatness Tee from Campfire Goods. There’s just something about those particular lakes that makes us want to wear them around on our shirts. It’s almost like they’re, I dunno, great or something.
(top right) Pugsley up there is modeling a pair of Rainbow Undies from Ruffeo Hearts Lil’ Snotty, one of about a dozen rad pairs we recently got in the store. How can you resist a smushy little face like that paired with skivvies such as those? Yeah, you can’t.
(bottom right) Benji here is quite the dapper fellow with his Beau Tie Pin from PinPals. Though it’s not a real bowtie (its actually a little pin), you’re still welcome to wear it at the collar like our friend here. All you need is a top hat and some spats and you’re ready to paint the town.
(bottom left) Finally, our all-American friend Goldie is looking smart with her Pink + Tan Messenger from Vaya Bags. With a pocket for everything (leash, bone, Snausages…), Goldie will be well prepared for a busy day out and about.
Things We Love: Uppercase Magazine
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
As you might imagine, we like pretty things here at Renegade. So you can guess how much we enjoy Uppercase Magazine, which is basically a hundred pages of pretty every month. We find constant inspiration in their great designer profiles, pop culture roundups, and just general awesomeness. And good news! We now carry Uppercase at Renegade Handmade! Find it in store or online here. Not gonna lie, I’m totally picking up a copy of each issue today. Hooray!
Mad About Mad Men
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010Here are Renegade, we’re far from immune to the latest pop culture phenomenons. Case in point: We (and, alright, by “we” I mostly mean Sarah and myself) are currently quite enamored with Mad Men. How can we resist that big 60s hair, to-die-for dresses, not to mention the smoking, drinking, philandering and occasional pat on the butt from the boss. To celebrate the return of Mad Men this past Sunday, we present to you handmade picks for each of our favorite characters. So pour yourself an Old Fashioned, sit back and enjoy.
.
Don Draper, the guy we all love to hate. As the eternal man in the gray flannel suit, we thought it fitting to choose for Don two of the dapperest items we’ve got in the store right now–this Prix-Prix wallet made from a vintage necktie (one Don himself would probably wear) and a set of postage stamp cufflinks from Foxglove Accessories. Both are perfect for the morning meeting in the boardroom followed by an evening of drinking and carousing. Those Madison Avenue guys, that’s how they do it.
(P.S. I also can’t help but share this clip to Jon Hamm on TV last week. Fast forward to minute 2 and hear a great bit about M.C. Hammer.)
.
..
I will tell you that when Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce was coming together at the end of last season, nothing made me happier than seeing Joan Holloway walk back through that office door. Nobody know the inner workings of an office (or a executive, for that matter) than Joan. In honor of her unique qualities we selected a beautiful Fleurette Vase from Stephanie Kao (Joan could use a replacement, remember?). Plus, this Brass Pencil Necklace from Gold Teeth Brooklyn is an almost perfect twin for that long gold one Joan is always wearing. Pair it with a slinky red poly-blend dress and you’re good to go, Miss Holloway.
.
.
Watching Peggy go from timid new secretary to confident working gal has been one of my favorite storylines on the show. We figured this Typewriter Print from Memo was a good choice to represent her secretarial past (though she advanced through the ranks enough to have Olive, one of her own) and this Soy Wax Candle from Milton + Margie in the swingin’ 60s mushroom mug would look right at home in Peggy’s mod NYC apartment.
.
..
No Mad Men collection would be complete without a nod to that power-couple in the making, Pete and Trudy Campbell. With the good-looking (and power hungry) Pete making a place for himself at the new agency and the ever-bubbly Trudy ready to entertain the crap out of whoever needs to be entertained in order to get her man that promotion, it’s only a matter of time between the two of them become the next King and Queen of the country club. (Oh wait, they’re also kind of crazy. I forgot. But look at that apartment!). For Pete and Trudy, we thought these Laser Cut Prints by Molly M Designs would be just the thing for their always stylish home. Can’t you just imagine them framed next to those weird giaraffe wall hangings by the front door?
.
.
Will Betty actually go to Reno and divorce Don?! And marry that politician guy, Henry Francis? And become Betty Francis?! We’re on pins and needles over here to find out! Poor, maligned Betty with her rapidly increasing drinking habit and the eternal reproach to the kids to “Go watch TV”. For Betty we chose this Pony Brooch from Smitten Kitten (remember her horse-riding much-younger crush??) and, in honor of the “Birdie” nickname that Don had for her, this set of Birdcage Rubber Stamps from Yellow Owl Workshop.
And with that, we’re off to our riding lesson.
