Under-tattooed At The Lovli Craft Fair
On the left is Pearly Grey Designs owner Jen Nowak-Miller who designs and makes accessories for stylish babes using lots of retro fabrics. My favorite item? The onesie with the skull on it. How I wish I had found her six years ago when Max was born. I did my best by dying a bunch of onesies and knitted caps black, but skulls on babies? WAY TOO COOL. On the right is Alisa Timmerman of Zeldaloo Studios who designs and makes all kinds of wonderful stuffies including a mermaid who is so soft it kind of feels dirty to touch her because then you can't get your hands off her tail. Alisa is closing her own brick and mortar store, just like I am, to concentrate on her designing and creating.
Have I mentioned lately how hard it is to run a store?
This is Shannon Conrad or rubygirl. I didn't intend to take a picture that makes it look like she's wearing a big light bulb, but I'm somewhat shy about taking people's pictures in a public venue which is why I'm not a star journalist, so I find it hard to ask them to scoot around posing until I get the perfect shot. I'm sorry Shannon, but I still think this is a good picture of you. Shannon's jewelry is amazing. I wanted to buy several pieces but didn't because I feel weird about buying jewelry at a time when I'm not sure how we're going to make a living next month. But her jewelry is a wonderful mixture of delicate craftsmanship, bold design, and vintage touches. I want to drip with it. (How do I keep managing to sound so disgusting today?)
This is my mom with her new Rachel Wyatt painting, and that's Rachel Wyatt herself agreeing to pose here so I can fumble with a camera and interrupt their happy conversation. 
Here is everyone packing up to go home. We loved this little craft fair.Some notes on our visit:
Today is the Etsy Craft show which I can't go to because I have to work in the store, and tomorrow is Crafty Wonderland at the Doug Fir Lounge which opens the second Sunday of every month in Portland. My friend Lucille told me about this a long time ago and I have never had the chance to do it. But I'm hoping we'll go tomorrow.
- Attending this fair made us feel a little old, a little under-tattooed, and a lot less hip than we used to be. One thing it didn't make me feel? Fat. There were stylish people of all sizes there. A lesson: get over it woman. Yes, polka dots on a fleshy curve is not a bad look at all!
- Amazon women look surprisingly good with feathers sprouting from their hair.
- I never knew you could make a stiff shawl out of beads, but now I know. It looked almost as warm and comfortable as a horse-hair chastity belt.
- Portland is a very confusing city to drive in. One almost wonders if it was required of the planning commission that they eat magic mushrooms before designing those twisty sudden convoluted and misleading freeways tangling above the city. Because driving through them makes me feel like I'm on drugs myself.
- It was energizing to be somewhere filled with creative people making really cool things.
Today is the Etsy Craft show which I can't go to because I have to work in the store, and tomorrow is Crafty Wonderland at the Doug Fir Lounge which opens the second Sunday of every month in Portland. My friend Lucille told me about this a long time ago and I have never had the chance to do it. But I'm hoping we'll go tomorrow.
Labels: artists, Lovli craft fair, Portland