Sweet Peace

I am so excited about this family that will be joining us indoors at the fair!  I met these wonderful ladies last summer at the Ric Rac Roundup in Westport.  Lesa and her daughters, Cassie and Samantha, make fabulous mixed media soft sculptures, wearable accessories and so much more!  

Seriously?  Is this not the MOST ADORABLE piece of mixed media you have seen?  This entire family is creatively inclined in every way.  Lesa's husband is a carpenter and keeps busy building amazing furniture pieces for his daughter's family.  You should see the round crib he made for the newest baby in the family.  Unbelievable!

Both daughters follow in the footsteps of their parents and fiddle around with vintage textiles and assorted sundries and the outcome of this fiddling?  One of a kind prettiness with a shabby chic sweetness that you cannot resist!

Isn't the photo styling of this wreath fabulous?  I am a bit frustrated because there are so many other photos representing more work by Cassie and Samantha but I am unable to feature it in this post :(  PLEASE be sure to head into the barn and visit their booth.  You will love every bit of it; I assure you!
They also have an Etsy shop.  Keep an eye on it as they will be restocking it in the future :)

Mixed Media

Stephanie Garrison has the reclaiming and recycling side of crafting nailed down!  Working from Lawrence, Kansas she designs, drafts, cuts, sews and finishes each piece by hand.  I'm talking talent here! 

 Using recycled leather, fabric, wool, vintage fabrics and buttons.  I especially love the barrettes featured below.  The use of both cut pieces for that leaf is so unique and darling!  Don't they look a bit like eyes and eyelashes?

Nautical is where it's at this season and Stephanie has got that covered with her patterned shirts and color scheme.  I'm hoping to see more of these style shirts in her booth on Sunday.  :)

I am dying to see her work in person.  Just a few more days!  I love the details on the shirt below and am hoping she has another like it at the fair but in a different color scheme...my fair skin just doesn't work well with that yellow and green :(

Please be sure to visit her booth at the fair; for now you can follow this link to her online site and read a bit more on the process she uses and her commitment to participate locally in supporting other small businesses.

Lily of the Valley Expressions and Jumping Dog Studios

A fair is fantastic in so many ways, but a fair with a friend is the tops!  The Swing will be featuring over 40 vendors for your enjoyment and one of the booths will give you double the fun thanks to Andrea White and Alexis Bechtold.  These two friends have been upcycling materials with their own personal flair and creating one of a kind prettiness for their respective shops.

Andrea White uses discarded materials and whips them up into darling accessories like the headbands featured here.

Each is one of a kind and so bright and beautiful- any friend would love to receive one of her pieces as a gift...hint, hint :)

In a similar upcycled fashion, Alexis Bechtold uses papers and plastics to produce pendants, earrings and unique totes like the one below.  Vintage NKOTB trading cards have been magically transformed into a bag for those still carrying a torch all these many years later ;)

Both ladies have online shops and donate their sales to worthy non profits.  You can find Andrea White's work in her Etsy shop and Alexis Bechtold's work in her Artfire shop.  Be sure to check out their profiles in their shops and learn more about the work they support with their businesses.

S Renee Designs

Hailing from Des Moines, Iowa, Stephanie Bracelin will grace our fair with her assortment of accessories for girls of all ages. Clutches and wallets in bold bright graphics and retro style fabric "button" earrings are items you will find in abundance in her Etsy shop.  

Stephanie creates T Skirts out of, you guessed it, tshirts!  I am super excited to look through her skirts on July  10th!  Imagine how comfortable they must be!

I am also in love with the wallet above.  The japanese import fabric she used is some of my favorite and the color combinations are dramatic and delightful!  I just can't decide which colorway is the best....

S Renee Designs can be found on Etsy and some of her work, like the toddler dress above, can be found in local boutiques.

Miss Betty Lou

Stephanie Hathaway has agreed to join us with her BEAUTIFUL handmade jewelry and accessories this year!  Hooray and Hallelujah!  Her shop, Miss Betty Lou, is stocked with amazing pieces for females young and old.  Using "pretty much anything that sparkles" she works her magic.  Tulle, rhinestones, chain, fabric, beads, cabochons and vintage buttons are all part of her magical props.

Isn't she super talented?  She has a multitude of designs to offer; bold colors, muted classics, and darling baby  cuteness to make your sweetpea sweeter!  Her pieces would make a great styling addition for photographers to use, don't you think?

I am excited to peruse her booth at the fair....with all the talent she infuses into her work I think her booth may turn out fantastical!