1. PEARLY PLATES OF HEAVEN
“Each woman in this series of portraits has something that I find interesting,” says Pearl Bell, artist. “Angela”, for instance, rocks a pair of foxy-librarian specs. And “Ahn”? The sultry eyes, of course.
Cost: “Angela” $50, “Ahn” $130
2. GET A FEEL FOR KALEEL
Designer Erin Kaleel uses organic motifs and eco-friendly materials. The little cabin on this soft wool pillow is made of durable paper, stitched over by hand to create the illusion of weather-worn wood grain.
Cost: $155
3. SOMETHING TO SNEEZE AT
It almost turns the common cold into a style statement: Tennessee’s DIY duo Mark and Nicole Lewis cover diverse household items, like this tissue box, in fabulous wallpapers from 1930 to the ’60s.
Cost: $30
4. PUSH IT GOOD
Most office supplies don’t do much to pretty up your home office. But these fabric-covered pushpins make even the dullest documents (Bills! Coupons!) seem downright adorable on your corkboard. Made by Chicago-based Bethany’s Designs.
Cost: $11.50, set of six
5. TRIP THE LIGHT FANTASTIC
We flipped for Renegade’s collection of handmade switchplate covers by Chicago’s Paula Egan, also known as the DIY craft brand PickalaPoopa. There’s plenty for baby’s room too ? like Robot Candy’s home-sweet-home scene.
Cost: PickalaPoopa covers, $8; Robot Candy cover $12
MORE, PLEASE RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR
Before she opened her store last year, Renegade Handmade owner Sue Daly launched the Renegade Craft Fair in 2003 — then a modest affair in Chicago that featured about 75 artists. Modest no more, the 2008 fair in Wicker Park (Sept. 13 and 14) will feature around 300 artists and, if it’s anything like last year, attract about 60,000 people.
ETSY
If you can’t wait until September for the Renegade fair, you can visit Etsy (etsy.com), an online marketplace with an endless supply of handmade goods (including collections from most of the crafters mentioned above.)
Renegade Handmade
1924 W. Division St.
773-227-2707
renegadecraft.com
