Apply to sell at the Vagabond Indie Craft Fair!

Woohoo, it’s Vagabond time again!

Urban Bazaar will host our Spring Vagabond Indie Craft Fair on May 5th & 6th, noon-7pm.

Get all the deets & apply to be a vendor here! Applications are due by March 25th!

We’re always looking for fun “extras” too. Know a massage therapist who wants to give 5 min. massages to promote their business? Do you make amazing cookies you want to sell out front, to help get people in the door? Have a friend who’s acoustic band wants to play during the fair? Free crafty demos and workshops to offer? If so, email us at UrbanBazaarSF@gmail.com!

Featured Artist: Steel Petal Press

Steel Petal Press

Artist: Shayna Norwood

Location: Chicago, IL

Medium: Letterpress printing

How would you best describe your work?

I create high quality letterpress cards and custom invitations with an edge that offer an alternative to Hallmark’s sappy-sweet.  Influenced by vintage illustrations I use clean, simple designs and print every card by hand.

What inspires you?

where the magic happens

I’m inspired by old mechanical tools, vintage objects, collectables and type. The Vandercook and Chandler price presses that i print are from the midcentury and have fascinating cranks and levers and gears. I love the tactility of it all.

How did you get started as an artist or craftsperson?

I’ve always known I wanted to be an artist.  Right out of high school I went straight into art school to study painting.  Since then I have explored many different mediums before finally landing in book arts and letterpress printing.

When and why did you start selling your work?

Because I have always wanted to be an artist, it only made sense that I start selling my work as soon as I could.  I had my first art show while I was living in Los Angeles in 2001 at which I sold some pieces.  That was when I was working in multimedia collage and photography. I first printed letterpress cards to send to all my friend over the holidays in 2008.  I dropped off any extras a consignment craft shop in my neighborhood in Chicago “”Wolfbait and B-Girls.”"  The cards sold really well there and the owners encouraged me to continue bringing in more inventory.  The business just grew from there.

handmade map journals

What is a favorite piece of art you’ve created that you just can’t bear to part with?

I have a little doll I created back in 2001 (that was a part of the show in LA) called Rebel Ruth.  I made her by putting a Pocahontas doll head on an army doll.  I painted her hair and gave her make up.  She is one of a kind and can’t be duplicated.  I could never sell her.

Who are some of your favorite artists?

Basquiat, DuChamp, Banksy, Cy Twombly, Matisse, Olafur Eliasson, Swoon

For more of Shayna’s work, visit Urban Bazaar at 1371 9th Ave, San Francisco CA or view her website at http://steelpetalpress.com.

www.UrbanBazaarSF.com

URBAN BAZAAR & the economy.

While on my mundane Wednesday morning public transit commute to the store, I picked up a copy of the San Francisco Bay Guardian. The first sentence I read in the Editor’s Notes section asked,

“Does anybody else feel as if the whole country is collapsing around us?”

It went on to describe some of the more outrageously frustrating things happening in our government in relation to the economy. I felt angry, disheartened, and downright pessimistic while reading.

Then I realized I was at my stop, and I gathered my things to get off the train and come open up shop for the day. And it struck me- what we’re doing here, every day at URBAN BAZAAR, is incredibly empowering. There’s no way for this not to sound cheesy. But we’re making a real difference with the work that we do . And by supporting Urban Bazaar, our customers- YOU- are contributing in a very important way to making the world, including our local and national economy, better too.

Want to know how, specifically?

I did the math this morning, and it turns out that Urban Bazaar, in less than 9 months in business, has spent over $60,000 on Fair Trade & locally made goods. That’s a $60,000 direct injection of money into the economy- and every penny has gone towards good that are ethical, eco-friendly, handcrafted, and all around good for the world.

To break it down:

• We have purchased $25,815.17 worth of Fair Trade goods that support poor, disadvantaged artisans around the world. This has helped keep women out of sex slavery, children fed and educated, and families empowered to operate their own small businesses.
• We have purchased $34,227.20 worth of local- and US-made goods. Most of this money  has gone into the crafty hands of Bay Area artists, and a small percentage has gone to companies based in the US who follow ethical labor and environmental practices.

photo courtesy of Asha Imports

I hope you find this information as inspiring as we do, and feel good knowing you’ve been a part of making this possible. With your continued support, we can continue to grow and become an ever larger contributor to global well-being.

Visit Urban Bazaar at 1371 9th Ave, San Francisco CA. (415) 664-4422.  Soon you’ll be able to shop on our website, too!

Much Craftiness Coming Your Way!

March is a huge month at URBAN BAZAAR for crafting! Here are some upcoming events we have scheduled.  All will take place at URBAN BAZAAR, 1371 9th Ave (between Irving and Judah), San Francisco. (415) 664-4422.

Quick Calendar: March 13th, BYOB Craft Night, 5-8pm …………………….. March 16th, GoGo Craft Workshop: Make Your Own Fingerless Gloves, 7:30-9:30pm …………………………………………………………………………………. March 30th, Collage Workshop, 7-9pm …………………………………………….. March 31st, BYOB Craft Night, 7-9:30pm

BYOB Craft Nights!

Sunday March 13th, 5-8pm and Thursday March 31st, 7-9:30pm.

No, you’re not seeing double… We are indeed hosting TWO craft nights this month! Also known as BYOC (Bring your own craft, bring your own chair), Craft Nights are free, after-hours crafting sessions. All you  have to bring is a project to work on (sewing, knitting, sketching, or anything else you don’t need a machine to do!), and we’ll provide snacks and friendly, crafty company. If you’d like, you can bring a bottle of wine or a 6pack to share, too! (All ages; 21+ if you plan to drink)

Wednesday March 16th, 7:30-9:30pm: Upcycled Fingerless Glove Workshop with GoGo Craft!

In this workshop you’ll learn how to make a shrunken sweater into a pair of cozy fingerless gloves.  Not too handy with a sewing machine?  Not to worry! This low sew project can be completed in under 2 hours with our patterns and a needle and thread.

$20 admission to the event includes all materials for the project, pattern, and expert instruction.

Space is limited – so click here to  reserve your spot now!

Wednesday March 30th, 7-9pm,”A March Burning” Collage Workshop

Join us in this gathering with other women where we will use writing,
intention and FIRE in a process to help us let go of that which no
longer serves us, using discussion, writing and a burning ceremony to
release old ideas and create a beautiful open space in our hearts,
minds and spirits for that which comes next to help us along our
paths.

Warm delicious tea and all writing/burning material will be provided.
Limited space, please RSVP to secure your participation!

Join us and lighten up – emotionally, mentally and literally – as we
gather with other women, collectively releasing the old and welcoming in the new. (Please bring a warm jacket, as this will take place outside for part
or all of it and it is the Inner Sunset at night.)

Sliding scale of $10-$15 to help pay for materials. Register in advance at URBAN BAZAAR (415) 664.4422.

Valentine’s Day Gift Countdown- day 13!

Every day until Valentine’s Day, URBAN BAZAAR is featuring a socially conscious gift item. These great gifts are handmade with love, and many are eco-friendly, helping us love the earth. They are all either Fair Trade or made by local artisans, helping us show some love for handcrafted art. And all can be found at URBAN BAZAAR, 1371 9th Ave, San Francisco. (415) 664-4422.

Today’s Featured Gift: Art Prints by Nidhi & Pascal, San Francisco

These amazing, vibrantly colored prints featuring the artwork of Nidhi Chanani & Pascal Campion are 13″x19″. There are many designs to pick from, but the best for Valentine’s Day are some of the adorable happy couple images. At only $20 each, these prints would make a great gift for your sweetie!

Handmade Holidays Continued…

As the holidays approach, we’re getting more excited about all the great events happening at URBAN BAZAAR!

We’re also having great sales and promotions every week- and sometimes for one day only! So become a fan on Facebook to hear about great chances to save a little cash while discovering the perfect gift. You can also sign up for our mailing list on our website, so you’ll get email reminders about events & special mailing-list-only promotions!

Through this weekend: 15% off Rice Tote Bags

10% off all ceramics

5% off jewelry purchases of $100 or more

Pick up an SF Weekly and find a great coupon for URBAN BAZAAR in the Holiday Highlights insert!

Here’s an updated list of everything we have lined up for you.

Micro-entrepreneur Holiday Bazaar, Thurs. Dec. 2nd, 3-7pm. 607 Front St, San Francisco. Hosted by Renaissance Center and Working Solutions, two fantastic micro-finance organizations in SF. URBAN BAZAAR will have a table here, featuring some of our best selling, unique gift items! Come out to support more than 20 local, small businesses that will have gift tables at this event, and find fun gifts for your loved ones!

Winter Wonderland Craft Bazaar, Sat. Dec. 4th 1-9pm, at URBAN BAZAAR, 1371 9th Ave., San Francisco. Co-sponsored by URBAN BAZAAR and the SF Etsy Team, this fun, indie craft bazaar will take place in URBAN BAZAAR’s back garden. Enjoy holiday shopping under twinkling lights, while mingling with local artists with a warm drink in hand. Free baked goods all day (while they last!) and a warm cocktail hour from 6-9pm. 18 local artists selling their work.  Visit the website here.

La Cocina Gift Show, Fri. Dec. 10th, 4-9pm @ Mission Cultural Center, 2868 Mission St., San Francisco. Have a foodie on your gift list? Then stop by the La Cocina Gift Show for gourmet treats and food-related gifts, all from local micro-entrepreneurs! Visit their website here. URBAN BAZAAR will have a table here, showcasing some of our most popular food-related gift items.

Mangosteen Imports Fair Trade Trunk Show, Sat & Sun Dec. 18th and 19th, all day @ URBAN BAZAAR, 1371 9th Ave., San Francisco. Join Gabrielle Lessard, owner of Mangosteen Imports, to discover fantastic Fair Trade gifts from Laos and Bali. A great last minute shopping experience, with gifts that you’ll feel proud to give this year.

Hope to see you soon!

1371 9th Ave (btw. Judah and Irving)

San Francisco, CA 94122

(415) 664-4422