Sale on Ecoforms Pots & Saucers!

Urban Bazaar is having a 30% off SALE on all EcoForms plant pots & saucers now through July 1st! If you love the low price of plastic pots, but hate the fact that they’re plastic… then EcoForms are for you!

Made from sustainable and renewable plant by-products, these pots are affordable and NOT PLASTIC! A great eco-alternative to cheap plastic pots, and they’re pretty too! In colors like Harvest, Avocado, and Ebony, you just can’t go wrong. Come on down to Urban Bazaar (1371 9th Ave, San Francisco) for 30% off all EcoForms plant pots & saucers, now through July 1st.

Fourth Fridays at Urban Bazaar

Have you heard? The Inner Sunset is now hosting a monthly community event, Fourth Fridays! June’s Fourth Fridays is this week, 6/22, from 6-10pm. Urban Bazaar will be holding an opening of a 2 week art show with original pieces by neighborhood illustrator Nidhi Chanani. Plus free refreshments. Come on out for first dibs on the amazing artwork, a chance to meet some awesome Inner Sunset folks, and to discover some of the other Fourth Fridays offerings from neighborhood businesses!

Original wood burning by Nidhi

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!

Fair Trade Fashion Show- this Saturday!

Fair Trade Fashion Show & Garden Party

Sat. July 9th, 1-3pm

Find fantastic Fair Trade Summer outfits from SET Boutique!

Here’s a fun opportunity to shop with a conscience! SET Boutique will be in our back garden showcasing some fantastic outfits and accessories from a number of different Fair Trade clothing companies. All clothing and accessories will be on sale from 1-3, with a fashion show starting at 1:30pm. There will be light refreshments available, too. So come on out to Urban Bazaar for a fashionable afternoon this Saturday!

… oh, and did I mention, Urban Bazaar will be giving 15% off all Mata Traders jewelry! From one of the same companies whose clothing will be for sale through SET Boutique, Mata’s jewelry pieces will make great compliments to the outfits you’re sure to find!

To preview some of the items that will be available, visit SET Boutique at www.SETBoutique.com.

Featured Artist: Rubber Ducky Soap Co.

Rubber Ducky Soap Co.

Rubber Ducky Soap Co.

Owner: Kelly Smith

Location: San Rafael, CA

Medium: Bath & Body Products

How would you best describe your work?

Hand made soap and skin care products.  We use fresh, natural, local ingredients to create our skin loving soaps, lotions, lip balms and scrubs.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by people.  I love hearing what people want.  Nature is another huge inspiration for me.  It’s always evolving.  I love that. Yesterday I was picking flowers in the forest to put into soap.  The irony is that the flowers make soap on their own. You just crush them under water and rub them on your skin and you have soap.  The plant is called Ceanothus.  It’s everywhere in springtime.

How did you get started as an artist or craftsperson?

I grew up with an artistic family.  My dad is an oil painter, my mom is a jewelry maker and my brother is a musician.  I’m a little more math oriented so making soap and lotions are perfect for me.  It’s a creative use of chemistry.

When and why did you start selling your work?

Someone gave me a bar of soap they had made when I was in my early twenties.  After using the soap, I was curious about making soap because the soap was so emollient and bubbly.  It took me a year of experimenting until I had “the” bar of soap I had wanted.  At that point I was hooked.  I sold soap at a local craft fair in my little home town of Inverness, CA and sold out!  It was very encouraging.

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

I make a lotion called Desire. It’s about wishing.  I make it with Litsea Cubeba, Ylang Ylang & Bergamot essential oils.  It’s sweet and floral but light.  My lotion batches are small runs so when I make a batch I keep a 3rd of it for me.  It’s the one product that I give myself first, everything else is being made for my customers and usually everything I make is already spoken for.  So, it’s nice to treat myself.

Who are some of your favorite artists?

This is a difficult one to answer. I love visuals but I do love David Wong’s art.  You can see his art at www.davidcwongart.com. He is created my logo but I love his monkeys and bunnies that he paints.

Tell us some other important things about you or your work:

I love that my products are used and enjoyed all across the world.  It’s really exciting and validating to receive emails requesting more product or special orders.

Rubber Ducky Soap Co. soaps, lotions, sugar scrubs, and lip balms can be purchased at Urban Bazaar, 1371 9th Ave., San Francisco CA. For more information about Rubber Ducky Soap Co, visit their website at http://www.RubberDuckySoap.com

www.UrbanBazaarSF.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!

Announcing… Vagabond Indie Craft Fair!

Vagabond Indie Craft Fair to be held at URBAN BAZAAR!

When? Saturday, April 30th, 11am to 5pm

What? Over a dozen local artists & craftspeople, selling their handmade wares in our awesome backyard. Plus tasty vegan food from Raw Daddy Foods!

Here’s a preview of some of the artists who will be selling their work…

Unique crocheted jewelry by Even Howard.

Vintage inspired accessories by Feather and Branch.

Note•ify

Eco-friendly, farm chic note cards and paper products handmade in San Francisco.

For more information, visit the Vagabond website. (It might be a few days before it’s updated- please keep checking back!)

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.

Fair Trade Fashion!

We held a fantastic, fun, and successful Fair Trade Fashion Night at Urban Bazaar last night, with S.E.T. Boutique. (Photos courtesy of Attic Floc, SF Station.)

One of our lovely models

Lindsay, the owner of S.E.T. (stands for Support Ethical Trade), brought a great selection of Fair Trade clothing, jewelry, and handbags, which were modeled during the fashion show and were offered for sale at a 40% discount during the party. Here are some more photos of the evening!

S.E.T. owner Lindsay, with friend

Urban Bazaar owner Briana (right) with friends

Looking at SET Boutique Clothing

Urban Bazaar owner, Brandi

Modeling Fair Trade Fashion

Ethical Fashion just looks so good

To see more of Attic’s incredible photos, check out the SF Station photo guide here. For updates about all of the great (and free!) event we hold at Urban Bazaar, sign up for our email list here or “Like” us on Facebook.

Next events to come soon…

BYOB Craft Night, Sunday March 13th 5-8pm

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

BYOB Craft Night, Thursday March 31st, 7-9:30pm.

Outdoor indie craft show, sometime in April to be announced.

URBAN BAZAAR, 1371 9th Ave., SF CA 94122. (415) 664-4422. www.UrbanBazaarSF.com