Thank You!!!

Thank you to all of the vendors & shoppers who participated in the Irvington Artisan Market! We hope you had as much fun as we did, and we hope to see you all again next year.

Join the Handmade Revolution - COME SHOP WITH US TODAY!!

The Irvington Artisan Market is open today from 10am - 6pm at the Irvington Tennis Club.

Irvington Artisan Market
November 21, 2009
10am - 6pm
@ The Irvington Tennis Club
In the Historic Ballroom
NE 21st & Thompson
Portland, OR

Join the Handmade Revolution, Shop Local, & get your holiday shopping done early!!

See you there.

Artisan Profile - Barbara of B Hive Designs

How/when did you become an artisan?
I think I was just born a little crafty. I have always made things with my friends & family. My parents and sisters are all very artistic, and it was just a natural road for me to take. I studied art in high school and through college, but mostly as a past time. I never really thought about using art as a business until I had my children. Not only did I have an urge to simplify my life, but I was also drawn to the things that I loved as a child like drawing and making things pretty in general.

What do you enjoy most about artisan markets and craft fairs?
Oh, I definitely love the people that I meet, both artists and customers. It is always

nice to sell your work to people who genuinely appreciate what you do, but it is equally inspiring to meet others who create.

What inspires you and your work?
The boys….husband, son 1, and son 2. They’re just so darn cute. No really, I am truly inspired by the beauty of the outdoors. There is something really special about being able to walk outdoors and spy an eagle over head. I love that!

What do you do when you are not crafting?
It seems like I am never “not” crafting these days, but

I mostly love to be at home with my boys, riding bikes along the riverfront, and eating husbands super good cooking (in the summertime anyway)……oh, and lots of daydreaming.

Describe a perfect day in Portland?

A perfect day consists of a morning run, coffee & pie while perusing my favorite blogs, riding bikes to Willamette Park with my boys, drawing in the sand on a small riverside beach, a stress free craft project with the kids, afternoon yoga, and dinner made by husband........maybe not entirely realistic, but most of my perfect days consist of some of these things.

Hometown?

Santa Barbara…..otherwise known as paradise.

to learn more about B Hive Designs visit Barbara's blog.

Artisan Profile - Michelle of Attic Journals

Attic Journals began on a Saturday morning in May of 2004 after stumbling across a beautiful tattered book at a garage sale in San Luis Obispo, California. I'd been in the market for a new journal for about two weeks and was also looking for a gift for a friend. I couldn't find anything that was worthy of her eclectic taste or that would inspire me to share the stories of my life.


So, that morning after discovering that old book, we recycled its pages and the rest, as they say, is history.


Our commitment to excellent craftsmanship means you get a good product and we feel good about what we're doing. Attic Journals are made from hardbound vintage books, children's books, and cookbooks. We also have a special place in our heart for old hymn books and text books. Each one is made to last with a high quality wire binding, containing 75 pages of 24 pound unlined white paper.

Artisan Profile - Grant & Michelle of Eclectikid

Eclectikid emerged out of a desire to create stylish yet affordable kid's tshirts. As a family business, Eclectikid is a collaborative effort. Artist/husband Grant Brady's humorous and innovative designs are at the root of their success, while his wife, Michelle and her mother, Shirley, design, sew and market complimentary accessories.


Grant and Michelle's son, Naylan, is the original inspiration. It was soon after he was born that they realized there were too few design options for little boys clothing and delved into the world of children's apparel.

Grant had often found himself busy sketching odd and funny images. Michelle came up with the concept of transforming these sketches into cool graphic designs for a line of children's shirts. The result was a fun and colorful approach to children's clothing that has grown from just kids' tshirts into a full line including messenger bags, totes, baby blankets, hooded towels and now, adult tshirts too!


Grab your own Eclectikid shirt in just two short days at the Irvington Artisan Market!! These make the perfect gifts from Santa.

only 3 more days!!!!

only 3 more days 'till you get to shop at the Irvington Artisan Market.......set your reminders so you don't forget!

just think of the gifts you will be able to check off of your shopping list for the holidays. not to mention maybe a little gift for yourself :)

Artisan Profile - Suzanne Keolker of Mugwump

The name Mugwump was a nickname my dad had for me. I was never sure where the name came from; it just meant something endearing to me. I've recycled this name for my business that I started 8 years ago, but crafting and creating has always been in my family.



One of my first craft projects was making lacy hankerchiefs on Mom's sewing machine she taught me to use. She taught all us daughters to sew our own clothes - all six of us! I really looked forward to creating some fashionable clothes beyond the lime green pant suit Mom made, or the homemade underwear she made to help save money. My last handmade clothing item was sewn in high school. I made a glorious bright red jumper. My brother commented that I looked as if I were wearing a tablecloth. That was it for sewing clothing for awhile.

I finally picked up my Viking machine again many years later to make a tote bag out of an old vinyl banner. Since I was taught early on that nothing gets wasted, (even lime polyester fabric), I created several tote bags from the banner and a new love of sewing came back to me. When the vinyl banners were gone, I found more material to use and more styles of bags as a result. I've used placemats, window awnings, shower curtains, paint by numbers, latch hook, board games, embroidery, lawn chair webbing, study prints from schools, and the list goes on. I started a line of wallets from kitchen contact paper, air mattresses, and discarded classroom wallmaps. My latest have been pouches from discarded children's books from school libraries. I don't think I'm stopping yet! There's plenty out there to use and I shan't run out of materials anytime soon.

Artison Profile - Geralyn Simpson of Big Woo Wear

How/when did you become an artisan?
Eight years ago when I first moved to Portland with my then four year old daughter I had $300 dollars to my name and a huge will to get us on our feet. Luckily I'd taught myself to crochet a few years back and had a small yarn stash so I made up a pattern for a basic bucket hat, made about 30 of them, and huffed it down Hawthorne between job interviews trying to sell my wares to anyone who would listen. I managed to snag a few wholesale accounts and that gave me the the confidence I needed to start selling at fairs and what not....the rest is history.



What do you enjoy most about artisan markets and craft fairs?
I love love love meeting fellow crafters/artists. It's not often you can be in a room full of that much artistic energy. The direct feedback from customers is great perk too.


What inspires you and your work?
Gardening, nature, and my two girls Haalen, 12, and Keiler, 2.



What do you do when you are not crafting?
Garage saling, gardening, and home beautification on a budget...why do you think I like garage saling so much? : )


Describe a perfect day in Portland?
Hmmmmmmmm...I'd have to say my perfect day would be going to one of the many very cool farmer's markets around town, venturing over to Westmoreland Park to feed the birds, going to sushi at Saburo's, and then taking a soak in the Kennedy School soaking tub. That's if I'm really motivated....


Hometown?
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Artisan Profile - Jackie of Scrumptious Suds

Inspired by favorite cake and cocktail recipes, current flavors of gently-fragranced glycerin soaps include: Mojito, Cosmopolitan, Sweet Margarita, la Fée Verte~Absinthe, Memphis Sweet Tea, Lemon Ginger Green Tea, Bebida de Primavera, Southern Strawberry Shortcake, Apple Cinnamon Crisp, Orange Spice Cake, German Chocolate Cake, and Lemon Poppy Seed Cake.

Jackie rotates her recipes based on the season. Summertime is right for a Scrumptious Suds Mojito! One of her best sellers! The fall calls for Apple Cinnamon Crisp, Oregon Chai Tea will beat the chill of winter and spring will bring about the sweetness of Bebida de Primavera (Spring Beverage)!

NOTE: I just saw Jackie today & she has some really great new recipes. They smell good enough to eat!!

Almost entirely crafted from natural and local ingredients, these soaps blend the best essential oils, seeds, citrus peels, and spices to promote a healthy diet for those hungry for hygiene!

p.s. Bebida de Primavera is not only Jackie's best seller, but my personal favorite. I will definitely be stocking up on my supply of Scrumptious Suds at the Irvington Artisan Market this Saturday!!!!

Artisan Profile - Rose Bonomo of Rosabode

How/when did you become an artisan?
After many years in the fitness business, I started to feel the need to express another side of myself. My dad was an importer of silk textiles in the 1960's and my love of fine fabric dates back to my childhood. I love the feeling of satisfaction derived from creating things with your own hands.

What do you enjoy most about artisan markets and craft fairs?
The people and their responses to the goods.

What inspires you and your work?
The glamour of the 1940's and all the great things they did with real fur. It was all so over the top. I definitely get inspiration from fabric - textures, colors and combinations. I like pairing odd things.

What do you do when you are not crafting?
Exercising, hanging out with friends, drinking wine and chauffering my kids.

Describe a perfect day in Portland?
It starts out kind of rainy and then turns beautiful and sunny. I have coffee with a girlfriend, then go for a bike ride and see something I have never seen before.

Hometown?

New York City

Artisan Profile - Liz Howell of Celestial Living Arts

How/when did you become an artisan?
I became an artisan when I became inspired to take my research and practice of astrology with food, herbs and bio-dynamic gardening a few steps further and actually create ways that people could experience greater balance and well-being through the organic botanical culinary and bath tea herbal products. I created the SolaLUNA line which embraces the balance of both the Solar (masculine) and Lunar (feminine) energies in all of us.

What do you enjoy most about artisan markets and craft fairs?
I enjoy people's initial curiosity about the concepts behind the Celestial Living Arts products and then watching the "ah-ha!" once they make the connection with their own astrological disposition.

What inspires you and your work?
The ancient wisdom practices of astrology and how this field of study and practice so comprehensively takes in the view of the whole cosmos, revealing an extraordinarily beautiful and synergistic dance.

What do you do when you are not crafting?
I like to stay very interactive with the botanical world so I garden, cook and continue to experiment with all sorts of culinary and herbal wonders. Additionally, I do astrological consultations, workshops and educational programs.

Describe a perfect day in Portland?
For me, each season has a typical "perfect" day and I like to embrace whatever it is that a particular season has to offer in Portland-whether it be warm sunshine and big, blue skies or rain, fog and a chill in the air. But visits to my neighborhood garden, the farmer's markets and the Portland Japanese Garden are high on my list for each of the seasons.

Hometown?
I consider all the places I have lived a form of hometown...these include Upstate New York, New England, Baltimore, Washington DC, Virginia, Austria, New York City, Honolulu and now Portland.

Artisan Profile - Bill of House Of Six Cats

How/when did you become an artisan?
I fell in love w/ photography in 1983, when I got my first 35mm SLR. However, I have only been trying to sell my work since 2007, and I have only been doing local shows since March of this year.

What do you enjoy most about artisan markets and craft fairs?
I love meeting other crafters/artisans! I have met some very talented and cool people over the past eight months.

What inspires you and your work?
That is a tough question. I find inspiration when I am out shooting by just walking around and trying to see things in a way that might normally go overlooked.


What do you do when you are not crafting?
I am in school for my Associates Degree in web design at the Art Institute online. I am basically self employed, so I am trying to figure out how to make a living w/o having to work for someone else, and I am a dad to a 2 1/2 year old daughter.

Describe a perfect day in Portland?
Partly sunny, around 75 degrees, a slight breeze, and my camera in hand, exploring a new area.

Hometown?
I am a native New Yorker. I am from a small Hamlet in Westchester County, this is about half hour to 45 minutes north of Manhattan.

Irvington Artisan Winter Market - November 21, 2009