When I first started out making jewelry, the path to success was... craft fairs! So many craft fairs. I don't know how many I did, but it was a LOT. A lot of traveling, setting up, selling jewelry in the heat, the rain, the wind... all over the country! I sold at shows in Brooklyn, San Francisco, Austin, TX, and so many cities in between.

Most of the craft shows I did now blur together in my memory, but there is always one standout: the RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR in Chicago. It always had the MOST shoppers, the BEST weather (usually), the COOLEST vendors, and it's in Chicago! It's the city of endless awesome restaurants, AND they serve Bloody Marys with beer chasers! What's not to love? 🍺

With my craft show days long behind me, I have not been to Renegade Chicago in many years. I do miss the show, and I miss the city!

Fast forward to my recent interest in embroidery (thank you, Craftcation!), I am now following some incredible embroidery artists on Instagram. One of those artists is Sarah K. Benning. She wrote an entire book called Embroidered Life, and it's so full of inspiration! 

Well, lo and behold, Sarah posted to Instagram that she would be exhibiting at Renegade this year. "SIGH," I thought. "I would love to go and see her booth."

Then I remembered I am a grown ass lady and I can go to Chicago for a couple of days if I want to! So I booked a flight, grabbed a friend, and we went to Chicago for a whirlwind 36 hours of amazing fall weather and indie shopping!!

It. Was. Everything. 

My first stop right when it opened was Sarah K. Benning's booth, obviously, and I bought an original coffee-themed piece she made, plus a plant-themed "stick & stitch" kit that I can't wait to use.

After my mission was accomplished, we spent the next few hours exploring the other booths. My friend Lindsay and I both fell for the artwork of Jill Kittock, and we each bought a print. I can't wait to get more of her work in the future!

I also bought some soap, incense, an ornament by an old craft show buddy Paper Parasol Press, and a bracelet (shhh it's a birthday gift for my mom). I took a ton of business cards, and I will be bringing some of these amazing artists into the shop, so stay tuned!

It's our birthday!! As part of the festivities, I am answering 15 questions to celebrate 15 years of making jewelry! 

Question 2: Who is Zero?

Also known as "Which one of you is Zero?" - the most commonly asked question in our craft show tent. How many times did I have to fake a smile when asked that question? The world will never know.

Zero is my dog. Well he was my dog. He died a few years ago. He was a Jack Russel who was living life 110% until one day his age caught up with him overnight. I hear that's how Jack Russels are. 

He was a personality and a half. Totally neurotic and way too smart - he failed out of obedience training because he was too stubborn. He was sweet but a HANDFUL. I appreciated his big personality but sometimes I just wanted him to slow down and relax! 

 He was such a nut!

It's our birthday!! As part of the festivities, I am answering 15 questions to celebrate 15 years of making jewelry! 

Question 1: What was your earliest logo?

Let me begin by saying I designed it myself. Let me finish by saying I majored in graphic design for only one semester. It was - ahem - the 1990's; the minute we switched from hand-drawing graphic design to computer-only graphic design I changed my major to Studio Art. I did not want to be tied to a computer all day - lololololol.

I can’t find an actual image file because it was 15 years ago - when I still had a Dell, dude! Who even knows what program I used to design it! What design software was on PC computers 15 years ago?

You can see this early logo in all its glory on a banner from my very first craft show in Clarksville, TN in April 2006. 

It's a look.

Fun fact about my first show: the first day was 10 hours long and I sold one pair of earrings. All. Day. It was a rough start, but I was not deterred! I made those earring displays myself and adorned them with sushi grass. I felt so creative.

Listen, we all have to start somewhere.