brandywine festival of the arts 2010

It was threatening rain all day today, but luckily the new Brandywine Festival of the Arts wasn't rained out. After all the controversy last year over its sudden cancellation, I was eager to get over there and see the new and hopefully improved fair which is now under new management.

Wooly Baby

Yay! Evidence of the indie craft movement infiltrating the fair was found! Delaware has been largely out of the loop of the modern craft being embraced in other cities of the Northeast, but I think we are ready for it now.  Josie Marsh's Wooly Baby booties and slippers, upcycled from leather jackets and wool sweaters, were drawing a crowd. Josie will also be exhibiting at Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair, the ultimate indie craft show, in Washington, DC on October 2.

Felt It

Next door at Felt It, business was brisk as well.

Felt It

Anne Messley uses Eco-Felt made from recycled water bottles and hand appliqués her whimsical designs onto onesies, tees, tooth fairy pillows, and wall hangings (the cool kind- stretched on embroidery hoops).

Jaime Zollars

Jaime Zollars brought her fanciful screen printed illustrations up from übercrafty Baltimore for the weekend.

Jaime Zollars

Her quirky images of vintage circuses and dark fairy tales are available as archival prints, postcards, t-shirts, and buttons. Jaime will be showing at the Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair as well.

Yummy & Company

Jennifer Wilfong of Yummy & Company, also from Baltimore, displayed a mix of recycled copper and hand formed low-fire clay jewelry.

Yummy & Company

The intricate patterns are achieved by etching through one layer to another. The effect is graphic, yet delicate at the same time.

Delanco Hats

Haberdashery is back for men of all ages. Jon Compton of Delanco Hats displayed his hats, upcycled from men's suitings, with vintage flair.

Delanco Hats

 Actually, no reason a woman couldn't wear one of these, especially the "newsie" style

Chris Murray

I just recently started bringing my kids with me on my craft show expeditions, and they really seem to get into it. My daughter marches right up to the artisans and asks them questions about how their pieces are made. We spent some time talking to Chris Murray about his carved wood bird sculptures and the many hours that go into some of the bigger pieces. These feather pins look like real feathers at a glance, but are actually expertly carved and painted wood.

My boy of course loved the blacksmith demo and was content to stay there indefinitely. From there, he was whisked off to the zoo, which was free to all today.

Although overcast, it was a pleasant day under the familiar canopy of trees in Brandywine Park.