I’ve been busy getting ready for my very first craft fair–The Renegade Craft Fair–which is next weekend in Brooklyn. Renegade travels to multiple cities each year–it kicked off in Austin in May. Here are two of the lovely crafters who were at the fair in Austin.

Lora of b.bags began her business in 2008 with some experimenting, which I am very familiar with. I’ve been thinking lately about how sewing (and crafting in general) is 90 percent trial and error. Just finding the right design that works for you can take a long time. But if you stick with it, like Lora, you can find your groove. Every b.bag is handmade using upcycled materials, which is the practice of taking useless items and creating something new. This purse is extra eco-friendly because it serves two puposes at once—you can wear the bangle around your wrist, and the purse is both a place to put your trinkets and a stylish way to hit the town. I like the way the linear stitching on the applique. I also appreciate that Lora takes care to ensure each item she designs is durable and will last for a long time. For more information about b.bags please check out Lora’s Facebook page and her blog.

Jenny Rinzler,owner of Ciuccio Baby, realized early in life that it’s actually easier to learn how to make things that you want. Jenny started making clothes for her dolls (so did I!) and it evolved from there. After years of experimenting–a hippie dress made out of butterfly pattern sheets that didn’t quite make the runway–Jenny decided to try her hand at making a full size quilt as a wedding gift for her best friend. Well that project was so labor intensive Jenny thought perhaps the first quilt would also be the last. But then inspiration struck—she’d just make smaller quilts. She calls her mini-quilts “loveys” and they are just that–a perfect perch for a baby, a comfy blanket for a toddler, and a sweet soft memory of a loving childhood. Exactly what you want in a first-rate security blanket.

P.S. If you’re in Brooklyn June 5th and 6th, stop by to see me! I’ll be at a booth I’m sharing with my childhood friend (next door neighbor! Jennifer Cooke of Raeburn Ink… Jen also has a new book coming out soon about customizing t-shirts.