The indie art scene, craft fairs, and local designer showcases are some of my favorite parts of San Franciscan culture. This past weekend was San Francisco’s biannual Indie Mart, where local artists, designers, and crafters set up booths and sold their pieces. A BYOB and crafts block party, you could say. Drinks and food galore, namely the amazing chicken and waffles stand that I may or may not have frequented approximately three times. Graphic tees, baby clothes, jewelry, vintage pieces, homemade candles, hats, and even feather hair extensions were being sold. The beauty of these craft fairs is that the venders usually sell their pieces at a lower price point than they would on their websites or Etsy sites. This generosity being the result of the artists getting to keep the full profit from their sales, as opposed to sharing it with a shop or host site. This is not the end to the Indie Mart fun though. Attached to Potrero Hill’s Parkside Café stood a free photo booth with many a prop option, live DJs, and a chance to join in on the creativity with DIY terrariums. I couldn’t have imagined a better venue to spend one’s Sunday Funday.
The stars of the show, not only according to myself, but having overheard Wonderland SF owner Irene Hernandez-Feiks: Ramsi Handmade Jewelry and Molly Cruit’s The Urban Smith. It may have been the constant party filling the tent behind Ramsi and Molly’s table that drew shoppers in, but it was their sheer talent and individuality that really made an impression. While their aesthetics are different, Ramsi and Molly’s styles blend well together and are one of a kind. Ramsi has a more delicate feel to her necklaces, showcasing details such as sharks teeth, antique watch faces, sequins, and vintage bus tokens. Her other stand out pieces: hammered silver and/or gold ring stacks, clustered wire-wrapped rings, and a dainty version of the oh-so-popular two finger ring. Molly’s designs are a bit edgier with gold to silver ombre metals, chunky stones, words and phrases stamped on gold plates, and actual bullet casings from the SF Police Academy. Check these talented ladies’ designs out at http://www.etsy.com/people/Ramsi and Molly’s at www.theurbansmith.com.
