Time Out Chicago | September 2005

Who to see
...at this weekend's Renegade Craft Fair
Don't let the term "craft fair" fool you. You're more likely to see felt iPod cozies than cross-stiched kitten art at this weekend's Renegade Craft Fair. Started three years ago as an alternative to traditional craft bazaars, Renegade is bigger than ever, with 50 more vendors participating this year than last.

More vendors, obviously means more stuff. But if you are like us, you've grown tired of certain items that seem to pop up repeatedly at these indie-craft events: felt flower pins, saggy tote bags and those seemingly ubiquitous glass-bubble magnets. Instead of wading your way through the umpteenth table of look-alike bracelets, make a beeline to the vendors below who make on-of-a-kind finds that can renew your enthusiasm for all things DIY.

16 Sparrows
Sure Kathy Zadrozny's silk-screened paper goods are easy on the eyes, but their biting humor sets them apart from others. A to-do list ($8) commands "Get up off your ass and...," while a Victorian-style card reads, "I burn for you in the very deepest chambers of my heart...and in my underpants."