Few things make my heart pitter-pat the way something hand made does. Over the weekend, I attended the Renegade Craft Fair and the combination of like-minded, crafty folks + gourmet food trucks + gorgeous California weather made for a perfect day.

Sure there were several vendors selling crocheted refrigerator magnets (albeit cute ones), but betwixt and between were some extraordinary finds. Here are just a few of the highlights.

The Bocket Store is a gem of a place. The name alone makes we want to burst into a Seuss-ian soliloquy. Sarah Bocket searches for vintage wooden bowls and then painstakingly paints the interiors with teeny tiny arrangements of dots. Somewhere between Seurat and Mother Nature, these vintage lovelies are perfect for corralling your stuff on a coffee table or dressing table. I think I’d display one on end on a bookshelf.

Small Adventure

Next up is Small Adventure, a great line of charmingly illustrated posters, calendars, greeting cards, and paper goods. What I like about Small Adventure is that the work isn’t cute for cute’s sake. The motifs are unique and many of the sentiments behind each drawing are about outdoor adventure. Perfect for my friend’s 6 year old son or for my 60-something year old father, these drawings elevate simple objects to an artistic, almost anthropological level, while infusing them with a sense of humor. Check out the letter “O” in the Alphabet Adventure.

Alphabet Adventure

Della was one of the best discoveries of the Holiday Market. Products with a social mission are always more enticing, but are virtually impossible to pass up when they are made as beautifully as Della’s. (Look for future blog postings about companies aimed at making a positive social impact.) Far from run of the mill (yikes, no pun intended), Della’s designs are current, happy, bright and would certainly brighten the drab exterior of any Nook or iPad. I was particularly fond of the totes with their cross body straps and roomy pouch.

Della Tote

My favorite find of the fair was Vaalbara Designs. I liked the designs so much, I neglected to take a single photo. A shining example of all that is good in the hand made world, Emily Prescott sources vintage textiles and marries them with supple California leather to make clutches and pouches. Prescott makes it all look so easy with the addition of a simple tassel and custom made metal arrowhead which complete the indie one-of-a-kind vibe. Now all I have to do is decide which one I’m gonna get for Christmas.

Antique Aquinnah Clutch (Large) from Vaalbara Designs