My Handmade Finds This Weekend…
Two of the city’s best holiday craft shows went down this weekend and thanks to my penchant for gift-giving and handmade jewelry, I managed to completely deplete my bank account in just 48 hours. I am of course talking about Crafty Balboa Holiday and The Punk Rock Flea Market, both of which did not disappoint.
Crafty Balboa had so many amazing jewelry designers in attendance that I practically had to hold my hands behind my back like a kid in a candy shop. Meanwhile, PRFM seemed to have beefed up the number of vintage sellers this year, all of whom had plenty of goodies on their rack.
Since I couldn’t even begin to list my favorite vendors, I figured I’d just show you some of the awesome stuff I got and which awesome local artisan I got it from (excluding items I bought as gifts).
CRAFTY BALBOA
BirdQueen Designs, $12
While I came really close to paying full price for one of Gretchen Diehl’s handmade plastic statement necklaces, I opted to rummage through their reject-bin instead and found these two discounted treasures.
Rouge Theory, $25
Finally, a clutch big enough to hold my crap! Even better: they have a wide array of fabrics to choose from.
Bathtub Jungle, $5
Rather than pony up $60 dollars for their amazing Philly skyline necklace (which I’ve been dying to get), I opted to buy their ridiculous rubber chicken earrings instead.
Joey Five Cents, $15
By far my favorite vendor of the night! The line of repurposed vintage jewelry literally had something for every taste. Ultimately I decided against the more gaudy pieces and went with this simple leather wrap bracelet, which wouldn’t bug me all day.
PUNK ROCK FLEA MARKET
Most of my PRFM purchases were gifts, so unfortunately, I gots to keep them under wraps. But here’s two vintage items I bought for myself!
Shadow People, $3
Unknown Seller, $10
What To Do This Weekend
SATURDAY
Crafty Balboa Holiday: With more than 60 local art vendors in attendance, everyone on your list should be covered. If you’re shopping for your sister or mom, check out Penelope Rakov’s colorful blown jewelry and the sophisticated yet quirky textiles and wares of Kaye Rachelle Designs. For the men in your life, consider one of Recycled Rowhouse’s revamped pieces of furniture or the folklore-inspired books and prints of Huldra Press. This year’s event will also feature two fun new additions: a holiday-themed photo booth and a live print-your-own-wrapping-paper demo from South Philly’s mobile art studio, ColorWheels. Be one of first 50 shoppers to arrive and you’ll even score a free goodie bag. 11am. Free. SS Neumann Goretti High School, 1736 S. Tenth St.
Holiday Second Saturday: Before and/or after you hit up Crafty Balboa, be sure to stick around and wander through the neighborhood, as there will be all sorts of festivities going down. From 1-3pm, follow the holly jolly tunes of strolling musicians as they make their way up and down East Passyunk Avenue and stop by the Alphabet Garden (1631 EPA) to get your photo taken with Santa. Meanwhile, Sermania Jewelry (1719 EPA) will be slashing prices on their selection of bling and from 6-10pm., Nice Things…Handmade (1731 EPA) will host its 3rd Annual Ornament Show. Last but not least, grab a beer at Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar (1200 EPA) where Traveling Wares will be presenting an art and craft show to help raise money for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. Various times and locations.
DIY Christmas Gift Workshop: Save yourself some cash and get a little crafty as a group of skilled artists and crafters show you how to make everything from ornaments and homemade vanilla extract to a homemade clock and wreath. Some gifts may cost a few bucks, others are free. 12-4pm. $0-$10. Circle of Hope, 1115 S. Broad St.
Book Paper Scissors: Put down your Kindles and iPad for one afternoon and join the Philadelphia Center for Books in celebrating both old-school and contemporary book arts, printmaking and paper crafts. An array of vendors will be setting up shop inside the Free Library for this annual book fair, selling hundreds of affordable paper-based creations—everything from zines and origami to paper sculpture and jewelry. Meanwhile, guests of all ages have a chance to explore these art forms themselves during one of two free workshops. 10am. Free. Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St.
SUNDAY
Rejoice Craft Event: Tis the season to recycle and reuse! The skilled craftsmen (and craftsladies?) of Handmade Philly will be leading a workshop all afternoon, guiding the not-so-crafty in making their very own gifts and decoration. Not only will you be getting their advice and assistance free of charge, but all necessary supplies will be included. The Resource Center, a nonprofit center championing the creative reuse of various discarded materials, will have plenty of affordable, reclaimed materials for sale. Oh, and to top it all off, Philadelphia Brewing Co. will be bringing along some refreshments. 12-5pm. Free. The Resource Exchange, 2829 Cedar St.
Punk Rock Flea Market: Ah yes, the shopping event I’ve waited all year for. At this point, I probably don’t need to say very much about R5’s Productions’ annual shopping extravaganza considering how insane the turn out is. Though I swear they say this every year, supposedly this is going to be their “biggest one yet!” with over three hundred tables of anything and everything your heart could possibly desire. Personally, I find the best deals are with the miscellaneous personal vendors selling their unwanted items. Seriously, who sells a perfectly good pair of kitten heel shoes for $3? 10am-5pm. $3. The Punk Rock Flea Market-Dome, 461 N. Ninth St.
Sculpere Burn Workshop & Jewelry Sale: Looking to shed a few more lbs before Christmas, but still have some shopping to do? No worries, local designer and owner of Adorn Boutique, Sarah Lewis is going to help you kill two birds with one stone. Discover the Sculpere Burn, an intense full body workout that speeds up your heart rate ballet and slows it down with intervals of yoga, before heading downstairs and rewarding yourself with complimentary mimosas and 30 percent off the boutique’s amazing selection of handcrafted jewelry, accessories, clothing and gifts. 12-2pm. Free. Adorn Boutique, 1314 Frankford Ave.
Schuylkill Center’s Winterfest: Do a little shopping and a little crafting. A total of 25 local eco-artists will be onsite selling lovely gifts while other artists will be leading several different workshops throughout the day should you want to your own. Your options: a wreath, ornaments, cards/stationary, recycled art and jewelry. Starting at 6 p.m., you’ll even have a chance to do a little star gazing as you roast marshmallows on a campfire. 2-8pm. Free. Schuylkill Center, 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road.
Gifts For Her (Under $50)
That’s right–there’s great gifts out there for the ladies that don’t cost an arm and a leg. If you haven’t already, check out PW’s 2012 Giving Guide and return to this here blog next week as I shall be unleashing plenty more gift ideas.
Gifts For Him (Under $50)
For the first installment of PW Style’s 2012 Gift Guide, I figured I’d start with the fellas for a change. Most of the featured items are local with a few non-local items thrown into the mix for the sake of convenience (you know you’re going to probably wait till the last minute anyway).
I tried to take dudes of all types and ages into consideration, so whether you’re shopping for sports-loving father, your rocker boyfriend or you nerdy brother, here’s a few affordable gifts to consider.
Photos: Moon & Arrow Opening Party
So it’s official: Moon & Arrow is one of my top five favorite local boutiques. And considering the steady flow of people who pilled into the massive Fabric Row storefront on Saturday for the grand opening celebration, it appears I’m not the only one enamored with owner, designer and Philly native, Chelsea Pearce’s enterprise.
The shop is somewhat peculiar in that it not only houses a cornucopia of merchandise, but a mix of both vintage and handmade. In addition to Chelsea’s line of gemstone and reclaimed metal jewelry and her amazing handpicked selection of vintage clothing, the space is filled with all sorts of interesting antique treasures and home goods.
This includes, but certainly isn’t limited to, beautiful hanging terrariums, rugs and glassware to books, cameras and typewriters. While some of the furnishings and décor are her own thrift findings, others are that of Territory Hard Goods, which now co-inhabits the space.
Extending the olive branch even further, the shop also carries a few indie labels and is currently showcasing works from local artists, Caitlin McCormack and Jason Chen.
What’s really remarkable is that, despite how varied, all of these items manage to fit within Chelsea’s personal 
aesthetic, creating one cohesive and unique ambiance—a cross between a contemporary urban boutique and a warm Midwest cabin. Having serendipitously come dressed in cowboy boots and a denim button-up, I practically blended into the walls.
If you’re on the market for a pair of quality cowboy boots or nice winter coat/poncho, definitely consider Moon & Arrow your number one destination. Besides offering a lot of stellar choices, unlike most vintage stores in the city, Chelsea doesn’t jack up prices on certain items just because she knows people will pay them. Most of the jewelry, accessories and apparel falls in the $30-$60 price range. If an item does have a higher price tag, you know it’s because that’s how much its worth.
After ogling over everything and trying on a few outfits, I sat back with my glass of complimentary wine and popped open a hilarious book from the early 1900s on health and hygiene. It’s a good thing the only item the shop doesn’t have is a TV because then I probably would have never left.
Moon & Arrow is located at 754 S. 4th St. Hours are 12-7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 12-5 p.m. on Sunday.
Because Diamonds Really Are A Girl’s Best Friend…
To make sure the women of Philadelphia get what they really want this Christmas, TownHome Jewelry & Boutique has put together a rather genius two-part shopping event, targeting both the givers and the receivers out there.
First up, tomorrow (Wednesday) night, ladies are invited to come and peruse the boutique’s selection of designer adornments while enjoying wine and light bites from Rouge as well as a hot coco station. Whether it’s one of Heather B. Moore’s simple yet elegant customizable pendant necklaces or a unique, environmentally friendly bangle from Me&Row, there’s bound to be something that catches your eye.
Once you’ve decided which piece(s) you’d like to find under the tree, be sure to tell your beau (or leave hints) because on Dec. 11, the Rittenhouse treasure chest will be hosting a boys-only night featuring whisky cocktails from Whistlepig, and fare from Chef Marc Ventri.
So as not to discriminate, guests at both events will be entitled to a special 15 percent discount. In other words, single ladies can go ahead and buy their own damn bling.
Both events will be held from 5:30-8 p.m. at TownHome’s headquarters at 1616 Walnut St.
Find Some Holiday Cheer This Week
If all that holiday shopping over the weekend didn’t quite get you in the Christmas spirit, there happens to be several festivities going on this week that might do the trick.
The Pennsylvania Horticulture Society is temporarily taking over a 400 square foot storefront smack dab in the heart of Chestnut Hill offering exclusive, hand-selected holiday gifts not just for the green thumbs on your list, but design, culinary and Flower Show enthusiasts. More specifically, you can expect an array of unique home décor like vintage glass glitter ornaments and soy candle-ariums as well as a beautifully packaged tea set for two and advance tickets to the 2013 Flower Show, “Brilliant!” which will be bringing the gardens and landscapes of Great Britain here to Philly in March. The pop-up shop will also be hosting a series of special appearances, demos and on-site product samplings throughout December. In conjunction with Chestnut Hill’s “Stag & Doe Nights,” each Wednesday evening from 6-9pm, the shop will host a “Swag & Bow” event in which folks are invited to come and enjoy complimentary wine and cheese while taking part in some custom bow-making. Wednesday, 3-9pm. Open daily through Sun., Dec. 23. Free. Across from the Chestnut Hill Hotel at 8232 Germantown Ave.
Stop by Rittenhouse Square tomorrow night and join locals near the guard- house to watch their massive Christmas tree light up the entire park. Be sure to bring a new, unwrapped toy along with you as The Salvation Army will be there collecting donations for local children in need. You can also make a $10 donation by texting the word “JOY” to 80888. Wednesday, 5pm. Free. Rittenhouse Square.
The Gingerbread House Display/Fairmount Park Holiday Tours
Now on display inside the Shops at Liberty Place (Chestnut St. Entrance), ten local chefs have concocted elaborate gingerbread houses, each one representing a different Fairmount Park historic site including, Laurel Hill Cemetery, Mount Pleasant and The Please Touch Museum. The display is actually just a preview of the stunning, picturesque homes locals can see starting Dec. 1 when the Historic Houses of Fairmount Park Holiday Tours begin. Each of the mansions are decked out to the nines for Christmas and you have the option of touring them either alone by foot or via trolley. Display: Through Dec. 9. Tours: Dec. 1-9. Times, prices and locations vary.
Just in time for the holidays, InLiquid is offering a special preview of their annual Art For The Cash Poor event inside William Way all this weekend. Much like their signature summer event, an array of handmade arts and crafts will be on display for sale, with nothing priced higher than $199 and most items priced for less than $100. Got kids? Bring them along and send them over to the craft-making station. Can’t wrap a gift to save your life? There will be a station for that too. Fri., 5-8pm. Sat. & Sun., 12-5pm. Free. William Way Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.
Finally, there’s always of course Christmas Village in Love Park.