Parade day is always good exercise. If you don’t get up at five to stake your claim (which we don’t), you do a whole lot of walking (which we do). Sometimes through parts of town you’ve never seen before. I figure we did about twelve blocks round trip to find Cam and Lorri.
So after the parade, shoot – we did a little more parking and walking to hit the farmer’s market. I love shooting in the market – the colors are so vivid, and the wares so real. I am a sucker for things that real people have made with their own hands. The market has deteriorated lately a bit – some booths have become slightly jumble sale, but worse, others are hawking cheap imported junk and greasy food. But there are still actual farmers, many of them really, and people who work in leather or glass – like the glassblower who made Char’s necklace birds.
So I am mixing here pictures I took on the 4th with some I took a few weeks before, when Chaz and her buddy started their jewelry making biz and sat a booth themselves, in kimonos. I’d have taken pictures of the actual Freedom Fair market, but it’s really gone down hill as far as welcoming actual artists and making it possible for them to afford to participate. Instead you get insurance companies and spas and really greasy food and imports. Except for Jean Clay, who makes whimsical animals and Ed Ham who is a GREAT potter. And really, that festival air? I get that feeling every Saturday, 4th of July or no, down here.
These guys live in Quint and Gigi’s stake, up on the hill. I want them to live near me. I bought a skirt, but I have to fix it a little before I can were mine to church. Rachel and I will be TWINS. (Don’t I wish?)
The lovely Noah and her hunky hubby. She works at the university, but makes felt sushi on the side.
Real farmers. Real food.
Okay – he looks like a real farmer, but this is DEFINITELY not food.
The book-binder. Her books are SO DANG COOL. If you want one, email me. They cost from about $25 on up – wonderful papers on the cover, all kinds of bindings.
The Great Goms. Fabulous work. Wonderful people. Custom work or great stuff like this. They’ll even teach you to do it yourself, then hound you till you do more –
And just down from the Goms: CHAZ. She and her bead buddy set up shop a couple of weeks ago and ended up in a lovely but quiet side path.
Preeze to buy our jewwry.
Cute, huh? Wanna see Chaz’ stuff? Huh? Huh?
Here are my favorites. These little birds were lampworked by a local artist. WE designed the birds, he made them live in these fabulous colors. I love their perky shape.
See? I LOVE them. Each charm has a good-life word on it. Rachel is wearing the red love. I can’t remember who has the yellow happiness. Wait, wait. Was it you, Misty? Speak up, you! But more such can be made. Not exactly the same, but close.
See? I really REALLY love them. This is the picture she uses for them on Etsy.
She is hungry for beads and color and shape. All of these on black are on Etsy. This is just a sampling.
Rachel, getting her pre-show family first shopping done.
Hot-cha. If you want to see the rest, her shop is http://chajiko.etsy.com. You won’t find her by searching her name. Their sellers’ find is kind of lame, actually. But if you do go, and you enjoy, drop a comment and I’ll pass it along. She’d LOVE that.
A really, really nice lady from whom Chaz and I bought a gift for Gin. But don’t tell Gin. It’s a cool thing, if Chaz actually unbent enough to buy it from somebody else . . .
These strawberries just killed me. They were glowing – beckoning. But they were also a touch pricy, and I still hadn’t finished the ones I had at home .
And, best for last – the BROOM GUYS. This couple makes GE-OR-GEOUS brooms in the traditional way. Each one is a bit of art, really. Craft because of the workmanship, art because of the whimsy and history, which raises what they do from tool to concept and design element. These are truly beautiful. I finally bought one after trying out about a dozen over the last month. I had to find the right size and shape – because I’m going to use this sucker, but I’m also going to hang it right out on the wall. The husband is also a cooper.
Some of the brooms are so darned artsy, you really couldn’t use them easily. And I wouldn’t use them for Quiddich (sp), either, because you’d have balance problems. But they are unquestionably speedy. We carried ours all over the fair and stopped several times to give lectures on its charms.
So that’s it. People making things, turning time and loose materials into something beautiful or yummy (dirt, air and a seed into an ONION!! MAGIC!!). It’s not easy to sit the booths. I baby-sat the girls’ for a while to let them have a break, and even though I’m a great hawker, I didn’t sell much. Tell you what, though – here is a picture of how EVERY ONE of them feels when you buy something they’ve slaved over and beaten themselves silly till they could let it go:
to be continued:
The beautiful Chaz
Oh my goodness! This looks so fun! Okay. Here are my thoughts:
1) I completely agree about the Freedom Festival “craft fair”…where are the crafts?! Sure I like Jambas and stuff, but that’s not what it’s there for! I miss the traditional. I miss the actual craft.
2) So, WHERE was this farmers market you speak of? Is that where the book binder (I want to see those…does she have a site or something?), brooms, art, and skirt place (I bought a skirt from Kenya at the Freedom Festival– the one redeeming quality) are, too? Was it just for the 4th? I’m so sad I missed it….
3) I love the etsy store! The jewelry is so simple but so vibrant. Each piece gives off a different personality. Love.
The Fair is every Saturday down in that park with the gazebo across from Alberstons on Center and 5th. From nine till two, I think. The beaded skirts are often at that fair – Rachel bought one there for next to nothing, and it shimmers in the sunlight. There are also several rock people who cut stones and set them in silver wire – just tons of stuff. And the obligatory hair ornaments. Even a guy who I think may make chain-mail – he does bracelets like that. Really, really fun. Oh – and sub-zero ice cream. They make it right in front of you. And lavender lemonade and tons of handmade soup and lotions.
Kwistin – we need to call that Freedom Festival office and give them what for. They charge too much for booths, and real artists can’t afford them – not and price things so that people can actually afford their stuff. Did you go to the Salt Lake Art thing? I always want to go, but I never remember when it is. Oh, and I already replied to give you the Farmers’ info. Chaz really appreciated your comments on the jewelry. She lit right up, so you should come over and get a big fat kiss!!
I absolutely second everything you said here and can yell it from the tops of the mountains that Chaz’s jewlery is just fabulous and if I could buy them all I would and no one else could have any!! But I can’t……..so I have to share……….sigh……
The brooms! I have GOT to get me one. Someday, I’m gonna own one of those brooms. Mark my words……I’m gonna get me one. Hopefully, the broom maker can outlive the danged economy so I can buy one from her some year!
And woman! Twinner you already are so what you grouchin’ wishin’ bout?
Chickens! You forgot to tell everyone that you can buy chickens there too which I was gonna do myself don’cha know but…….reality hit yesterday when I was down in the dumpsters and I can’t take care of my yard……how can I take care of chooks? So ya…..another someday……..
Will you live out my dreams for me??? That would be swell!
Rachel – you’ll have to try mine on for size. They took it with them to put a finish on it, because it was so hot off the loom, it had been born right there in the booth. Cool!! And I did forget the chickens. But then I thought about what kind of picture those two dour farmers would make – and I’m still laughing, Maybe this week.
That Chaz is so darn cute!!! and talented! (as is the whole family for that matter) I LOVE her jewelry!!! what a proud mom you have to be!
Oh how i love the lifestyle there, and your amazing photography with your down to earth descriptions. kinda like norman rockwell. how lucky you are to live in Utah with so many clean-cut, wholesome people, unlike california!
Jackie – thank you so much. The lifestyle isn’t as romantic as it may appear. I only take pictures of the cool stuff. But we’d love to have you guys here. Also, you’ve gotta know that we also have a wide range of not so clean-cut, wholesome folks. We’ve got red-necks and gang guys and bums and you already know we’ve got weirdos, because you spent the afternoon with us. But all-in-all, I am overwhelmed with the goodness of our neighbors and the general good-will you find here. And even the afore-mentioned interestingly diverse folks can be pretty nice. Still, I wouldn’t walk the streets of any of our cities too late at night . . .
You are so right about the Freedom Festival fair going downhill. What a disappointment. I want to see ART. Not reproductions. I’ll have to go to Swiss Days. Anyone want to come?
Can we all go to the Farmer’s Market together some day? That would be fun.
Kath – Like I said to Kwistin – we need to CALL those guys and complain about it.
Yeah…the economy is pretty terrible, but I want my craft fair, dang it! I can’t believe that the fair you talked about is ever Saturday! I had no idea! Is that in general, or just a summer thing? I definitely just put in on my calendar. Thanks for the info! I didn’t go to the Salt Lake one…I never know when it is either! I’ve been once before and really enjoyed it. I get all sorts of inspiration by just walking around events like those. And I’m glad that Chaz liked my comments. She deserves to know when she’s doing a good job. :)
ps, I smiled when I saw that you heard Coldplay and thought of us> :) …surgery?
I know. I feel the same way. I remember a time (like LONG ago) when it was mostly craft stuff – quilts and wall art and carvings – instead of greasy ethnic foods and cheap imports. I only like handmade when I can look into the face of the artist or craftsman RIGHT THERE. Yeah. Every Sat through, I think, October. Have you been to Swiss Days?
Yeah – I had a major vein that hadn’t had working valves for about as long as Cam has been alive. And my leg was turning into an aging blood repository. I will not go softly into that dark night of age, man – if I’m going, I’m howling all the way.