Krrb Blog, Neighborly living

All around artistic power-house Faythe Levine has been neck deep in the American indie craft scene since releasing her film Handmade Nation in 2008. Currently in production on The Sign Painter Movie—co-directed with Sam Macon—all about the art of hand-painted signs, Faythe is a seemingly non-stop visitor to airports of every shape and size. Though the making of both films has taken her far and wide in her exploration of makers and their various art forms, her heart—and home—remains in Milwaukee. Eight years ago Faythe started her holiday fair, Art vs. Craft, to highlight the many talented designers right in her own back yard and give them a place to sell and showcase their wares.

With 3,000 plus visitors and over 100 vendors this one day event has proven to be the place for Milwaukee residents to connect with makers from all over the Midwest and get some serious shopping done. You can see many of them here on Krrb but we thought we’d pull out a few of Faythe’s favorites in the coming days. Take a look at the first selects below and look for a few more gems next week.

If you’re in Milwaukee don’t sleep—get to Art vs. Craft on Saturday, November 26th and score some gifts for friends, family, and yeah, yourself. Go ahead, you deserve it!

Amanda Tollefson

Amanda’s work is a colorful, humorous look at modern life in many mediums. Grab a sculpture, painting, quilt or collage and make your day.

Beth Eaton

Beth Eaton’s pottery is a mix of whimsy and high skill. Working mostly with dishware forms this is functional art at its finest.

Christina Ward

All of Christina Ward’s Creatures come with great back-stories so each plush pick-me-up has a life history they bring with them. Aqua Blue Piggie is a “nice pig,” she explains but he’s inspired by not so nice pigs she encountered on her grandfather’s farm growing up.

Delia Sophia

Everyone needs a cutting board and not just any old cutting board. The strange thing about cutting boards is that for such a utilitarian object they can bring unheard of joy to your life. Particularly these by Delia Sophia.

Erin Paisley

Erin Paisley crochets, embroiders and paints and she does it all damn well. Take your pick of 2 or 3-D work and go home a happy camper.

Fine Line Magazine

Founders Jessica Steeber and Cassandra Smith describe Fine Line as “a hybrid between a gallery and a traditional magazine; free of all advertising, reviews, previews and biographies, it instead encourages the viewer to develop their own understanding of and relationship to the ideas presented.” What more do you need to know? Grab a copy or better yet, subscribe.

Isabear Designs

If we are going to be forced to carry around bulky electronic equipment the rest of our lives we may as well do it in style. Thanks to Isabelle Debionne we may now be able to do just that. Debionne’s fabric collages provide safety for your electronics and a bit of wonder for your mind.

See you next week when we will bring you more of Faythe’s selects to help get you prepped for exploring Art vs. Craft on Saturday, November 26th and beyond.