San Francisco was Awesome!

I had a fantastic time in San Francisco. Renegade was incredible. I heard that 17,000 people came on Saturday and I’m not sure what the total was for the weekend. Our days afterward were filled with visits to wonderful places and first-time meet ups with internet friends.

We started our stay in San Francisco in an apartment that we found through airbnb. It was on a really steep hill, just a few blocks from the very windy Lombard St.

We had excellent views.

The venue at Fort Mason was wonderful- indoors, lots of light, wide aisles, real bathrooms and running water… Paradise! So many people came out to say hi- I was thrilled and a bit overwhelmed. If you came by and I had a dazed look on my face, that is why. I am not used to being around so many people! Thank you to everyone who stopped by, bought my work, said nice things, brought me presents (!). It was incredible busy and one sign of how good an event it was for me- I ran out of shopping bags!

So, I am sure I will be back! Here I am at my booth-

Isn’t that a fantastic photo? An amazing photographer, Sarah Deragon stopped by and took some shots. Then she sent me a link and said I could use them- for free– as long as I credit her. Wow! I am so grateful. Check out her website– she does amazing portraiture. Honestly, I met and interacted with so many nice people.

Here are my pics of my set-up-

And someone brought her tiny world to show me. So beautifully done and unfortunately my photo is blurry- sorry V. I love seeing the personal creative touches. She’d added yoyo’s around the edge!

At the end of the day on Sunday, my Sister-in-law picked us up and we went down to Santa Cruz for a few days and then later back up to Berkeley. Here is a quick list of the people I met up with-

Robert Mahar and Cathy Callahan of Cathy of California who were at Renegade with me. Michelle, who I (internet) met originally when she still had her craft blog going, Green Kitchen. I had dinner with Alice aka Futuregirl. And I spent a wonderful day with Sonya, both at her studio and some other places she took me to around town. I am always amazed at how comfortable it is for me to meet people that I’ve had an internet connection with- all the ice-breaking, explaining, proving ones self can be skipped over. We already “get” each other and speak the same language.

And the fiber art related places I visited:

– the Jean Paul Gaultier show at the de Young Museum. It was incredible- absolutely worth seeing if you can. I wish I’d had a whole day to spend just watching the videos of the fashion shows.

Castle In The Air is a fun shop with all kinds of little treasures for art making. They are famous for their German crepe paper and high quality glitter.  Hard to describe really!

– Tail Of The Yak (which doesn’t seem to have a website) was amazing, what can I say. They have a stuffed emu.

And they carry surprise balls by Anandamayi Arnold who unfortunately also doesn’t seem to have a website. There is a blog post about her and her botanical surprise balls here. I bought one that looks like a plum because I thought the beautiful lily would never make it home in my suitcase.

Sonya took me to Lacis, a store I’ve been hoping to visit for as long as I can remember. This is another place where I could spend a day, exploring and spending a pot of gold!

There were so many threads of various kinds- my idea of a thrill! Also, ribbons, lace, trims, tools, notions, books, wedding dresses, hats, buttons… honestly, I was in heaven.

After a delicious lunch we headed over to A Verb For Keeping Warm, a fabric/yarn shop/studio to visit and for me to buy some SF fabrics. I will try to get my act together and post photos of some of the treasures I brought home. As I said, an amazing trip!

Here is a public Google Map I made with places I went to and some places I wish I’d gotten to so will hopefully get there next time, all recommended by various people who know the area better than me. If you have favorite places that aren’t on the map, I’d love to add them so I will remember on my next trip out west.

8 thoughts on “San Francisco was Awesome!

  1. You really hit all the Top Spots. I can think of some others for your return trip! You really did so much. Again, it was really so wonderful to spend the day with you. I look forward to seeing you soon, be it me in Boston or you in San Francisco. xo Sonya

  2. Mimi, what an amazing trip! Looking forward to seeing some of your loot. Also? Hooray for meeting internet friends in person. I need to do more of that myself!

  3. I don’t comment much, but I sure do love your work! I go to all the stores that you listed as much as I possibly can, since I live in the bay area. LOVE Lacis. My daughter actually worked there for a short time. It is a treasure box isn’t it?! I could spent hours in there.

    Castle in the air does have a web page, http://castleintheair.biz/

    I have spent too much time in there as well.

    I just sent a lemon surprise ball to my daughter, who now lives in London, and really misses Tale of the Yak.

    I really wished that I had known you were going to be at the renegade craft fair. I would have gone :(

    Glad you enjoyed your trip!

  4. Congratulations on your amazing Renegade SF experience! Sarah Deragon’s photo of you really catches your excitement and pleasure at your time at the show/sale. Good for you for taking the extra time and exploring the delights of the area while you were there. Welcome home!

  5. Wow. So many cool things you did and people you met and visited. I’m so happy it was such a success. The photo of you is just beautiful. Your apron is so cool. Did you make it? Yes, SF and the surrounding areas is one of my favorite places in the world. Glad you’ll be doing it again next year.

  6. Wow! What a great post. Thanks for the map of all the wonderful places you went! Next time I’m up in the Bay area I’ll have to check some of them out. I lived in San Francisco for a couple of years in the early 70’s, and it’s one of my favorite places.

  7. I was just going through my notebook and saw the “Tail of the Yak” note. I googled it and up came your photo! :) I had such a fabulous time at dinner with you. What a great trip you had! xoxo.

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