Hey, look what we just got in!

I am so crushing on these Decoylab clocks! While pricing them yesterday, I nearly snatched up a Wooden owl one, but I resisted, and it ended up going home with someone else later that day (hence me not including its utter cuteness in this post). I’ve gotta admit that orange bouquet one is a close runner up in my heart, though. And the little bear– how cute would she be in a nursery? And the bird, and the cukoo clock… okayokay, I love them all.

Come check ‘em out in the shop and, for those of you far from Chicago, I listed them online, too (cuz I’m nice). There are even a couple more that I didn’t picture– some cool embossed paper ones. How’s about New Year’s present for that special someone? (Or yourself. Whatever. You deserve it.) They’re going fast, though, so time is of the essence (get it: “time”?! hahaha…)

Our third show in the Spotlight Gallery Series, the In Stitches Showcase, is about two and half weeks away from closing and I couldn’t let you get away with not checking it out!  If you’re in the Chicago area you really should come over and take a look at all the beautiful work we have on display in the gallery.  The pieces are incredibly affordable ($20 – $375) and perfect for gift giving – to loved ones who deserve a gift made with creative and attentive hands, or to yourself!  I, for one, am a fan of the “one for you, one for me” strategy!

Being surrounded by all this stitchery has given me a serious itch for stitching.  I’ve picked up the needle again!  In case you’ve got a case of stitch itch too, check out these awesome kits by Chez Sucre Chez. They come with a hoop, floss, a needle, aida cloth, and an original Chez Sucre Chez pattern.  She even throws in some instructions and an email address to send questions to.

Also, the 25th is just around the corner and tomorrow is the last day to purchase online and get your items before Christmas!  Of course after tomorrow you can still buy online and cross your fingers.  We always ship Priority Mail but we know the post office is just as crazy as we are in these last few weeks.  So get to to shoppin’ so we can get to shippin’!

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

Renegade Handmade (1924 W. Division, Chicago, IL) will be opening at 10AM on the weekends beginning Black Friday!

No need to fist-fight some guy over an animatronic hamster or brave chilly long-lines outside the same-old, same-old department store – Renegade Handmade has got something for everyone on your gift-giving list. Be it clothing, jewelry, cards, accessories, artwork, housewares, baby-stuff, guy-stuff, bath-stuff, hipster-stuff, crazy-stuff, sweet-stuff, even naughty-stuff – we’ve got it all!

We haven’t forgot you, online shoppers!

Renegadehandmade.com is always open and chock-full of handmade, affordable gifts!

Check out our under $25 section and Holiday section for stocking stuffers, seasonal goodies and great deals!

New products by craftspeople all over the world are added almost daily to our online marketplace of handmade-goods and all products purchased before 12/15 are sure to ship in time for holiday gift-giving!

Always free-to-attend and featuring over 150 craftspeople from all over the country, the 4th Annual Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Sale in Chicago will be held December 5 + 6 from 11am – 7pm at the Pulaski Park Fieldhouse!

A craft, art and design spectacular, the show also features free raffles + give-aways, a free-to-use photobooth, food for purchase from Treat Restaurant and Tipsycake, and alcoholic beverages for sale: beer! wine! bubbly! and our personal Yuletide favorite: mulled-wine!

Hitch a ride to the Craft Fair on our Holiday Trolley! Free-to-ride, the trolley will be stopping at these Wicker Park hot-spots: Renegade Handmade, Nina: A Knit Shop, Greenheart Shop and Small Bar! MORE INFO!

Listen up West Coast! We’ll be holding our San Francisco Holiday Sale on December 19 + 20 at the Fort Mason Center Herbst Pavilion! More details coming soon!!

Happy Holidays Everyone! See you soon!

Spotlight Series #3: The In Stitches Showcase opened this past weekend and our little gallery is looking mighty spiffy all decked out with the incredible work of 15 stellar stitchers from across the nation and beyond! Yes, ladies and gents, we managed to hang 90 individual pieces without a single busted fingernail – how’s that for spot-on hammering precision!?!

The showcase will be on on view in our Spotlight Gallery through the new year, but you should hurry in right away to make your claim on that extra special piece (or pieces!) you can’t live without!

Not in Chicago?? You can now shop for these fabulous artworks in our online shop! We hope to keep the artwork on view for gasps, sighs, ooohs and awwws until at least December 15th – at which date we will ship your selection out to you just in time for holiday gift-giving! Feel free to email us with any questions!

We’ll be updating the blog soon with closer looks at some of the artists in the show – so be sure to stay tuned!

A BIG thank you to the lovely and talented Jenny Hart for hosting a special in-store workshop for those that purchased her latest book, Embroidered Effects!  It was a true delight having Jenny in the shop and we had a fabulous time watching the participants hone their needle-crafty skills right there in our front window!

What a great way to spend a Saturday! Thanks again to each of the artists in the In Stitches Showcase, Jenny Hart, all of the workshop participants and everyone who turned out for the viewing party!

Clockwise: Atlantic Treefox, PinPals, Lucky Jackson, The Time is Now, Moxiedoll, Mucho Design, Lou Lou and Oscar, Pidge Pidge

We couldn’t be more excited for this Saturday’s big needlecraft celebration at Renegade Handmade!  Viewing party begins at 6pm with free refreshments and buckets of joy!

Fifteen stellar stitchers from all over the country and beyond have sent us some truly remarkable work to display as part of Spotlight Series #3: The In Stitches Showcase!!

Mary’s Granddaughter, Sissyfist, MummySam, Chez Sucre Chez

Just in time for holiday gift giving, The In Stitches Showcase represents the spectrum of styles that top-notch fabric/fiber artists are working with today. Over the past decade or so, needlecraft has experienced something of a rebel renaissance – with emerging artists updating this traditional craft practice in surprising and unexpected ways!

Gillian Bates, Miniature Rhino, Porterness

This is your last week to register for a special in-store workshop lead by the incredible Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching by purchasing her new book, Embroidered Effects, from our online store!  Jenny will be hosting the workshop from 4-6pm on Saturday and providing free materials for participants!  Jenny will then be sticking around for the viewing party of In Stitches and signing copies of her book from 6-7pm!

Start working on those French knots!

See you this Saturday!!

Thank You to everyone that turned out last Friday night for the Spotlight Series #2: Mike Perry viewing party!

We sure had a blast here at the store and are currently coveting all these fantastic posters, tees and totes we suddenly find in our Spotlight Gallery!

The show will be up here at Renegade Handmade till November 17th – so if you’re in the area, stop by any time and check it out!

For all you out-of-towners, you can now shop for Perry’s posters in our online store! Just follow this link – or read the rest of this post below…

Don’t forget – our next Spotlight Series event is dedicated to cross-stitch and embroidery, featuring an in-store workshop hosted by the fabulous Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching! Purchasing a copy of Jenny’s book Embroidered Effects from our online store guarantees you a spot at this special November 21st workshop – complete with complimentary materials and equipment from Sublime Stitching!

Click here to buy the book + follow special instructions for workshop sign up!

See + Shop For Perry’s Posters ::  Continue reading →