Geez! What an amazing 2012! We have NEVER been more excited about the fairs and all of the amazing attendees and vendors involved. It was a difficult task, but out of the thousands of photos we took in 2012 we each chose three that represented our favorite moments this past year.

One of my favorite new things we’re doing at the fairs is having artists create one of a kind installations to make the atmosphere at the fairs even more dynamic and awesome.  So I was really excited to see all of the beautiful photos that came from Sayuri’s Jellyfish installation at the RCF Chicago Holiday Market.  If you’re on Instagram, check out the hashtags #urbanaquarium and #sayurisworld to see more magical photos of the Jellies.

Another one of our installations made my top three favorite photos for 2012, featuring a giant owl chalkboard made by Class Attire for the RCF Brooklyn Holiday Market.  It was awesome and fun to have, and people loved interacting with it and making their mark at the fair.  We hope to see more of these in Renegade’s future!

This photo shows Stephanie Ritten of the SF State University Student Textiles Guild making a beautiful woven scarf on a loom they brought out to the RCF SF Holiday Market for demonstrations.  It was so fun to watch her, and really inspired me to see her weaving something right on the spot using that beautiful wooden loom (all decked out with lights to boot!).

I LOVE everything that Nourishing Notes makes, and I love even more that the makers behind these food-inspired notes + tea towels are some of the warmest, smiliest folks I’ve ever met. I ran into the Nourishing Notes team at a restaurant recently (not a surprise that they are fans of great food!), and even outside of the realm of Renegade, they were so sweet and fun to talk to. I love reminders of what a small and great world this is, and the Nourishing Notes team makes it easy to remember that.

I am always a sucker for the younger crafters and makers among us, and Ella Grzeca is such a savvy entrepreneur, I had to include her in my favorite photos. I have purchased one of her limited edition prints for a few fairs in a row now, and I’m always so excited to see what she’s making. Her dad Dan Grzeca might have a little more experience, but Ella’s a major up-and-comer, that’s for sure.

This photo combines vintage wares and Christmas, two of my favorite things. I loved the Winkeland booth at the Los Angeles Holiday Market, and majorly coveted one of their wreaths made from repurposed ornaments. I didn’t come home with one this time, but there’s always next year.

It was so exciting this year to finally host our first ever Brooklyn Holiday Market.  I don’t know which part made me more happy, the incredible Manhattan skyline backdrop, or the customize-able chalkboard skyline specially made for the affair by Class Attire.

The Old Truman Brewery is definitely one of my favorite RCF venues.  This photo is special to me as it features both the massive crowds which fill Brick Lane constantly as well as our awesome moths banner, the installation of which (atop a 20 ft ladder in a throng of people) is the only part of my job which is truly terrifying.

I don’t know what to say except that being immortalized on your own hand thrown and painted ceramic mug can pretty much make your day. Special thanks to Lerf Ewe.

Not only a great cause, but a cute pup!  What’s not to love about this smushed-face fido.  If only all the fairs could have dogs walking around. (The Chicago English Bulldog Rescue)

I loved these crazy, seemingly tedious cutouts from Rosie + the Boys.  She actual cut her sign for her display the night before – how insane is that.  And as everyone should know, I love mushrooms.  Anything with mushrooms always captures my attention.

Thanks to their participation at the Chicago Holiday Sale, I got to know a little about the Rebuilding Exchange.  Their job training and workshops sound so cool, that I’ll be sure check them out in the New Year.  If only I had known about them before!

I love when we capture attendees and artists making a $$$ transaction, an attendee having a nice conversation with a vendor, and in this case someone grabbing a business card. Business cards are a small but integral part of a vendors success during and beyond the fair! One of my favorite things (if not my very favorite thing) about being involved with RCF is knowing that we (the Renegade crew) can be a part of these amazing artist’s small business stories. (I also love The Victory Garden of Tomorrow’s work featured in this picture!)

We decided to challenge ourselves this year to make our info booth, and the overall look of the fair more handmade in 2012. Our info booth featured hand painted signs, and merch collaborations with RCF Artists (not to mention our merchandise was all 100% American made). This year it was a rustic, Americana theme…hard to top…wonder what we’ll end up doing next year? We also asked artists to create installations throughout the fairs, and we got into making some decorations and installations of our own. This handpainted sign features some of the libation selections for our 2012 Chicago Holiday Sale. MMMM mulled wine!

BRYR CLOGS. OMG. Let’s talk about New Year’s resolutions. My number one resolution is to save enough money to buy a pair of these babies in 2013. When we saw their application we all freaked out. Beautiful work, great booth and a nice photo!

We love our artists, attendees and followers so very much. We can’t thank you enough for such an amazing 2012. Here’s to…dare we say it…an EVEN BETTER 2013!!!!

THANK YOU and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Love, Susie, Mat, Sarah, Justin & Madelon