SHOW: This Saturday - Firehouse 8 Fundraiser

This Saturday is "Shop Small Business Saturday" - and there's no better way to celebrate than by helping this retail/art/design/community hub get off the ground. We'll be joining other local SF artists, designers, and more at a fundraiser for Firehouse 8, the impressive community vision of Teresa Nittolo, owner of Molte Cose and Belle Cose shops.

It takes quite a bit of energy, time, and money to remodel a historic landmark firehouse, transforming it into a go-to gathering spot - but that is exactly what Teresa and her partner Gavin are doing. If you're in San Francisco for the holiday, I hope you can join me and other local SF creatives at Saturday's fundraiser, and let your holiday shopping dollars help bring this much-anticipated hub for artists, community-building, and small business to life!

About Firehouse 8, from the venue's web site:

Creating A Collaborative Space & Creative Environment

• Our goal is to meet, socialize, educate and flourish together.

• The first floor will be mixed retail and coffee supporting local artisans, suppliers & vendors.

• The second floor will be a community assembly space available for rental: seminars, meetings, gallery openings, weddings & special occasions. We will host events with local talents, artists, chefs, musicians, photographers, speakers & writers. This space will be a philanthropic hub geared towards programs for children and our local fire department.

• Firehouse 8 is a creative environment where art and commerce merge to form a unique space. Together we hope to inspire preservation and growth in our community.

 More info about Saturday's event on their Facebook page:

Holiday Bazaar Fundraiser for Historic Firehouse Landmark #188

CHILLIN' in San Francisco - December 3rd!

If you're in the San Francisco area, I hope you can come party and shop at CHILLIN' - an amazing shopping/club/art/fashion event series put on by artist promoter Irene Hernandez-Feiks. 200 artists, 80 fashion designers, 6 DJs, with live painting and video installation at the event.

It promises to be epic. This event has a ten-year history of promoting artists and designers, giving them a wild, fun venue. Come play and do your holiday shopping at the same time!

All 'MARAL RAPP | Modern Vintage Works' will be 20% off at the show.

---

 
Chillin' Productions presents:

Saturday December 3, 2011
  
200 Artists
80 Fashion Designers 

Video Installation by:
Kent Bates
 
Music by:
DJ Big Happy
DJ Dirtyhertz
DJ Felina
DJ Irene Hernandez-Feiks
Rondo Brothers
DJ Russell Vargas
 
Live Painting by:
Daniel J Valdez
Jasper Thomas
Sean Sczepanik
Steve Javiel
 
 
When: December 3, 2011
8:00pm-2:00am
Where: Mezzanine
444 Jessie Street, SF CA 94103
Cost: $10 at the door
Must be 21+ID
 
For more information go to:
chillinproductions.com

Score

Today was an extremely busy day preparing for Friday's show, but please take a look at the very best part—the perfect vintage mesh score:

front                                                                                                            back

It's exactly what I look for in one of these bags. Aside from general damage to the frame and mesh, this bag was so well-loved, used so frequently, that the back side's enamel color is almost entirely worn away. This happens as the bag rubs up against the body of the wearer over and over again. Even the front of this one is well-worn...

front                                                                                                            back

Some imperfect bags are considered damaged because they have manufacturing flaws—bubbled or crazed enamel, for example—but were never used very much. This bag's unique finish has been created over many, many years—and many, many years ago... not by some trendy, newly-applied, "distressed-style" finish, but by genuine love and enjoyment.  By being in the world!

What's left, especially when viewed up close, in small sections (as would be seen in an earring, for example...), is a field of glittering gold speckled with an abstract smattering of thrashed color.  A miniature modern masterpiece.

Headed off to clean and prepare this beauty before giving it a new look, new life, and hopefully many, many more years of love and enjoyment to come. Look for new jewelry soon!

xxxxooo

Costuming: Drag Queen Bee

As I'm too busy with jewelry work to even think about costuming this year, I thought I'd share some pics from Halloween past...

TRUNK SHOW: candlelight, cocktails, costumes, and creations - in Hayes Valley

Come see the jewelry at this Hayes Valley - evening - trunk show! One week from Friday, The Blue Muse restaurant/bar in SF will have candlelight, cocktails, costumes(!), and local designers' beautiful creations.

 

All 'Maral Rapp | Modern Vintage Works' will be 20% off.   I hope you can come!

Halloween Trunk Show
Friday, October 28
8:30p - 11:30p (costume contest, with prizes, at 10:00)

The Blue Muse
370 Grove St (@ Gough) Hayes Valley
San Francisco
(415) 701-9888

Illustration via  event's Facebook page

Treasure Island Music Festival

Along with the ferris wheel rides, games, food, creative vendors and happenings, and of course--the music, Kelly Malone of Workshop SF created a huge, interactive, DIY/game/campsite area. People were having a great time building terrariums, sewing, chilling in the outdoor lounge - complete with comfy sofa and coffee table - or lounging in one of several pillow-strewn teepees... She makes a thoroughly welcoming environment, and people really enjoyed it.

But let's talk about the lovely festival-goers who came to my booth! I have such fun meeting people who love this mesh, and it's a special joy when they forgo the box and insist on wearing the jewelry right away. Here are three of several stylish gals who walked away wearing their recent purchases!

two-tier triangle station necklace   -   black and white fringed earrings   -   diamond inset banner earrings

This time the booth was simply a six foot table, so one small display had to rise to the occasion. Note to self: if you triple the display height it will be very difficult to see around it to greet people! Fortunately my neighboring designers were very friendly and let me shift around a bit...

By the end of the weekend quite a few of these pieces had found new homes. Sometimes it can be a little hard to say goodbye, and with several one-(or two)-of-a-kind pieces gone, I look forward to the next vintage bag find, and all the new jewelry it will inspire!

And finally, in case you didn't catch that poster on the far left side of the table... please see the latest jewelry model - so ably demonstrating that the mesh looks great on guys, too!

 

Next event will be an evening trunk show at the Blue Muse in SF. Come have a cocktail and shop the local SF wares! It's Halloween-themed, so we may opt for a costume... more details soon.

Indie Mart was so much fun!!

Kelly Malone has made a real scene with San Francisco's Indie Mart, drawing talented makers and musicians - it's a really good time. The weather was perfect, the music was great, and meeting so many people who love this jewelry as much as I do - well, it's the very best way to spend a day!

The beaming faces of happy customers is my new adrenaline -- makes the late nights and long days worth every one.

The wood displays are definitely an undertaking to transport - but once they're up it's such a nice space...

... and really makes it easy to see and shop all the jewelry.

Huge thanks to everyone who came by the booth - you made my day.  Now off to prepare for the next showing - Treasure Island Music Festival is this weekend!