As we were standing in the mean June sun, Sebastian (who took all these pictures) asked why in god's name the Renegade is always held on the brutalest of summer days. I should have knocked on wood as I said, a know-it-all to the end, that it's the one time of year when it's guaranteed not to rain.
But it rained, and it rained hard. Luckily, by the time the skies opened, we had taken refuge at a table set on an uneven, creaky wood floor in a restaurant that, bless them, still observes happy hour.
But back to the fair: few things make me happier than seeing vibrant, creative people doing their thing. I am somewhat embarrassingly chatty with vendors, but I can't help it. To know what makes you happy takes serious smarts. To do what makes you happy takes tremendous guts, and to put it out there to the world takes a pluck I admire more than anything.
I walked away with beautiful prints by Jennifer Judd-McGee of Swallowfield and the marvelously joyous work of Julie Meredith of Etui (I scored that languorous lady in an inner tube above). It was such a thrill to see in person work I recognized from the online world, and also to fall in love with new things I'd never seen before. I've even got my eye on who I want to design our wedding invitations.
Assuming all work escaped unscathed from the downpour, it was a pretty terrific day of inspiration and creation, and the kind of sweltering heat that can only be followed by a super summer rainstorm. You can't ask for more than that.
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