Thanks to the amazing and wonderful Jeanne for providing us with a lovely guest post on Indie Craft Parade – make sure you stop by her blog, Drive-Thru Monologue.

The Indie Craft Parade was an ice cream sundae—all sorts of your favorite delicious treats poured or sprinkled or squirted on MORE of your favorite delicious treats. It really was the nicest evening of friends, family, food and love all in the name of handmade expression, colors, textures and mediums.

Before I delve into my experience, let me give you some background. I’m not an art show junkie, crafter, musician or designer. I’m fairly mainstream (as much as I’d like to think I’m not). I rarely create with anything other than words or pasta and tomato sauce. At times I have tried to discuss art, but my ears almost melted off my head in embarrassment for how dumb I sounded. Basically, I’m a consumer. All that to say, the event was NOT exclusive. It really was for everyone—connoisseurs and consumers alike. I believe the ICP accomplished its mission of presenting crafts to and interacting with the local community (community being a general term to emphasize the universal appeal of the ICP to all types of people, young and old).

Now onto the good stuff (picture my arms flailing and my mouth and eyes getting really excitable—this is how I’d look if I was verbally relating my story).

(Read more of the 411 and view pictures of ICP goodness after the jump!)

Upon arrival at around 7:00, a large crowd of people lined the sidewalk outside the entrance. A buzz was in the air for sure. Some people turned away, but most who arrived and took in the scene ended up getting in line. After about thirty minutes (which flew by fairly quickly anyway), three friends, my sister and I made our way inside and up the stairs of the Huguenot Mill.

You sort of had to blink 2 or 3 or maybe 12 times to take it all in. The ICP itself had its own brilliant color and design scheme—colored bunting and signage united the whole show.

And then there were the 77 artists each with their own products and ideas. I appreciated the artists’ vulnerability—really, they display pieces of themselves for us to love, admire and treasure (for a nominal fee, but what is money in the name of self-expression?).

I didn’t come across a booth where I didn’t want to swipe the entire table clean of its contents and straight into my bag. Here are some favorites (By the way, the actual displays were art forms themselves.):

Christin O'Bryan

Christin O’Bryan. The nicest stuff made by the nicest person (and I’m not just saying that).

Bess Whittington

Bess Whittington

Knack Studios

Knack!!! Of course.

Fox to the Opera Booth

Fox to the Opera

Illyria Pottery Booklaces

Illyria!!! Always love seeing her stuff.

(Is your keyboard bathing in a puddle of drool yet?)

Old Money Corp.

Heather Davenport

Heather Davenport

Annie Koelle

Annie Koelle—I can’t get enough of the miniature bunting!!!

Royal Buffet

Royal Buffet. LOVE me some paper garlands!

Yellow Elm Booth

Yellow Elm—a novel idea!!! (photo courtesy of Yellow Elm)

Some others that were TOTALLY AWESOME but I foolishly didn’t snap a picture of their displays:

Hallie Gillett
Hawleywood
Blue Moss
Lily Pottery

And this is just a glittery smattering of the 77 artists that were there. Your heart probably can’t take much more. It’s OK because mine can’t either!!! Check out ICP’s website for a full list of all the vendors.

Can I wait one whole year for the next one? I just don’t know. It’ll be very hard, but thinking about the crafting delights that await me might just pull me through. ❤