Introducing…Sunset Youth Services!

Sunset Artisan Fair is excited to be supporting Sunset Youth Services (SYS), a local community organization that empowers and brings value to in-risk youth in the Sunset District of San Francisco. Dawn Stueckle, co-founder and exective director of SYS talks about the mission of SYS and how they are meeting a real need in the lives of many youth.  Check out the below video!  All proceeds from this year’s fair will fund trips and activities for the youth to be exposed to new experiences outside of their normal routine.  

Back for our 3rd annual Sunset Artisan Fair!

We are back and getting ready for our 3rd annual Sunset Artisan Fair!  This year we will be raising money for Sunset Youth Services.  Sunset Youth Services’ mission is to foster long-term stability and growth with in-risk youth and families through caring relationships and supportive services.

Last year’s event raised close to $8,000 for Alpha Pregnancy Center.  Thanks for the many who came out and supported us!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 2, 2012 from 11am-4pm at 3635 Lawton Street, SF, CA!  Looking forward to seeing you there!

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After all of our organizing, planning, furious crafting and prayers, the day has finally arrived!  Best believe that our hearts have gone into each craft and yummy snack.  Maybe you’re still on the fence, thinking “ehhh, maybe I’ll go, maaaaaybe not” then perhaps these photos of the goods will help to persuade you.  Come on out, support a wonderful organization, enjoy delicious bites and live jazz, and chat with the super awesome vendors!  SEE YOU THERE!!

An Artisan feature

I want to give a special shout-out to one of our Artisans who will be featuring her work this weekend. Still attending highschool, I believe Lori will be our youngest Artisan. It is amazing to see the time she’s donating to our event despite a busy school schedule. When I first saw Lori’s work, I was through and through amazed.

Apparently Lori already has multiple fans impressed by her work. The 2011 Young at Art event, a SFUSD / De Young Museum collaboration featuring young artists, featured her work on its invitation. So what will Lori be selling on Saturday? With the help of Julie, Lori’s mom, there will be different variations of bookmarks (including on the spot personalized ones) along with framed and matted art prints. To sweeten the pot, Lori and Julie said with every $20.00 spent at their booth, a free flower or art bookmark will be included!

I’m in. The Artisan Fair is only 3 days away!

http://www.youngatartsf.com/

Some of Lori’s work.

 

The moment we’ve all been waiting for …

Take a sneak peak at just a few of the handcrafted goods!

Adorable gifts for baby …

Sewn leafy bowls …

Stitched journals, crocheted coasters, and stylish lunch bags …

Jewelry and hand-dyed batik scarves.  There’s much more in store!

Bribery… corruption… what have we done??

In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups. The police who investigate crime, and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories. (DOOM DOOM!!)

SCENE 1- START

(Desk lamp shining on a young kid’s face.)

Cop: Spill it out, kid. We know what you did, and you’re not getting away with it.Kid: (Defiantly) Go eat a donut!

Cop: Alright. If that’s the way you want to play this game. Let’s dance…(Knuckles cracking..)

Kid: Wait… wait… I’ll snitch, just cut me a deal.

Cop: Pen and paper’s ready. You know what to do… muhahahahaha.Kid: One night, this guy name Steve T, dropped off boxes after boxes.. all of ‘em sealed. He told me the boss ordered him to unload all the goods on the market as quickly as possible. I tried telling him that I don’t touch this kind of stuff. I’ve got a wife and two kids at home, you know. But this guy isn’t the type that takes no for an answer. I’ve got no choice.

Cop: There is always a choice.

Kid: NOT WITH THEM! YOU CAN’T MESS WITH THE SUNSET ARTISANS… ‘ELSE THEY’D MAKE CRAFTS OUT OF YOU. BY HANDS. THEY’RE LOCO!!

Cop: Get to the meat kid. I’m not buying the sob story.Kid: We got to work and set a target date of 6/4.. then went out and threw the words into the street that if you buy $75.00 worth of goods, you’ll get a little something something from the box..

Cop: So what is it? What’s in the box???Kid: (Nervous) You didn’t say if you’re cutting me a deal…

Cop: Just tell me what it is!!!(Two extremely hairy fists came crashing down on the metal table.)

Kid: Alright alright! It’s a fancy handbag.. if you buy 75.00 of goods at the Artisan Fair, you’ll get one for free. It’s going to be a hot item, cause not only is it a purse but the interior is efficiently laid so to make your purse carrying career that much easier. On top of that, it also holds your laptop!! Talk about an ideal work hard play harder tool. We expect the goods to go fast as there is only a limited quantity…Cop: And you say this deal is going down on June 4?

Kid: Yes…Cop: This bribery.. it’s unlike anything I’ve seen before.. you and your whole Artisan crew is going down for this… for a very long time..

SCENE 1- END

A Visit to Alpha Pregnancy Center

[Sherise is guest blogger for this entry]

In the midst of my furious crafting and preparation for the fair I admit to having suffered from a bit of tunnel vision, having fixated myself on cranking out crafts just to get done.  A visit to Alpha Pregnancy Center this week was just what I needed to set me back on course and remind me of the greater purpose behind me hunkering down in the self-proclaimed sweatshop that has become my house. 

A big part of Alpha Pregnancy Center is its executive director, Chastidy Ronan.  When my sister and I first stepped in the center back in February for what we thought would just be a quick trip to drop-off some Valentine’s Day cards, Chastidy offered us a tour of the center. We agreed, only to find ourselves near tears when we heard the messages of hope that were being delivered to women and families when faced with unplanned pregnancy.  There is something so brilliant about hope when coupled with brokenness.  I’ve heard it said that brokenness puts us on the doorstep of grace, and it seems that with APC’s mission to economically, emotionally, and spiritually empower women and families in crisis, a powerful statement of grace is made.

The visit in February set the course for this year’s fundraising efforts at the fair. However, as human nature goes, we can be doing something so seemingly selfless while becoming increasingly self-absorbed.  At least, this is what I admit to, having obsessed over the perfection of my crafts and all the details that come with organizing an event. So when we returned this week to the center with a couple of our other vendors, we all agreed that hearing from Chastidy is what we needed to refocus our efforts and remind us that it’s ultimately not about us or our crafts. 

APC is hoping to add an ultrasound screening room to their services at the center [see photos].  It seems a very real possibility that with the funds raised through the fair, this goal could become reality.  Right now the equipment is sitting there, awaiting both the funds and staffing to make the room functional.  With the ability to offer ultrasounds, more women will have the opportunity to see the life forming in their womb.

So, while we love our crafting, we are reminded that we have a greater purpose in mind.  We hope that you will get a sense of this when you come to the fair.  Chastidy and APC will also be there, so between your shopping at the fair, make some time to chat with them!  I am confident it will move you.  For more information on APC, see their website, alphapc.org

A little promo…

Yesterday was the debut of our latest promo.. a romantic short story compiled by the organizers of the Sunset Artisan Fair.

Fun fact: the necklace was created by one of our artisans Romina.

Super fun fact: the characters in the movie were also created by one of our artisans Jenny.

Super crazy awesome fun fact: the characters (and more) will be available this year!

AND NOW… LADIES AND GENTLEMEN… WORLDWIDE (INTERNET) DEBUT OF…

IT’S NOT FROM JARED’S!

LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE STORY…

Here is a story of a man whose daughter is about to graduate from UC Berkeley.
Let’s call him Bob. And his daughter Macy. Bob and his little darling Macy. Bob woke up on graduation day excited. Excited not only because his daughter worked hard for this well deserved milestone, but also because Bob knows he will not have to pay tuition fees come next semester. That money, instead, will be going towards a golf trip with his buddies in Hawaii.

(Shhhh, don’t tell his wife. Let’s call her Tina.) Bob made breakfast for his whole family and even took that long overdue jog around the neighborhood. He thought to himself as he ran pass the Berkeley Rose Garden.. what a beautiful day. He had his fancy suit laid out the night before, his shirt perfectly pressed and his cap toe oxfords polished. He even arrived 10 minutes early at the graduation ceremony, determined to get a good spot to watch his baby girl get her diploma. As commencement begins, however, things started to fall apart. He couldn’t find his daughter amidst the sea of graduating students, and the loud cheers drowned out the roll call of the graduates’ names. In the end, he barely made out his daughter’s walk across the podium.
DON’T BE LIKE BOB! DON’T LET THAT HAPPEN TO YOU!

But.. but.. HOW?
Add a statement piece for that special graduate! Let’s face it, the caps and gowns wash out all hopes of individuality. With a specially hand crafted lei by Elaina, Bob could have spotted Macy from a thousand miles away. Sunset Artisan Fair is having a pre-sale of leis in time for upcoming UC graduates. Are you interested in UC Davis? Or UCLA? Just drop me an email and we’ll chat. How much is it? $10.00 each! But the more you get, the cheaper it gets!

sunsetartisan@gmail.com

And we’rrreeeee baaaaacccckkkkkkk!!!!!

Time sure flew by.. it has been almost a year since the first ever Sunset Artisan Fair took place. As you can see from the last post, we did quite well in raising more then $6,300.00 for International Justice Mission. So well that we’ve decided to hold the 2nd Annual Sunset Artisan Fair.

And we are excited!

(Cue claps and cheers)

This year we will be supporting Alpha Pregnancy Center, an organization that helps women and families through unplanned pregnancy. Like last year, 100% of the proceeds will go toward the support of this organization. When we say 100%, we mean everyone participating in the event from artisans to cashiers will be donating their time and materials. We’ll be busy bees for the next month and a half, but we’ll have fun doing it.

Not only are we excited, I can sense you are getting excited too. Please come out and support us! There’ll be great items for gifts as well as for yourself. Not only that, there will also be live music and crazy good food. Yes, I said it.. it’s not just good but CRAZY good.

June 4th! and tell your friends and families.