Local Artist Opens Home to the Public for a Handmade Shopping Event

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On Saturday, May 17, 2008, a local artisan will open her Downtown Brooklyn loft to the public for an intimate shopping event. Thirteen local artists and designers have been invited to showcase their handmade goods and to meet with shoppers for the one-day-only shopping event to take place at 170 Tillary Street #706.

The Brooklyn Homeshow will showcase a variety of locally-made goods including home decor, art and prints, toys, bath and beauty products, jewelry, paper goods, and apparel and accessories. A limited number of goody bags with free samples will be made available to shoppers who pre-register to attend. Refreshments will be served throughout the day.

First debuted in March 2008, the Brooklyn Homeshow is run by a group of sellers from the Brooklyn-based website Etsy.com, which is an online marketplace for handmade goods. The Homeshow is a grassroots extension of the online Etsy marketplace. One of the goals of the Homeshow is to support conscious consumerism by encouraging the purchase of locally-made goods. The show on May 17th will be much like the first Brooklyn Homeshow, with some new sellers participating in order to offer a larger variety of items for sale.

Karin Persan, who is hosting the event, says “It’s really a pleasure to be hosting our second Brooklyn Homeshow. I have been doing larger craft shows for some time now and it’s really nice to be a part of a smaller, more intimate event. It has been a great experience bonding with these extremely talented artists through Etsy.com. We are all very proud to be working together to create this unique show, where you can personally meet with buyers, and have a really fun time!”

To register for attendance, visit the Brooklyn Homeshow website at http://www.freewebs.com/bkhomeshow. Admission is free of charge. A limited number of goody bags are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The event will take place on Saturday, May 17, 2008 from 10:00 am to 5:00pm at 170 Tillary Street, Suite 706 in downtown Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Industries: PSers Allege Defective Jackets and Return Policy (and Selling of “Bike Culture”)


Brooklyn industries

Originally uploaded by thedrun.

illegat writes in the Park Slope Message Boards: “So I know Brooklyn Industries is a local business that’s fun to support and the water tower logo is cool and all, but has anyone else had problems with these clothes being poorly made and their return policy?”

“I bought a coat in December and its already basically useless from what isn’t even normal wear and tear. Within a week, the seams were coming loose …”

“I tried to return it, and they of course, wouldn’t accept it because it had been worn.”

“Now, two months later, the zipper won’t close and most of the threading has come undone. What’s the point in supporting local business if it’s overpriced and under-quality?”

PICTURED: The now infamous “BIKE CULTURE NOT 4 SALE” graffito from the BI store at Union and 5th.

ASIDE: So what is “Bike Culture” anyway? More from the Park Slope Message Boards:

Rhodamine says: ” ‘Bike culture’ for me is… friends who come over and paint frames in my basement, who stay in touch on lots of non-spandex messageboards, who race in alleycats, who hang out in the bike shop… after hours.. and bring beer, talking about bikes, obsessing over configurations, joining transalt, fighting for cyclists rights, meeting for regular rides/races in the parks/streets, etc. And yes, there are bike clubs/gangs. I’m sure few to none hang at starbucks.”

LINKS:

Ileggat: Brooklyn Industries Defective Jackets Park Slope Message Boards
Carnivore: Brooklyn Industries Won’t Exchange Unworn T-Shirt (with Gift Receipt) Prospect Heights Message Boards
Bike Culture and Brooklyn IndustriesMore from the Park Slope Message Boards

Rare Device

designsponge-raredevice.jpgDesign Sponge reports on Rare Device, a new design boutique opened by Rena Tom, a jewelry designer, on 7th Ave. between 15th and 16th Sts.

Design Sponge’s picks include “cards from one good bumblebee, jezebel and pancake and franks, j mendicino pottery, tonfisk designs, sharon spain anything, paperdolls creations, and ona’s beautiful tea bowls.”

Links:
Rare Device Review: Design Sponge
raredevice.net
RARE DEVICE Blog

Discuss: Park Slope Message Boards