Ladies and gentlemen, creatures of all shapes and sizes, persuasions and intentions, allow me to introduce to you A Swankety Swank Fairy Tale!
Narrator STORM tells the tale
Once upon a time in a deep dark forest, there lived a princess who created original handmade faerie fashions. She and her friends loved to dress up in the clothes they made, dancing and storytelling until the early morning. Continue reading
This Saturday, come visit the Swankety Swank Sidewalk Sale to see work by amazing local independent artists! Be at 289 Divisadero at 11 o’clock am until 4 pm to immerse yourself in handcrafted art, fashion and more!
What kind of goodies can you expect? Allow me to introduce you to three of the best designers in San Francisco:
Maria Zhalnina has worked as an art director, designer and illustrator. She has art directed six magazines and created designs for other publications. Her illustrations have been used in books, magazines, and calendars, and she also works in fine arts in painting, graphics and installations.
The above sculpture is titled “Chechnya” and is from Zhalnina’s “Maps of the World” series.
Tiff Rojas of Wayward Shiftys makes magical clothes and accessories for everyday wear! Known for her quirky sense of style and a penchant for fun that rivals the faeries, Tiff’s designs are sure to enchant you! Try on one of her pointed hats or a frilly skirt!
Tiff models the coat she made for her Wayward Shifties clothing label. Tiff’s clothes are all one of a kind (and I mean that in the most literal and figurative senses), just the way we like it at Swankety Swank!
Artist Cara Tuckfelt works in printmaking, bookbinding, sculpture, and painting! She says “Printmaking helps me find my voice as an artist through mixing varied techniques and experimentation often to the point of aesthetic destruction…Aesthetically, my work is earthy, dark, and visually complicated, owing to the many trials, errors and countless hours spent on each piece.”
Also a bookbinder, Cara reveals, “Each book that I complete is an exploration and manifestation of my own technical abilities. The books that I choose to bind reflect their respective cultures and trace the evolution of bookbinding.”
After you meet these artists (and others!) whose goods will be along the sidewalk, be sure to come indoors to check out the new 2 women show, Perth: Something Hidden, showcasing the hauntingly beautiful paintings by Emily Lounsbury and the evocative pictorial compositions of Eartha L. Goodwin! We also have new clothing by DAS, gibbous and Zunique!
San Francisco summer is in full effect…. just barely warm days, brisk, chilly nights and lots of fog. Every San Franciscan knows that layering is the way to get through this season gracefully. If you don’t know them already, we’d like to introduce you to our answer to the San Francisco summers: the arm warmer. The arm warmer is the perfect thing to slip into your bag in the morning to wear later when the fog rolls in. We have a diverse selection of materials: knitwear, lace, cotton, velvet, some stripped and so much more. It is a good way to add some style to your ensemble, and add some coverage to bare arms when it gets chilly. We also recommend the arm cuff. These pretty little things keep the wrist and upper hand warm, all while making the wearer look super cute. Swankety Swank carries arm warmers and cuffs for ladies and the fashion forward lad.
Modeling a selection of arm warmers and other items available at Swankety Swank are STORM and Anna, our summer love birds. At least for this story…….
I met a boy, cute as can be. Anna in Zunique black lace arm warmers ($46) and Darina Drapkin lace shirt ($160)
I met a girl, crazy for me. STORM in Novy t-shirt ($24), Project Transaction belt and leather cuffs ($42-$56), Palas Key Necklace ($70) & Anna in Zunique ($46)
Summer lovin, happened so fast. STORM in Novy t-shirt ($24), Project Transaction belt and leather cuffs ($42-$56), Palas Key Necklace ($70) & Anna in Zunique black lace arm warmers ($46) and Darina Drapkin lace shirt ($160)
Summer lovin, let's use our flasks. DAS leather corset flasks ($48). Anna is gibbous hat ($60), Wysterium Wear cuffs ($22) and STORM in Novy shirt ($24), Zero Necklace ($80), and DAS top hat ($400)
Summer lovin, he's making a pass. DAS leather corset flasks ($48). Anna is gibbous hat ($60), Wysterium Wear cuffs ($22) and STORM in Novy t-shirt ($24), Zero Necklace ($80), and DAS top hat ($400)
Anna with DAS corset flask ($48) and Wysterium Wear cuffs ($22)
He got friendly, holding my hand. STORM in Novy t-shirt ($24), gibbous button arm warmers ($40), Hannah Ruskin Key necklace ($22) and Anna in Wayward Shiftys striped arm warmers and Eileen hairpin ($30)
Summer fling, don't mean a thing. Anna in Wysterium Wear cuffs ($22), Eileen hair pin ($50) and STORM in DAS top hat ($400) and Zunique arm warmers ($50)
I told her, when the summer ends, we'd still be friends. STORM in DAS top hat ($400), Novy t-shirt ($24), and DAS cuffs ($56) and Anna in Eileen hair clip ($50), Wysterium Wear cuffs, ($22)
Then we made, our true love vow.. STORM in DAS top hat ($400), Novy t-shirt ($24), and DAS cuffs ($56) and Anna in Eileen hair clip ($50), Wysterium Wear cuffs, ($22)
Oh, those summer nights. STORM in DAS top hat ($400), Novy t-shirt ($24), and DAS cuffs ($56) and Anna in Eileen hair clip ($50), Wysterium Wear cuffs, ($22)
And here’s a few solo shots with Anna solo showing more varieties of our selection of arm warmers.
Anna is Wysterium Wear cuffs, ($22)
Anna is Wysterium Wear cuffs, ($22)
Anna wears Zunique black lace gloves ($46) and Darina Drapkin lace top ($160)
Photographs and writing by Aurelie Sandrine
As usual, it was an exciting week at The House of Swankety Swank. A warm, mostly sunny afternoon brought lots of shoppers and artists to Saturday’s Trunk sale. Old favorites and new guest artists provided a variety of unique, handmade products for our customers. If you missed July’s trunk sale, fear not! Just stop by Swankety Swank Tuesday through Sunday to shop these artists and many more! While you’re here, check out some beautiful new pieces from Yabette, Rykovich, and gibbous. We’d love to see you, so come on by.
Trunk show street view with Kim of Krafty Kitten
Trunk Sale wrap-up
One of our longest working artists, Amy Barrios of ICJ designs, with us from the first year in our old shop on McAllister Street, brought out some of her beautiful, classic jewelry. Amy is a self-taught artist and former English teacher! In fact, the name of her line is a play on words related to her past profession. ”ICJ’s name (Independent Claws Jewelry) is an allusion to grammar because the strands are just like independent clauses – they work independently or with dependent clauses (the pendants and clasps.) The hooks on the ends of each strand are called lobster claws; hence the name.” Using high-quality materials and stones, Amy’s necklaces can also be worn as bracelets or seamlessly combined with other strands to create your own unique, beautiful combinations. If you didn’t get a chance to see Amy’s work at the Trunk Sale, please stop by and check out her jewelry at Swankety Swank.
Amy Barrios of ICJ designs
Table detail Amy Barrios of ICJ designs
We also had several talented guest artists participate. Katya Khan of Urbanomad with twine jewelry and other accessories, and Tiana Saul of Sayuri Designs (below with feather hair clips) both brought more unique and beautiful accessories to Swankety Swank’s customers.
Trunk sale guest artist Katya Khan of Urbanomad
Pretty display by trunk show guest artist Tiana Saul of Sayuri Designs
Adrian of Salvaged and Stitched brought these super cute salvaged pillows in whimsical designs. Salvaged and Stiched is a local family-run business. His pillows “are made with upholstery remnants, and have either upholstery or apparel fabric appliques. Vintage buttons are used for eyes, leather or suede for beaks and thick wool or mohair yarn for delightful long slender legs.” You can now find his work everyday at Swankety Swank.
Adrian of Salvaged and Stitched now found in Swankety Swank.
Kim of Krafty Kitten, makes the cutest, sassiest, bones and flowers hair accessories. A recent graduate of Art Institute of CA-San Francisco, Kim has been making work as Krafty Kitten since 2007. She calls her grandparents her inspiration since they fostered her passion and skill from a young age. Her grandfather passed on sewing skills he learned as a young man in Mexico, so her work continues a line of family tradition. Some other inspirations are rockabilly, cholabilly, psychobilly, pin up, punk and mexican culture. You can find more of Kim’s Krafty Kitten work at Swankety Swank.
Kim of Krafty Kitten helps a customer
Krafty Kitten table
New furniture by Yabette, clothing and accessories from gibbous and Rykovich
Yabette recently finished a lovely new table. Turquoise blue with a hand-painted, green leaf adorns the top. This piece, like all Yabette’s work, is a well-built piece of furniture that was in need of some TLC and refurbishment to bring it back to life and ensure it’s use long into the future.
Yabette Blue table with hand-painted green leaf, $250
Yabette Blue table with hand-painted green leaf, $250
Artist Kurtis Rykovich’s pop-surrealist style fits perfectly at Swankety Swank. Kurtis has participated as both fine artist and a designer, and now he has some beautiful one of a kind, hand painted summer blouses and t-shirts, each with a custom, removal broach. His hand-painted t-shirts come in sizes from Small to 3X.
Rykovich embellished blue blouse, $98
Rykovich embellished blue blouse, detail removable pin, $98
Rykovich sandy giraffe tee, $75
Rykovich sandy giraffe tee, removable pin detail, $75
Rykovich orange silk blouse, $80
We had heard that the designers at gibbous were passing a summer cold between them, so we were extra surprised when they re-stocked the store with quite a few newly created pieces. When design calls, nothing can keep the designers at gibbous from answering! We hope y’all at gibbous will be getting back to %100 soon.
gibbous calls themselves “a miniature fashion house of hearts and hands” that collects cast-offs of the past to create your re-newed, favorite, how-did-I -live-without-this fashion pieces. I should warn you; much like a tatoo, once you get your first gibbous piece, you’ll want more and more. The collective of 4 designers re-uses a variety of materials, victorian clothes, stained silk slips, buttons, coins, keys, to re-fashion material menageries, sans patterns, into unique items you’ll never find in any department store. like all of our designers, gibbous creates pieces you can wear with pride. they strive to undermine disposable fashions manufactured in far-off sweat shops one stitch at a time.
gibbous hat, detail 1, $60
gibbous hat, detail 2, $60
gibbous Hannah Patch Skirt $180
gibbous white blouse with pink details, $60
And a final reminder, stop by to see the Team Valor show, curated by STORM, before it closes. This is your opportunity to see some original artwork by some of the Bay Area’s best comic book artists.
Team Valor show opening
Photographs and writing by Aurelie Sandrine
At Swankety Swank, we are bustlin’ with excitement about the vendors we have participating in this Saturday’s Indie Artist Trunk Sale! Here are a few items by their respective creators so you can get a sampling of some of the amazing one of a kind handcrafted work that will be available to you!
Kim of Krafty Kitten has been sewing since she was 8 years old and is inspired by rockabilly, cholabilly, psychobilly, pin up, punk and mexican culture. Above, Krafty Kitten showcases a blue and white polka dot halter dress.
Sayuri Designs creates handcrafted feather accessories for hat and hair!
Salvaged and Stitched produces unique hand made home decor!
Ryan Humphries creates etchings, woodcuts, screenprints, monoprints, drawings, ceramic sculpture and oil paintings. His work combines disciplined, delicate draughtsmanship with unihibited imagination.
Satin Corset creates jewelry that evokes vintage, antique and Victorian nostalgia. They describe their work as “Sweet, vintage chic. Victorian opulence. Charmingly antique, rustic redux. Flowers, pearls, glass, antique brass, little details, sparks of color & whimsy.”
Last Friday, I had the pleasure of accompanying Yabette and her Swankettes (aka: models) Katherine, Eartha, Dex, and Andrew to the Lyres and Lace: Music and Fashion Show at the Swedish American Hall. For this show, Yabette combined her sustainable and up-cycled fashion pieces with hand-painted canvas corsets and patches, creating wearable art. When the crew arrived, we were immediately sent to a photo session set-up by the organizers. It was a bit chaotic, as all the participating designers’ models came in and out to have their photos taken before going on the catwalk. It was here that I got a really good look at Yabette’s work. Her goals for “Honoring Beauty, Earth, and Age” were well represented. Yabette’s artwork translates well to fashion because the expression of movement only enhances the beauty of her designs. She was unique in having the only male model and the only plus-sized model in the show. The setting of the Swedish American Hall was the perfect backdrop for this music and fashion show and we were really inspired by the environment, the musicians, and the other designers. Overall, the night was a smashing success.
See something you love? Can’t live without? All pieces are available for purchase at Swankety Swank.
Photographs and writing by Aurelie Sandrine
I recently stopped by Swankety Swank to check out Yabette’s new work for TONIGHT’S Lyres & Lace: Music and Fashion Show, tag-lined “Music and fashion of the romantic and bizarre” at the Swedish American Hall. As usual, the store was looking dreamy, but the vibe was electric with creative energy. Yabette was paiting and finishing up her work for the show. She’ll be showing her hand-made and hand-painted designs and Swank-styling all the models for the fashion show. Some of your favorite Swankety Friends of all sizes will also be modeling in the show. It’s great to see Yabette’s rich painting style and aesthetic used in another way. The new pieces are beautiful; I can’t wait to see them on the Monsuiers et Madamoiselles tonight. Are you free? You should join us at the show. The other designers showing are: stargarten x Daughter Earth (Isabelle Le and Katy Tanis), Claire Wheat-Fong, Leticia Huerta, The Street Collective, Black Lotus, and Lecon de Vetement. There will also be all-acoustic musical performances by Mariee Sioux, Foxtails Brigade and Judgement Day with surprise guests. The event is hosted by Mary Van Note.
While Yabette was painting, Eartha Goodwin was busy finishing up Swank Speak! 4, which is looking really good. Make sure you pick up your issue of Swank Speak! 3 while you still can. Swank Speak! 4 will be released on June 18th at the Team Valor Reception.
I noticed quite a few new pieces, so I snapped some pix of a few. There are so many beautiful new things…some really special pieces sure to make anyone much happier (and for much longer) than another a la mode item from Forever 21. Yabette recently finished a lovely Blue and Gold French Bergere chair, perfect for relaxing with a friend over a cup of tea. Tres Bien.
Stop by and see us some time.
Photographs and writing by Aurelie Sandrine
