Sew What?
Renegade Handmade plans to have us all in stitches with a crafty curated exhibit of contemporary embroidered objects this Saturday, 6–8 p.m. The homespun Wicker Park store (which also has an active online presence) has patched together not-your-Nana’s-needlework from 15 international fiber artists who have taken traditional threadery to new levels, in both subject matter and materials. This little charmer is from Florida artist Cindy Steiler, who makes mixed media pieces under the name Mary’s Granddaughter.
Renewable Resource
Powers that be at the Elkhart Public Library decided that the biblioteca’s interiors were overdue for a remodel, so they have updated the space and are selling the original mid-century furnishings at an online auction this week. The library, located in Elkhart, Indiana, opened in the spring of 1963, with mod Mad Men–esque desks, chairs, and tables by such Herman Miller heavyweights as Charles and Ray Eames, Jens Risom, and George Nelson. All items are used and sold as is, and must be picked up from their Indy storage facility and paid for with cash or money orders. Check out the hundreds of offerings (such as these yellow, tan, and gray Eames fiberglass chairs), detailed descriptions and photos here. Bidding began on Monday and will continue until 5 p.m. on Friday.
Party for the Arty
Maison Rouge Gallery is having a holiday sale this Saturday, Nov. 21, 5–9 p.m., with specially priced artwork from more than 20 painters and sculptors, and deals on the gallery’s eclectic inventory of vintage silver, jewelry, photographs, and tabletop items geared for gift-giving and starting at under $100. I’ve always found interesting stuff at this shop, located on the third floor of Lakeview’s Century Mall, and like to stop in before or after a film at the Landmark Theatres upstairs. The reception will feature snacks from Uncle Sammy’s and Noodles & Company, so bring your appetite as well as your checkbook.
Aquae Sulis for Less
The Bucktown location of the kitchen and bath showroom Aquae Sulis, located at the corner of Elston and Webster, is having a floor sample sale now through Saturday, offering 50–70 percent off in-stock faucets, sinks, toilets, and more. Freshen up your kitchen or bathroom with some new fixtures from Kohler, Elkay, Grohe, Moen, and lots more on view in their 9,800-square-foot posh plumbing playground, a favorite source for design professionals.
Dig the Deals at Urban Archaeology
For more savings on bathing beauties as well as lighting, accessories, tiles and everything else in stock, stop by the Mart’s Urban Archaelogy through November, and take 10 percent off anything that strikes your fancy. This glam glittering showroom, open to the public, has fantastic new and salvaged stock that is always inspirational.
Vintage Vantage
There are two big annual furniture and accessories shows going on this weekend that fans of vintage will want to take advantage of. First we have the two-day Modern Vintage Market (if I didn’t know better I’d say that was an oxymoron) produced by the same people who organize the Randolph Street Antique shows during our more seasonable seasons and held in the same location—the Beaux Arts Plumbers Hall at 1340 W. Washington. MVM promises free parking, smartly priced antiques and crafts, and gratis gift wrapping, so it sounds like a swell place to knock a few names off your holiday gift list. There’s also Vintage Pine’s annual market, (pictured here) with tabletop-centric guest vendors coming in from Nov. 19–22, in addition to the fine French and English furniture and regular roster of antiques and European accessories dealers that the 30-year-old company is known for.
Dim Sum and Then Some
The Golden Triangle has created ten sort of “pop-up” boutiques (to use a phrase that has invaded our collective consciousness practically overnight); themed minishops in the midst of their ethnographic oasis, focusing on giftable silks, jewelry, books, lamps, etc. To kick off this courtyard marketplace (running through the year) they are having a dim sum and tea opening reception on Saturday from 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., and also providing free parking in their lot—a valuable perk for their River North location.