Sasha Darling & The BellJar Blog

We went to the West Coast Craft Fair last week and were in awe of all the artists, designers, and craftspeople we ran into! This Craft Fair is the place to be to find the best laid-back yet innovative designs inspired by the mood and aesthetic of our unique West Coast lifestyle. There is no better way to spend an afternoon than wandering around a huge warehouse full of artwork, home goods, clothing, and jewelry all made by fellow creative souls from San Francisco - and here's a little glimpse of what we saw during our day at the Craft Fair!

We were so happy to run into Aleksandra Zee at the Craft Fair! Aleksandra is a woodworker who is inspired by the colors, textiles, and natural color hues of the desert. She creates one of a kind three-dimensional pieces from found and re-purposed materials which are situated in site-specific installations. She focuses on the transcendence of harsh, broken, or discarded materials into objects of soft whimsy and, needless to say, the result is always swoon-worthy and extremely visually pleasing.

We met up with one of our fave babes Roseli Ilano, the founder of Ilano, who produces gorgeous handbags, pillows, and accessories (some of which you can find at BellJar!). Not only that, but Ilano also serves for a greater cause. Ilano partners up with women from all over the world in order to provide them with living wages and to make her goods available to an international fashion audience. Roseli also develops marketing campaigns for social justice and human rights. We love to see creative talents being used for the greater good and to help make our world a better place! 

This is Kelly Jones, the founder of Little Paper Planes and another babe we were so excited to see at the fair! Originally from LA and now living in SF, Kelly is an artist and curator who wanted to create a platform where herself and her fellow art-school friends could reach a wider audience. Little Paper Planes has grown to become a community due to the circle of artists involved and people who love and support art. Little Paper Planes became a brick-and-mortar shop in 2013 and is now located in the Mission! 

It is always a pleasure to run into Mariele Ivy of Young in the Mountains! Mariele's jewelry and ceramic designs are very simple, natural, purposeful, and always striking - and they are an ode to what life was like growing up in the mountains of Montana... where you can listen to the seasons changing to energize your mood and where everything else is gone with the shift of the breeze.

April Rose of Rainbow Kimono creates the most visually striking art and jewelry we've ever seen. She is an illustrator, textile, ceramic and collage artist who likes to create and discover tiny galaxies. She is a seeker of truth and beauty, endlessly inspired by the originality of others and the universe. Her creations are truly awe-inspiring explosions of color and energy and we just can't get enough.

Enjoy a few more snapshots of our day at the West Coast Craft Fair:

As gray December skies surround us and we get carried away in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I think it’s safe to say that we all need a little time to step back and refresh. As much as we love gift shopping, endless peppermint lattes, and picking out the perfect sparkly dress for all those holiday parties sometimes we just need a moment to slow down… and there is no better way to get re-energized during this chilly month than with some new music.

Let me introduce you to The Hundred in the Hands. They are an indie/electronic band from Brooklyn made up of Eleanore Everdell and Jason Friedman who come together to create the dreamiest soundwaves… and I promise that this will be love at first listen.  

Their sound combines a mix of synth and dream pop with post-punk and soothing vocals that give rise to the most relaxing of vibes. It’s easy to get lost musing with these melodies softly playing in the background, and sometimes that’s exactly what we need. One of our favorite things about The Hundred in the Hands is that they are truly passionate about their art and are constantly creating. While they are currently working on putting out an EP in 2015, they have also been busy working on a project called New Ancestors. 

New Ancestors is a record label, journal, and a union of artists, creators, writers, designers and labels from LA, Brooklyn, and Berlin with a common interest in the culture and community involved in their art.They are focused on artist-to-artist relationships and write about everything from modern geometric art to the adaptation of music to the dysfunction of modular youth. The words and music of New Ancestors and The Hundred in the Hands are thought-provoking, powerful, and definitely something worth discovering.

Art matters | http://www.newancestors.nyc

There is no better way to kick off the holiday season than with a party in one of the most unique San Francisco neighborhoods!

The Valencia Corridor Merchants Association is hosting a block party tomorrow night, December 5^th from 5 to 10pm in the Mission.

The party will span from Market to Cesar Chavez and the side streets Guerrero to Mission. Many local boutiques and merchants will be participating by offering exclusive specials and staying open late. The Mission will be transformed into a gorgeous winter market, where you can discover independently owned local businesses or re-visit your favorites.

So us BellJar girls, decided to throw our awesome glamorous Holiday Party!! Come Hang with us, drink cocktails and be merry! 

20% OFF APPAREL AND HOME & GIFT

SALE ALL DAY

PARTY ALL NIGHT (6-9)

•excludes jeans and jewelry

So get in here, hang with us,  try on some sparkle and get your Par-tay on!! And as long as here you may as well shop for a new holiday dress! 

Holiday Dresses Galore! 

We all know that the hustle and bustle of the holidays can make finding the perfect party dress seem like a daunting task – but we have all the lace, shimmer, sequins, and shine you’ve been dreaming of! From floor-length and flowing to short and sweet, you’ll be sure to find something you adore… and being able to enjoy the festivities with your neighbors and favorite local boutiques is an added bonus and will take out all of the stress of your usual every-day holiday shopping! We look forward to having you join us for a wonderful winter night made complete with dresses, drinks, music, friends, and all around holiday spirit!

Click here to shop BellJar holiday dresses 

Click here for more Mission District block party information

Come get in the holiday mood with us BellJar babes for Black Friday and Small Business Saturday! Not only do we have some great deals for you, but we also added a little sparkle and festive spirit to the shop! Needless to say, we are so ready to party. 

Black Friday 11/27-11/28

ONLINE: Thursday 6am until Midnight on Friday

IN STORE: Friday 12-7

For our BellJar Black Friday we will be offering up 20% off apparel! Not only that, but the first 20 customers in store will score a surprise gift! This is the best way to enjoy Black Friday and score some unique gifts for yourself and your loved ones without having to brave the San Francisco chill and crowds in the middle of the night. Make sure to stay one step ahead of the rest and get all of your holiday shopping out of the way with us. We've also sprinkled a lot of sparkle, shine, and glitter around the shop that will be sure to get you in the mood to party!

Small Business Saturday 11/29

IN STORE ONLY: Saturday 12-7

There is no better way to support artisans this Small Business Saturday than to shop local with your BellJar babes in the Mission! We are offering 10% off home goods and gifts and we have plenty of unique pieces made by all your favorite local creatives. We also just got in the most adorable ornaments and holiday decorations that you'll want to keep displayed all year long!

Here are a few little sneak peeks of some holiday decorations and new things happening around the shop!

Be a BellJar babe and join us for some exciting events this week as we get ready for the holidays! Throw on a comfy sweater, grab a hot chai latte, and head out to the Mission to shop our Black Rebel Friday sale and Kris Nations trunk show.

Black Rebel Friday 11/21

Us BellJar girls are known for doing things differently - and that's why we've decided to have our Black Friday early!

Join us from 12-7pm in store and all day online for 25% off EVERYTHING... even jewelry and home goods!

Not only do we have a great collection of chunky knits, patterned socks and other winter staples, but we also have so many cute gift options for everyone on your list. Grab a coffee and come get your holiday shopping done early with us. Then you get to kick back, relax and get cozy with a glass of wine after Thanksgiving while everyone else runs around madly in the middle of the night. You can also rest assured that you'll have scored the most unique pieces from eclectic, one-of-a-kind designers that would never be found at a mall. Let out your inner rebel and stay one step ahead of the rest!

Kris Nations Trunk Show 11/22

Kris Nations is an eclectic, bohemian line of jewelry inspired by the free-spirited style of two sisters, Kris and Kim Nations who are based out of Half Moon Bay. Kris began to create her own jewelry from a young age and draws much of her inspiration from her mother who is a painter. Kris and Kim's jewelry is made for the strong, confident, and graceful women.

Their creations are very modern and clean, with some surprising color combinations that make them pop. Some of the inspiration for these pieces is also taken from all things vintage which makes it so that this jewelry can be easily mixed in to create a style that transcends time and trends. We especially love the versatility of Kris Nations jewelry and how these pieces have the ability to pull any look together with ease. 

There is nothing more exciting for us than to meet the visionaries who make the jewelry that we swoon over - Kris and Kim Nations will be hanging out with us in store this Saturday from 12-4pm! Stop by to meet these two lovely ladies, check out their wares, and add something shiny to your winter wardrobe.