Downtown Menlo Park plays host to the Menlo Park Sidewalk Fine Arts and Crafts Fall Fest Saturday, October 20 and Sunday, October 21 from 10 am to 5 pm each day. This art-filled family event will give visitors the opportunity to browse and shop among the many one-of-a-kind creations displayed in charming downtown Menlo Park by a variety of talented artists.
Taking place along Santa Cruz Avenue off El Camino Real, the Sidewalk Arts and Crafts Fall Fest is free to the public and features an exciting array of original works by more than 90 artists and craft makers including paintings, jewelry, photography, unique wood items, clothing, accessories, toys and much more. All of the artists will be on hand to visit with patrons while some will be demonstrating their craft during the show.
Among the artists presenting at this year’s show is Elmira de Raaf of Palo Alto, a professional milliner who creates handmade, high quality women’s hats. She began her artistic career in fashion school in her homeland of Russia where she originally studied clothing and fashion design. Elmira opened her first store in Amsterdam in 2003 and since then has designed hundreds of one-of-a-kind hats, including one for the Dutch Queen Beatrix. Her honors include being named one of the top 10 hat designers in the world by Hat Magazine.
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Beth Karpas of Mountain View makes huggable, one of a kind cloth dolls and puppets based on traditional folk and fairytale characters from around the globe. Made of fine yarns and fabrics, the dolls and puppets are used for telling stories in a classroom, as gifts for young children, and gathered by collectors. Many of the dolls are reversible, such as a frog that turns over to reveal a prince, and a Cinderella that goes from rags to riches.
Rosa and Napoleon Paz of Cotati, California design and handcraft leather bags in a variety of shape, sizes and colors. All of their bags are made using soft cowhide, to which a rich dye is applied making the leather dirt and water-resistant. “We pride ourselves on our unique leather handbags, the quality and value of which can not be equaled,” says Napoleon.
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Additional artists participating in the Menlo Park Sidewalk Arts and Crafts Fall Fest include Lisa Barghahn of Burlingame with her handmade ArtyChokers™ -- designer interchangeable animal collar covers that change styles in seconds without removing the tags, collar or leash; O’Day Presley of Angels Camp, California displaying their wood carvings and paintings inspired by and related to golf, using materials including recycled golf clubs; and clay artist Mark Untener of Oakland showing his elegant collection of functional and decorative ceramics.
