{"id":78446,"date":"2025-12-02T17:37:12","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T17:37:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/78446\/"},"modified":"2025-12-02T17:37:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T17:37:12","slug":"holiday-gift-fair-offers-art-of-berkeley-buildings-and-diy-crafting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/78446\/","title":{"rendered":"Holiday Gift Fair offers art of Berkeley buildings and DIY crafting"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cara Goldstein, an illustrator, and the owners of Smiles Handcrafted, a women-owned craft shop on MLK, will be among the two dozen-plus local vendors at the Berkeley Holiday Gift Fair<\/a> in Downtown Berkeley this Thursday, Dec. 4.<\/p>\n

Berkeley Holiday Gift Fair, Dec. 4, 3-7 p.m., Hotel Shattuck Plaza, 2086 Allston Way. Free<\/p>\n

The free fair is organized by the Berkeley Chamber<\/a> and sponsored by the City of Berkeley Office of Economic Development<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With her whimsical illustrations of beloved Berkeley landmarks, artist Cara Goldstein seeks to honor the \u201csignificance of the city\u2019s architecture\u201d and remind Berkeleyans that \u201ceach building has a story and a historical relevance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Berkeley house by Cara Goldstein. Courtesy of C. Goldstein<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve recently passed through \u200b\u200bPegasus Books<\/a> Downtown, Payn\u2019s Stationery<\/a> on Solano Avenue, or Mrs. Dalloway\u2019s<\/a>, ImaginKnit<\/a>, or Berkeley Organic Market<\/a>, all in the Elmwood, you\u2019ll probably recognize Goldstein\u2019s art through the prominently displayed postcards, greeting cards and stickers illustrating these storefronts, in her distinctive style.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Goldstein also recently designed a commissioned Pride-themed sticker for Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii that mashes up architectural gems from various parts of the city, including The Oaks Theater on Solano Avenue<\/a>, Old City Hall in Downtown Berkeley<\/a>, a historic Victorian home in North Berkeley, and an antique store in the Lorin District<\/a> (South Berkeley).<\/p>\n

\u201cCara\u2019s artwork captures the charm and character of our city beautifully,\u201d said Melissa Male from the Office of the Berkeley Mayor.\u00a0 \u201cCara is a pleasure to work with \u2014 collaborative, responsive and thoughtful in her approach.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Cara Goldstein with Mayor Adena Ishii. Courtesy of C. Goldstein<\/p>\n

A New York native, Goldstein is a Huntington School of Fine Arts grad and former public school art teacher. She said she began illustrating local landmarks in her current digital style while working on her graphic novel about San Francisco.\u00a0<\/p>\n

During COVID, she realized \u201cthat the architecture around me had its own story. So it was a story about how architecture gave me hope.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her illustrations received an early boost when the San Francisco Examiner published selections from the graphic novel. Shortly after, artist Paul Madonna connected her with an art curator for the then-new IKEA Gallery on Market Street to contribute illustrations for a series on San Francisco architecture. Pegasus Books in Downtown was the first store to commission an illustration, and the postcards, stickers and magnets have been flowing ever since.<\/p>\n

\"\"A postcard by Cara Goldstein. Courtesy of C. Goldstein<\/p>\n

Outside of commissions and working on her graphic novel, Goldstein runs her own cartooning academy<\/a> for children, based on a curriculum she developed specifically for comics workshops and summer camps. She also coaches prospective art school students<\/a> to help them develop their \u201cdream portfolio.\u201d She\u2019s working on an e-commerce website.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, expect Goldstein\u2019s table at the Holiday Gift Fair to be stocked with plenty of stickers and postcards featuring illustrations of Berkeley and wider Bay Area landmarks. Goldstein\u2019s new 12-month calendar, printed locally at Krishna Copy<\/a>, will also be available, offering yearlong enrichment for the architecture enthusiasts in one\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

Smiles Handcrafted<\/p>\n

\"\"Smiles Handcrafted co-founders Jennifer Lopez (left) and Sophiana Pich opened their shop on MLK Jr. Way earlier this year. Credit: Kelly Sullivan<\/p>\n

Everyone loves receiving a handmade gift and a new North Berkeley craft studio and supply store aims to introduce people of all ages to the joys of making them.<\/p>\n

Jennifer Lopez and sister-in-law, Sophiana Pich, who are both Berkeley natives and Berkeley High grads, opened Smiles Handcrafted<\/a> in January. The shop is on MLK Jr. Way near Mr. Mopps and they call it a \u201csafe space\u201d for timid crafters, of all ages and any gender.<\/p>\n

In the front is a retail store featuring a curated selection of products \u201cdesigned by your favorite crafty influencers\u201d (yes, there are craft influencers), as well as traditional tools from popular online brands as well. In back is the creative studio, where Lopez, Pich and guest teachers hold classes on paper-craft techniques, such as scrapbooking and cardmaking.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Part of the mission for Lopez and Pich is to give young people, who live in an increasingly digital world, the same opportunities they had as kids to work with their hands and create. Lopez, for example, learned knitting, beading and scrapbooking from her mother, which she \u201calways found wonderful therapy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Handmade gift tags at Smiles Handcrafted in North Berkeley. Credit: Kelly Sullivan<\/p>\n

One of the biggest misconceptions about paper crafting is that you need to have exceptional fine motor skills to make an attractive product, Lopez and Pich said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wonderful is that the technology that\u2019s out now is more forgiving and it allows you to achieve these really nice results that even children can do,\u201d Lopez said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Outside of Smiles, both Lopez and Pich work 9-to-5s. On weekdays, Lopez\u2019s husband, who is Pich\u2019s brother, staffs the shop. Previously in biotech, he left his corporate job to become a co-owner. Besides staffing the shop on weekdays, \u201cRithy really brings in the aspect of community building,\u201d Lopez said. \u201cHe always has ideas on how to incorporate community like bringing in artists from different cultures that offer something different from the mainstream.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Glitter mixes at Smiles Handcrafted. Credit: Kelly Sullivan<\/p>\n

For the gift fair, Smiles plans to bring handmade cards that shoppers can use not just for winter holiday celebrations, but for birthdays year-round. For the art-lovers and makers in one\u2019s life, they\u2019ll also have craft supplies, including crafting kits and tote bags stuffed with items manufactured by small U.S.-based mom-and-pops.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love when I get feedback from someone, \u2018you made this?\u2019,\u201d said Lopez. \u201cWhenever I think of it, I just smile. I want others to do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

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