3 vendors to check out at Patches and Pins

The Patches and Pins Expo is an open market that helps small businesses exhibit their artwork, allowing the vendors to earn money by sharing their stories and culture. By doing this, it unites the community. The next Downtown Santa Patches and Pins Expo will be their Halloween Horror Night on Oct. 30 located at 201 E. 4th St. in Santa Ana. Here are some of the vendors worth checking out while you’re there.

Common Threads

Christopher Hall, 28 sells hats, sweaters and sweats of many different colors but all sharing the same message. “We all have a Common Thread”. This is his first time selling at the Patches and Pins Expo to which he, smiles ear to ear when describing his clothing brand Common Threads

Recently married, moved into a house with a baby on the way, Hall shares the message behind his brand, “Common Threads is inspired by the people in the society and although many of us have different perspectives and difficulties everyone faces, we must remember to be kind, and caring to others because we are all connected, we are all the human race,” said Hall.

In order to purchase his products visit his instagram since he is still working on his website: @commonthreads143

Antiona Maldonado Garcia standing alongside her booth. Photo by Maria Gutierrez/ el Don

Flor de Ruda

Wearing a colorful rebozo and surrounded by her handmade artwork, 52-year-old Antonia Maldonado-Garcia who was born in the small town of Cruz Agua Fria, Guerrero. Antonia makes handmade jewelry, rebozos, face clothes and masks all inspired by her Mexican culture.

“I started selling thinking about my retirement but when I was presented with the opportunity to fix my immigration status I focused on raising the money to pay back the lawyer. A goal I want to achieve is to get a house of my own where I can live independently” Said Maldonado-Garcia.

To purchase her items you can shop at : https://www.etsy.com/shop/florderuda

On the left is Jorge, the boyfriend of Natalia Cardenas, both smiling in front of her booth. Photo by Maria Gutierrez/ el Don.

Shop Valentina

Natalia Cardenas is a 28-year-old Latina artist and digital illustrator based in Southern California. Her digital designs are available on shirts, keychains and tote bags and more — all of it inspired by her Mexican culture and traditional tattoo imagery. “I love that people can look at my art and see themselves in it,” she said

To purchase her items you can shop at : https://www.shop-valentina.com/