I don't know if this counts as a good deed, because I do this stuff all the time and none of it seems particularly important, but I do like connecting with people and helping them to connect to other people. But it's not like I'm saving kittens from burning grain elevators on Mars or anything.

Shortly after pursuing Miss Ink Tea at the farmer's market, I spotted a young girl selling craft items and small art works on the street in front of a store that had closed it's doors several years ago. The rough plywood and weathered band posters were the perfect backdrop for her genuine and sweetfaced retro-hipster look, and her red vintage bicycle was the perfect compliment.

I often wonder about kids selling things on the street, and what to do. On many occasions it's a sad scam - dirty faced youngsters putting shoplifted jewelry next to a tattered metal box with a few pairs of pliers to make you think they are struggling artisans merely trying to sell their wares.

And so I wondered about this girl, and I stopped. She displayed her items on a blanket before her: handmade greeting cards and small books, a section of (poorly executed) intaglio prints, jewelry, three altered aprons, and 4 small (and fairly cute) purses made from old velvet draperies. The purses and aprons were displayed aptly on her bicycle.

I stopped and talked with her a bit, and shared with her some of the strawberries I had just purchased at the market.

"I'm an art student at Northwestern College in Roseville," she started. "I've never been down here before. I make this stuff all the time and I thought, well, maybe I ought to come down here and see if any of it sells."

We chatted happily as I browsed her wares. I decided that even though the purses were super cute, I just didn't need one, but I did make a point of telling her that she definitely needs to sell them for more than $4. I also decided to buy one of her cards so I can continue my City Penpal activity with Nixonia.

I really liked this girl's work, and I think she could make some good money and put herself through school or even start a small business with some of her talents, so I decided to pass some helpful information along to her. I put her in touch with a livejournal community for crafters, gave her the website of a young woman who has a successful online business doing similar crafts and sewing. I also gave her the name of Springboard for the Arts - a local non-profit organization offering resources to artists to help them navigate the business of art.

I wasn't able to take a picture while I was there, but here's a picture of the card I purchased from her.