For Kelly Malone, creativity has always been easy. It's the matter of getting anyone to notice that has, only recently, no longer been an issue.

Malone, creator of the Indie Mart and owner of Still Life vintage boutique, has put together one of the city's most successful weekend block parties in recent memory. By combining music, shopping, booze and food, the Indie Mart has become a one-of-a-kind festival that pops up every few months in the city. As it's grown from its small beginnings in her backyard in the Mission to the much larger venues, the crowd that attends has swollen to thousands. The Indie Mart received San Francisco Bay Guardian's Best of The Bay Award in 2008 and was one of the vendors chosen to create a pop up shop at the Treasure Island Music Festival. This Sunday, March 8, marks the 14th Indie Mart, set to take place at The Independent.

[X]press: So how long have you lived in the city?
Kelly Malone: Four years! It's kind of crazy that I've been here that long, but I have. When I moved here from Philly, it took me a couple of years to get used to the city and meet people, but I'm here and I love it.

[X]: So what was behind the initial idea to start the Indie Mart?
KM: When I was back in Philly, I would attend local trade and craft shows in the city or in New York, like Bazaar Bizarre and stuff. And it was cool to see people participating in D.I.Y. culture like I was, but it was just boring. There was no music, no booze, no real atmosphere to get to know people. So I really just wanted to create a place where people could come for free and check out a live band, have a couple drinks with their friends and support really unique, local vendors who were doing something cool.

[X]: What is your process for choosing designers for the show?
KM: I really am active in trying to offer something that a lot of places wouldn't carry or things that are really different. We've had girls that make bracelets out of bike tires and some really kooky owners that draw people in with their stories. I always want to offer something to keep the edge, things that are a little rock-n-roll. Plus, I make sure that guys are catered to as well. I think a lot of craft shows are geared away from that and I want guys to be able to shop too. Everything from the fliers to the actual set-up for the show is really thought out, and I always try to make it seem new and fresh.

[X]: So this is your 14th event. How was the very first one?
KM: I remember it being in the Mission in my backyard during the summer of 2007. I had one friend grilling and all the vendors in the backyard. I managed to fit around 20 [people] - I still don't know how I did that. I was making drinks in the inside and we ended up with a pretty big turnout. When we did it again, it just got so crazy that you couldn't move. I think that's when I decided that we needed to move.

[X]: Well, the word is officially out. What happens when the Independent gets too big?
KM: We have Thee Parkside for the summer, which is pretty big. We usually end up taking up all of 16th Street out front and we can fit a lot more people. But the thing is, I like that it's small. I couldn't picture moving it to the Nob Hill Masonic Center or anything similar to that. I like venues with a little bit of an independent, dive bar feel.

[X]: A lot of people would consider what you do for a living as hobbies. How do you feel about that?
KM: When I was living in Philly, I had this great design job that paid extremely well. I was traveling all the time and working and doing the job that I thought was my dream job, but I hated it! All I wanted to do was just combine everything that I love into one event. It takes a lot more work than people think - all the build up to the event is so much work. Plus, I still have a day job to pay the bills, which I think a lot of people don't know.

[X]: I hear you're opening a sort-of recreation center. What's the deal with that?
KM: Well the idea was to offer some classes that I thought people would really be into, and involve booze and a cheap fee for them. We're going to have stuff like heavy metal aerobics, rock-n-roll sewing for guys and building classes...pretty much anything D.I.Y. And we're also starting this thing called Speakeasy Kitchen, where were going to have chefs come in, cook and teach people how to cook for pretty low cost.

[X]: You sound ridiculously busy. Where do you pull inspiration for all your projects?
KM: Mostly 'zines and punk-rock. D.I.Y. began with that scene. When I saw the movie "American Hardcore", I remembered what it was all about. With the economy changing, commercialization and a new decade on the brink...I am motivated by being different. I'm rethinking business, rethinking design and most importantly, rethinking what has worked in the past and trying to change how people shop and how people spend.

For more information, visit www.indie-mart.com