The jury process has been in place since the very first Crafty Bastards fair. While there is a new mix of jurors each year, the process has stayed relatively the same over the last 8 years. The Crafty Jury meets for two full days, with members rating each individual applicant through a unique system that keeps the vendor selection process fair for all.

We’re excited to share our Jury process with you, and have asked our Jury members to share their thoughts about the applications they mulled through this year.

This year’s esteemed Crafty Jury was comprised of a mix of both crafters and artists who all brought their different artistic know-how and crafty sensibilities to the group.  Street artist Kelly Towles brought his eye for design and non-conventional art. You can seen some of his creative talents put forth in this super cool video.  Colorado crafter Liz Eckstein, who is our only Skyped-in member of the Jury (as well as a founding Director of Crafty Bastards and Hello Craft Board Member), came armed with a vast knowledge of pottery techniques and sewing.  Hello Craft Directors Christine Ernest, Sara Dick, Kelly Rand and myself, Kimberly Dorn, rounded out the rest of the Jury crew.

Here, we present some thoughts from all of the Jury members from the weekend, along with lovely, crafter Haikus created by Christine Ernest. At the end, you’ll find all the information you ever wanted to know about the technical side of the Crafty Jury process.

Kelly Towles:

Genius with (for sure)
the largest collection of
spray paint in D.C.

What were your favorite crafting trends (type of crafts, art trends, techniques, etc) you saw from the applications? I would say that my favorite was seeing the skill of some of the crafters- a lot of the time you think things just come together, then you find out how much time, effort and love goes into each piece. rad.

What type of crafts make your heart skip a beat and what types of crafts were you looking for in the jury. The crafts that I feel in love with were alot of the innovative clean products, that had not just a great product, but also the beautiful package. all comes together. That was really what I look for, a complete package. You could have a beautiful gem, but without the proper attire, it just looks naked.

If there was any type of craft that you’d like to see more of in the applications for next year, what would it be? I wish there were more artists. This is one of the best places for an artist to show case their work to a whole mess of people.

As a first-time Jury member, describe what your first Jury experience was like? Was it what you expected? Has it changed or modified your views, in any way, on the handmade community in general? I have to say I had a lot of fun being one of the jury, if only the other jurors would just let me do what I want. I mean really. Throwing a stapler at someone’s face because their opinion was wrong is not a bad thing, just sayin. get over it. cry baby. Besides that and all the wrong people in the room not being right like I am, it was a blast.
Changed my view… I was just glad to give an opinion ( and a better one than some others in the room- you know who I mean).

_______

Liz Eckstein:

Genius witVirtual juror.
Maker of amazing sets
of lovely pillows.

What were your favorite crafting trends (type of crafts, art trends, techniques, etc) you saw from the applications? As someone who works in conservation, I’m always happy to see more and more recycled materials in people’s crafts. Not only is recycling worthwhile for itself, it’s such an affordable option for crafters. Also, I was impressed by seeing more cohesive branding in people’s crafts, more people had a broader array of items and developed packaging that really expressed their style.

What type of crafts make your heart skip a beat and what types of crafts were you looking for in the jury. Three things. 1. I am a pillow maker and love to see people get creative with pillows! 2. I like functional art, whether it’s pottery or household items. 3. Having been on the Crafty jury 7 of the past 8 years, I’ve seen a lot of craft and what really impresses me is a technique that I’ve never seen before especially something that has elements of both style and function.

If there was any type of craft that you’d like to see more of in the applications for next year, what would it be? Again, I’d say more functional art. I love to wear or use handmade objects every day.

_______

Christine Ernest:

First time juror and
hoarder of typewriters. She
wants to craft with you.

What were your favorite crafting trends (type of crafts, art trends, techniques, etc) you saw from the applications? I noticed a few applicants using recycled leather in a smart way for accessories like purses and wallets which I enjoyed immensely. I’m also a sucker for anything with a dinosaur on it (especially a Diplodocus), bulky skeins of brightly colored yarn and fun woodblocks I can hang on my wall.

What type of crafts make your heart skip a beat and what types of crafts were you looking for in the jury. It’s more so seeing someone introduce new items to their product line that I love, than any one particular craft that really gets me excited. I love it when there is one person I’ve purchased from at a previous Crafty Bastards or stalked online and then I’m totally blown away by the new items they present.

If there was any type of craft that you’d like to see more of in the applications for next year, what would it be? I’d love to see more handcrafted wood work in the home accessories category. Personally I’m drawn to more of a rustic vibe and since I just moved to a new apartment I’m on the hunt for new pieces to furnish my place.

As a first-time Jury member, describe what your first Jury experience was like? Was it what you expected? Has it changed or modified your views, in any way, on the handmade community in general? In the past I’ve done the data entry and helped tally up all the scores so I knew the process of seeing so many applicants can be overwhelming. Since this year had a record number of applicants I knew it would be a lot to judge in just two days. The process was pretty much what I expected. Yet after scrutinizing things like craftmanship and the alternative vision I’m pretty sure I’ll never look at handmade items in the same way  — at least not without silently giving them a score!

One thing I noticed is that makers still need to focus on presentation when it comes to applying to a competitive show like Crafty Bastards. Photos and artist statement need to be clear and concise and fun. I will say when I came across an application that had really professional looking photos and an awesome artist statement (i.e. witty and to the point), I definitely wanted to know more right away and most likely added them to my personal Crafty shopping list I’ve already started to put together for this year.

_______

Kelly Rand:

Writer, editor,
her most favorite entries
contain unicorns.

What were your favorite crafting trends (type of crafts, art trends, techniques, etc) you saw from the applications? The influx of one horned animals was a pleasant surprise.

What type of crafts make your heart skip a beat and what types of crafts were you looking for in the jury. When someone takes something hugely traditional and flips it on it’s head. I really wanted to see that in this year’s jury.

If there was any type of craft that you’d like to see more of in the applications for next year, what would it be? On the opposite end of the spectrum, I’d love to see more functional objects. But not boring functional objects.

How did this crop of applications compare to the ones in years’ past? Did all the work shown give you a sense of the direction that the handmade community is heading in? I think this year’s applications over all were better then year’s past. And the work this year is showing that many people are growing and adapting within their businesses, but many still have a long way to go.

_______

Sara Dick:

A Crafty founder,
bumpy soft yarn wins her heart
when it comes to skeins.

What were your favorite crafting trends (type of crafts, art trends, techniques, etc) you saw from the applications? Growing number of applicants expanding beyond decorative products and offering functional housewares. I also enjoy the increasing number of crafters that offer craft supplies and beginner DIY kits.

What type of crafts make your heart skip a beat and what types of crafts were you looking for in the jury. Not really a type of craft–more types applications. I’ve been on the jury since the beginning, so I get excited by things I haven’t seen before— that can be new artists, evolved craftmanship, expanded product lines, or even noticeable improvement from year to year.  Applications that present cohesive product lines, consistent branding and tell a story provide context and tend to stand out.

I love seeing the wide variety of decorative items like illustrations, plush and jewelry, but am most excited by products that offer some utility, like garden planters, kitchen tools, bike accessories and travel gear.

If there was any type of craft that you’d like to see more of in the applications for next year, what would it be?
More clothing beyond screenprinted shirts: would love button downs for guys and more work appropriate tops and dresses for gals. Pants anyone?

More functional housewares. Don’t think we’ve ever had someone that makes rugs– that would be cool.  Also, would like all the people printing tea towels to expand to other household textiles like curtains, pillowcases, table runners, etc. And remember– just because it’s a tea towel doesn’t mean the image needs to be kitchen related!

In general, encourage applicants to develop product lines instead of one offs that don’t fit together.

How did this crop of applications compare to the ones in years’ past? Did all the work shown give you a sense of the direction that the handmade community is heading in? New Recurring Themes: Unicorns, Foxes, Arrows, The South, Leather.  Continuing trends from last year: Narwhals, Betty White, Tea Towels, Sustainable Living Theme. Less frequent than previous years: Zombies, Vampires, Pirates, Steam Punk, Mustaches, Abe Lincoln, Marion Barry. Themes that will not die: Birds (especially owls, sparrows and peacocks), Cephlapods (mainly squid & octopi), Robots, Cupcakes and Whimsy.

_______

Kimberly Dorn:

Crafty mastermind.
Without her expertise, there
would not be a fair.

What were your favorite crafting trends (type of crafts, art trends, techniques, etc) you saw from the applications? I enjoyed seeing folks making custom stamps out of their art. Stamps are a fantastic craft tool that can be used by adults as well as kids, and have many different purposes. I also liked seeing more people getting into the kitchen arts with aprons, tea towels, cutting boards, coasters, etc. Even though I can barely cook toast, I do like surrounding myself with cool kitchen gear.

What type of crafts make your heart skip a beat and what types of crafts were you looking for in the jury. I’m totally into crafts that serve a function, as well as being aesthetically neat-o and kinda weird. I was looking for well-made items that could stand some wear and tear. I’m also love with  vintage-inspired, reproduction clothing…. sadly, I didn’t really see any of that.

If there was any type of craft that you’d like to see more of in the applications for next year, what would it be? I wish there were more applicants making clothing by hand, especially for dudes. We saw a whole bunch of screenprinted shirts come through, but I’d love to see handmade button-down shirts or even pants. Where are the pants? And handsewn bathing suits too. After seeing all the cool suits on Etsy, it would be great to have a vendor or two that brings them to the fair so shoppers can check them out in real life.

How did this crop of applications compare to the ones in years’ past? Did all the work shown give you a sense of the direction that the handmade community is heading in? We saw a lot of new crafters apply this year, some of whom we’ve never seen before, which is pretty exciting. We’re always interested in keeping the fair fresh for shoppers, so new vendors who make the Jury cut make us happy. We also saw familiar vendors producing new lines and creative ideas which is great as well.  Alas, we saw that some folks are only following the usual trends, and aren’t pushing their own creative boundaries. As the handmade community keeps getting bigger and bigger, I would love to see more crafters taking risks with their work, and start going outside of the typical crafting trends.

The Crafty Jury Explained
How long does the Jury process take?
The Crafty Jury meets for two days, approx. 10 hours per day. How are the applications judged? Each application is reviewed one by one, with special attention paid to the 3 photos and vendor statement. From there, each juror rates the applicant on 9 craftigories; the first 8 craftigories receive a score of 1-10. The last craftigory is an Overall score, which is worth 20 points. So the best possible score for an applicant would be 100 craftaculous points! The lowest is 10. All of the applicants’ ratings are then compiled and each applicant is given a total score based on the average score from all 6 jurors. At the end of the jury process, those applicants with a score of 75 or higher are automatically accepted into the fair. We then take a look at the categories of craft that we might be missing, and try to fill in the gaps from there. For example, if there are 5 spaces left in the fair, and we have not accepted any ceramic artists, we will take a look at the highest rated potter applicant and may decide to accept them into the fair. This process allows for an excellent shopping experience for our attendees, and a profitable day for our vendors.

What are the Craftigories?
1.) Craftsmanship/Skill How well-made are the crafts? We keep in mind some things are meant to look rough or undone. 2.) Inventive use of materials? Does the crafter use pre-manufactured materials or do they make their stuff from scratch? 3.) Labor/Time Investment Does it look like there was time invested in the concept/design/product? 4.) Physical Design – How much thought was put into the aesthetics/function of the work? 5.) Alternative Subject Matter/Vision? 6.) Rarity/Singularity – How unique are the products? 7.) Excitability – Would we buy this or recommend it to someone? 8.) Appeal – Does this vendor appeal to a large group of shoppers, or would their products only appeal to a very niche group? 9.) Overall (worth 20 points)

Why do you use this rating system?
This rating system provides an equal opportunity for all crafters to have a chance to vend at the fair. Where some applicants might get a high score in the uniqueness of their work, others may get a higher score in how well their products are made.

Is there a wait list?
Yes. We usually pick a small number of applicants with scores closest to 75 to be on our Pending List. Those on the Pending List will be notified of any booth space that may open up for various reasons.

All Crafty applicants will be notified of their vendor status by July 25th.
Questions? Email craftybastards [at] washingtoncitypaper.com.

Stay tuned for more festival information about our new(!) Young & Crafty kids section, Urban Farming Area and more!

Since 1972, Washington Area Bicyclist Association has been working hard to make D.C. one of the most bikeable cities in the U.S.  As a long-time friend of Crafty Bastards, as well as bicycle enthusiasts everywhere, WABA has tirelessly advocated for better bicycling conditions, as well as environmentally-friendly transportation choices – which includes their free, bicycle valet they provide at Crafty Bastards every year.

If you’ve ever wanted to say Thank You to WABA for all that they do, or learn more about who they are and how to get involved, their newest event Bike Fest is your chance to support their organization while partying it up, old school carnival-style.

Bike Fest will take place this Saturday in downtown Crystal City. This event is a fantastic opportunity to meet WABA staff, mingle with other bike-minded folks, and get in on all the carnival fun including cycle games, silent auction, sideshow performances, live music and dancing, palm readings, a photo booth, custom bicycle contest and more!

This event is expected to sell out so get your tickets online now. Tickets are $45 each and all proceeds benefit WABA’s advocacy, safety and education programs.

SPECIAL: Get $10 off by using the discount code: cyclechic.
For more information, including all the green ways to get to Bike Fest, visit waba.org.

You can now apply online for a chance to sell your handmade wares at Washington, DC’s largest indie crafting event.

Do you knit cozy scarves, screenprint bags, design your own hats, create plush monsters, sew dresses or upcycle men’s clothing? If you create or design anything by hand, we welcome you to apply to this year’s Crafty Bastards Arts and Crafts Fair!

Now in its 8th year, Crafty Bastards promises to be bigger and better than ever with an added media lounge, urban farming space and kids crafting area, as well as more food, bikes, entertainment, workshops and all around good crafty times.

Sign up on our mailing list to receive updates about Crafty Bastards throughout the year, and be sure to submit your vendor application by July 4th to be considered for the fair.

The largest, DC holiday shopping tradition is back in town! The Downtown Holiday Market will be hosting its annual, outdoor show and sale for 18 days, giving shoppers plenty of opportunity to meet and greet local artisans and pick up one-of-a-kind gifts.

The Market hosts 50 vendors each day, with more that 150 artisans and crafters participating throughout the month. Many past Crafty Bastards vendors will be there selling their handmade wares on various days, including De*Nada Design, Fuzzy Ink, 8th Street Soap Kitchen, Rebound Designs, Catherinette, Jon Wye and many more.

Live musical performances on the main stage aim to keep everyone in the holiday spirit, and local food vendors selling everything from empanadas to crepes will keep your tummy happy while you shop.  The Market is close to Metro and parking and is located directly in front of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, making it east to plan out a full day of art, crafts and holiday shopping fun in the heart of Washington, DC.

For a complete list of exhibitors, entertainment information and site map, go to downtownholidaymarket.com.

The Crafty Jury process has been in place since the first year of the fair 7 years ago, with a new mix of jurors each year. Over the course of two full days, the each member of the Jury rates each individual applicant through a unique system that keeps the vendor selection process fair for all. We’re excited to share our Jury process with you, and please feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions.

How long does the Jury process take?

The Crafty Jury meets for two days, approx. 10 hours per day. How are the applications judged? Each application is reviewed one by one, with special attention paid to the 3 photos and vendor statement. From there, each juror rates the applicant on 9 craftigories; the first 8 craftigories receive a score of 1-10. The last craftigory is an Overall score, which is worth 20 points. So the best possible score for an applicant would be 100 craftaculous points! The lowest is 10. All of the applicants’ ratings are then compiled and each applicant is given a total score based on the average score from all 7 jurors. At the end of the jury process, those applicants with a score of 75 or higher are automatically accepted into the fair. We then take a look at the categories of craft that we might be missing, and try to fill in the gaps from there. For example, if there are 5 spaces left in the fair, and we have not accepted any ceramic artists, we will take a look at the highest rated potter applicant and may decide to accept them into the fair. This process allows for an excellent shopping experience for our attendees, and a profitable day for our vendors.

What are the Craftigories?

1.) Craftsmanship/Skill How well-made are the crafts? We keep in mind some things are meant to look rough or undone. 2.) Inventive use of materials? Does the crafter use pre-manufactured materials or do they make their stuff from scratch? 3.) Labor/Time Investment Does it look like there was time invested in the concept/design/product? 4.) Physical Design – How much thought was put into the aesthetics/function of the work? 5.) Alternative Subject Matter/Vision? 6.) Rarity/Singularity – How unique are the products? 7.) Excitability – Would we buy this or recommend it to someone? 8.) Appeal – Does this vendor appeal to a large group of shoppers, or would their products only appeal to a very niche group? 9.) Overall (worth 20 points)

Why do you use this rating system?

This rating system provides an equal opportunity for all crafters to have a chance to vend at the fair. Where some applicants might get a high score in the uniqueness of their work, others may get a higher score in how well their products are made.

Is there a wait list?

Yes. We usually pick a small number of applicants with scores closest to 75 to be on our Pending List. Those on the Pending List will be notified of any booth space that may open up for various reasons.

Who is on the Jury?

This year’s Crafty Jury is comprised of an award-winning, local talent which includes local shop owner Joshua Tiktin from local DC Dekka, Rachel Bone from the Charm City Craft Mafia, Liz Ecktein — one of the original, founding  directors of Crafty Bastards,  and Pete Morelecitz — past Washington City Paper Art Director and crafter extraordinairre, as well as 3 Directors from Hello Craft  — the non-profit which is powers Crafty Bastards alongside Washington City Paper.

Meet 2010 Crafty Jury:

Sara Dick

Kimberly Dorn

Pete Morelewicz
Pete is the former art director of City Paper and currently designs several magazines you’ve never heard of. You may have seen him at Crafty Bastards’ in the past, whether squishing Crafty Bastards pennies, selling his paintings of Bob Ross, schlepping tables in the pre-dawn darkness, or just generally harassing the vendors. This is the fifth year Pete has had the honor of sitting on the Crafty Bastards jury, offering another opportunity to write of himself in the third person.

Kelly Rand
Kelly covers visual arts in and around Washington, DC for DCist and is editor of Crafting a Green World. Kelly has also been published by Bust Magazine and you can find her byline at Indie Fixx and Etsy’s Storque and has taught in Etsy’s virtual lab on the topic of green crafting.

Kelly helps organize Crafty Bastards: Arts and Crafts Fair, one of the largest indie craft fairs on the East coast and has served on the Craft Bastard’s jury since 2007. Kelly is also co-founder of Hello Craft and her responsibilities as a Director of the organization include programming for the Summit of Awesome and coordinator of the membership program. Kelly resides in Washington, D.C. and believes that handmade will save the world.

Joshua Tiktin
I am just a dude.  A Husband, a father, and a guy trying to create the best possible life I can.  Throughout my life you would find me either in the DC or Miami area, except when I spent 6 great years in Atlanta or when I went on vacation.  In those cities I would be working on music and art, in one form or another.  I am the owner of DEKKA, which is a Fashion + Art + Music Collective space in DC and we just opened our 2nd location near Miami, FL.

My most successful art projects are the Obama (recycled) Vinyl Record pieces which were created during the inauguration.  100′s of one of a kind units were sold and placed by their owners in about 10 countries, 4 continents, and in the White House as well.  They were also featured in Nylon Magazine, Thrillist, and Artomatic.  An earlier project was an ancient Bible code made in graffiti  and sold in originals and prints.  500 units were purchased by the Kabbalah Centre and sold internationally.  Madonna, Monica Lewinski, and Argentine actress Reyna Reech are a few of the celebrity owners of this work.

]]> http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/craftybastards/2010/07/11/2010-crafty-jury-revealed/feed/ 0 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/craftybastards/2010/03/30/summit-of-awesome-register-now/ http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/craftybastards/2010/03/30/summit-of-awesome-register-now/#comments Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:20:47 +0000 Kimberly Dorn http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/craftybastards/?p=1987 Calling all crafters! Registration Hello Craft’s 2nd annual Summit of Awesome is now open.

2010 Summit of Awesome
June 16-18
McMenamins Kennedy School
Portland, Oregon

Get a jump on registration for the ultimate  crafting-business conference. Geared specifically for independent artists and crafters, Hello Craft’s Summit of Awesome is 3 full days of seminars, mentoring sessions and hands-on workshops which  provide business and technical education as well as networking opportunities for those in the handmade arts community. The goal of the Summit of Awesome is to bring together crafters and makers from the U.S. and beyond, to learn, grow, and be prosperous in this ever-changing economy.

This year’s Summit will take place at the quirky and unique McMenamins Kennedy School, in the hip Alberta Arts District of Portland, Oregon. The Kennedy School houses a theater, classrooms, restaurants, a slew of bars and it’s own brewery! With 35 guestrooms, the Kennedy School is one of many perfect places to stay while attending the Summit.

Seminar topics include preparing your taxes, forming an LLC, sponsorship for craft fairs and developing successful product lines… just to name a few.

Register Today!
The full speaker line-up and class schedule will be online soon, but from now through April 20th, you can purchase a 3-Day Early Bird pass to the Summit for only $150 (after April 20th, the 3-Day pass will go up to its regular price of $180). This 3-Day, all-inclusive pass will get you into all the Summit classes and workshops, and includes a one-year membership to Hello Craft!

So get a jump on the Summit and sign up now for an Early Bird pass!

For more information about Hello Craft and the Summit of Awesome, and to register online, go to hellocraft.com.

As a teenager growing up in DC (ok, ok, Silver Spring), I loved seeing all the hand-screened rock posters at clubs, stapled to telephone poles and tacked onto bulletin boards at the local diners. Rock posters back then served a huge promotional purpose,  leading its readers to the next coolest show, and provided a tangible anthem to the independent music scene. Although the web has mostly taken over the promotional gig, rock poster designers the world over show that the music and art worlds are still as intertwined as ever, and the creative process for this time-honored tradition is alive and more than just kicking.  Local poster maker and Crafty Bastards veteran Anthony Dihle, has put together a show that proves just that.

Dihle’s newest show, Paper Cuts: The Art and Science of Rock Posters, presents a variety of work from talented East Coast poster artists and designers. Paper Cuts will showcase rock posters from DC area shows, featuring work from the following 16 poster artists:

Hero Design Studio, Jay Ryan, Todd Slater, John Foster, Marc Harkness, Zach Bryan, Strawberryluna, Adam Saul, Criminal Design, Marq Spusta, Hatch Show Print, Dan Grzeca, Guy Burwell, Chris Cernoch, John Whitlock, and Anthony Dihle.

The show will also take a look at the process of poster-making and design, and viewers can get their hands dirty at the opening with live printmaking hosted by local crafter Kristina Bilonick.

Paper Cuts: The Art and Science of Rock Posters
March 25-April 25
The Athenaeum, 201 Prince Street Alexandria, VA 22314
Opening Reception is this Sunday March 28 4-6pm

Calling all crafters and makers! Silver Spring, Maryland’s Handmade Mart is back and with a brand new website!

The Handmade Mart is gearing up for a full day of awesome crafts, live indie rock, and tons of outdoor crafty fun…. so if you knit, make pottery, draw comics, sew clothes, screen print or make anything by hand, the Handmade Mart is a great place for you to sell and showcase your wares.

Apply Today!
The vendor application process is open until April 10th. Just go to handmade-mart.com to fill out a application and submit photos of your craft!

Questions? Contact Debbie and Kim directly through the website.

Attention all crafters and Crafty shoppers: The date has been set for the 2010 Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 2, 2010.

The fair will take place from 10am-5pm, at our favorite location -  on the grounds at the Marie Reed Learning Center in Adams Morgan, in Washington, D.C.

The vendor application will be online before the end of April, so be sure to sign up for our email list to receive first notification as soon as it’s up.

Questions? Email us at craftybastards@washingtoncitypaper.com.

Hip Holiday Crafting Party
Sunday, December 6th
Noon – 4pm
Georgetown Proper Topper (courtyard)
3213 P Street NW (202.333.6200)

Roll up your sleeves and get crafty at this all ages, holiday crafting event in Georgetown.

Hosted by local crafting group craft*monger, this upcycling event will provide you with tools and materials to repurpose papers, maps, tickets, fabric scraps, magazines, found buttons, baubles, and bits of nature into holiday cards, gift wrap, ornaments and more!

For more information, visit craft*monger on facebook, email them at craftmongers@gmail.com, or follow their tweets: @craftmonger.