Get to know this year’s Crafty Bastards vendors! We’re posting a series of interviews of crafters who will be at the CB festival Saturday, June 28, at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center in Silver Spring, MD.

When life gets complicated, illustrator Kelly Alder is here to cut the BS. Pop Idiot prides itself in the simplest pleasures — t-shirt designs that are straightforward, fun, light-hearted, unpretentious and at times downright ridiculous. The energy in Alder’s monkey and spacemen characters are enough to repel any bad vibes, negative emotions and persistent telemarketers. “It’s a ridiculous world,” according to Alder. “Dress appropriately.”

1. Using just three words, how would you describe your work?

Ridiculous, irreverent, retro.

2. What are you doing to prepare for Crafty Bastards? Are there any new products or techniques that you will be trying out for this show?

Besides having some new cool T’s we’ll also have a hand pulled limited edtion 7 color silkscreen popidiot poster that measures 16×25. We got together with Spencer Hansen of Team8press here in RVA.

Spencer not only introduced to and guided us through the process of silkscreening the posters, he also did the coloring and we think he did an amazing job.

We have a feeling that we’ll be doing a lot more with Spencer in the immediate future, stay tuned for updates.

3. Is your craft widespread in the handmade community? What makes your stuff different from others in your craft genre?

It’s fairly widespread in the RVA community and we’re making headway into the rest of the country slowly but steadily thanks to the craft shows, Etsy and the internet.

As far as what makes our T’s different, like a lot of stuff that’s out there, we’re influenced by lowbrow pop culture of the last 50 to 60 years, we think that our personal filters, how we digest and spit it back out, is what makes ours different and unique.

We’d like to think that we have a personal take on a common sensibility.

4. Starting an independent shop takes a lot of dedication, planning and hard work. At what point did you realize you had the chops to start your own indie craft business?

A friend of ours who has/had the coolest toy store on the east coast kicked us in the ass and told us we should be doing our own thing, so we said why not.

5. Where are your favorite places to find your supplies?

Being that at this point our supplies are nothing fancy, pen/brush, ink, paper, T’s, and silkscreening ink, the local art stores in town and American Apparel.

6. Crafting is a grassroots revolution of sorts. It’s catching on as people appreciate all things handmade, original, recycled and environmentally/socially conscious. Does this influence/inspire your work? If so, how do you incorporate it into your craft?

When we first started we were aware of Paul Frank but that was about it. As we were beginning to get our stride and starting to attend craft shows outside of Richmond and discovered Etsy which has just been the last year or so, we began to realize just how wide spread the craft thing is.We’re not sure that it’s influenced the content of our work but it’s most definitely inspiring and motivating.

7. After seeing your work, many would-be crafters are inspired to start their own creations. Will you have any DIY kits available for sale at Crafty this year? Could you provide any simple how-to’s or tips for readers who want to get started on their own designs?

Not really but if they’d like to see some pictures of us and some of our friends in action they can check out the Team8press printing blog at www.team8press.com. While you’re there if you look around hard enough you can find a downloadable silkscreening tutorial by Spencer.

Get to know this year’s Crafty Bastards vendors! We’re posting a series of interviews of crafters who will be at the CB festival Saturday, June 28, at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center in Silver Spring, MD.

REALM’s jewelry collections conjure up dazzling images of everything from classic minerals and pearls to more quirky mixed media pieces. Designer Jesse Walker studied fashion design at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology — clearly! He must have specialized in crafting fresh ultra-urban chic without obscuring the classier elements of body accessories.

1. Using just three words, how would you describe your work?

Industrial, Baroque, Minimalism

2. What are you doing to prepare for Crafty Bastards? Are there any new products or techniques that you will be trying out for this show?

I’ve been doing a lot more sewing than usual lately, making bags and fabric cuffs.

3. Is your craft widespread in the handmade community? What makes your stuff different from others in your craft genre?

Well, jewelry is about the most widespread craft out there isn’t it? I think what makes my stuff different from others in my genre, is that I try to avoid using traditional methods, and I developed my own techniques to build a personal vocabulary using lots of pins as well as ball chain instead of cable chain. There are obviously lots of people who make jewelry using semi precious stones,and there are lots of people who create jewelry using hardware and industrial materials, but not that many who combine both of those things, and that contrast is part of what makes my work unique.

4. Starting an independent shop takes a lot of dedication, planning and hard work. At what point did you realize you had the chops to start your own indie craft business?

When I realized I wasn’t qualified to do anything else.

5. Where are your favorite places to find your supplies?

Industrial suppliers, bead stores, metal findings shops, and trim and button shops like M&J in New York, and anywhere in the world I’m traveling.

6. Crafting is a grassroots revolution of sorts. It’s catching on as people appreciate all things handmade, original, recycled and environmentally/socially conscious. Does this influence/inspire your work? If so, how do you incorporate it into your craft?

It influences and inspires my work by expanding the possibilities of what materials I can incorporate into my designs, because more people are beginning to appreciate things for how creative they are, instead of just how expensive the materials may be, and whether there is a designer label on it.

7. After seeing your work, many would-be crafters are inspired to start their own creations. Could you provide any simple how-to’s or tips for readers who want to get started on their own designs?

Try to find a local venue, like a flea market, or craft show, where you can sell directly to people and see how they really react to your product, especially if you are making something that people wear - you will learn so much valuable information by meeting your customers face to face, and your craft will benefit from it.

Get to know this year’s Crafty Bastards vendors! We’re posting a series of interviews of crafters who will be at the CB festival Saturday, June 28, at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center in Silver Spring, MD.

Raygun Robyn is a badass incase you can’t tell from her punk-inspired, cyber-flavored fashions. She’s a self-professed lover of rayguns, robots and zombies. She even handmakes panties from the future (see below)! Perhaps one day, the rest of us will learn to catch up with her. Check out more of Raygun Robyn’s designs at the official website and Etsy shop.

1. Using just three words, how would you describe your work?

Radass, Futuristic, Robots!

2. What are you doing to prepare for Crafty Bastards? Are there any new products or techniques that you will be trying out for this show?

I’m creating more accessories with lower prices and freebies to give away at the show. It’s totally worth it to give someone a free sticker if they appreciate your stuff and will help you spread the word. Plus, who doesn’t want an awesome robot sticker for their spaceship? I’m also working on a line of underwear for super hip space babes!

3. Is your craft widespread in the handmade community? What makes your stuff different from others in your craft genre?

T-shirts are a hard thing as there are so many other artists making such amazing stuff. I’m always inspired by what other people come up with. My stuff is unique because of the subject matter and technique. I love robots and retro sci-fi stuff as well as anything
cryptozoological. There is definitely an audience but not a lot of merch that caters to those particular tastes so I’m hoping to connect more to those people that appreciate what I do.

4. Starting an independent shop takes a lot of dedication, planning and hard work. At what point did you realize you had the chops to start your own indie craft business?

I’ve always been crafty. I started young as my mom always had some weird side project she was working on, so from when I was a shortie I started learning a lot of different techniques and was encouraged to run with them. When I was in junior high/ high school I started selling earrings at a local consignment shop and have been making stuff ever since.

5. Where are your favorite places to find your supplies?

I’ve moved a lot recently so every time I unpack another box I find some supplies or weird stuff that I had been hoarding so I’m trying to use what I already have to make cool stuff. For new supplies I usually hit up a crafty art supply store.

6. Crafting is a grassroots revolution of sorts. It’s catching on as people appreciate all things handmade, original, recycled and environmentally/socially conscious. Does this influence/inspire your work? If so, how do you incorporate it into your craft?

I think people are starting to really appreciate the handmade genre but don’t necessarily want to pay for handmade prices. I try to have the highest quality product I can while still making it affordable and having lower price items for people who might like my stuff but can’t quite commit to a more expensive item. And anytime I can recycle an item or re-purpose an item I do. I made some earrings and necklaces recently from an Ikea lamp film. It already had grommets in it so it was perfect for that use!

7. After seeing your work, many would-be crafters are inspired to start their own creations. Will you have any DIY kits available for sale at Crafty this year? Could you provide any simple how-to’s or tips for readers who want to get started on their own designs?

I am always happy to talk to people about my technique and how to do it themselves.

Get to know this year’s Crafty Bastards vendors! We’re posting a series of interviews of crafters who will be at the CB festival Saturday, June 28, at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center in Silver Spring, MD.

Folk Tale Fibers are the creations of a full-time spinster “devoted to seeking out animal, human, and environmentally friendly fibers and spinning them into yarny adventures.” Abby’s brilliantly colored yarns are a magnificent sight for sore eyes and also soft and welcoming to the touch! Let yourself pore over her scarves, gloves and more yarns at her blog and Flickr site.

1. Using just three words, how would you describe your work?

fuzzy earthy love

2. What are you doing to prepare for Crafty Bastards? Are there any new products or techniques that you will be trying out for this show?

Spinning like crazy! I have tons of ideas for new things and not much time, but some of my plans include felted objects and screenprinting, two things that I don’t normally do much of. I’m also dyeing some commercially spun yarn, which I haven’t done in years!

3. Is your craft widespread in the handmade community? What makes your stuff different from others in your craft genre?

Not really. I think fiber arts is a big chunk of the handmade community, but spinning is a small part of that. I like to spin a lot of so-called “art” or novelty yarns, which tend to be really unique because each spinner has their own style, aesthetic, and inspirations. Most of my yarns have a story behind them.

4. Starting an independent shop takes a lot of dedication, planning and hard work. At what point did you realize you had the chops to start your own indie craft business?

I have always made things to sell, ever since I can remember, so I really wouldn’t know what to do with myself if I stopped. I think it’s easier for me because I’ve never had a “real” job, so I’m just doing what I’ve always done. I have to admit, though, I’m not as good at the business aspect of selling as I am at the actual crafting!

5. Where are your favorite places to find your supplies?

My favorite place to get supplies (fiber in my case) is small local farms and fiber festivals. I love getting to meet the farmers and the sheep, and washing and processing the wool myself. I also find myself at thrift stores and yard sales a lot. I like recycling and repurposing old things, and I search out ‘damaged’ things, like sweaters with moth holes in them, that I know wouldn’t be used otherwise, and incorporating them into my yarns.

6. Crafting is a grassroots revolution of sorts. It’s catching on as people appreciate all things handmade, original, recycled and environmentally/socially conscious. Does this influence/inspire your work? If so, how do you incorporate it into your craft?

I have always had a deep love for handmade and environmentally/socially responsible items. Even as a kid, I’d beg my mom to take me to the local craft fairs and couldn’t have cared less about the big toy stores. Last year, I made the decision to only use fibers that are animal- and eco-friendly, so I’ve stopped buying & working with most commercially processed wool. I use mostly local farm wool, mill end wool (leftovers/waste from large spinning mills), and sustainable plant fibers. I’m really happy to see that caring about where things come from is becoming more and more popular!

7. After seeing your work, many would-be crafters are inspired to start their own creations. Will you have any DIY kits available for sale at Crafty this year? Could you provide any simple how-to’s or tips for readers who want to get started on their own designs?

Most of what I’m selling is meant to be made into something else. I plan on offering lots of tips and help for using my yarns to anyone who wants to know! Any spinners are welcome to stop by and ask questions about my techniques as well.

Get to know this year’s Crafty Bastards vendors! We’re posting a series of interviews of crafters who will be at the CB festival Saturday, June 28, at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center in Silver Spring, MD.

Chris Creatures has a knack for keeping her creations tasteful and enticing — perhaps too much so for our own good, lest we decide to eat them whole! The adorable, unique plushies bring some of our favorite Asian dishes to life. As the plushies adorn office spaces and coffee tables, they make great conversation pieces and always manage to bring a smile to our lips!

1. Using just three words, how would you describe your work?

happy, stuffed, and yummy

2. What are you doing to prepare for Crafty Bastards? Are there any new products or techniques that you will be trying out for this show?

I’ve been sewing non-stop!! I sew everything by hand so it takes a long time. Each plushie is made with love and care. There will be a few new things I will be bringing to the fair.

3. Is your craft widespread in the handmade community? What makes your stuff different from others in your craft genre?

Yes, there are tons of talented plushie makers out there. I could spend hours on Flickr looking at their amazing work.

I’m not sure how my stuff differs from others in the genre. I just try to make things that I feel passionate about. I’m inspired by delicious food, beats, and simple designs.

4. Starting an independent shop takes a lot of dedication, planning and hard work. At what point did you realize you had the chops to start your own indie craft business?

I have an early memory of selling handmade rings to kids on the playground in the first grade. I was taking orders and offering discounts if they bought multiple items. I think it may have been at that point…

5. Where are your favorite places to find your supplies?

I live at the craft store. I try to avoid the same cashiers when I’m there so it doesn’t look like I’m there every day. Even though I’m there every day.

6. Crafting is a grassroots revolution of sorts. It’s catching on as people appreciate all things handmade, original, recycled and environmentally/socially conscious. Does this influence/inspire your work? If so, how do you incorporate it into your craft?

I try to do as much as I can to reuse and recycle. I keep and reuse all my fabric scraps. I also support and buy items from sellers that use recycled materials.

7. After seeing your work, many would-be crafters are inspired to start their own creations. Will you have any DIY kits available for sale at Crafty this year? Could you provide any simple how-to’s or tips for readers who want to get started on their own designs?

I won’t have any DIY kits by the time the fair rolls around. If anyone is interested in making plushies, I would definitely check out these 2 books- Plush You by Kristen Rask and Softies by Therese Laskey. All you need to get started is cardstock (to cut out a pattern), fabric, thread, polyfil and a needle.

Get to know this year’s Crafty Bastards vendors! We’re posting a series of interviews of crafters who will be at the CB festival Saturday, June 28, at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center in Silver Spring, MD.

1 Girl 1 Boy designs a colorful array of shirts specially designed to match the youthful spirits of any little girl or boy. All of Stacy and Mark’s shirts are hand-dyed and block-printed. The dyes are actually their own creations, developed after test dyeing yards & yards of fabric to get just the right shade. Block printing also gives their shirts a unique look, ensuring that no two shirts are exactly alike! Visit 1 Girl 1 Boy’s website for all of their designs.

1. Using just three words, how would you describe your work?

Labor Intensive

2. What are you doing to prepare for Crafty Bastards? Are there any new products or techniques that you will be trying out for this show?

I (Stacy) have been working madly each night, after the kiddies are tucked in, on some new products. We will be introducing a line of block printed textiles (yardage, tea towels, pillows that kind of stuff) at Crafty Bastards. I am having so much fun working on this new project, I mean so much fun that I don’t mind hanging out till the wee hours of the night playing with color & pattern in our truly dank & unpleasant basement studio. I have always loved pattern & color, so to work on designing yardage is really freeing. I love our little shirts, but on the design end it can be kind of confining.

3. Is your craft widespread in the handmade community? What makes your stuff different from others in your craft genre?

I haven’t run into too many block printers who work on fabric, so I guess I’d say no, but maybe it’s just the crowd & shows we do. Silkscreening seems to reign supreme, which is cool. I love silkscreening, but ended up with this block printing gig because I wanted something more immediate. You know remove all those pesky steps like making screens, letting emulsion dry etc.

4. Starting an independent shop takes a lot of dedication, planning and hard work. At what point did you realize you had the chops to start your own indie craft business?

I don’t know if I do. The actual making the stuff I think I’ve got down, but the website stuff (um just one look at my rarely updated hobbled together site is a clue I don’t know what I’m doing on that end), promoting (what’s that!), ordering supplies, basically all the stuff needed to run a business I really struggle with. I have a plan of sorts, I am taking things kind of slow, learning along the way till our 2 kids are in school (they are 5 & 3 ½ so I’m almost there). At that point I hope to transition things into a more full time serious business, you know actually use those file folders I have & that Rolodex that’s collecting dusk in back of that pile of business cards. For now it’s still this train wreck of late night printing & setting my sewing machine up outside so I can watch the kids in the kiddie pool while I finish up some work.

5. Where are your favorite places to find your supplies?

I get almost all of my stuff online. It’s easier than packing the kids up & going to an art store or, nightmare of nightmares, the fabric store.

6. Crafting is a grassroots revolution of sorts. It’s catching on as people appreciate all things handmade, original, recycled and environmentally/socially conscious. Does this influence/inspire your work? If so, how do you incorporate it into your craft?

I’m just so thankful this little revolution is happening. I’m 36 & after getting out of art school & then getting art school out of me (if you know what I mean) all I really wanted to do was sew & print & have a nice little thing going on all my own. At that time the internet was just getting started, I was terrified of computers (I still don’t know how to type) & having a business seemed impossible. All this happening is just so amazing. Shows like Crafty Bastards are giving artist/crafters a venue for selling our stuff & meeting like-minded folks, the internet making it possible for a girl to stay home with her kids while selling a bit & getting her products seen, even the mainstream media getting interested in what’s going on (thanks Martha!), it’s all so awesome & I’ll ride it for as long as I can & learn as much as I can on the way.

7. After seeing your work, many would-be crafters are inspired to start their own creations. Will you have any DIY kits available for sale at Crafty this year?

No DIY kits, but we always bring some of our hand carved stamps/blocks with us to shows. It gives us a chance to talk about our process a bit & encourage anyone who’s interested in giving it a try.

Get to know this year’s Crafty Bastards vendors! We’re posting a series of interviews of crafters who will be at the CB festival Saturday, June 28, at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center in Silver Spring, MD.

Pic n Paint knows how to make balloons come alive and paint fantasy right onto your skin. Using bodies and faces as a creative pallette, Ashley Pickin specializes in body art, having perfected her talent under leading makeup instructors. She’s ready to bring her craft to Silver Spring as a Crafty Bastard! Check out more of her designs at the Pic n Paint website.

1. Using just three words, how would you describe your work?

eclectic, fun, colorful

2. What are you doing to prepare for Crafty Bastards? Are there any new products or techniques that you will be trying out for this show?

Trying my best to come up with new designs for my ceramics and balloon jewelry. I’ve come up with several new techniques for the balloon jewelry and I’m really surprised at just how easily the ideas have been coming lately. I think the deadline is helping

3. Is your craft widespread in the handmade community? What makes your stuff different from others in your craft genre?

There are tons and tons of jewelry artists, but balloon jewelry artists? Not at all… I don’t think that I’ve ever met someone else that does balloon jewelry. At the last balloon convention I attended, I wore one of my pieces to the opening night party and 100’s of balloon artists were stunned at the idea. I figure that if I can shock people that make a living with balloons, then there’s a good chance that those in the craft community have never seen it.

4. Starting an independent shop takes a lot of dedication, planning and hard work. At what point did you realize you had the chops to start your own indie craft business?

I’m still not sure that I do! There are times that I think, “Why am I doing this?!” Then one day I realized that I sell my work, not because I want to make money, but because I love to make stuff. And if I just kept making stuff, and I didn’t sell any of it, then my life would be overrun with all of my work. Unfortunately, thanks to the business, my life is still overrun with work, and files, and boxes, and supplies, and balloons, and work, and balloons…… lots of balloons.

5. Where are your favorite places to find your supplies?

My boyfriend! He’s the best supply store I know! He’s a balloon artist and brings home all of his leftover balloon scraps for me to use. It’s a lot of work to go through them to find the good pieces, sort them, clean them up, and trim them…. But it’s worth it in the end, because I’m using something that would normally be thrown away and that makes me very happy.

6. Crafting is a grassroots revolution of sorts. It’s catching on as people appreciate all things handmade, original, recycled and environmentally/socially conscious. Does this influence/inspire your work? If so, how do you incorporate it into your craft?

I am very influenced by the handmade revolution! I was always making things out of throw aways when I was a kid, but now everytime I’m about to put something in the trash or(more likely) the recycle bin, I often find myself thinking, “Can this become something new, can I avoid throwing it away?” It can get addictive.

7. After seeing your work, many would-be crafters are inspired to start their own creations. Will you have any DIY kits available for sale at Crafty this year?

Hmm.. To tell the truth, I hadn’t thought about making a how-to kit. But now that you mention it, it would be a fun thing to try and come up with… Though I’m not sure that I have enough time to get something together before Crafty gets here! Maybe next time

Get to know this year’s Crafty Bastards vendors! We’re posting a series of interviews of crafters who will be at the CB festival Saturday, June 28, at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center in Silver Spring, MD.

If This Chickadee’s goal is “to make the world a cuter place, one loving stitch at a time,” she’s doing a damn fine job. Rebecca Juliette’s work began as a way to find alternatives to mass market accoutrements for herself and her home. Lucky for us, she has since spread the love to brighten your little corner of the forest too.

1. Using just three words, how would you describe your work?

sunny sunday afternoon

2. What are you doing to prepare for Crafty Bastards? Are there any new products or techniques that you will be trying out for this show?

I’m going on vacation! It seemed like a great idea at the time…before sherry (dandelion blu) and I found out that we were accepted. Now I’m scrambling to get things done before departing since I won’t return until right before the show. But the deadline has been a great motivator!

Yes, new products and techniques! A recent run-in between my left index finger and the rotary cutter has resulted in a new, nine-fingered approach to sewing (and typing). The unfortunate accident happened while working on a new line of totes. But not to fear, they’ll make it to the market along with a few more designs set to make a debut.

3. Is your craft widespread in the handmade community? What makes your stuff different from others in your craft genre?

Sure, there are many talented people out there who sew and make tote bags of all kinds as well as aprons and home decor items. My fabric combinations and original designs set This Chickadee creations apart from others. Plus, there is a lot of love in each stitch and the hope that someone out there will love them back.

4. Starting an independent shop takes a lot of dedication, planning and hard work. At what point did you realize you had the chops to start your own indie craft business?

The work has been rewarding from the very beginning. When it wasn’t my full-time enterprise, it was just about the only thing that I wanted to do with my free time. Now that This Chickadee has become a “business” and sewing has become “work”, things aren’t as carefree and flat out fun. But even with the challenges and frustrations, I’ve found that I still look forward to the next project and am always planning my next step. Honestly, there is nothing that I’d rather be doing.

5. Where are your favorite places to find your supplies?

There are fine fabric finds in a plethora of places, so I try to diversify. Small local quilting stores and larger ones like G Street are great because you can get up close and personal with the fabric before you buy. But the Internet offers so many options and a seemingly endless amount of choices. Sometimes it is just fun and inspiring to “window shop” online. Also, thrift stores are a great way to reclaim overlooked gems and return them to glory.

6. Crafting is a grassroots revolution of sorts. It’s catching on as people appreciate all things handmade, original, recycled and environmentally/socially conscious. Does this influence/inspire your work? If so, how do you incorporate it into your craft?

Of course. It is extremely exciting to be a part of the craft community, to see people embrace handmade over mass-produced.

7. After seeing your work, many would-be crafters are inspired to start their own creations. Will you have any DIY kits available for sale at Crafty this year? Could you provide any simple how-to’s or tips for readers who want to get started on their own designs?

No DIY kits this year, but I would love to be a resource for anyone who wants to get started. My mom and grandma taught me and have encouraged me every step of the way. They’ve given me an amazing gift and I fully intend to give back and to keep this tradition going. To all those who aspire, you know that saying “dance like there is no one watching”? Well, craft like no one cares. Be proud of what you make, especially in the beginning. It warms my heart to see someone wearing a scarf that they’ve knitted themselves, even if it is all slipped stitches and crooked rows. It isn’t about mechanical precision, it’s about the joy and accomplishment.

Get to know this year’s Crafty Bastards vendors! We’re posting a series of interviews of crafters who will be at the CB festival Saturday, June 28, at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center in Silver Spring, MD.

Red Prairie Press graces its creations with delightful, original, hand-drawn designs. They are distinctive in their minimalism, their ability to dwell on a single precious visual idea. Rachel Bone, the woman behind Red Prairie Press, uses a manual press with waterbased inks and sells her own apparel at stores around the country.

1. Using just three words, how would you describe your work?

Wicked Snazzy Tshirts

2. What are you doing to prepare for Crafty Bastards? Are there any new products or techniques that you will be trying out for this show?

We are Printing Printing Printing. We will have new tank tops and men’s tees, and kid’s tees, as well as the old favorites!

3. Is your craft widespread in the handmade community? What makes your stuff different from others in your craft genre?

YES. The more shows we do, the more t-shirts we see. We try to remain unique by drawing all of our designs by hand, using less-toxic materials. When this doesn’t entice people, we remind them that we have more freckles per square inch than everyone else.

4. Starting an independent shop takes a lot of dedication, planning and hard work. At what point did you realize you had the chops to start your own indie craft business?

Only when I was angry enough at my old office job did I realize I was crazy enough to work for myself. End of story.

5. Where are your favorite places to find your supplies?

American Apparel, Alternative Apparel, Victory Factory, Screenprintingsupplier, Pla-Za Artist Materials…

6. Crafting is a grassroots revolution of sorts. It’s catching on as people appreciate all things handmade, original, recycled and environmentally/socially conscious. Does this influence/inspire your work? If so, how do you incorporate it into your craft?

Oh boy Y.E.S! We love the handmade and sold in the U.S.A./sweatshop free apparel approach to things. We love printing small quantities, and selling/buying locally when possible. We have started printing on organic cotton shirts (right now, just our kids’ line, but we’re looking to expand) and it’s nice to see people reacting positively to that.

7. After seeing your work, many would-be crafters are inspired to start their own creations. Will you have any DIY kits available for sale at Crafty this year? Could you provide any simple how-to’s or tips for readers who want to get started on their own designs?

We don’t have any kits, but we often give advice on how to burn screens, and screenprint. We LOVE spreading the word about our favorite artform! Also, as members of the Charm City Craft Mafia, we help create crafty & business workshops for new businesses in Baltimore!

Get to know this year’s Crafty Bastards vendors! We’re posting a series of interviews of crafters who will be at the CB festival Saturday, June 28, at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center in Silver Spring, MD.

My Right 2 Write takes handmade journals to another level. Not only do their designs capture the adorable universal symbols of our hi-tech culture, they also donate part of their proceeds to benefit local public schools in need! It’s ingenious! Check out all of their books at myright2write.com

1. Using just three words, how would you describe your work?

Socially conscious fun!

2. What are you doing to prepare for Crafty Bastards? Are there any new products or techniques that you will be trying out for this show?

We are working on new products every day from now until the show! We introduced our company at our first crafts show last month and are broadening our product line (both up and down) based on that test. We find it really useful to have our products span a price-point from the quick-pick-up $5 item up to the pricier high end of the line… maintaining our design and crafts integrity every step of the way. This way there is something for every budget. We are also covering a lot of bases style-wise, making goodies for kids and for grown-ups. I’ve found with other businesses that it’s good to balance consistency (ie, you have your own little brand) with variety (within the brand there are loads of great choices for customers).

3. Is your craft widespread in the handmade community? What makes your stuff different from others in your craft genre?

There are tons of decorated handmade journals out there, for sure, so we worked hard to differentiate. While we do think ours are very beautiful and special, we also think they stand out for two additional reasons. First, because we are using mostly recycled materials (old wallpaper). Second, and most importantly, because we donate unadorned composition books to a local public school in need for each journal we sell. So there’s a buy-one give-one thing going on.

4. Starting an independent shop takes a lot of dedication, planning and hard work. At what point did you realize you had the chops to start your own indie craft business?

We are experienced artists, crafts persons and business people so we already had a lot under our belts before launching MyRight2Write.com. MR2W is actually a side project of our successful graphics firm, designfarm, and I also have another successful online business called so-charmed.com. In addition to designing and selling products independently on the Web and at live events, Etsy has been a big marketing and sales tool for us.

5. Where are your favorite places to find your supplies?

For MyRight2Write, we’ve been on the hunt for these big old vintage wallpaper sample books. They can be tough to come by, but our treasure hunting skills run deep. I look for wallpaper everywhere I go; actually found a nice old unused roll at the thrift store last week. All of the shirts and other clothing we use is thrifted as well.

6. Crafting is a grassroots revolution of sorts. It’s catching on as people appreciate all things handmade, original, recycled and environmentally/socially conscious. Does this influence/inspire your work? If so, how do you incorporate it into your craft?

Absolutely, it’s hard not to think about these aspects of crafting nowadays… the DIY explosion is huge and really impacting even mainstream product development. But to be honest. I think the most important thing for us is to answer yes to the following question: Is it fun designing and making these things? As professional graphic designers we spend long days in front of a computer… and going too many days without really using my hands, getting sticky and messy, throwing some spray paint and glitter around… just doesn’t feel right. But I do think it’s important to acknowledge that the movement you allude to has gained such momentum that it’s increasingly important to be unique, true to yourself, and to keep growing in your work all the time.

7. After seeing your work, many would-be crafters are inspired to start their own creations. Will you have any DIY kits available for sale at Crafty this year? Could you provide any simple how-to’s or tips for readers who want to get started on their own designs?

We don’t sell kits; it doesn’t really work for our product but we do encourage our customers to interact with us by sending writing or drawings from their journals to our blog. As far as advice to those who feel inspired to join the crafts revolution, I’d say this: Be as original as possible with your concept and design, and then get really good at your execution. For the journals, we want things to look and feel perfect… if imperfection is part of your aesthetic that’s fine too, but it’s all got to integrate together into something irresistible. The competition out there is fierce and getting more so all the time.