You can find handmade gifts ranging from environmentally-friendly jewelry by Elisa Shere, to vegan body products by Lollibomb Beauty and portraits from Jaime Zolllars. The full vendor list can be found here.

Also make sure to stick around for some crafty demos:
12 noon: Paper Bead Making with April Mist Jewelry
1 pm: Crochet Lessons with Ninnycat Crochet
2 pm: Sewing Demo with DC Threads Sewing Lounge

Holiday Heist presented by DC Craft Mafia
When: This Saturday, 11/21, noon-6pm
Where: The Soundry (316 Dominion Road, Vienna, VA 22180)
More info: Check out the DC Craft Mafia Blog for introductions to the vendors

Crafty Bastards is approaching, and with only a few shorts days of prep time left before the big event, hundreds of crafters are working around-the-clock to sew clothing, create prints, assemble jewelry, and complete the innumerable tasks of their trade in the hours that remain. Crafty Bastards is one of the biggest, if not the biggest craft event of the year in DC, and while the many fabulous crafters and performers make the show the success that it is, there is an unsung class of show participant that contributes to every vendor’s success – the craft show helper. The Helpful Bastard, if you will.

As a Helpful Bastard, vendor boyfriend, and booth babe for four years of Crafty Bastards, plus many other shows both large and small, I would like to offer a few notes and tips for anyone acting as a show helper this year. The Helpful Bastard can be the boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse of the vendor, a supportive parent, a friend or even an employee who is there to lend an extra pair of arms and some moral support. Done well, the work of the Helpful Bastard can speed up the setup and breakdown process, charm customers, keep yourself and your partner flush with food and drink, and make the day an incredibly fun, memorable experience for yourself and your friends. Done poorly, one day of volunteerism can spoil the experience of craft shows and crafting in general, create resentment between you and your partner, and damage your brand. The audience I have in mind for these tips are the newbies who have never worked at an outdoor fair in their life, but veterans may find some value in these notes.

15 + 1 Steps Towards Becoming a Valuable Craft-Show Helpful Bastard

1. Remember the essentials, even if you assume your partner will. Bring a handkerchief or rag to daub sweat from your face. For outdoor shows, don’t forget bug repellant and suntan lotion or spray. Have some bottled water (preferably chilled the night before), or know where to get some nearby. Have some extra cash so you don’t have to borrow from the cash box when grabbing a bite to eat. You’ll want your charged cell phone, so you and your partner can stay in contact if you get separated. Finally, dress comfortably, stay loose, and wear your most comfortable shoes. Consider bringing an empty side bag for your own purchases and personal items. If possible, make sure you and your partner have a key to the vehicle you used to travel to the show. That way, each of you will always be able to get your vehicle, load in or out, or otherwise have access to transportation in case the other is unavailable.

2. Strongly consider bringing a good book or small, portable project you can work on. You need something that you can dive into quickly when business slows, but can put down in a flash when your partner needs something or when customers swarm your table.

3. Be prompt and be reliable. If you agree to meet your partner mid-day to help, be there on time (especially if you’re relieving another helper). Call in advance and see if they’ve forgotten anything you can bring (like the items from the previous bullet point).

4. If you can, wear something that promotes your product (e.g., a t-shirt, button, or sticker).

5. With #4 in mind, don’t be overly concerned about appearances, but don’t look like you just rolled out of bed. Yes, it’s important to look comfortable and stylish (business casual, as craft goes), but be prepared for potentially hours of physical labor under the hot sun or in the chilly damp. Accept that you may get messy and that you may not have a proper bathroom to fix your makeup or hair in.

6. Keep a supply of business cards on you. People will recognize you from your booth, and you may run into curious shoppers while off a lunch run.  Be prepared to talk about how they can learn more about your products after the show.

7. If you can, make friends with your booth neighbors.  Many people in the craft community make friendships quickly, and in case of an emergency it’s good to know that someone you have a token relationship with can watch your booth for you for a short while.

8. Be considerate of other vendors. This will improve the social standing of yourself and your partner, and avoid negative feelings towards your business. It will also make tasks that rely on cooperation, like unloading and loading, faster and easier. Remember, many other people you meet will be like you – faithful boyfriends, acquaintances, mothers, etc. – who are there as volunteers or for love of craft, and they most likely just want to have an uneventful day in front of the customer.

9. Offer to help your partner set up the booth or display, but don’t make assumptions about what you think looks good or is the best approach to solving a problem. Your partner, if she or he is the primary brains behind the business, has probably already spent a great deal of time thinking about exactly how their booth should appear and probably has a pretty good idea of how things should be done. As an aside, be sensitive to your partners verbal and physical cues.  If they want you to hang back and let them run the show, then stand back and await instructions. Otherwise, be enthusiastic and offer help and suggestions.

10. Don’t make the day harder than it is. Yes, you are a great guy/gal for volunteering to help, but ultimately you volunteered, and the goal today is to promote your partner’s craft and make money, not celebrate you for being a really cool boy/girlfriend.  That can (should!) happen after after the show. In my case, I demand celebration in the form of complimentary fried dumplings, but you might want to set your sights higher.

11. If you’re not doing anything during setup or another time when your partner may be busy but you aren’t needed, offer to get coffee/bagels/lunch, but don’t hover.

12. Be mindful of the space you occupy. Even if they aren’t using it, vendors are entitled to their assigned space. Try to keep your materials within the borders of your area, and try to ask politely before entering another vendor’s space during setup and break down. Conversely, make sure you have the space you need to be comfortable and productive throughout the day. Plan to bring two chairs – one for you, one for the vendor – and plan a space for both! You can skip the chair if you plan to be on your feet all day, but make sure your space layout takes your presence into account. Furthermore, make sure there’s enough space to maneuver around your partner and in and out of the booth area – you need to retain your mobility in order to help customers, manage your space, and slip out inconspicuously.

13. Tips for interacting with customers: Even though you may feel like you’re dead weight during the day, you are still part of the public face of the enterprise. Smile, make eye contact, offer to help customers, and keep an eye on the merchandise. Even if you’re a total introvert, learn to make eye contact, smile, and ask them if they have any questions or are looking for something in particular.  You don’t have to chatter at the customers, especially if they’re studying the product and not you, but you need to be attentive to their physical cues.

14. Be honest about the product and the prices. If someone wants to haggle, or ask questions about price or product you can’t or don’t feel comfortable attempting to answer, direct them to your partner, either when she or he returns, or via the website or email. It’s OK to say, ‘Thank you, I’m not the artist, but I’m sure she’d be happy to answer any of your questions when she gets back from the bathroom/lunch break/etc. in a few minutes. Feel free to check everything out in the meantime!’

15. Hopefully, all of your craft shows will be pleasant, happy occasions. However, stresses can occur sometimes, and – although I hope it never happens – sometimes there are unpleasant events when you’re out dealing with the public or other vendors. When you’re at a craft show, misunderstandings with your partner, crazy customers, bad weather, or things breaking can all contribute to a tense environment. The thing to remember is that unless it’s a real emergency, don’t make a show of hostility and never shout at your partner or customers. It’s OK to walk away, fume, and then have a stern conversation later, but causing a scene wrecks the atmosphere for you, your partner, and everyone in the vicinity.

And finally…

16. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Unless you’re a co-equal participant in the business, you can’t be expected to know all of the ins and outs of the vendor experience. Have your partner walk you through the experience of solo selling, in case you find yourself working the booth for an extended period of time. Do you know how to complete a transaction? Do you know how to calculate sales tax? If you use a credit card machine or need some kind of specialized knowledge to complete a sale, have your partner walk you through it, and then do it yourself. Don’t assume that just because someone once showed you how the Credit-Matic 5000 worked, that you’ll be able to operate it again when five customers are urgently waiting for you to ring up their sale. Likewise, practice setting up and taking down tents and umbrellas. Both tools can be maddeningly complex despite their simple appearances.

You can help yourself by becoming familiar with the pricing for your products, and by having a rudimentary understanding of the cost factors involved in custom work (if available). If you can, make a ‘cheat sheet’ of prices for everything that can bought off-the-shelf, so you don’t have to stand up and consult the display along with the customer. It’s OK to say “I don’t know, you’ll need to get in touch with the artist” and encourage the customer to wait to meet the artist (if she’s stepped away), or at least hand the customer a business card.

In conclusion, be patient, willing to work, and be enthusiastic and polite towards customers and your fellow vendors. Working a craft show as a volunteer can be difficult, especially as you may not be personally invested in the financial success of the business, but think of it as an opportunity to participate in a special event much larger than yourself. Craft shows will introduce you to some of the most creative, dedicated artists and entrepreneurs in the world, and you can learn something from everyone you meet. So have fun, stay cool, and come say Hi! to Rebound Designs at Crafty Bastards, booth 52, this year!

With Crafty Bastards just days away, Hello Craft is busy getting ready to offer you some amazing fun during this, the most awesomest craft fair ever.

Stop by the Hello Craft booth (#126) during Crafty Bastards to enter a handmade giveaway, make a button, sign up for a membership or just say hi!

Hello Craft’s handmade raffle giveaway includes some really neato prizes. While the raffle is free, there is a suggested donation of $1 per ticket to help support Hello Craft. With your entry you’ll have a chance to win a Hello Craft membership, entrance to the next Summit of Awesome, one of two Etsy prize packs, a Knit Outta the Box kit, a book journal from Ex Libris Anonymous, prizes from Sublime Stitching, Jaime Zollars and more!

Then, after strolling through Crafty Bastards and buying handmade, why not try your hand at making something handmade? Hello Craft will also be hosting the Make Something Awesome Area (booth #134-137). This making and crafting area is the perfect spot for you to stop in, sit a spell and flex your crafting muscles. Follow directions for projects from Etsy, Knit Outta the Box, Mary Ellen Doran and more. Or or use the materials to come up with one of your own!

Also don’t miss these fun and exciting demos happening throughout the day at Booth 129.

10 am – Knitting Lace with Laurie Gonyea of Knit Outta the Box
11:15 am – Bike Tune Ups with the Bike Rack
12:30 pm – Hoola Hoop Making with Surprise Hoops!
2 pm – Bike Tune Ups with the Bike Rack
3:15 pm – Hoola Hooping with Surprise Hoops!
4:30 pm – Small Book Making with Esti Gerson

Hello Craft is excited to be partnering with the One of a Kind Show & Sale and will have a booth at OOAK’s holiday show at Pier 94 in New York from December 11th-13th.  We’ll host a Make Something Awesome area with hands on craft projects and conduct shopper interviews along with a workshop or two.  More details will be announced in the coming months.

If you are interested in exhibiting, space is still available,  but hurry!  Artist criteria and application info is available here.  Contact Libby Hanna at 312.527.7757 or lhanna@mmart.com, or Courtney Walsh at 646.778.3236 or cwalsh@mmart.com to find out what is needed to qualify for the show.

Here’s some more info about the OOAK NYC show from their site:

Launching December 11-13, 2009 at Pier 94, the One of a Kind Show and Sale NYC will be an extraordinary holiday shopping show featuring the best in fine art and fine craft from hundreds of unique artists, artisans and designers from across North America.  Each item for sale at the show will be made by hand, one piece at a time, and every artist represented will be in attendance—offering shoppers the wonderful opportunity to buy pieces directly from the artist who created it and support the independent artist community.

And, if you haven’t had a chance to listen to the latest episode of the Hello Craft podcast, check it out.  This special episode is sponsored by our friends at One of a Kind Show and features an awesome story about how Tina Seamonster learns to embroider and relax.

The application is now available!

Because they receive many more applications than they have spaces for, please be sure to fill out the application ENTIRELY and pay your $10 (NON REFUNDABLE) application fee in order to be considered!

All correctly completed applications are DUE OCTOBER 5, 2009 at midnight. They will be juried and applicants will be notified of their status by October 10, 2009. If you have questions, please email charmcitycraftmafia@gmail.com.

Accepted vendors will pay an additional $65 for an 8′ space. (includes one 8 foot table & two chairs).

New shows and markets are popping up all over. Check out the Capitol Marketplace Events page.

They are sponsoring shows on the grounds of one of my favorite buildings in the city – the old Carnegie Library (The Square Market and Art on the Square) as well as the “new” neighborhoods surrounding Nationals Park (Canal Park Market and RiverFRONT Harvest Fest).

I am a little unclear as to what the fees might be to apply for the shows/markets and it looks like they might be accepting vendors for the weekly markets on a rolling basis. But you can send them an email at info@capitolmarketplaceevents.com.

I know it seems ludicrous especially as you’re probably dangling your tootsies into a pool or have outside plans to this weekend, but really, the holidays are just around the corner. Craft stores are already decked out in their Halloween finest which means that it’s time to start thinking of Holiday shows.

One of the bigger, local shows is the Downtown Holiday Mart brought to you by the Diverse Market folks who put on Arts on Foot and Eastern Market.

You can find out more information here:

http://www.diversemarkets.net/article-welcome.asp?evid=7

The Downtown Holiday Market (DHM) will operate for nearly three weeks. It will open Friday, December 4th, and will run continuously for a total of 20 days, ending Tuesday, December 23rd. Hours will be from 11:30am-8pm each day.

Held in the vibrant Penn Quarter neighborhood with the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture as its backdrop, the festival will again be located on the wide sidewalk of F Street, stretching from 7th to 9th Streets NW. Both ends of the market are within view of entrances to the Gallery Place Metro.

It’s a very pretty, festive show. It’s cold on the street, so bundle up but it all just adds to the holiday atmosphere.

The 2009 Boston Bazaar Bizarre will take place on December 6th at the Boston Center for the Arts’ Cyclorama. The fair will be open to the public from Noon until 7pm, with an Early Bird Shopping Hour from 11am until Noon.

For the 2009 Bazaar Bizarre, they are only accepting applications for the main room at the Cyclorama. We have space for just 80 vendors, so the competition will be tough. The other sections of the Cyclorama will be used for a variety of other fun activities. The fee for the 2009 Boston Bazaar Bizarre is $200. 80 vendors will be chosen from all applications received. Every application will be reviewed by Bazaar Bizarre organizers, then subjected to an anonymous jury. Applicants are judged on quality and originality. At least 75% of their vendors will be local vendors, representing all of New England. At least 20% of their vendors will be new to the Bazaar Bizarre. Applications will be live until 5pm on Wednesday, September 9, 2009. Apply online today! Or get more information on their web site.

Bazaar Bizarre San Francisco is now accepting applications for the 2009 Holiday Show.

Where and When Is This Event?
This is a two-day event being held the following weekend: Saturday December 12th 2009 12:00 PM – 6:00PM and Sunday December 13th 2009 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the San Francisco County Fair Building, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

More information:

• Applications are open from August 10th – Sept 21st 2009

• Notifications will be sent out Sept 30th 2009
• We require applicants to pay their vendor fee at time of application. If your application should be declined we will refund you your vendor fee ($240).
• Bazaar Bizarre wants to support handmade crafters, small business owners and emerging artists in the indie craft community.
• Applicants may apply for a shared booth space. BUT You may NOT share/sell/trade your space after acceptance. These spaces are non-transferable.
• Upon acceptance there are no refunds

For More Information and to Apply Proceed To This Page: http://www.bazaarbizarre.org/sanfrancisco/application/index.html

If you’re interested, please contact Hannah McCann. Or check out http://www.fentonstreetmarket.com/

Applications are now being accepted for the 8th Annual Craftland, a contemporary craft show located in a retail space in downtown Providence, Rhode Island featuring an eclectic assortment of fine crafts and cutting-edge, quirky handmade items. The sale will take place for the entire month of December.

The application period is August 1-31, 2009. Applicants will be notified by September 15th. Apply online now!

Questions about the application process or Craftland? Click here.