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.

Naughty plush willies in all sorts of colors and sizes are the perfect place to stick your pins. Want to see some in action? Check out this awesome little video titled Birth of a Prick Cushion. You can follow these prick plushies on Etsy, on Twitter, and they were very
recently featured in Playgirl. The Prick Cushion gets around! Crafty bastards will be The Prick Cushion’s first venture off the internet, so be sure to stop by and pop her craft show cherry!

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

A Naughty Notion!

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?

It’s a regular felt flavoured sausage fest in my workroom right now. I maybe have a few debutants coming out, but there will definitely be some old maids in new dresses – a zombie uterus for example!

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

I am more of a budding flower. Crafty Bastards is my first attempt at branching out beyond internet selling.

Watch out handmade community! My apical meristem is full of auxin! (My innuendo style sense of humor is probably the source of individuality from others in my genre)

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 won’t lie. I needed some cash. And I thought, why not?

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

I live in Buttcrack, KY (actually, it’s called Grays Knob, but that’s just as bad), which essentially means that the closest craft store is almost 3 hours drive away. So supply shopping is a journey of escaping the mountains on crazy mountain roads, eating sushi, buying alcohol (it’s dry in Buttcrack), clearing entire aisles of felt, and then heading back to the holler. The actual supplier is just Hobby Lobby or the likes.

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?

My main goal is to make people laugh. A lighter heart in a heavy society is a good thing.

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?

Learn to sew! It will make you want to stab people at first, and you may sew through your finger, but it is a skill worth having.

8. Would you like to send us photos or video of these preparations, products or techniques to feature on the Crafty Bastards blog?

I do! Birth of a Prick Cushion

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.

The Weekend Store has an air of mixed business and pleasure — It features jewelry that is all at once quirky, literary, vintage, lofty and quaint in only the finest ways. Adjowah Brodie is the creative force behind The Weekend Store. She designs and creates her thoughtfully handmade line of recycled vintage accessories in her sunny Oakland, Calif., studio while her lil pup Buck catches a tan on the back deck. Check out the rest of Adjowah’s jewels at her official website!

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

thoughtful, clever, repurposed

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 working smarter, and focusing on popular items that I sometimes tend to *overlook*. I’ve discovered a new way to make typewriter key cufflinks that doesn’t involve glue or soldering (revolutionary!), and it’s awesome. I’ll have a really nice assortment of cufflinks for this show, and I’m excited to be able to share that with everyone.

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

There aren’t too many folks using typewriter keys and watch parts in the handmade community, and those of us who do use these components all design in really unique ways, so there’s not *too much* overlap. I think what makes my pieces different is that I seek to create adornment with meaning. My work seems to resonate with my customers.

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 started the business kind of slowly, keeping a full time job and sort of doing this and that here and there. I now run the business full time, and even though there’s talk of a recession, The Weekend Store is growing by leaps and bounds. I think what has helped me continue the business, and what has really helped it grow, is my immunity to disappointment. If something doesn’t go well, I think, “How can I make this better?” instead of getting all bummed and discouraged. I see both successes and failures as opportunities for learning, and I truly believe that is what has sustained me and allowed The Weekend Store to thrive. Also, I really, REALLY love my work - even the tedious crappy parts I love.

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

Google Search has been the best resource for me ever!

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 love the recycled aspect of using vintage components, and I especially love that my work seems to resonate with my customers. I’ve had customers buy my pieces as gifts for writers, editors, teachers, groomsmen, retired secretaries - I even had one customer who took the keys off of his mom’s Royal typewriter and I made pendants for his whole family. I like that my work has meaning.

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 don’t sell kits, but I would encourage would be designers to view craft fairs, boutiques, design magazines, etc. as museums or reference materials - places to go and take in all the sights and gain inspiration, but not to copy. Design has to come from your heart, or else you’ll never be able to sustain it. Copycats always follow - designers always lead. Strive to be a leader.

Preparing for Crafty Bastards can really take over a vendor’s home. No one knows that more than 1Girl 1Boy’s Stacy Monakey & Mark Lyon. This husband & wife dou make hand dyed, block printed & appliqued t-shirts for kids in their home studio aka dank basement. Their pieces are truly small works of art. I am always so sad when my kids grow out of them!

Here are some photos of their work space.

And here is their dining room, where finished shirts have taken over!

Check out 1Girl 1Boy at booth #29 on Saturday at Crafty Bastards Silver Spring.

Saturday, June 28 from 10am-5pm
Pyramid Atlantic Art Center
8230 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, MD

Plush You posted a nice interview with Teresa Levy of Sewing Stars.

You can find Sewing Stars at Crafty Bastards this Saturday. Stuff this cute sells fast, so get there early to witness her booth in all it’s plushy glory.

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 ever you find yourself in need of a little political cheer, count on Hogmalion to provide the perfect wine and spirits. As I started culling images from the Hogmalion website, my chuckles grew incrementally louder with each click, and culminated with a donkey-sized bray of laughter when I arrived at the unbelievable fetus cookier cutter. Check out Hogmalion’s goodies, perfect for gift-giving cheer!

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

Money Back Guarantee

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 practicing giving proper change. Also I’m currently studying the art of scratch ‘n’ sniff, looking for a master to scratch ‘n’ sniff under.

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

Well, it’s widespread in the fetus cookie community. The glistening drop of Retsin.

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 day I came to understand that getting fired from my “real” job might have its advantages.

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

China. [No, I'm really trying to not shop there anymore.]

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?

“They rob the banks…I just drive the getaway car.”

That is to say, I hope it will begin to play a more significant role in the near future. I’m starting by handing over a percentage of my profits to Amy Goodman’s Democracy Now!

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?

Hey, that’s a great idea. I’m going to have to get on that!

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.

When the future humans unearth the lost city of Insert Popular American City Here in 2600, the remains might look like Sean Hennessey’s creations. They will wonder what giant monster or weather event could have fused all this concrete and glass together. Small items like light bulbs and plugs will stick out like fossils.

A Source of Power
13″x6″
Glass, Concrete
Sean Hennessey 2008

Of his new pieces, Sean says:

After toiling for months and months in my laboratory, I have devised an unusual new series of works! By discovering and deciphering the ancient techniques of formulating a permanent bond between concrete and window glass, I have taken my sculptures to an exciting and mysterious new level.

In this image, you see actual aged concrete on a glass sculpture. This furthers the interpretation of my sculpture in an archaeological sense of relics and specimens, as if crucial messages from our time have been dug up in the distant future.

Sean’s work is very unique to Crafty Bastards, so be sure to check it out at Booth #36.

Don’t miss the show!
Saturday, June 28 from 10am-5pm
Pyramid Atlantic Art Center
8230 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, MD

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.