Saturday, December 5, 2009, 10am-3pm
Ellsworth Drive (Between Fenton Ave. and Georgia Ave.)
Downtown Silver Spring

The Silver Spring indie craft show, Handmade Mart, is teaming up with Downtown Silver Spring and the FRESHFARM Market for the first annual Holiday Shop-n-Stroll.

Founders, Kim Dorn (Crafty Bastards Director) and Debbie Lee (Rock-n-Romp Founder), invite all crafters to apply to sell their wares this one-of-a-kind, holiday extravaganza, which will take place along the bustling Ellsworth Drive in Downtown Silver Spring.

This one-day, outdoor event will feature 50+ independent crafters, local farmers selling fresh seasonal produce, workshops, carolers, a tree lighting, and much more to get everyone into the holiday swing of things.

Vendor applications for crafters are up online, and it’s FREE to apply!

Apply Now
Hurry, the application deadline is October 19th!
The Handmade Mart is a juried craft show. Vendors will be selected based on quality and uniqueness of their craft.

There is no fee to apply, but all accepted vendors will need to pay a $65 booth fee + an additional fee if electricity is needed.

Check out photos from the spring Handmade Mart here.

Check out handmademart.blogspot.com for more show information.

DCRG Holiday Bash & Craft Sale
Saturday, December 12th, 8-11pm
McFadden’s Bar (2401 Pennsylvania Ave NW)

The DC Roller Girls are looking for crafters to set up shop at this holiday show that includes music, dancing, a bake sale, pictures with Santa, and general rollergirl fun!

Apply Now
Email dr.SKabs at stephk75@gmail.com for an application.
Application Deadline:  Friday, November 13
Table fee: $50 (includes a 3ft.x5ft. table and 2 chairs)

For more information about the DCRG, check out dcrollergirls.com!

At tomorrow’s Crafty Bastards you’ll see amazing artisans from the District area. These include myself  as well as my favorites The Garbologist’s Wife, this chickadee, and Biggs and Featherbelle. But there’s also quite a few crafters  coming in from all across the country. You can check out the vendor gallery for Etsy and personal Web sites after the fair, but all the Internet shopping in the world cannot replace interacting with the creator of your favorite items in person. Make sure to visit the below vendors tomorrow before they leave town.

Making the trip down from New England is moth written. According to Etsy, it will be their first trip to D.C. so please make them feel welcome and pick up one of their hand silkscreened Arabic t-shirts at Booth #17.

Making the trip down from New York City is The Hand of Fatima Design. Make sure to check out the Steampunk and Victorian-inspired  jewelry at Booth #68 before The Hand of Fatima Design returns to the Big Apple.

Coming in from the Midwest is Barry’s Farm with their unique line of bags and laptop cases. This year they’ll also have iPhone sleeves and kickass pins made out of Legos. You can visit them at Booth #104 before they head back out West.

From PDX comes Bossa Nova Baby who will be selling cute accessories right up the alley of your favorite crafter. Make sure to grab a bag adorned with Gocco-printed scissors or sewing machines from Booth #45 before Bossa Nova Baby packs up and makes the trek back to Portland.

Again this year, we will be tweeting secret codes and special sales during the Crafty Bastards Arts and Crafts Fair on October 3rd. Follow us on Twitter, get our tweets sent directly to your phone, and we will send you special codes and secret sales throughout the day of the fair.

Not only will you get super secret messages from Crafty vendors and staff, but you will be able to join in on the conversation. The Crafty Bastards Twitter feed is posted on the Washington CityPaper web site. We will be posting updates all day during the fair. You can join in with your own Twitter updates by just adding @CraftyBastards to your posts. Tell us about all the neat stuff that you are seeing, live from the show!

So, here is what you need to do to join in the fun:
1. Follow Crafty Bastards on Twitter.
2. Set up your account to get our posts via your mobile phone. (Standard text messaging rates apply.)
3. ** Don’t forget to go to the Crafty Bastards twitter page while logged into your acccount and choose to get messages from us on your mobile phone.

4. Turn on your phone during the fair and get super awesome special secret messages.

Vendors, you can send your messages to us via email at craftybastards@washingtoncitypaper.com. We will then tweet them for you!

See you at the fair on Saturday, October 3rd!

I have to move soon and the most redeeming thing about it is that I will have a new space to decorate. I’m planning to score some accessories for my new home at this year’s Crafty Bastards Arts and Crafts fair.

Bright Lights Little City makes fantastic lighting with reused materials like cocktail umbrellas. Perfect for lighting up a dark corner in any room. You can see Bright Lights Little City at Booth #110 on the vendor map.

Girls Can Tell features accessories for your kitchen like these screen-printed  hand towels. Often featuring diagrams of objects like bicycles or cameras, these accessories will teach you something as well as serve useful in the kitchen. Find Girls Can Tell at Booth #23 on the vendor map.

Trees has pillows made from vintage fabrics, buttons and recycled materials. They deserve a spot on any couch. Pick one up at Booth # 139 on the vendor map.

Jessica Knapp’s wall art is a must for living up a dull room. Her “Plushkill Forest Taxidermied” animals can be found at Booth # 83 on the vendor map.

You can visit these vendors and more at the 6^th Crafty Bastards which takes place on Saturday, October 3^rd at the Marie Reed Learning Center in Adams Morgan.

I consider many friends as seasonal knitters, meaning they prefer to knit when the weather gets cold.  With winter on it’s way, there will be plenty of awesome yarn to choose from at this year’s Crafty Bastards!

Folktale Fibers has absolutely beautiful yarn make from sustainable, animal-friendly fibers. She has a preview of some yarn that will be for sale at this year’s Crafty Bastards on her blog. Pick up some whimsical yarn at Booth # 2 on the vendor map.

Not only does Woolarina sell knit goods and patterns, they also have yarn spinning kits! Make your own yarn at Booth #81 on the vendor map.

For some environmentally friendly yarn, check out molly miller by appointment. Purchase some handspun yarn made from recycled fibers like soy byproducts and plastic bottles at Booth #2 on the vendor map.

If you’re a DC knitter, you’ll love Neighborhood Fiber Co. who creates fibers inspired by the vivid colors of the District’s neighborhoods. With each skein hand-painted or kettle dyed, you can be certain you are making a unique purchase. Neighborhood Fiber Co. will be at Booth #28 on the vendor map.

You can visit these vendors and more at the 6^th Crafty Bastards which takes place on Saturday, October 3^rd at the Marie Reed Learning Center in Adams Morgan.

Washington City Paper and Urban Outfitters want you to vote for your favorite Crafty Bastard! All 2009 vendors are in the running for Craftiest Bastard of 2009. The three vendors with the most votes cast in their favor will be awarded one of the following prizes:

• Grand Prize: $500 gift certificate to Urban Outfitters + Winner Promotion in one City Paper 1/4 page print ad + 1 Crafty Bastards eblast
• 2nd Place: Washington City Paper advertising ($500 value)
• 3rd Place: Crafty Bastards prize pack filled with City Paper goodies

Votes may be cast online until Sunday, October 5. Online voting is limited to one vote per email address. Anyone may use the various widgets provided to encourage others to vote. Votes may also be cast in person at the Crafty Bastards festival on Saturday, October 3rd. There will be ballot boxes located at the City Paper booths and other locations on site.

Vendors! Promote yourself by getting folks to vote for you with one of our helpful widgets! Go here to find your name on the list and get started!

Tomorrow my twins start Pre-K and my life as I know it will change. No more dragging around a huge Target canvas bag full of fish crackers, potty seats and changes of clothing.

My life needs a new bag. I need something big enough for an embroidery project, ipod, cell phone, audio recorder, etc., but small enough that I don’t look homeless. Let’s see if any Crafty Bastards will have what I am looking for on October 3rd.

I have totally wanted one of the awesome messenger bags from Pear for a few years! Pear creations are designed and sewn by twin sisters Mary and Tracy Kruger. Check out Pear in Booth #84 on the Vendor Map (pdf).

Oh! Wait! I have also been coveting these bird bags by Jennyjen42. I love the little stories that her bags tell. You can find her in Booth #115 on the Vendor Map (pdf).

For a more sporty feel, I would go with one of these messenger bags. Vaya Bags is a one woman company that makes handmade bike messenger bags and accessories out of recycled bicycle tubes and recycled sailboat awnings. Find Vaya in Booth #149 on the Vendor Map (pdf).

For a day when I am just going to go for a walk, I could take one of these super cute clutches by Moth Designs. Find Moth Designs in Booth #17 on the Vendor Map (pdf).

Check out these and over 120 more vendors at Crafty Bastards on Saturday, October 3rd, 10am-5pm. The fair is outdoors on the grounds of the Marie Reed Learning Center at 18th & Wyoming in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC. And even if you aren’t in the area, you can still shop from all of these amazing vendors online, right now!

Oh! And I couldn’t help but show you a few of my favorite bags on Etsy right now. Take at look at these!

Living in a city can turn you into an urban warrior, foraging for clever solutions to problems. These vendors, appearing at Crafty Bastards on Saturday, October 3rd, are some people who can help you out!

Fabric Horse design and sew utility belts, bags, and accessories originally designed for the urban cyclist but span much farther to photographers, stylists, producers, etc. Made from a combination of recycled fabrics, seat belts from junked cars, and new materials to create well made, one of a kind items. You can visit them at booth #143.

Bright Lights, Little City uses materials like cocktail umbrellas, woven paper or ribbon as well as reclaimed vintage materials for lamp shades and other home decor. You can find them at booth #110 at the fair!

Mean and Wroughten take recycled materials and turn them into awesome, sturdy photoframes! Check out their excellent use of old saw blades when you stop by booth #54 at the fair.

Don’t forget to visit these vendors and more on October 3rd when Crafty Bastards happens in front of the Marie Reed Learning Center on 18th St. in Adams Morgan.

The vendor gallery for Crafty Bastards 2009 is up and ready for your browsing pleasure. Use the options at the top to sort by category and vendor name.

Click an image to see the artist statement, additional images and website (Etsy Minis and social media links coming soon, too!).

Vendor booth numbers and event map will be added soon so you can plan your shopping route with ease! Stay tuned!