Hello Craft, the 501©6 non-profit trade association which helps power Crafty Bastards, brings its Make Something Awesome Area to Booth #66 on Saturday.

Projects to make include embroidery projects, duct tape wallets, knitting, make your own buttons, felt fruit plushies, and envelope making.

There will also be giveaways at the booth for a bevy of craft books and a free pass to the 2011 Summit of Awesome!

If you want to take the making with you, kits for sale will include all the materials and instructions to make your own:

• hair pins
• fabric button hair tie
• sidewalk chalk
• owl brooches

The Make Something Awesome area is the traveling create and take space where anyone can use an assortment of supplies to create a fun project or follow directions to make an instructed project.

Interested in learning more about Hello Craft? Please visit hellocraft.com.

Photo courtesy of flickr user Hello Craft.

Let’s take a look at some more of the debut vendors at this year’s Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair. To see more debut vendors, please go here.

Yellowcake
You may recognize Valerie Mayen aka Yellowcake as a contestant on Season 8 of Lifetime’s Project Runway. Her line is stylish, fun and would be a welcome addition to anyone’s closet — like this dress below, that I have been coveting ever since the Crafty Jury. Even more important than designing awesome clothes, Yellowcake donates 5% of profits towards hunger and homelessness rehabilitation programs and centers. To learn more about Yellowcake visit her in the Vendor Gallery or in booth #45 on October 1.

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Cipriano Designs
Making the trip to Crafty Bastards from the Portland, OR, Cipriano Designs makes sturdy and fashionable leather accessories, like the wallet below. Cipriano Designs says, “My company was born out of my love of sewing, constructing and printmaking. I incorporate original imagery with the structure of leather, making each piece I create take on a life of its own.” Visit Cipriano Designs in the Vendor Gallery to learn more or visit Booth #49 this Saturday.

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Sara Lee Parker Textiles
Not only does Sara Lee Parker sew home goods such as tea towels pillow covers, aprons and dinner napkins, as seen below — she also designs the fabric. With the help of her husband she screenprints her designs by hand onto sustainable fabrics. In addition to the accessories she sews, she also sells printed fabric by the yard and in fat quarter form. Visit her in the Vendor Gallery to learn more or in Booth 139 at the Fair.

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Sickfeet
Making the trip down from Providence, RI, Etheir-Mullen aka Sickfeet is an artist, illustrator and painter. She says her that her jovial characters are in whimsical lands —- the primary and is known as Sickfeet. She goes on to say, “It is a world of joyful tones, organic emotions, reminiscent textures, and inspiring tales.” On hand at Crafty Bastards she will be selling prints, original paintings, cards, magnets and sketchbooks, as seen below. Please visit the Vendor Gallery to learn more about Sickfeet or visit her in booth 37 on Saturday.

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Ashley Buchanan Jewelry
Making the trip up from Johnson City, TN is Ashley Buchanan Jewelry. She makes earrings, cuff bracelets, brooches, rings and necklaces, as seen below. She says of her line, “I use a jeweler’s hand saw to hand-cut all of my jewelry from brass or sterling silver sheet metal. I then powder coat most pieces and leave the rest to their natural metal finish.” To learn more about Ashley Buchanan Jewelry please visit her in the Vendor Gallery or in person at Booth 103 at the fair.

Now in its 8th year, the Crafty Bastards Arts and Crafts Fair is bigger and more craftier than before!  On October 1st you can experience the all new Muve Music Media Lounge, Stroller Valet, Young & Craft section plus the all new food-craftacular events on the Crafty Farm!

Keep reading to get the lowdown on the newest additions this year.

Muve Music Media Lounge
All forms of press are invited to gather in our Media Lounge to blog and report directly from the festival. With free WiFi provided by Cricket, and a chance to meet and greet with fellow media folks, as well as interview Crafty Bastards Directors and other participants, this is one media opportunity not to be missed! To receive a media pass for this area, please email craftybastards[at]washingtoncitypaper.com with your information and Muve Music Media Lounge in the subject line.

Stroller Valet
Located booth #56, the new Stroller Valet aims to help parents, who are looking for a place to drop off their strollers and get straight to shopping! The stroller valet is provided with a suggested donation and is available from 10am-5pm.

Young & Crafty
For the first year ever, City Paper has opened up festival space it’s to kid crafters, ranging from ages 9-18, as a place for them to meet other creative kids and get real-world experience in making and selling their own art. Stop by the Young & Crafty section at booths #156-158, to meet our six crafty kids selling everything from plushies and pencil toppers, to original art and hair accessories. Meet the Young & Crafty Vendors.

Crafty Farm
Come on down to the Crafty Farm (on the Marie Reed field), to learn the art of food-craft at the D.I.Y. Salon, powered by Union Market, check out the Crafty Food Awards, buy locally made eats at the Crafty Food Market, and sit for a spell while you chow down on food from the Crafty Food Court. You can also park your bicycle at our free bicycle valet, hosted by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association!

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Hello Craft.

Make sure to stop by booth 97 to visit Washington City Paper and learn a new skill in their Demo Area, buy a limited edition Crafty T-shirt, enter to win some fabulous prizes and chat it up with City Paper Staff. All demo sessions are free and open to the public – seating is available on a first-come basis.

Here is the list of demo sessions planned for this year:

10am & 2pm
Basic Bicycle Maintenance Clinic, hosted by The Bike Rack
Learn to care for your bike and keep repair costs to a minimum in these two Basic Maintenance Clinics. Topics covered include: cleaning your frame, how to clean and lube your drivetrain, the components of the drivetrain, changing a flat tire, recognizing tire wear and choosing the right tire
*All participants will receive a 10% discount on any part or accessory at The Bike Rack.

11am
Beginning Knitting and crocheting, hosted by DC Men Knit
DC Men Knit is a men’s needlecraft group that meets various times a month in the Washington, D.C. Metro area. We are open to male knitters, crocheters, and other needlecrafters of all skill levels. We will teach basic knitting and crocheting to anyone interested in learning a new craft.

1pm & 3pm
Learn to Screen Print!, hosted by The Textile Museum
Join these demo sessions to get hands-on experience in the art of silk screening. The Textile Museum will teach you how to make your own print on bandannas that you’ll get to take home, using patterns from the Museum’s collection.

4pm
Creature Book Binding, hosted by Pyramid Atlantic Art Center
Creature books are invading the Demo Booth at Crafty Bastards! Come and see Patty Lee, book-wrangler, bind all kinds of lovely and mysterious creatures into books.

One of the most exciting additions to the fair this year is the Young & Crafty section. With Young & Crafty, we invited young makers aged 9 and 18 to apply for their own spots at the fair!

This year’s crop of Young and Crafty offer a wide range of products. Let’s check them out!

Bicker are sisters Rosemary and Lucy. The girls make headbands and bags out of recycled magazines. Check out their wares at the fair in Booth #156.

Isabella Davies creates large colorful creatures painted with acrylic on wood cut-outs. Her work is lovely! Check her our in Booth #156 at the fair.

The Mighty Shoe Box of Oz makes “companions that save you from your worst enemies and bank robbers.” Check them out in Booth #157 at the fair, unless you are a bank robber, of course!

Spark & Shine make unique collection of original jewelry designs of brooches, decorative hair pins, earrings and necklaces. Be sure to support Booth # 158!

Corey’s Green Gifts makes “friendly and eco-friendly snakes out of old ties and each snake comes named and is one of a kind.” Friendly AND eco-friendly. Sold! Check out Corey in Booth #158 at the fair.

Buttercup’s Garden makes bookmarks from reused Scrabble tiles and Japanese Chiyogami paper. She started making these in first grade after her class studied Japan. Check these out in Booth #157 at the fair.

Young & Crafty is a fantastic opportunity for burgeoning artists to meet other crafty kids, explore a wide range of creative endeavors, showcase their artistic talent, and get hands-on entrepreneurial experience. We hope that visitors to the fair on October 1st check out these young makers and help foster the creative spirit for a new generation!

Coming out to Crafty Bastards next Saturday and wondering how to get there, what to eat and (perhaps most importantly) how to plan your shopping route keep on reading!

How to get to Crafty Bastards
Crafty Bastards takes place outdoors on the grounds of the Marie Reed Learning Center at 18th and Wyoming in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC. [Google Maps link]

If you’re taking public transportation to the fair the closest train stops are the Columbia Heights stop on the Green Line and the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan stop on the Red Line. Both of these stations are about a mile away. You can also reach the fair by taking the bus such as the DC Circulator Bus. Visit the WMATA site and the Trip Planner tool for more information on arrive via public transportation.

If you are driving, you may be lucky enough to find street parking. If not, there is a parking garage on 18th Street.

What to Eat at Crafty Bastards
This year’s fair will have quite a few vendors including Amsterdam Falafel, Black Squirrel, Carmen’s Italian Ice, Dangerously Delicious Pies, Hill Country Barbecue, Shawarma Spot, Smoothie King, and more. There’s also the newly expanded Crafty Farm which will host demonstrations like the DIY Salon.

Planning Your Shopping at Crafty Bastards
Now for the most exciting part — planning your day of shopping at Crafty Bastards. You probably have scoped out your favorite vendors in this year’s Vendor Gallery.  Now the Vendor Map is online. So take note if your favorite vendors are close by each other or if you’ll need to hustle to hit up your favorite folks before the crowds all rush in.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Hello Craft.

Let’s take a look at some more of the debut vendors at this year’s Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair.

Courtney Fischer Jewelry
Making the trip from Royal Oak, MI, to this year’s fair is Courtney Fischer Jewelry. Her jewelry is made from copper, brass, repurposed items and recycled as often as possible. Various techniques such as metalsmithing, casting, patinas, and precious metal clay are used as seen below. She says, “Process ranges to working from a drawing using a hammer, file, and torch or laying out materials and making something on the spot with trusty tools in my garage studio.” To learn more, please visit her in the Vendor Gallery.

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Beatrice + The Bird
Beatrice + The Bird, from Baltimore, MD, creates women’s apparel and accessories from vintage and upcycled textiles such as salvaged t-shirts, bed linens and table cloths. The signature pieces from Beatrice + The Bird are wrap dresses and skirts, as seen below. To learn more, please visit Beatrice + The Bird in the Vendor Gallery.

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Matthew Porter Art
Traveling cross country from Seattle, WA, is Matthew Porter Art which features original paintings, art prints, children’s books and accessories such as magnets, cards and patches. He says, “My line is based on my original paintings many of them produced for the illustrations in my books. My original pieces are painted on pine wood boards and then sanded to give them a faded and worn feel. I am seeking an aesthetic that is modern and classic and just happens to include a lot of monkeys!” See an example of his work below, and visit him in the Vendor Gallery to learn more.

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Rebe
Rebe makes the trip from Calabasas, CA, this year to present a line of fashionable and functional women wear at this year’s fair. Rebe says: “As a designer, I am inspired by simple, feminine, and elegant silhouettes. My collections are often inspired by textiles I find and print.” The latest collection was inspired by the history of patchwork and features printed patchwork dresses, pleated pants, scalloped sweaters and recycled fiber sweatshirts and coats as seen below. Please visit the Vendor Gallery to learn more about Rebe.

Make sure to stop by the 7th annual Crafty Bastards BBoy Battle at this year’s fair sponsored by Washington City Paper and Sonny aka Ghost, SonnyDC.com. This year it is located on the lower Basketball Court, next to the Muve Music Media lounge.

The region’s best breakdancers will be competing for cash prizes and ultimate bragging rights. The competition is hosted by Sonny aka Ghost – Lionz of Zion Crew. Featuring MC Shawn Mcsl Lucas (Maximus Jonx), DJ  FLEG: Lionz of Zion Crew on the 1′s & 2′s, and judges Scramblez (LOZ) Evil Ben & E-gogh Tripp.

Prizes this year include a $400 Cash Prize + VIP 3 day passes to EVOLUTION World Battle in NYC + Cricket Samsung Vitality phone with 4 months of service ($1,000 retail value) + Gear from allgoodwear.com

Here is this year’s BBoy Battle Schedule:
12pm: Registration Check-In
1pm: Open Cyphers & Registration Check-In
2:30pm: Preliminary Competition; nonstop elimination battle to the Top 16
4:15pm: Top 16 Competition

Interested in registering to compete? Email Sonny aka Ghost at ghostlionzofzion[at]yahoo[dot]com.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Hello Craft.

The D.I.Y Salon powered by Union Market will showcase the creative process behind craft food – illuminating the real characters that bring artisanal product to market.

A rich cast of DC’s noted food “crafters” will take the stage to tell stories that explore the intersection of history, arts, food, and sustainability. Our aim is to inspire and educate, to give the audience the insight, skills and confidence to become food crafters themselves. Which is why we partnered with Union Market, who is in the process of executing an ambitious plans to revive the old warehouse district off New York and Florida Avenue (just west of Gallaudet University) —one of the oldest ‘farmers markets’ in the city.

Here are just a few of the D.I.Y presentations we’ve got on tap:

Barry Koslow – Bread and Butter Pickles

Barry Koslow has helmed the kitchens at some of DC’s best restaurants and was recently named the ‘Chosen Chef’ by Forward Magazine. Barry will share the craft of pickling, an old-world tradition that is now emerging in craft delicatessens across the country.

Jeremy Brosowsky — Composting in the City

Jeremy Brosowsky started Compost Cab in DC last year to make it easy for urbanites to compost. The mission of the business is to create healthier, sustainable, more productive cities through innovative agriculture. He will give a hands-on lecture that digs into the muck of the perfect compost pile.

Robb Duncan — The Art of Gelato

Robb Duncan is the founder of local gelateria Dolcezza. His products feature a bounty of local ingredients, mixing up innovative blends of fruits, herbs, and spices. Robb will teach the essentials to making a cardamom and pistachio gelato.

Join us for this grown-up show and tell (and taste) with some of DC’s best culinary talent and learn more about the exciting new developments at Union Market at the first ever Crafty Bastards Farm.

Washington City Paper and Etsy want you to vote for your favorite Crafty Bastard. All 2011 vendors are in the running for Craftiest Bastard 2011. Cast your vote now right here!

The top three crafters will be awarded:

Online voting is open until Saturday, October 8th. 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, 1. There will be ballot boxes located at the City Paper booth and other locations on site.

Get your vote in now!