What does it mean to be a “Crafty Bastard?” Well, 150+ Indie artists can tell you…it’s about SNARK baby!! And this weekend, one of the most alternative craft artisan shows in the country is rearing its indie head. The Crafty Nation team is going to be live on the ground at the “Crafty Bastards Art & Craft Fair” in Washington D.C., where we’ll bring you a multi-faceted look at the one of the most alternative craft artisan shows in the country!!

Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair is a juried exhibition and sale of handmade alternative arts and crafts from independent artists presented by the Washington City Paper. Why do they call it alternative you ask? Well, just for starters, this isn’t your Granny’s craft show, and…this isn’t your Granny’s craft. As the promoters of Crafty Bastards proudly shout on their website, “You won’t find knitted teapot cozies, floral wreaths, carved wood ducks or batik jackets here.”

What will you find? Be prepared to experience some of the finest and fugliest (did I say that out loud?) of the movement otherwise known as INDIE Craft. Items like “…dead Elvis statues, gumball machine ninja necklaces,… punk rock baby clothes,… tampon dolls, burnt toast plush toys,…” and others of like ilk are what mainly comprise this varietal display of colorful and creative albeit continuation-school dropout accouterments.

Items such as Dana De Kuyper’s Dammed Dollies…

Stella

Hortense

Or Victoria Wilkins Girlie Pants…

nuff said…

‘How bout them apples?’

Or something out of the mind of Ben Claassen, super creative INDIE genius - get some serious laughs from his daily comics at www.bendependent.com

Now in its 4th year of the show, the Washington City Paper promotes underground art and strives to connect the voice and vision of the indie craft community with their readers. In their Classifieds section, in print and online, they have a special Crafty Bastards advertising section through which craftspeople can sell their wares, and throughout the year they hold craft workshops finding talented crafters to share their knowledge and expertise with the public.

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Tooooo cute!! These
Mini Crochet Patterns by Denise are the most adorable Crochet project I’ve ever seen!! We found her on Etsy, and she has over 20 patterns there for sale to make these adorable little guys. Now I don’t Crochet very well, and when I do its just in a straight line. So to see these little darlings just makes me drool and want to learn how to make them yesterday!!

Does anyone want to volunteer to make a few for the “Nation?” Ha ha!!! We would proudly display your work on our website, woooo hoooo!!

So step right up folks, and grab your crochet hooks!! First one to produce one of these little babies for CN gets a free Hi Five from me (ok, that may not be so motivating, but I can at least pretend to be important once in a while).

xxoo - TL

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Today was simply a BLAST!! Most of the day was filled with meeting new people, and greeting friends! Their theme this year is “celebration” of craft, and tonight’s the big Summer of Love party!

Even Austin was there offering to shag me and celebrate in his “Yeah Baby” way!! Ok, maybe not literally, but he was hilarious! And fun is primarily what we found everyone having today on the floor. We saw people smiling everywhere, chatting and hugging old friends and laughing!

And that’s really what we found CHA to be all about. Sure, it’s about exposure, marketing and companies and retailers coming together…but more importantly as we discovered as an underlying current today, it’s about community and doing things that make the world more beautiful!

For example, we caught up with Donna Dewberry today at the Plaid booth, and she was just blowing me away with her “one stroke” technique and her ability to produce these beautiful paintings.

Donna is mostly about giving back to the community and loves to share her talent with people. She’s so friendly and approachable, and she teaches this ’signature’ technique on public television. She says that, as a mom of 7 kids, if she can do it, anyone can do it!! And I did! She showed me how to put a blog of paint on my brush and paint a tulip. I really feel like just after a few short lessons that I could actually make beautiful paintings, something I’ve always wanted to do!!! I’m so excited to get started!!!!

I came to CHA to cover the show. In addition, I got encouraged, inspired and hugged a lot and I loved it!! And this is the point…we at Crafty Nation want to be this same kind of champion for all our members. We want to give each other virtual hugs so to speak, and to encourage and empower one another to create beautiful things!

Also, Austin’s influence stayed with me. I couldn’t help myself but flirt with the Crickets at Provo Craft. They were so cute!!

And of course, I was shamelessly self-promoting Crafty Nation every chance I got! This was cut on Pazzle’s machine, which is truly amazing! (And $2450.00!!)Â Â Â Â Â

In addition, we met so many new business people…people who had a dream and brought it into reality. Like Renee Hull, who invented the coolest organizing tool I have seen for scrappers called the “Clip It Up!” - this nifty contraption acts like a rotating storage device very similar to circular clothes racks you see in your favorite department store! You can hang a ton-o-stuff on this baby, and it comes with an upper tier too! COOL! Way to go Renee!!!

I have a ton more to tell you but I have to get to the SUMMER OF LOVE BABY!! Stay tuned for the video blog!!

As promised here’s video from day two of CHA!!

Online Videos by Veoh.com
Hugs,TL

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