Crafty Bastards!

Think you’re crafty?  Thinking about doing a little DIY, or supporting those who are making it a business? Well, this year’s 12th annual Crafty Bastards event gave (mostly) local vendors the chance to show off, and attendees some new ideas!

Most of the items for sale at this year’s event were small in stature, but carried a strong story.   Like that of Mariko Iwata, a health care worker, who decided cards could be a cure for the spirit; she manufactures “funny cards that are delicate and high-quality.”  Alongside body butter and more ordinary soap bars, Mary Kearns branched out to sell novelty soaps; she had the brainy idea to sell soap in the shape of, well… a brain.  Molly Moran, who sells snarky novelty scout badges, gave her business a boost by cashing in on a Kickstarter campaign.

Most vendors were based in the DC Metro area, though many were influenced from afar. Virginia Arrisueño sells cold weather items using high quality alpaca from Peru and artist Marcella Kriebel compiled an illustrated cookbook inspired from her travels in Latin America.

All in all, Crafty Bastards was a microcosm of the DC arts scene – funky and creative, open to getting crafty!