Window Shopping

Gettin' crafty

By Brittany Kress

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Basho Apparel

Makers and admirers of all things stitched, stamped and strung will convene for this weekend's fourth-annual fair of cutesy, edgy and out-there crafts. And this year, they'll convene with more elbow room and more amusements.

Craftin' Outlaws takes up residence at BoMA on Saturday, a change of venue after three years at Skully's Music Diner, where 2,000 people turned out last year.

Liz Rosino, who kicked off Craftin' Outlaws herself and this year has volunteer help, never thought it would get this big. But she's thrilled it has.

With both more space and more help, this year's show will have the same number of vendors but more of everything else.

That means taking advantage of BoMA's stage for knitting and button-making demonstrations, mini-workshops and a craft-off — Craft Corner Deathmatch — open for competition between fairgoers and crafters alike.

Lori Brown

There'll also be local food vendors offering sweets and some vegetarian treats.

And everyone's a winner at a six-foot-tall "Plinko" board, where the prize depends on where the chip drops. Proceeds benefit Rwanda Knits, which provides training and knitting machines to Rwandan women.

Among the 60-plus vendors — many of which are returning from last year — shoppers can expect a balanced selection of things like handbags, clothing, housewares and baby items.

Jewels of Luxury

Local jewelry artists Jewels of Luxury will bring their watch-parts pendants and rings, and there will be pretty prints from Yumi Yumi. Kent-based Supastarr is bringing their screen-printed tees, bags and cards, and The Misanthrope Specialty Co. will be doing live "unflattering portrait" sketches that exaggerate unfortunate features, occasionally adding a bloody nose.

"It's a lot of the same kind of handiwork — sewing, knitting, painting, traditional craftwork things — but maybe the aesthetics of it are a little more modern or toward a younger generation," explained Rosino, who sells her Lucky Kat handmade clothing, accessories and housewares online.

Alternative craft fairs have been popping up in big cities across the country, Rosino added, which means fewer out-of-state vendors have applied to appear at Craftin' Outlaws since it launched.

Instead, at least 60 percent of this year's vendors are from Central Ohio, and just a few are coming in from out of state.

"The local community is huge," Rosino said. "I had no idea there were this many people in town that make cool stuff."

August 14, 2008

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