21 Things You’ll Find At An Enormous Craft Fair

The 2013 Craft & Hobby Association Winter Conference & Trade Show is a huge symposium of the latest in crafts, including mustache masks and a crackle-glazed skull.

1. Reminders Of Mortality

Total admiration for this paper-crafted skull. It’s covered with a (previously best-kept artist’s secret) crackle medium made by indie paint company Kroma Industries, located on Granville Island in Vancouver, BC. You can crackle on paper, wood, cloth… and once dry, it’s flexible!

Source: Photography by Stephanie Garrison. Skull coated with Kroma Industries Kroma Crackle.  /  via: dickblick.com

2. Mustache Masks

Selections from a new party favor die-cut set to jazz up your next big shindig. Pick the paper that coordinates with your overall event concept, cut pieces out, tape to a longish lollipop stick, and boom. Photo ops abound.

Source: Photography by Stephanie Garrison. Party favor die-cuts by Accucut.  /  via: accucutcraft.com

3. An IRL Pinboard

Canvas and clothespins kept cropping up in the show floor styling. These black hang tags have a cute, slightly Seussical rhyming quality to them. A whimsical, DIY-friendly and easily customizable project.

Source: Photography by Stephanie Garrison. Booth staging by Canvas Corp.  /  via: canvascorp.com

4. Tiny Prefab Houses

If only all housing was this reasonably-priced. Here’s some chipboard homes that come in large, medium and small sizes. Customize them with paint, ink or paper, then dust with mica minerals or glass glitter for vintage sparkle.

Source:  Photography by Stephanie Garrison. Craft houses from Melissa Frances Co.  /  via: melissafrances.com

5. A Barn Full of Crafts

Some companies can’t help but be overachievers with a clear vision of their product line. This one went all-out with a barn-themed display.

Source:  Photography by Stephanie Garrison. Booth staging by Farm House Paper Co.  /  via: farmhousepaper.myshopify.com

6. So Many Clothespins

For extreme small space solutions, this DIY wooden clip board visually organizes your style swatches/photos/etc. while making them easily accessible.

Source: Photography by Stephanie Garrison. Booth staging by Canvas Corp.  /  via: canvascorp.com

7. DIY Wedding Decor

True story: earlier this week I lost out on seven free, just-unpacked wooden wine crates at Costco. A would-be groom beat me to the punch by seconds, literally. If that guy is helping his fiancée upcycle for the big day, he’d probably be okay with this set-up.

Source:  Photography by Stephanie Garrison. Booth staging by Canvas Corp.  /  via: canvascorp.com

8. Retro Displays

Got something new? Give it a bit of history, culture and wit by pairing it with old or timeless objects.

Source: Photography by Stephanie Garrison. Booth staging by Farm House Paper Co.  /  via: farmhousepaper.myshopify.com

9. Craft Room Ideas

Even creative home offices aren’t immune to the charms of reclaimed wood.

Source:  Photography by Stephanie Garrison. Booth staging by Canvas Corp.  /  via: canvascorp.com

10. And Small-Space Solutions

Not practical for large projects, but if you happen to stitch accessories and ever see a damaged table on the curb, you now know what to do. Bonus chic genius: the awning that disguises task lighting.

Source:  Photography by Stephanie Garrison. Booth staging by Canvas Corp.  /  via: canvascorp.com

11. Upscale Paint Chips

Why not transform common types of company information into something unexpectedly picturesque? Sample boards in the creative fields have no business being boring!

Source: Photography by Stephanie Garrison. Sample board by Ranger Ink.  /  via: rangerink.com

12. Plenty of Hemp (the Crafting Kind)

Due to current regulation, it is illegal to grow hemp in the United States. But that hasn’t stopped it from being a going concern in crafting and paper circles. It has great texture and weight, and this imported product is both stronger and more eco-friendly to produce than bamboo.

Source: Photography by Stephanie Garrison. Products by Hemptique.  /  via: hemptique.net

13. Sparkly Coloring Books

When color with glitter is the order of the day, these Wink of Stella markers feature both smooth flow and shimmer. The water-based pigment ink is photo-safe, acid free and lightfast.

Source: Photography by Stephanie Garrison. Kuretake Zig Wink of Stella glitter marker.  /  via: jetpens.com

14. Beautiful Papers

The patterns for these posh Nepalese parchments cater to artisans of every stripe, whether you watch Downton Abbey, Mad Men, Girls — or maybe you don’t even own a TV because you’re knee-deep in your own creativity. At any rate, pure luxe.

Source: Photography by Stephanie Garrison. Certain products available at Paper Source.  /  via: paper-source.com

15. Updated Doilies

Bunting is pretty much inescapable in paper crafts, from home decor to scrapbooking and cards. Here’s a contemporary use for doilies that livens them up and curtails their formality.

Source: Photography by Stephanie Garrison. Booth styling by Maggie Holmes.  /  via: cratepaper.com

16. Warm Knits

The cool blue hues of this knitted cabled outfit are covet-worthy. Such stylish winter attire almost makes the weather bearable.

Source: Photography by Stephanie Garrison. Garment sample from Premier Yarns.  /  via: premieryarns.com

17. And Not-So-Warm Knits

Let’s give some props for the skill required to construct this darted cocktail dress ensemble, complete with necklace and clutch. Respect!

Source:  Photography by Stephanie Garrison. Garment sample from Premier Yarns.  /  via: premieryarns.com

18. Colorful Couch Pillows

Clean lines, bright colors, comfortable cotton yarn — needle arts like crochet are great way to add the element of the hand-made to your living space. This combination of pillows, throws and artwork manages to be cohesive yet not excessively matched.

Source: Photography By Stephanie Garrison. Crochet display by Spinrite Yarns.  /  via: spinriteyarns.com

19. Wall Art Celebrating Nature

Super cute. Altogether appropriate for the well-appointed children’s room or craft retreat. What a clever way to use up scraps that are lying around, awaiting transformation.

Source: Photography by Stephanie Garrison. Fiber artwork by HandBEHG Felts.  /  via: handbehgfelts.com

20. And Nature On Mars

Mixed-media fiber artwork with a colorway that Tim Burton would probably approve of.

Source: Photography by Stephanie Garrison. Fiber artwork by HandBEHG Felts.  /  via: handbehgfelts.com

21. Plenty of DIY Love

Too much awesome in this booth display, from the stacked Polaroid cameras to the
heart-shaped illuminated sign that is certainly bidding war-worthy to procure. This shot reflects the general aesthetic spirit that permeated the entire CHA show.

Source: Photography by Stephanie Garrison. Display by Webster’s Pages.  /  via: websterspages.com