Crafting: Not just for moms and grandmas

Terrariums, owls and shoe clips; not the most typical combination of items you would expect college students to be interested in. However, when these items are handmade by indie craft artists from the Fargo-Moorhead area, it’s pretty easy to see why people of all ages are coming to Unglued Craft Fest.

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Unglued started March 5, 2011 when owner-operator Ashley Morken saw a need for an outlet for non-traditional crafters.

“We were starting to know more and more people who were making non-traditional handmade crafts and art and weren’t doing so well in traditional craft fairs,” Morken said. “We also saw that people are finding that Etsy is a little too overwhelming when they start because there’s already like 30,000 aprons for sale and you want to start selling your aprons on Etsy. We also wanted to be a place where you could find that awesome handmade item from someone in the local area or the regional area and then go onto their Etsy site because you now have that connection with them.”

Since then, the Unglued Craft Fest has had a holiday pop-up gift shop and several workshops for potential and current crafters to gain new skills, such as learning how to run an Etsy site. It also provides shoppers with the opportunity to give a gift that isn’t typical or mundane. The latest event, taking place on Feb. 25, is intended to thaw out people’s winter hibernation mode and provide an outlet for creative minds to be inspired.

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“We wanted (the event) to be in the dead of winter when people just want something awesome to happen,” Morken said. “People should just come out just to have something to do. There’s so much free stuff during the day and it’s a very fun, energetic atmosphere for all ages.”

The for-profit Unglued, has gained interest and grown from a small operation with 38 crafters, to a festival and bazaar with 65 crafters and seven sponsors.

“The response was just overwhelming. It was encouraging that not only are there people making these items in the area, but there’s people who want to support them and find their items awesome enough to buy them.”

Katelyn Bladel, an MSUM art major and participant in Unglued, said she has learned more about the crafting community in the F-M area because of Unglued.

“What’s super great about Fargo-Moorhead is that, even though it’s small compared to Minneapolis-St. Paul, almost everything that you could want is here. There’s a lot of opportunities to get out there and show off the work that you do.”

Whether you’re a crafter who wants to be inspired, a shopper looking for a gift or you just want to get out and experience some fun, the Unglued Craft Fest is the place to go.

For a schedule of events or to learn more about Unglued, visit their website at www.ungluedmarket.com.

F.Y.I

What:  Unglued Craft Fest
When:  Feb. 25 from 9 – 5 p.m.
Where:  Plains Art Museum

Other cool stuff:

100 free swag bags to the first attendees in the door – five of these will have a Golden Ticket stuffed in them good for $20 in Unglued cash to be spent at the booth of your choice.

Free Dunn Bros coffee to the first 150 attendees.

Free museum gallery admission.

Live, local music all day starting at 10 a.m.

Bakery and lunch available from Dunn Bros and Cafe Delight.

BY SADIE JONES
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