Craftacular Event spotlights local crafty artists

Posted by: Lincoln Arts Council

It's the third year in a row! Join Zen's for a fun evening of cocktails and shopping. Thirteen local artists will be selling handmade items like artwork, prints, ceramics, accessories, ornaments and more. Enjoy an evening out with your friends while munching h'or doeurves and sipping Zen's drink specials.

Artist list will include:

• Pin Curl Girls
• Emmy + Ivy
• Nolan Tredway
• Casey Sheppard Designs
• Sara Bucy/Handmade Modern
• Meghan Stratman
• William Holland
• Owl People
• Erika Eden
• Kira Designs (new!)
• The Foof Queens (new!)
• Pretty Good Things (new!)
• NimaSprout (new!)

Have you been on any inspiring crafty trips lately?  At the third annual Holiday Craftacular Sale & Cocktail Party at Zen's Lounge, over a dozen local artists will show that arts and crafts can light a fire for the handmade gift.  "Last year's Craftacular was hugely successful," said Jen Lukas, a local artist and designer participating in the show, "We had a great deal of support from the public.  People are hungry for handmade gifts--it shows an extra level of thoughfulness on the part of the giver."

Thirteen artists from Lincoln and Omaha will set up booths of their work.  The crafts include handmade items like T-shirts, artwork, ceramics, jewelry, prints, accessories and ornaments.  Works range from $5 to $80, making Zen's the temporary hotspot for handmade but affordable Christmas gifts.  A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Lincoln Arts Council.

Indie craft is becoming a true cultural force.  Shunning mass-produced fare in favor of handmade goods, it creates an independent economy free from corporate ties.  And those who are supporting this new economy love the goods, as evidenced by the success of Etsy.com.  The mix iincludes disciplined artisans who have been honing their craft for years to funky, free-wheeling indies whose motto is "it's okay to mess up".

"I loved last year's Craftacular," said Sarah McCurley, one of Craftacular 2009's shoppers.  "It's like having our very own local Etsy, minus shipping costs.  It's fun to bump into lots of people you know while crossing names off the Christmas gift list."

New this year is a wrapping station/booth for the Foof Queens, based on a better way of wrapping presents.  No matter what size or shape your gift, it will sing and dance under the Christmas tree with help from the Foof Queens.  They can either wrap your present themselves for a small fee or sell you the wares to do so.  Their product, GiftGloss, is a clear, tubular cellophane wrap that can creatively package a wide range of gift sizes and shapes.  The ends can be tied in two "pigtails" or one "ponytail".  Unexpected embellishments add a wow factore and a personalized touch.