Holiday Shopping with a Conscience

Holiday Heist, an arts and crafts show organized by the DC Craft Mafia, will be held Saturday, November 21st from 12 to 6 pm at The Soundry in Vienna, Virginia. The event is free and open to the public, and free craft workshops will be held throughout the day. All proceeds from raffle ticket sales will benefit The Washington Humane Society, who will be on premises 3-6pm hosting an open adoption for puppies and dogs that need homes. The Soundry is a former auto body shop that has been converted into an affordable space for local artists, independent (indie) crafters and musicians to create, rehearse, network, show, sell, teach, learn and promote.

Holiday Heist will feature a wide selection of handcrafted gifts from over 30 vendors, from fine art & photography, to clothing & accessories, jewelry, baby gifts and more! This is not only a great opportunity to shop local and support small businesses; this is a chance to find that unique something, that special gift that no one else will give (um, remember that Gap scarf set that you bought your best friend? She received two more sets just like it that year).

DCCM members April Stanley-Njari of April Mist Jewelry will teach paper bead making at noon as part of our free craft workshops program, and Vanessa Alsondo of Ninnycat Crochet will be on hand at 1pm to conduct crochet lessons. At 2 o’clock Laura Lee and Allison Lince-Bentley of the DC Threads Sewing Lounge will demo a simple and fun sewing project for beginners.

“Not only does our festival help local artists and satisfy a demand for handmade products, but it’s also a way to give back to the community,” explains Mafia member Erica Burns, of the group’s goal to raise funds for charity. “Since our first show, we’ve helped to raise funds for The Washington Humane Society. To add to the fun, we hold raffles for shoppers to win door prizes, with 100% of the raffle ticket sales going to the WHS. Everybody wins!”

“The Holiday Heist craft show is Sustainable Crafting philosophy at its best,” Vanessa explains. “Local craft and indie businesses, the Soundry, and the Washington Humane Society are all supporting each other to improve business, the arts, and lives, and to promote social awareness. The DCCM will continue to select venues, charities/organizations and vendors that either can benefit from or will foster Washington DC’s art community.”

This sense of community is highlighted by the fact that DC Craft Mafia is a part of a network of other sister groups which began in Austin, Texas and has spread nationwide to 30 cities. DC Craft Mafia represents the Metro DC area, Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland.

“We host Crafty Drinks, a monthly social networking happy hour for crafters and indie business owners,” says Shayne Rioux of Novelty Kitten. “It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, share resources and crafts. Even passers by, who don’t craft, stop by our tables to say hi and get in on some craftiness after seeing our promo signs!”

The Mafia looks forward to seeing you at the Heist!