THE GREAT ESCAPE: The American Craft Council Show

Guys have fantasy sports leagues. We ladies have the girl equivalent: fantasy crafting.

What’s a fantasy crafter? Like the men who spend hours on the Internet tinkering with imaginary baseball lineups or football rosters, women who fantasy craft spend their spare time flipping through Martha Stewart Living magazine or trolling through Michael’s or Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts, searching for the latest craft project they’ll likely never start, let alone complete. 

The fantasy crafter’s intentions are good, but she lacks the execution needed to finish knitting that scarf or compile that scrapbook or sew that baby quilt like Martha did in her glossy magazine. A lot of time, energy and money are spent on raw materials that never fulfill their destiny to become crafts. 

I propose a moratorium on fantasy crafting from Thursday, Feb. 24, through Sunday, Feb. 27, when the 35^th Annual American Craft Council Show takes over the Baltimore Convention Center. Put the time and money usually earmarked for crafts that never materialize to much better use by buying handmade jewelry, pottery, furniture, fashion and home décor by professional artists from across the United States and Canada who will be showcasing their craftsmanship in Baltimore this weekend. 

The “craft show” moniker sounds like an understatement after reading up on the American Craft Council show.  The more than 700 contemporary craft artisans that are a part of the show are way out of our fantasy crafting league, having gone through a rigorous jury process to participate. These master artisans will be presenting their wares in a variety of categories, including “greencraft,” or pieces incorporating recycled or found materials that were constructed using eco-friendly techniques. Other categories include lawn and garden, where the furniture and accessories must be able to stay beautiful and useful while out in the elements, and “altcraft,” a category highlighting the work of 30 artists using innovative techniques and materials. 

New this year is a category that will definitely appeal to the budget conscious craft aficionado, “Handmade Under $100.” Also special to this year’s show is a sweet treat in honor of the American Craft Council’s 70^th birthday: Cake designers and bakeries from across the region will present cakes inspired by some of the crafts on display during the show.

So set the half-finished projects aside and give your laptop an Etsy break in favor of shopping in-person for homemade crafts, if only for a couple days. The show hours are Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person, $25 for a two-day pass and $30 for a three-day pass; free for children 12 and under and American Craft Council members.  The best deal is to be had on Friday night, when tickets are just $6 after 6 p.m. You can also purchase and print tickets online ahead of time at http://www.craftcouncil.org/baltimore (note that those bargain Friday night tickets must be purchased on site, not online). The show also has its own Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ACCBaltimore.