These 'Bastards' really are crafty

Media Credit: Photo by ILIANA IMBERMAN BERKOWITZ HANDY MAN - Justin Reyna was one of 100 vendors selected to showcase his crafts at this year's Crafty Bastards in Adams Morgan. Reyna sold his handmade guitars and sound parts, which he carefully constructs in the garage of his Silver Spring, Md., home.

Sewing a button is more than a handy skill for those in the do-it-yourself community. It can be a rite of passage, a hobby or even a livelihood. People who do it themselves can also hone a variety of skills: knitting, metal work, jewelry-making, carving, painting or any real creative art by using their hands. In the spirit of DIY appreciation, many gathered for the DIY arts-and-crafts fair, Crafty Bastards, last Sunday at the Marie Reed Learning Center in Adams Morgan.

In its fourth year, the growing popularity of the fair indicates how the Washington community embraces crafters it can meet face-to-face. A jury selected 100 vendors, who traveled from all over the country, to showcase their goods to the D.C. community. The plethora of vendors filled both levels of the outdoor area; festivities even spread to the playground, where children were learning how to make art from recyclables.

One of the selected vendors at this year's fair was Justin Reyna, a full-time lawyer and director of a foster-care court in Baltimore. In his spare time, Reyna makes guitars, amps, effects boxes and electric pick-ups out of cigar boxes and different woods. It takes him between two to three weeks to craft just one of these intricate instruments, which he makes in his garage in Silver Spring, Md. Guitars have proved to be a challenging endeavor for Reyna.

"It takes a long time to get them right - a lot of trial and error," he said. "A guitar must look stunning, but must also function perfectly."

Reyna began to build guitars a year ago but said he's been an artist for much longer, having made lamps and journals before moving onto instruments.

Like Reyna, many vendors have jobs outside of their crafts. Kim Rinehimer, who makes embroidered magnets, buttons and brooches, is employed full time but still manages to find the time to craft.

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