“Our aim is to highlight handmade ingenuity, to promote maker skills and small-scale entrepreneurship, and to strengthen community bonds through micro-commerce,” says Brandy Bourne, who co-founded The Big Crafty with her Horse + Hero business partner Justin Rabuck. For its 17th iteration, the festival will aggregate 150 regional and national art vendors, transforming Pack Square Park into its own mosaic of sorts (Asheville Art Museum, which normally hosts The Big Crafty, is currently undergoing renovations). The curated selection of items ranges from textiles and screenprints to pottery, jewelry and natural cleaning products. There’s also a social component to the event, Bourne says — expect “hugs, lots of hugs.” The outdoor fair, which also includes food, is free to browse and takes place on Sunday, July 17, from noon to 6 p.m. thebigcrafty.com. Image courtesy of the organizers
Smart bets: The Big Crafty
![The Big Crafty](https://mountainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/The-Big-Crafty.jpg)
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