Kathy Beachler was a meticulous youngster who took pride in work that was letter-perfect. But one day her fourth-grade teacher sent home a report card with a C-plus, noting that the student took "liberties with her cursive, making it too creative and, therefore, illegible."
Instead of wallowing in self-pity, Beachler was delighted that someone had recognized her work as creative. Today, the 33-year-old Patterson Park resident prints original works of art for a living, having founded a venture she named in part after her teacher's comments — Illegible Ink.
Beachler is among more than 40 artists and crafters who will take part in the fourth annual Pile of Craft show, which features handmade items for sale, including stationery, apparel, jewelry, handbags, plush toys, ceramics, comic books and prints.
Pile of Craft is scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. John's United Methodist Church in Baltimore. The free event is one of two held annually by Charm City Craft Mafia, a group of local craftmakers who look to create exposure for their artwork.
"I've lived in D.C. and Seattle, and this is the tightest-knit [craftmaking] community," said Beachler. "They're always supportive and helpful in bouncing ideas off one another about artwork and stores. It's easy to say we're all friends and there are no rivalries."
Pile of Craft, she said, draws craftmakers from as far as New York and South Carolina.
This year's show includes work from such artisans as Jennifer Strunge of Baltimore, whose Cotton Monster creations are made of recycled clothing and bedding.
Rachel Bone of Baltimore runs an artwork and apparel business, Red Prairie Press. One of the founding members of Charm City Craft Mafia, Bone said her artwork is screenprinted by hand "on sweatshop-free apparel."
Val Lucas of Charles Village restored a 100-year-old letterpress and subsequently formed her business, Bowerbox Press, making printed items such as greeting cards, stationery and even covers for blank journals.
"I enjoy displaying all types of my work so that people can see the breadth of what is possible in printmaking," Lucas said. "The younger community [of crafters] is very interconnected. … There's a lot of support for people who are trying to make a living off of their chosen art in Baltimore, and new opportunities keep popping up to keep us busy."
Lucas said that much of the art and craft on display at the show is made of objects "that might not be selected for gallery exposure."
Beachler's prints are made on a sheet of linoleum. She creates an original design on paper, carves the design into the linoleum, then inks the uncarved areas and impresses them on paper. She uses oil paints, watercolors, printed ink and pastels.
"I use the same kind of linoleum that you would see on a kitchen floor, without the vinyl," said Beachler, who entered the College of Wooster in Ohio with hopes of becoming an archaeologist. But an art class changed that.
"I thought that I would dread it," she said, "but it turned out to be the only class I looked forward to."
Bone said she hopes that events such as Pile of Craft can foster more local interest in craft making.
"The more we make Baltimore aware of people like us," Bone said, "the more they are willing to buy locally."
If you go
Pile of Craft, Saturday at St. John's United Methodist Church, 2640 St. Paul St., Baltimore, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m Event is free. For more information, go to charmcitycraftmafia.com