History
Wholly Craft opened in 2005 to provide an outlet for handmade goods in Columbus, Ohio. Since the beginning, we've carried a wide array of handmade goods including clothes, accessories, jewelry, paper goods, plush creatures, home decor and much more. In addition, we have a small but tasty selection of zines, books, DIY kits and recycled craft supplies.
We started out in a 300 square foot space with 40 vendors and we’ve grown to a 1000 square foot space and over 200 crafty vendors. Over time our selection of goods has expanded to include bath treats, fine art prints, baby gifts, Ohio themed items, and greeting cards for every occasion. We’re proud to work with over 50 Ohio-based crafters to offer high-quality,unique items for the local community.
In addition to the retail space, we also offer a full schedule of crafty classes and workshops for adults. Our specialty is beginner-level classes in a wide variety of craft including knitting, sewing, needle felting, crochet, spinning, embroidery, book binding, origami, card making, decoupage, and much more. For a full description of our class offerings, please visit the Classes page.
We love having special events in the space and have hosted live music, zine readings, book talks, puppet shows, trunk shows, craft business development workshops and much, much more. The music scene in Columbus is thriving and we’ve been lucky enough to host local favorites Bird and Flower, Super Desserts, and The Black Swans on multiple occasions.
In March 2010, we added a small gallery space to the shop. Essentially an open wall, the wall gallery debuted with a solo show from Carolyn Slebodnik. Local artist Stephanie Rond curates the gallery shows which have featured work from Helma Groot, Michael Bush, Laura Alexander, Amy Neiwirth, Sharon Dorsey, the Creative Arts of Women and more.
Wholly Craft has been thrilled to participate in a number of amazing craft fairsand events over the years. Locally, we've attended Craftin Outlaws, Tiny Canary, North Market Holiday Extravaganza, Viewfinder, Agora, and Independents Day. On the road, we've participated in Renegade Chicago and Brooklyn, Detroit Urban Craft Fair, Crafty Supermarket, Indie Craft Experience, Art Vs. Craft, Handmade Arcade, Strange Folk Festival, and Bloomington Handmade Market. We love taking our show on the road to bring out our own line of handmade jewelry and accessories and showcase crafters who may not be able to make the trip themselves.
Owner Olivera Bratich came to crafting from a background in feminist activism and academia. After moving to Columbus in 2002 to pursue graduate work in Women's Studies, she helped organize Ladyfest Ohio, a four day women's multi-arts festival. The first craft she ever sold was a glittery felt vulva to raise money for the Vagina Monologues and for Ladyfest. After completing her M.A., she stuck around Columbus for the DIY community spirit and the air of possibility. The handmade community has blossomed over the years in Columbus and she's glad her glittery felt vulvas have found a great home (yes, they are still available at the shop).
Wholly Craft is a proud member of the Columbus Crafty Cotillion, a loose collective of crafty business owners who come together to commiserate, share experiences and information, and occasionally plan crafty events. These ladies (and the occasional fella) are inspirational and incredible and we can't believe we're in such good company. The shop is also a proud resident of the Clintonville neighborhood, a laid back corner of Columbus with tight-knit sensibilities and a thriving DIY spirit. The neighborhood is home to many awesome businesses including Pattycake Vegan Bakery, Lucky 13 Salon, Clintonville Community Market, Skreened, Seagull Bags, Embassy Skateboards, Studio 35, and Yeah Me Too Coffee in addition to many more awesome residents.
If you're in Columbus, please stop by for a visit!
