Special soaps, 3-eyed-dolls, one-of-a-kind clothing and accessories filled the dance floor of Skully’s Music Diner. Tables full of goods extended out to the yard where chilly artists were proud to display their work. Crowds of people mingled through the tables searching for the perfect buy. This show was a perfect addition to Ladyfest, an event promoting women in the arts.

The Craftin’ Outlaws alternative craft show took place over the weekend at Skully’s Music Diner in the Short North. The show was an opportunity for crafters to sell their wares and socialize, in a fun venue. Alternative craft shows are gaining popularity across the nation, and Craftin’ Outlaws may have started a trend in Columbus.

Many creations are reinventions of vintage or discarded goods and some of the crafters literally make garbage marketable. Two years ago Cindy Dillard started saving her juice bags, cat food pouches, and coffee containers. These sturdy pouches get thrown away everyday, but not at Dillard’s house. She uses them as the fabric for purses, wallets, belts, folders and visors that she stitches together in stylish, catchy patterns.

“Each bag takes between two and four hours to make, but it’s worth the effort for the environment,” she said. “The materials I use would not otherwise be recyclable.”

Dillard, 42, has been crafting her bags for a while now, but this was her first show. She enjoyed putting her creations on display and seeing the work of other crafters from the area and beyond.

Designer Amy Murphy, with Amy D clothing, brought her merchandise to the show. Murphy, 35, is a creative writing alumnus from Ohio State University, and is a resident of Lewis Center, Oh. She makes one-of-a-kind pieces that she would wear herself. Murphy has been designing since her original apron project in eighth grade home economics class. She is proud of the work being done by the female designers at Craftin’ Outlaws and happy to have a part in Ladyfest.

“It validates women’s work to see what you’re doing is appreciated,” she said.

Murphy makes it a point to avoid chain shops and seeks out hand-made merchandise. She’s a big fan of the Style Network’s Craft Corner Death Match, where crafters compete against one another in cage-combat style.

“I could kick some serious craft,” she said.

Unique knitted scarves and hats were a popular item at the show due to the frigid temperatures. The Crafty Beavers are a joint business venture between three knitting friends Gayle Cohen, 21, Adrienne Raimo, 24, and Jill Schaffer, 24. Cohen and Raimo are students at Ohio State. The group gets together and knits each Tuesday. While this is their first show, the girls are hoping to make craft exhibitions part of their hobby. Their designs reflect what they believe girls would want to wear.

“Then if we don’t sell, I just have a few extra scarves for me,” Raimo said.

Olivera Bartich spent some time at the festival looking for new merchandise to bring to her store. Bartich, 25, opened a crafters consignment boutique, Wholly Craft in Clintonville last week. Bartich sells a variety of crafts and apparel at her store and brought a sampling of the merchandise to the show. This is the first show she has participated in, but she looks forward to future shows in town.

Bartich completed a Master’s degree in women’s studies at Ohio State last year. She thought Columbus deserved the opportunity to shop hand-made, unique goods on a permanent basis, thus Wholly Craft was born. Thirty-five consignors contribute to her merchandise already, with proposed merchandise from many new crafters Bartich met at this show.

“The time has definitely come for this sort of thing,” she said.

She said that people are starting to pay attention to where their goods are produced.

Patrons of the show that want more will likely get their wish. Crafters reported that upcoming shows will host many of the same vendors and possibly many more. Shows are set to take place later this year at The North Market and the Surly Girl Saloon.

Skully Webb, the owner of Skully’s Music Diner, takes special interest in the Craftin’ Outlaws show that he agreed to host this year.

“It’s brought a lot of people out to Skully’s that haven’t ever come here before,” he said.

Webb is an Ohio State alumnus with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

“These crafters are independent businesses, and so is Skully’s, so it’s great for everybody,” he said.

Webb said he was happy with the progress of the show because they came prepared and he could tell they cared about what they were doing.

“I think today’s been pretty successful and I’d like to do it again,” he said.