1.  What is the history of What a Load of Craft?
    WALOC was created in 2006 by Grace Locke Ward and Susan Junis, owners of Skirt.  The two crafters wanted a "hip, edgy" venue in which to sell their non-traditional crafts.  They imagined of a day long festival, not your grandma's craft fair, that would bring together DIY artists, crafters, musicians and community to celebrate the amazing talent of those in the Iowa City area.  Partnering with The Little Village, Iowa City's news and culture monthly rag, the first WALOC was held in the Hall Mall in downtown Iowa City in May of '06 with about a dozen vendors, as many bands, and an art show.  It was clear from the first fair that a larger venue was necessary.  In December 2006, the second WALOC was held at the Picador, a local rock club in Iowa City.  The next three fairs were held at the Picador in December of 2007, May of 2008, and December of 2008.   In December of 2007 WALOC introduced a Craft Death Match into the fair schedule, in which crafters could battle to create the most awesome craft project to the soundtrack of brutal metal music. While the Picador was an awesome venue, it was clear that we were busting at the seams in that location and it was decided that we would move to a larger venue in December of 2009, keeping with the fair the basic elements of vendors, live music, Craft Death Match and booze!  2009 will see the addition of catering by Red Avocado, as well.

2. What is DIY?
    DIY or do-it-yourself is, at its core, people creating things by themselves without professional help.  As a movement, DIY craft culture has become a way for people to take the means of production into their own hands.  It also involves a critique of modern consumer culture where we are encouraged to solve problems through buying more things.  DIY craft culture allows people an alternative to the big box, to own one-of-a-kind handmade items produced locally and made by the same person who is selling it to you. 

3. What the heck is a Craft Death Match?
    Short answer: the Craft Death Match is pure unadulterated awesomeness.  Long answer: our Craft Death Match consists of several rounds of competitive crafting in which four contestants are given a pile of craft materials and tasked with making the most bad-ass item within a defined period of time.  When time is called, each item is critiqued by our panel of  celebrity craft judges and a winner is declared who then receives prizes from local Iowa City businesses.  Each match is set to the soundtrack of headbangin' metal provided by Iowa City's own metal DJs, Killed by Death, and Emceed by local celebrity icons. Previous rounds have consisted of puffy paint sweatshirts, play-doh dinner, speed knitting, holiday wreath creation, and cookie decorating. 

4. How do I get involved?
    If you are interested in becoming a vendor, please fill out the vendor application page by the deadline posted on that page.  If it is past the application deadline, we may be able to put you on a waiting list, just email us at: skirtalert (at) gmail (dot) com.  We are also looking for volunteers to post flyers and help out the day of the fair with set up/tear down, cleaning, and staffing the doors. Please email us if you are interested in volunteering!!!

5. Why the different venue? 
    We want What a Load of Craft to be the biggest, most awesome craft fair that it can be.  We decided to move because the Picador was getting too small for our needs. At WALOC 5 in '08 we had as many vendors on the waiting list as we had actual vendors!  A larger venue allows us to have more vendors and sell food, too.  This year we have decided to move to the Johnson County Fairgrounds, south of Iowa City in building "C."  You can find a map to the new location in the "2009 WALOC Info" page.

6. Where does my vendor fee go?  Why was it raised?
    We use the vendor fees for a number of things.  First off they go towards paying for renting the venue for the day.  They are also used to purchase insurance for the event.  This year, because we have gotten so much bigger, we want to make sure more people come so we are using the raised fees to pay for advertisements in local papers, flyers, and programs for the day of.  We are also paying for the domain and hosting of this website with vendor fees.

7. I'm coming from out of town.  What else is there to do in Iowa City?
    An Iowa City 101 website is featured here.  There is a lot to do in the downtown area for nightlife.  The downtown association website is here. They have a list of restaurants in the downtown area by category.  For a list of local events, you can go here or here. 
    Lodging:  If you are coming from out of town, there is an aviation themed hotel very close to the fairgrounds called the Alexis Park Inn.  You can find their reservation information here.  Their phone number is toll free 1-888-9ALEXIS.

8. I'm a vendor.  What do I need to bring with me?
    If you were accepted into WALOC we should be sending an email detailing what you need to do and bring.  We will be providing the building, overhead fluorescent lighting, one 8 foot table and two folding chairs.  You need to bring the rest of your setup: clothing racks, merchandise, change (we recommend at least $50 in ones, fives, coins), and additional lighting (although the overheads are bright).  Each booth should have access to electricity though you may want to bring an extension cord, to be sure.  There are rods with S-hooks on them to hang things behind you.  The walls are metal so you can't nail or tack anything.  You will have a booth space of 10' by 10'.  There is a bathroom in the venue--you can have customers use this as a dressing room if you choose.  There will be food and drinks for sale, you can also bring your own as you'll be there all day.  Bringing a friend to watch your booth so you can have breaks is also recommended.