On the afternoon of Sunday Oct. 15, students congregated excitedly on the Chapel lawn for the annual craft fair hosted by LGBTQ+ Programs and Services. Displayed on over a dozen tables, student vendors presented a broad array of items and art pieces including jewelry, crochet, prints, zines, photographs, stickers and more. As is to be expected on a campus well known for its students’ impressive earring collections, the LGBTQ+ craft fair is resoundingly popular and a much anticipated event. But although well-attended, few members of the Wellesley community understand all the work that happens in the lead-up to the craft fairs.

Christina Hviid ’26 was one of this year’s vendors, selling crocheted animals and trinkets, and they worked to “maximize the squish factor” of their items. Hviid noted that she only sells things they “really love, both to make and to look at.” She also made items representing their AroAce identity.

“I feel like sometimes the AroAce community is seen as kind of a footnote, or like we’re not seen as queer enough to be in queer spaces. So I really wanted to try to have things that were specifically for that side of the community,” Hviid said.

Before the fair Hviid was a little nervous, especially about the sales aspect, but day-of she felt much more at ease talking to attendees.

“Once I got out there, and I was just outside with my cute little table and interacting with everybody, I realized that I didn’t have to be worried. When people’s reactions to things you make are genuine, you’re going to be genuine back just naturally,” Hviid said. 

Kat Darwich ’24 was another vendor at the craft fair who brought stickers and prints she had designed, some based off of the popular show “The Owl House,” leftover from last year’s fair, as well as some of her grandmother’s jewelry she no longer wanted.

“I was trying to be a little more sustainable about jewelry because students on campus love their jewelry, but sometimes it can be a little difficult to afford … And obviously I want to be respectful of people who are putting time and effort into their craft. But sometimes it’s nice to have really inexpensive jewelry that’s very accessible to everyone,” Darwich said.

Darwich said she was pleased with how the fair went.

“It was a nice open space, a lot of people came up to support, and I felt like it was well centered,” she said, later adding her thoughts on advice for future vendors. “Don’t get discouraged if no one buys anything. Everyone here is on a student budget … Invite your friends because seeing people you know come by telling you how cool your art or your creations are really lifts the spirit,” Darwich said.

Darwich’s remaining prints, stickers and jewelry are available on the Wellesley Facebook page, Free and For Sale. 

Mya Lampley ’26 was at the fair selling her photography, mostly nature prints from around Wellesley campus, in poster and postcard size.

“I signed up for the craft fair because being a queer artist it was just a perfect opportunity for me. I really enjoyed it. I like being around other queer artists, meeting other queer artists, and also just getting to promote my work that I do on my own time,” Lampley said.

She describes her process as very in-the-moment, taking pictures when the mood strikes her as she explores campus. Lampley tried to be thoughtful about what might draw students’ attention and interest, especially with dorm decorating mostly over for the season, she left pictures on a full sheet of special printer paper to “give Wellesley students agency” in how they used it, whether as decoration, a letter, gift, collage or some other craft. 

“I print on premium luster paper. And I picked it because the pictures that I took are really colorful, they have a lot of deep dark shadows. So that kind of paper can retain the color,” Lampley said.

She also played music on a personal speaker from the playlist she uses while in the studio photographing, and recommended that students thinking about becoming a vendor are thoughtful about how they present their work and create an interesting and comfortable space.

“I’m a quiet person. Why don’t I have some music? That way I’m enjoying myself, people will know that I’m here, it brings people to the table. Be excited and passionate. Enjoy yourself because then that’s how people are gonna get interested in you.”