Renegade Craft Fair Interview: Baby Bolt

Image by Paige Newton Photography

This week, the Austinist will be bringing you interviews with selected artists who are participating in this weekend's Renegade Craft Fair.

BabyBolt is a super-hip children's clothing-and-accessories line run out of Austin. Becka Spellman, the line's creator and designer, began making her own baby clothes after receiving too many baby blue bibs and booties.

Becka took a break from stitching up some creations to tell us about BabyBolt's history, what she's excited about seeing this weekend, and how'd she'd look in a handmade cape.

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

My name is Becka Spellman and I grew up in a small town in New Jersey which is full of art galleries, antique shops and drag queens. In the late 1990s I attended Antioch College in Ohio where I majored in Psychology and fell in love with a truly talented artist and wonderful man- Jeremy Burks. We first came to Austin in Spring of 2000 for a work study and quickly decided, like every other person who spends a few days here that we had to move back someday. After graduating and wasting away working as a case worker for Child Protective Services in Ohio, we moved to Austin and have been here 6 years now.

Tell us a little bit about your company.

BabyBolt, my kids clothing and accessories line came about when I was feeling both inspired and stifled in my new role as a mother. I had my son and after receiving piles of baby blue clothes with baseballs, dinosaurs, and cheesy slogans I started making clothes for him. Friends requested items and it just grew from there. I didn’t have a day job to quit so I was able to grow my business in my own time. Every piece in my collection is hand made by me in my home studio when my son naps, attends afternoon preschool, and at night when he sleeps. BabyBolt products are intended to stand out when given at a baby shower or birthday party. I try to blend great simple design with unique fabric combinations creating an often one-of-a-kind gift that kids will stand out in and parents will love. As a parent I appreciate the fact that there is so much stuff marketed to us that we just don’t need, therefore my products are functional and fashionable. Pacifier bibs, a best seller, keep drool in check and pacifiers off the floor. Crayon rolls keep crayons in place and handy for when inspiration strikes. As my son grows older, I have expanded my line to include larger sizes and items bigger kids will love like colored pencil rolls.

Is this your first time at a Renegade craft fair event?

Surprisingly it is! I have missed the one in Brooklyn a couple of times during my trips up north to visit family, I’m so happy that Renegade has come to Austin!

What can craft fair attendees expect to find at your booth?

My line includes appliquéd onesies and t shirts, classic bibs, pacifier bibs, Welcome Baby! gift sets, crayon and colored pencil rolls, aprons for both big and little kids, plus much more. Starting at $35.00 you can custom order a reversible superhero cape for your child. Anything goes; I once made a Michael Jackson themed cape for a 2 year old girl.

What item of yours would you like to receive as a gift?

I really need a cape.

Are there any other artists whose work you're looking forward to seeing at Renegade?

Um, everyone! Looking over the list of vendors is a who’s- who of the very best in Austin and around the country. It is so cool to be included in this show. I can’t wait to see what my friends in Etsy Austin have come up with and I hope to sneak away from my booth to try some of the hands on craft activities and demos hosted by The WonderCraft, Etsy, the Stitch Lab, and Austin Craft Mafia. Also, I’m gonna do some serious shopping.

Be sure to see BabyBolt's work in person this weekend at the Renegade Craft Fair. Check out our preview for more info.