Anisa Salazar
Senior Editor
The 11th annual Mini Maker Fair, sponsored by Wilson Library and Makerspace, was held Wednesday at Citrus Lawn. This event invited students, faculty, staff and anyone connected to the University’s community to showcase their talents by displaying or selling their creations.
Small businesses are given a chance to promote their creative, innovative products. Those who registered to participate displayed tech, handmade jewelry, crocheted goods, arts and more.
Alum of the University and owner of Vivre La Vie Bourgeoisie, Jacqualynn McClendon, is a returning participant in the Mini Maker Fair. She sells bag charms, cuticle oils, essential oils, candles, notebooks and more.
“This is my version of giving back, improving the Earth and adding things that are beautiful to it,” McClendon said.
McClendon is environmentally friendly and uses recycled materials in all of her products. Her bag charms are repurposed fabrics from the thrift store. Her longest-selling product, cuticle oil, is made with vegan products and uses recycled oil containers.
McClendon’s candles are her pride and joy. She spent about two years perfecting the product with natural ingredients. What encouraged her to begin making candles was when she fell extremely sick due to paraffin, which is a common ingredient used in candles to make them burn longer.
Traffic flowed through the lawn, allowing students to stumble upon the booths and join in on the celebration of ingenuity.
A few vendors at the fair discovered their love for creating while stuck in the house due to COVID-19 in 2020.
Junior biology major and owner of CraftyA, Ashlee Viveros, sells handmade jewelry, phone case charms and crocheted pocket monsters.
“It means a lot to me when people come by, pick up a piece, and it means something to them because I put so much work into it,” Viveros said. “Something that I really enjoy is making gifts for people, so when somebody picks us up and says that their mom, sister, or whoever would love it, it makes me happy.”
Viveros began making friendship bracelets during quarantine and has since grown to making more items. She went from threads to beads, to now crocheting.
Another business that stemmed from the lockdown was Irenic Crochet Co. Owner, Brooklyn Joplin, discovered her talent for crocheting and has been selling her creations ever since.
This was Joplin’s third year at the Mini Maker Fair, and continues to transform her business through the years.
“I like seeing the growth of not only myself but the maker fair as well,” Joplin said. “I love sharing my work with people.”
Some of her best-selling pieces are the crocheted cows and chickens.
Other vendors at the event were Ontario City Library Lightspeed, which displayed 3-D prints and laser cutting, as well as Arlo’s Whimsi Cottage, which sold plushies, stickers and cozy crochet pieces.
After having a daughter, owner of Her Alfa, Cristina Alfaro, found her passion for sewing and creating accessories.
Now in her second year as a vendor at the event, Alfaro has become more comfortable in her craft, and attending this event once more means a lot to her.
“Last year, my sister had to accompany me here because I was shy and scared to do it,” Alfaro said. “She’s the one who pushed me, especially because she works here. Her being my biggest supporter and coming to this school is very special.”
Alfaro comes from a family of makers and creators, so she finds a lot of inspiration in her uncle’s craft. She has always seen his handmade leather-sewn items like belts and sandals, and thought what he did was so cool.
To find more connections in the creator space, visit the Wilson Library’s Makerspace.
Anisa Salazar can be reached at anisa.salazar@laverne.edu.
Anisa Salazar is a senior communications major with a concentration in public relations. She is sports editor, social media editor and a staff photographer for the Campus Times. She previously served as a staff writer.
Vicente Rodriguez is a senior photography major with a marketing minor and a staff photographer for the Campus Times. He has previously served as photography editor of the Campus Times and a staff photographer for La Verne Magazine.
