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COLUMBUS—The Crafty Champster booth is one of the many must-see booths at the Columbus Farmers Market on Saturday mornings, which sells a unique variety of resin-cast products containing foraged items.  

Saluda resident Kristen Hatch is the talent behind Crafty Champster. From ring holders and wine stoppers to serving trays made of epoxy resin, each of Hatch’s pieces stands out because they include perfectly preserved foraged items like flowers from bridal bouquets, mushrooms, and delicate spider webs.

Hatch’s artistic journey began seven years ago when she relocated from Maine to Saluda after working as a private chef. Her passion for foraging, a beloved pastime from her time in Maine, led her to explore resin casting about three years ago. This soon evolved into the establishment of Crafty Champster, a business inspired by her cherished Boxer-Great Dane mix.

For Hatch, each creation represents a harmonious blend of practicality and nature. 

“The resin casting is secondary to me,” she explains. “Foraging is my favorite part of the process, and it’s fun to make functional art out of the things you forage. And resin casting is a wonderful way to do it.”

Hatch also participates at several other local markets in Etowah and Lake Lure. Her booth offers a diverse assortment of products, including jewelry embedded with ferns, unconventional skull pieces adorned with flowers, bookmarks filled with mushrooms, and one of her signature items— engagement ring holders encasing the flowers from a bride’s bouquet.

“I do a lot of bridal bouquet preservations,” Hatch shares. “The ring holders make great ways for brides to remember their weddings.”

Crafty Champster’s offerings can be found on social media or by visiting Hatch’s booth at the Columbus Farmers Market on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon. It’s a chance to engage with a truly unique display of nature-inspired craftsmanship right in the heart of the community.