About Ipso Crafto
The seeds of Ipso Crafto were planted years ago when Karen Kormondy moved to the Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC, after graduating with a BA from Rosemont College. At the time, Ms. Kormondy worked in a Georgetown office, but continued to enjoy the crafts she practiced since a little girl, such as stamping, decorative painting, cross stitch, making clothes and accessories, and costume making. To her dismay, she found that she often had to make a 30-minute trip in her beloved Oldsmobile to the suburbs to pick up essentials such as thread, pipe cleaners, or beads.
Then, she, her boyfriend, Christian Aranda, and their gray cat, Misty, moved to Capitol Hill, where Ms. Kormondy soon became frustrated with her even longer and more arduous commute across town. But at the same time, she fell in love with the close-knit, vibrant Capitol Hill neighborhood and decided that it would be the perfect setting for a craft and fabric shop within the city. After eighteen months gaining experience at local Barracks Row boutiques Pawticulars and GroovyDC, Ms. Kormondy invested in many gallons of the signature green paint, enlisted the help of Mr. Aranda, and opened Ipso Crafto at 733 8th St SE in August of 2007.
Pictured above: Ms. Kormondy, posing for a picture for the Hill Rag