Reader of the Week: Amy Bechtold

DJ Crafty is known for whipping up some killer vegan cupcakes

By Kirsten Kilponen
Published: January 12th, 2009 | 12:35am

The winters in Spokane are bitter cold, but that doesn’t stop Amy Bechtold from busting out a few hundred cupcakes, compiling a rad record collection, knitting cozies for just about anything, or interviewing her friends about their crazy collections for her zine. And when it gets warm out, you might just see her riding around town delivering desserts on her bike, too.

You’re a self proclaimed “Vegan Sweet Specialist.” What’s the story behind that gig and your popular cupcake business?

I became a regular at a bar in Portland called Tube because of the cool shows and theme nights they had. “Soul Night Saturdays” were the best. It was the only bar I knew with a vegan menu, but they lacked dessert. I have a major sweet tooth, so I told the owner I could bake for them. For a couple months I made coconut butter cream vanilla cupcakes and chocolate chip cookie soy dream sandwiches. When I moved back to Spokane, I started making cupcake sample boxes for a local bar and some friends. I made Red Velvet, lavender and dark chocolate gonache, banana and coconut cream, strawberry meringue, to name a few. I brought them to shows, birthday parties, or wherever I felt. Soon people started recognizing me and asked, "Hey, are you the girl with the cupcakes?” I’ve done consignments here and there ever since.

Where did you get the name “DJ Crafty,” and what were your radio shows like?

The DJ gig also just fell into my lap. My friend had a radio show on Portland Radio Authority, and I was lucky enough to score his slot when he moved to Brooklyn. It was low key and fun. I love introducing people to music I love that they don't know about. I played everything from Pavement, to Bauhaus, to the Velvet Underground. Community radio is really important to me. It's a great way to hear local stuff and wonderful forum for networking people to get events happening locally. As for the nickname, in addition to my knack for crafting, I was sort of paying homage to one of my favorite bands, the Beastie Boys, and their song "She's Crafty.”

When you’re not busy offering dessert expertise, how else do you take advantage of your time in Spokane?

We are having a crazy winter, and if it were nice out I would be riding my shiny blue ‘68 Schwinn Breeze around town, named Rogue. I also love knitting cozies, and think most things could use one. I collect owls, Japanese vinyl toys, and 60's kitsch. People's collections fascinate me mainly because I grew up in a house where my dad and mom collected comics and toys. I am actually working on a zine project featuring interviews my friends that are hardcore collectors about how they got started collecting things.

Do you have any more plans for putting your Creative Energy to use?

My latest project is getting a monthly craft fair to start in Spokane. I am currently looking for a big enough space so we can have workshops that teach knitting, basic sewing, and silk screening. The crafty scene is growing here in Spokane, and it's exciting to be a part of something that is growing. In the long run, I hope to get a commercial kitchen so I can get my cupcakes to sell in local shops, but my big dream is to have a cupcake bike delivery service. How cool would that be?

www.myspace.com/underthefigtree