“The frets are spaced to give you just a major scale, Do-Re-Mi, and that means that when people squeeze one string, they get a couple of notes in the background for free, and they get the notes of a major scale, no wrong notes.”

He sells about 3,000 Strumsticks a year. The price starts at about $170 and can go as high as $340, depending on the kind of wood used and other materials added to the instrument.

Many of Mr. McNally’s sales come from events like the Smithsonian Craft Show.

Twelve kinds of media were represented at the show last month. It included the work of fabric artists, glass artists, leather workers and also furniture and basket makers. The admission process for artists is very competitive.

“I’m always extremely grateful when I get in because it’s obviously a good show to do in terms of business, but the thing that’s almost more important is that the people who come to the show, the public, are very educated about craft. They are very engaged, they are very excited, they are very responsive.”

Profits from the Smithsonian Craft Show go towards education, research and other services at the Smithsonian Institution.

Clothing Swaps

A large clothing swap at a high school cafeteria in Springfield, Virginia

“Clothes-swapping” has become an increasingly popular activity for women in the United States. The women can give away unwanted clothing at a clothes swap event and get something different in return.