Emily’s Casting Crafts – Where Compassion is Abundantly Clear
By Roger Eckstine
Whether you are a soccer fan (excuse me, a futbol fan) or not, you may have noticed an unexpected phenomenon this past summer. Definition number 2 of a phenomenon, as per The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition reads “an unusual, significant, or unaccountable fact, or occurrence; a marvel.” In this case the phenomenon was that fans visiting from overseas took to social media with 5-star reviews of America, American food and Americans. The abundance of goods and services and the friendliness of the natives took center stage as fans told the people back home that the USA is not the “great satan” nor are Americans a bunch of bullies. Above all, Americans themselves are being reminded just how much they have to be thankful for. Enter, Emily Krastev and phenomenon definition number 3. “A remarkable or outstanding person; a paragon. Synonym: wonder.”
Emily Krastev is the wizard and sole “employee” of Casting Crafts, where resin becomes a unique and beautiful finishing point for the handles of knives. Perhaps it is ironic that we have come to recognize Emily just as Americans were being reminded by World Cup fans of what this country has to offer, because this same realization mirrors Emily’s very own experience since arriving in the USA from Bulgaria in 1998. Her American dream, Casting Crafts, has become not only a source for wondrous products but also a clearinghouse for charitable causes and disaster relief.
In Bulgaria Emily’s family was not poor in the sense that we think of poverty. Many Bulgarians are not lacking in money per se. It is just that in Bulgaria the problem is not necessarily currency but there is little or nothing to buy, nothing on the shelves. Remember the supply chain issues during the COVID crisis? Like many Bulgarians and, I suspect, other peoples systematically hampered by socialism, Emily was raised in a caring family. Emily explains that having limited resources only served to bring them closer together.
This article is in the November 2026 issue of KNIFE Magazine, but we wanted to put it out on the free side of the website to highlight both the great work that Emily is doing, as well as all she does to help people along the way.
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