It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Indie Craft Shows

Mistletoe Letterpress Ornament from Parrott Design Studio (participating in Craftland Holiday Show 2009)

By guest contributor Kelly Rand

We have officially entered the holiday season. I know this because not only am I inundated with Christmas music everywhere I go, but I have seen the Chia Pet commercial on TV at least five times already.

So if we’ve entered the holiday season and the holiday season is the season for giving, then you better get crackin’ on that naughty and nice list of yours. And what better way to reward all those super nice people in your life then giving them the gift of handmade?

You can pledge your support for indie crafters, designers and all out handmade mavens by taking the handmade pledge. But it isn’t required when hunting for that perfect indie gift.

Not sure where to find such treasures? Look no further! From East Coast, to West Coast to No Coast here is a list to plan out your holiday shopping handmade style:

East Coast

Craftland Holiday Show 2009
Providence, RI December 4 – 31
Monday-Wednesday, Friday + Sunday 10am – 6pm
Thursday + Saturday 10am- 8pm

Handmade Mart
Silver Spring, MD
Saturday, Dec. 5th
10am – 3pm

Holiday Heap
Baltimore, MD
Saturday, Dec. 5th
10am – 5pm

Boston Bazaar Bizarre
Boston, MA
Sunday, Dec. 6th
12pm – 7pm

BUST Holiday Craftacular: New York
New York, NY
Sunday, Dec. 6th
10am – 8pm

Handmade Arcade
Pittsburgh, PA
Saturday, Dec. 12th
11am – 8pm

Squidfire 2009 Art Mart
Baltimore, MD
Saturday, Dec. 12th
11am – 6pm

West Coast

SF Etsy’s Handmade Ho Down
San Francisco, CA
Thursday, Dec. 3rd
6pm – 12am

Urban Craft Uprising
Seattle, WA
Saturday, Dec. 5th Sunday, Dec. 6th
11am – 5pm

BUST Holiday Craftacular: LA
Los Angeles, CA
Saturday, Dec. 12th
10am – 6pm

Bazaar Bizarre San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
Saturday, Dec. 12th Sunday, Dec. 13th
12pm – 6pm

Crafty Wonderland’s Super Colossal Holiday Sale
Portland, OR
Sunday, Dec. 13th
11am – 7pm

Renegade Holiday Craft Fair: SF
San Francisco, CA
Saturday, Dec. 19th
Sunday, Dec. 20th
11am – 7pm

No Coast

INDIEana Handicraft Exchange
Indianapolis, IN
Friday, Dec. 4th
5pm – 9pm

Handmade Holiday html
Denver, CO
Friday, Dec. 4th 6pm – 9pm
Saturday, Dec. 5th 10am – 4pm

No Coast Craft-O-Rama
Minneapolis, MN
Friday, Dec. 4th 3pm – 8pm
Saturday, Dec. 5th 9am – 5pm

Renegade Holiday Craft Fair: Chicago
Chicago, IL
Saturday, Dec. 5th
Sunday, Dec. 6th
11am – 7pm

Cleveland Bazaar Bizarre West
Cleveland, OH
Saturday, Dec. 12th 12pm – 9pm
Sunday, Dec. 13th12pm – 6pm

Where are you going to fulfill your indie giving list? Share an indie craft event you attending or vending at in the comments.

Holiday Cards from paper breakfast (participating in Handmade Arcade)

About the contributor: Kelly Rand is staff writer for DCist.com, lead writer for Crafting a Green World, and is co-founder of Hello Craft, a non-profit trade association dedicated to the advancement of indie crafters and the handmade movement. Kelly is a compulsive knitter and avid maker who believes that handmade will save the world.