For the last 3 years we have held the Bloomington Handmade Market twice a year: once in April and once in November. We've decided to focus on having our annual holiday show be the best it can be, so we will no longer be holding a spring show. Don't be sad! That just means the winter show will be DOUBLY good! 
If you want to stay up to date on our show, including when applications open for vendors, please do join our mailing list or Facebook page.

Happy New Year!
-BHM

This was our very first year to introduce BHM merchandise to the mix, and we couldn't be happier! Local illustrator Katie Vernon designed the amazing image for the Holiday 2012 Market and we had Jarod from In Case of Emergency Press hand screen print the design onto (almost) everything we could think of!

We're super excited to now be able to offer these amazing pieces for sale on our website! You can purchase your very own BHM 2012 t-shirt and/or tote bag! Just mosey on over to the shop and take a gander! 

The options in Bloomington for local art and craft supplies are slim and noteably Big Box, but Adrienne and Jake, local crafters, have something different in mind. They are opening Bloomington Craft Supplies on west Kirkwood just a few blocks from Bloomington's downtown business district, just across the street from Time Flies Antique Gallery at the end of 'arts row'. No longer will have you have to make the trek to the far east or far west side in Bloomington to find those craft goods your weekend (or lifetime) project desires. Now it's just a simple jaunt (a walk even) downtown to Bloomington Craft Supplies! 


Bloomington Craft Supplies will celebrate its GRAND OPENING next Saturday, November 17 from 3-8pm at their downtown location. Expect snacks, crafting supplies, and lots of FUN!!    They will offer needle arts, jewelry, sewing/quilting notions, wood crafts, basic art, kids crafts, paper crafts, mesh ribbon, clay, and various other craft supplies. They also hope to soon be carrying soap/candle making, metal, fabric, glass, printmaking, stamps, and everything else craft related!

Tonight we are so excited to start our weekend out right with the preview event: Handmade Nation Free Screening. We will be watching the Faythe Levine's documentary about the Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design at The Bishop located at 123 S. Walnut in Bloomington. Before and directly after the film you'll have a chance to see a glimpse of the artists that are being showcased at our BHM Holiday Event on Saturday at the Convention Center, and you'll be the first to have a chance to get your hands on exclusive BHM merchandise! Come, imbibe, and partake in how the craft movement has grown. (movie trailer below).

Now now, don't think we forgot CLOTHING!! I mean, we all need it right!? These awesome t-shirts are hand-pulled screen-prints and letterpress from right here in Indiana. Check them out!! (clockwise from bottom right)

• Sunday Afternoon Housewife/Indie Loves Indy: Martha is a craft genius and is responsible for both these amazing IN Love tees and some sweet scrabble tile pendants that are all the rage. 
• The Collective Press: To inspire hope is Kim's intention behind the Collective Press, and that she does with her positive messages and priceless smile. 
• Andy J. Miller:  Andy creates quality design in all types of forms for all types of clients and we're super honored to have him at our market. 

Impressed yet? Well, you damn well should be!! Now, get your cash (or credit, many of our vendors will be accepting credit cards) ready and mark it on your calendars! It's this Saturday, at the Convention Center, from 10-5!! 

The Atlas Bar (located at 209 S College), sometimes classified as a hipster bar, is a long time supporter of the Arts and of Bloomington Handmade Market. At Atlas you come for the skeeball, and you stay for the awesome jukebox in the corner. It also helps that their bar is fully stocked, their prices are reasonable, and their bartenders make you laugh. 

After you're done buying all your early Holiday Gifts at the Bloomington Handmade Market THIS SATURDAY, grab yourself a bit to eat and then stop by Atlas and have yourself a drink to celebrate shopping local! They're open from 7pm until 3 am and sure will entertain you! 

This year's market brings out a wide selection of quality items for the home and I'm super excited to share them with you!! (clockwise from bottom right)

• Traditional Woodworking: Jeff and Robert create traditional pieces of wood art with their own two hands right here in Bloomington, Indiana. 
• Bad Ass Glass: Inspired by tattoo art and sci-fi images, Penny creates bad arse pieces of stained glass that give you a smile and a smirk.
• Green Illuminations: Shan and Jarod created Green Illuminations out of the necessity to decorate their own home; now, years later, GI is a successful venture creating candles, lanterns, and other wine bottle creations.
• Purple Hippo Stitches: Sarah cross-stitches snarky mcsnarkiness from the comfort of her Cinci home with her beloved cats Mabel and Toby by her side. Her soon-to-be hubs (wish her congrats when you see her) provides the sustenance . . . or something. 
• Good Voyage: Two Katies with the design aesthetic of Grace Bonney herself created Good Voyage out of a Love for design, travel, and adventure. 
• motif 1337: By day a furniture maker in Indianapolis, by night an avid game-making woodworking machine, Cameron is the mastermind behind motif 1337 (do YOU get the reference?).

If you're lucky, and smart, you'll come visit all these wonderful people on November 10, at the Convention Center. Be There!!!  

Without further ado, I introduce you to the remaining awesomeness of the kids category of our Market this year!! (clockwise from bottom right)

• Opposite of Far: Jessica is the mastermind behind these amazing felt animals masks (and tails!) sure to make your creative child flourish! They also make great Halloween costumes of course! 
• The Wind and the Sail: Meet Elsie, she's just one of many adorable creatures Laura has designed in her Wind and the Sail shop. She has rattles too! Little bunnies! I die!
• Elms and Cedars: Gorgeous handmade and often knit or crochet clothes come from Ashley of Elms and Cedars! 
• Owlette Collective: From the deep south (ok, TN and SC) come Jessica and Britt create modern handmade clothing with natural fibers and upcycled vintage fabrics. 

Now don't forget - ALL of these wonderful souls will be vending at the Bloomington Handmade Market on Nov 10 - all in one place!! Don't miss it!!  

Jarod from In Case of Emergency Press  runs a print shop in Bloomington that specializes in t-shirts, album packaging, posters and art prints. They provide hand screen-printed items for bands, record labels, and other artists (like BHM!). If you ever see a cool band t-shirt walking around town, odds are, it's from In Case of Emergency! Ask him about Upland! Jarod was extraordinarily helpful this year in the growth of BHM as he hand pulled our t-shirts and our tote bags for the event! This is a first for BHM and we're so excited to have such a great printmaker on hand in In Case of Emergency Press! If you ever need anything printed, stop by the little white house next to Russian Recording and give Jarod a ring (the print shop also serves as a fine art studio).

Kids stuff is just so damned cute anymore! And useful. And cute. And Awesome. And so, this is only part I of our great Kids Category this year at the Market. (clockwise from bottom right)

• Bobaloo: Sam created bobaloo out of necessity and continued as her success grew. Her modern handmade baby goods are sold all over Indiana and beyond and are sure to brighten up any nursery or baby hand. 
  
• Mr Sogs Creatures: In order for none of her creatures to ever be lonely Joelle creates two of each Creature - twin Sogs. Hailing from Michigan, Joelle travels the US selling Sogs Creatures and repopulating the earth.
  
• Art 2 the Extreme: Nicole is an elementary art teacher by day and a crayon maker by night and her ever popular many-shaped rainbow crayons are a great surprise for your little one! 
  
• Imagination Kids: Erin and Nick run their family business of nature inspired goodies for wee little hands out of their home in a suburb of Indianapolis. Their Waldorf toys are made from sustainable harvest wood.

But, you know, these gorgeous items aren't just for kids!! I've been known to ogle a Mr Sog and use rainbow crayons while wearing a bib and playing with wooden toys. Just sayin!