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indiana handmade The Crafty Guide to Indianapolis
City Guides

The Crafty Guide to Indianapolis

Megan Green2 Comments

Amanda Mauer Taflinger is a pillar of the indie craft scene in Indiana: Not only did she start the INDIEana Handicraft Exchange in 2007, she also runs Homespun: Modern Handmade, a bricks-and-mortar store established in 2010! So when we wanted a tour of the Hoosier capital, we knew who to call. This is her crafty guide to Indianapolis!

There’s still time to get your ticket to Midwest Craft Con, a creative business conference in Columbus, Ohio, happening Feb. 10-12, 2017! Day passes are now available!

I grew up in this city and had to leave to appreciate it. I came back in 2007 after 10 years away and noticed a huge difference. I have seen amazing growth and development in the city since then, particularly in the arts community. It’s a small city, but it’s easy to make your mark here and to gather support if you have a great idea! — Amanda Mauer Taflinger & Amanda Dowdal

CRAFTY STORES

Homespun: Modern Handmade
869 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46204
A boutique, classroom and gallery space all in one, and all focused on contemporary handmade goods and modern design. Named by Indianapolis Monthly magazine as “the best place for cheap (i.e. inexpensive) art” in and “the best selection of same-sex greeting cards.”

Crimson Tate: Modern Quilter
845 Massachusetts Ave., Suite A, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Offering quality fabrics, notions, patterns, and classes in Downtown Indianapolis.

Mass Ave Knits
862 Virginia Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46203
Mass Ave Knit Shop is one of Indianapolis’ premiere knitting stores, offering a large selection of yarns in all fibers, notions, accessories, supplies and classes.

PLACES FOR MAKERS

Ruckus Makerspace
1125 E. Brookside Ave., Door G-10, Indianapolis, IN, 46202
Ruckus is a place where inventors, designers, artisans, photographers, craftspeople and engineers can share equipment, technology and ideas to help launch their next creation.

Cat Head Press
2834 E. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46201
Cat Head Press provides area artists and the neighboring community a place to work, collaborate and share ideas in a fully equipped facility space by offering traditional fine art printmaking workshops, gallery space for exhibitions opportunities, art sales, and monthly First Friday events.

Harrison Center for the Arts
1505 N. Delaware St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
With studios always in high-demand, the Harrison Center for the Arts is a great place for working artists to connect and create! (It’s also where we host the INDIEana Handicraft Exchange!)

CRAFT SHOWS

  • INDIEana Handicraft Exchange: The INDIEana Handicraft Exchange is a contemporary craft fair that consciously celebrates modern handmade goods, the relationship between creator and consumer, and local, alternative economies.
  • Alternative Gift Fair: What began as a traditional alternative gift fair has grown into a handmade, locally produced fair that encourages shoppers to be alternative and skip the big box stores for their gift buying purchases.
  • Talbot Street Art Fair: With over 270 artists from across the nation, this juried art fair in the historic Herron Morton Neighborhood continues to be ranked as one of the finest fairs in the country.

BEST VINTAGE

Midland Arts & Antiques
907 E. Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
Having been a destination for more than 16 years and voted “Best Antique Store” many years running, Midland has over 200 independent art and antique dealers from around the Midwest.

Society of Salvage
1021 E. Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
Society of Salvage rescues the utilitarian, the curious and the aesthetic from aging factories and commercial buildings for resale in our 9,000 square-foot warehouse in Downtown Indianapolis.

Broad Ripple Vintage
824 E. 64th St., Indianapolis, IN 46220
Since 1998, Broad Ripple Vintage has been offering many kinds of vintage pieces to the Indianapolis area.

CRAFTY HANGOUTS

Milktooth
534 Virginia Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46203
Milktooth has grown from a passionate commitment to great local ingredients and an inspiration to connect childhood food memories with unconventionally creative morning fare. With an ever expanding love and pride for Indianapolis they invite you to come enjoy a great cup of coffee, a cocktail, a pancake or perhaps some sweet tea fried chicken.

Foundry Provisions
236 E. 16th St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
Located in the historic Herron-Morton Place neighborhood of downtown Indianapolis, Foundry Provisions serves up coffee, breakfast, and lunch offerings in the little red building on the corner.

General American Donut Co.
827 S. East St., Indianapolis, IN 46225
Made fresh daily, these donuts sell out early and the contemporary, minimal interior is heaven for any creative.

Amanda Mauer Taflinger is the owner of Homespun: Modern Handmade and the event founder and organizer of the INDIEana Handicraft Exchange. She loves to run around with her ginger husband, Neal, and two rowdy-ass kids, Zeke and Clementine. From store to school, store to soccer, and store to trying-to-find-adult-time, our lives are never dull!

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renegade craft fair chicago, cortney heimerl The Crafty Guide to Chicago
City Guides

The Crafty Guide to Chicago

Megan GreenLeave a comment

Cinnamon Cooper wasn’t born in Chicago, but she has lived here for almost 20 years and ran the legendary DIY Trunk Show for many years, so she was the perfect person to be our ambassador to the Windy City. Chicago is an epically crafty city, the birthplace of the Renegade Craft Fair and home to dozens of crafty places. This is Cinnamon’s Crafty Guide to Chicago!

Remember to get your ticket to Midwest Craft Con — a creative business retreat coming up in Columbus, Ohio, in February!

Driving into the city and seeing the skyline makes my heart swell with love. This city has problems, but it is called The City That Works for good reason. Despite massive corruption and bureaucratic red tape, the residents of Chicago (especially the creative residents) are really good at identifying loopholes and finding ways to get what they want to happen. I’ve been fortunate to be one of those people who worked through city bureaucracy while encouraging folks to be crafty and business-minded together. And the craft-blood of this city pumps strong, because the willingness to work, and work hard, is integral in the city’s personality. — Cinnamon Cooper

CRAFTY STORES

Anastasia Boutique & Atelier
1001 N. Damen Ave. in Ukrainian Village
This shop mostly stocks Anastasia’s own clothing designs, but she has a great eye for accessories and apothecary items that are top-notch and mostly indie-made.

Belle Up
1915 W 103rd St. in Beverly and 520 N. Michigan Ave. in River North
It used to be hard to find indie-made and well-made maternity items, but these two stores have made that not only possible, but easy.

The Fig Tree
1037 W. Madison St. in West Loop
This shop focuses on local and indie-made goods for babies, children, home, and gift items.

Hardscrabble
3335 S. Halsted in Bridgeport
Not only do they make custom T-shirts and personalized gifts in store, but they also focus on gift items made by local, indie-makers and fair trade groups.

Hazel
1902 and 1926 W. Montrose in Ravenswood
This started as one store focused on local and indie-made gift items, but grew so popular that there are now two stores, one focused on apparel and accessories, and the other focused on gift items.

Inkling Boutique
2917 1/2 N. Broadway St. in Lakeview
Owner Stephanie Keller is one of our OG crafters. While she was creating her own line of paper goods, she was working for a now defunct but wonderfully curated shop. She took that knowledge, merged it with her knowledge of great local makers, and created one of the city’s best indie-goods shops.

Local Goods Chicago
5422 W. Devon Ave. in Edgebrook and 6443 N. Sheridan in Rogers Park
This shop not only consigns for individual products, but it rents space to individual makers so it is like going into 20+ shops in one location.

Milk Handmade
5137 N. Clark St. in Andersonville
This women’s clothing boutique specializes in small-run and handcrafted apparel, jewelry, and accessories.

Neighborly
2003 W. Montrose in Ravenswood
Jenny tracks down the best of local makers in every category except apparel and showcases them in her gorgeous shop.

Paper Doll
2027 W. Division in Ukrainian Village
Open for more than 15 years, Paper Doll stocks all of the great local paper and gift makers, as well as having their own line of custom stationery that will make you want to send more mail.

Paperish Mess
1955 W. Chicago in Ukrainian Village
This combination storefront and art gallery focuses on locally made and handmade wares and art.

Replica Chicago, Inc. (REP CHI)
4425 N Milwaukee Ave. in Portage Park
This place was also started by an OG crafter, Lyn, who started silkscreen products for indie businesses and branched out to create a brick and mortar that sells her awesome goods as well as a variety of handmade gift items, artwork, and some upcycled/recycled wares.

Rogers Park Provisions
6928 N. Glenwood in Rogers Park
This may look like just a wine and and fancy eats shop, but they do a great job of representing local makers with selections of home gifts and food gifts.

Sacred Art
4619 N. Lincoln Ave. in Lincoln Square
A store with the motto “Art is Not A Luxury” is a great place to get artwork, accessories, and home and gift items that will make your heart sing.

The Silver Room
1506 E. 53rd St. in Hyde Park
Not only is this a great place to find locally made gift items in the curated storefront, but it is also a great gathering place, event space and artist gallery.

Squasht Boutique
2556 W. Chicago in Ukrainian Village
Owner, designer, awesome gal Lesley Tempe is also an OG crafter who sells her own line of apparel, but also those of other indie designers and accessories makers.

Steel Petal Press
2321 N. Milwaukee in Logan Square
Shayna is also an OG crafter who started at craft shows, branched out to a full-time biz and now also runs a storefront that stocks locally made paper goods.

Stumble & Relish
1310 Chicago Ave. in Evanston
This mother/daughter team represents work from several great local artists, vintage items and art.

Transistor
5224 N. Clark St. in Andersonville
This combo shop and gallery sells mostly work from local artists and artisans. But also has a podcast, sells books and records, and even audio equipment. There are also many great events and recordings of them.

Urban General Store
4723 N. Lincoln Ave. in Lincoln Square
Rebecca started as an online-only store, but became a brick and mortar more than 11 years ago. It focuses exclusively on Chicago-made goods and puns galore.

Wolfbait & B-girls
3131 W. Logan Blvd. in Logan Square
Shirley and Jenny opened the first Chicago shop that focused on small-run lines made by locals only. More than a decade later, they’re still going strong.

PLACES FOR MAKERS

Fat Tiger Workshop
1043 W. Grand Ave. in Ukrainian Village
Not only does Fat Tiger sell some wickedly awesome streetwear, they also offer occasional workshops geared toward creatives of all varieties and freelancers.

Make Chicago
1048 W. 37th St. in Bridgeport
This membership-based maker space offers a plethora of tools and workshops for makers of all sorts.

The Maker Lab
400 S. State St. in South Loop
The Harold Washington Library Center is home to a free, public maker space with 3D printers, laser cutters and software stations.

CRAFT SHOWS

  • Renegade Craft Fair: Renegade started as a show focused solely on craft that took place in one weekend in Chicago, but has spawned an empire of shows worldwide. Now there are three Chicago shows every year: a summer showcase that happens at The Hideout, the September show that takes place on Division Street in Wicker Park, and the Holiday show at the Bridgeport Art Center.
  • Handmade Market: This monthly market in Wicker Park is the longest running show in Chicago that focuses on sustainable craftiness. With more than 11 years under their belt, it is a reliable place to look for great items with a drink in your hand.
  • Hyde Park Handmade: This monthly showcase in Hyde Park focuses primarily on makers from the south side of Chicago. A great place to get Sunday brunch and some gifts.
  • Revolution Craft Show: With around 50 vendors, this craft show in a large brewing facility in Avondale is a great place to pick up holiday gifts while enjoying a beer and a little food.
  • Show of Hands: This show is only a few years old but has attracted 100+ vendors with its semiannual shows in a gorgeous Ravenswood venue full of antiques and collectibles.
  • The Late Late Craft Show: This North Center show gets a jump on Small Business Saturday by encouraging night-time shopping from 30+ vendors, with a little drinking at Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro.
  • Randolph Street Market: This group hosts four different markets in the Near West Side. Whether you are looking for antique furniture, indie-made gifts, indie-design apparel and accessories or free-trade imports, this monthly show runs year round (outdoor during April through October).

BEST VINTAGE

Antique and Resale Shop
7214 N. Harlem Ave. in Niles
What this place lacks in name creativity, they more than makeup for in packed-to-the-gills awesomeness. You’ll be greeted by a charming clerk (the owner or her staff) who will manage to help at least 10 people put together an entire outfit from all the nooks and crannies of the shop while making you feel like the only customer in the store.

Broadway Antique Market
6130 N. Broadway in Edgewater
This market rents spaces it individuals so you are guaranteed to find someone with your aesthetic in this 20,000-square-foot space. Probably the best place to shop for vintage jewelry and accessories at any price range.

Humboldt House
1045 N. California Ave. in Ukrainian Village
This vintage modern home shop doesn’t focus on an era, but does focus on great style and occasional new items.

Lulu’s Vintage
900 N. Michigan Ave. in River North
This is not the place you go for fun vintage cast-offs. This is the place you go to find the perfect dress for that period wedding ensemble, or that so-old-it-is-new-again couture. From flapper to disco, you’ll leave decked out.

Modern Cooperative
1215 W. 18th St. in Pilsen and 1500 E. 53rd St. in Hyde Park
These gorgeous stores focus on furniture, home accessories, and gift items from the 1950’s through the 1970’s. There are some locally-made items that are current and also fit their aesthetic.

Seek Vintage
1432 W. Chicago Ave. in Ukrainian Village
If you’re looking for vintage fashion, not just clothing, this is the shop for you. There are also some home goods, but come here looking for a party dress and you won’t be disappointed.

Vintage Garage Chicago
5051 N. Broadway in Edgewater
This monthly event happens on the third Sunday of the month from April through October and occasional holiday markets. There are 75-100 vendors in this monthly garage show, hence the no winter hours.

Cinnamon Cooper is an aging (but awesome) lady who lives in Chicago and loves to encourage everyone to follow at least one dream and makes reliably attractive bags for her business, Poise.cc.

Sponsor Love: Wholly Craft
Sponsors

Sponsor Love: Wholly Craft

Megan GreenLeave a comment

Get to know the makers, businesses and faces who are helping us create Midwest Craft Con! Today we meet Olivera Bratich of Wholly Craft, which you can visit on our bus tour and shop with at our trade show!

olivera photo

Megan: How long have you been in the creative scene? How did you get your start?

Olivera: We have been in business just over a decade. When we first opened our doors in 2005, we knew a lot of people who were making fabulous handcrafted goods and struggling to find viable retail outlets. So we stepped in to fill that niche and found a very welcoming audience of customers who were excited to find unique, well-crafted and light-hearted gifts.

Megan: What services do you provide to your community?

Olivera: In addition to the retail shop where we represent handmade goods from over 400 crafters and artists, we host workshops and events throughout the year to encourage folks to make time for creative play and skill building. On our typical event schedule you’ll find introductory level workshops in knitting and crochet, special crafty workshops hosted by favorite local vendors, free monthly skillshare, and Pinterest Parties where participants make fun themed projects.

Wholly Craft is also home to the Supply Closet, a pay-as-you-wish recycled craft supply resource. We accept donations of unused craft supplies throughout the year and offer them up on a pay-as-you-wish basis to the community. A portion of all Supply Closet sales is also donated to Women Crafting Change, a local program of Global Gallery helping women develop marketable craft and business skills.

And finally, we work hard to build meaningful relationships with our vendors and other members of the local craft community. We offer creative business workshops throughout the year to help improve the skill sets of our crafty comrades, and we try to offer valuable feedback to our vendors to help their businesses succeed. Plus we always jump at the chance to support and sponsor local and regional events that help crafters — that’s why we’re a part of the Midwest Craft Con!

Megan: What are you most proud of when it comes to your business?

Olivera: I think I’m most proud of our longevity and our reputation in the craft community. We’ve worked hard to build a sustainable business that offers excellent service to our customers, vendors and staff members. And I think we’re doing alright there. Making money is nice, of course, but I also feel the need to earn the respect of my community.

Megan: What is one big mistake you’d suggest others avoid when entering the handmade arena?

Olivera: Don’t wait until everything is perfect and all lined up correctly because that day will never come. Do the best you can and dive in. You’ll make mistakes along the way, as everyone does, but as long as you’re always willing to learn and grow from them, you’ll be just fine.

Megan: Any big goals for the new year?

Olivera: We’re always scheming and planning big things and this year our list includes building up our regular communication with vendors and finally adding our inventory to our website and launching online sales. We’ve spent a decade focused on the in-person customer experience at Wholly Craft, and I hope we can translate that to a wider audience online.

Megan: What are you most looking forward to at Midwest Craft Con?

Olivera: Meeting all the fantastic fellow handmade business owners and learning from each other. It’s such a great line up of keynotes, speakers, and participants. And I love how interactive it is, too!

Meet Olivera and the Wholly Craft crew at Midwest Craft Con in February! 

Talia Halliday on Finding Your Tribe
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Talia Halliday on Finding Your Tribe

Megan GreenLeave a comment

Talia Halliday is the owner of Conduit Press, an arts business specializing in hollow books and leather goods. Her hollow books can be found exclusively through Uncommon Goods and her leatherwork can be found at over 50 stores in nearly all 50 states. Halliday also organizes the Bloomington Handmade Market, an indie craft show in its seventh year in Bloomington, IN, with the help of a few very entitled and opinionated minions. Beyond that, most recently Talia decided she wasn’t being quite masochistic enough and opened up her own brick and mortar shop called Gather in downtown Bloomington in fall 2014. Gather is home to nearly 200 makers from across the Midwest and beyond and continues to grow by the day. In her spare time (oh, yes, there is spare time), Talia enjoys hanging out with her crafty cohorts, spending time with her loving and adorable family, and making plans to take over the world — or at least Bloomington.

At Midwest Craft Con, she’ll be teaching: Wholesale Like a Pro, and Packaging for Retail.

Why do you do what you do?

Ha! That’s a great question! Because I’m crazy and have to be my own boss. Because I’m a control-freak and have to be my own boss. Because I Love to make things and if I can make money doing that, then great. Because I need the freedom to stay home with my family when I want to, and the consistency of having a “day job” to remain sane (thus, a shop). I’m not very good at answering this question. Let’s try again. I do what I do because I want to. There.

What’s your earliest crafty memory?

Making “rule” books during my elementary school years with the various secret clubs the neighborhood kids and myself were involved in. These mostly involved stapled together pieces of paper with badly drawn Crayola marker illustrations paired with bullet lists of rules we made up on the fly. Because we were cool. I also made a lot of “things” with my gramma, who was known for her cement ducks wearing awesome outfits in her front yard each season.

What crafty personality would you most like to get a drink with?

I’m pretty down with getting a drink with any crafty personality.

What advice would you go back and give your younger self?

Don’t question yourself, just do it. When I first started my craft business, I worked (likely too) hard trying to make a cohesive line of work that made sense together — and I think that stifled my creativity rather than helped it to blossom. When I was trying to fill my Etsy shop, I waited until I had loads of things to list, instead of just listing them as I made them. Which was just silly. I also tend toward one-off items, and I think if I had it to do over again, I would have worked at creating items that could be (more easily) recreated, instead of creating one of a kind items each and every time.

What’s your favorite craft business book?

The Handmade Marketplace by Kari Chapin — it really pushed me toward cultivating our own creative tribe, so to speak. Reading about all these cool people who sort of knew each other made me envious and motivated to create our own. Which we did.

How did you get where you are today, in 10 words or less? 

Hard work. No fear. Jumping in. Not looking back.

What are your goals for 2016?

For Conduit Press, I’d like for my craft business to grow into at least 50 new stores and get an online presence more than just Etsy. For Gather, I’d like to see our sales increase by another 25 percent, our offerings for classes to become more diverse, and for us to be more involved in our community.