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Toledo’s do-it-yourself spirit has never been stronger, and the uptown Association is offering a chance to get out and do some homegrown shopping right in the middle of the city, with the first annual Maker’s Mart, a new indie craft fair in the heart of uptown on Saturday, November 17. And a healthy buzz of anticipation is in the air, along with that autumn chill. “It’s been amazing,” says Julie Champa, Executive Director of the uptown Association.

Maker’s Mart indie craft fair will feature wares from nearly 40 vendors including Oh Sew Betty’s handmade dresses by, Jessica Crossfield (pictured below), a set of matchbook notebooks by paper crafter Holly Whitney, Alison Maples’ drip bowland ferociously cute knitted monsters by Miss Eryn Marie

“Our response has been enormous.” For a craft fair? Absolutely. This isn’t the sleepy, grandmotherly kind of craft show that you might be picturing. There will be a shortage of kitschy samplers and concrete-goose clothing. This is a juried show, with a select group of vendors peddling unique handcrafted wares. For an idea of what to expect, you don’t have to look much further than the source of the idea — veteran Toledo crafter Jessica Crossfield. If she doesn’t sound familiar, you might know her as the one-and-only Betty Floored, of the Glass City Rollers roller derby squad, and you might have seen the handmade dresses and bags (many with a strong local flavor) that she produces as Oh Sew Betty! “[Betty]’s really Cool,” Champa says. “She’s a board member [of the Uptown Association] and she does a lot of shows, and she thought it would be cool to do a show in the district. She came to the Special Events Committe, we discussed it, and we learned more about it. This is our first year of doing it, so we’re all kind of learning together.”

The committee put out a call for vendors, and got a terrific response. “We have enough space for roughly 40 vendors, and we received close to 70 applications,” Champa says. “People from all over — Here locally, from Southeast Michigan, Ann Arbor, Westland. It’s been great.” Crossfield assembled a jury from fellow committe members, and the roster of vendors was set. The space came together with the help of Connie Hoffmann of Adams Street Art and Antiques. She leases the space at 1717 Adams, until recently occupied by the International Boxing Club, and was eager to rehab it into a venue for uptown Events. “We thought it would be a great fit,” Champa says. “She’s doing a lot of work in there; replacing flooring, replacing ceiling tiles, installing and rehabbing bathrooms. It’s a great location.”

Champa is excited about the prospect of a day to remember. “I just think From word-of-mouth between folks here in the district and from the vendors themselves, we should generate a really nice crowd throughout the day,” she says. “The timing is perfect because it’s right before the holidays and the items are really unique and totally gift-able.” (We discussed whether that’s a word, and agreed that it is now.) She’s hoping for a bit of spillover, too. “We feel it’ll help the existing bars and restaurants on Adams Street. When the show’s over, hopefully people will patronize some of the other businesses.” There will be live music and food, as well, so, as Champa says “it’s an art show with some entertainment value.” It’s well worth the trip to get some early holiday shopping out of the way. As far as the goods on offer, Champa is thrilled at the potential, “It’s all really unique, handmade items you’ll never find in the mall,” she says. And if you haven’t made it to uptown in a while, this is your chance to see a district that’s gaining momentum. As Champa says, “it’s a perfect fit.”

Maker’s Mart runs from 10am to 7pm on Saturday, November 17. Admission is $1 for adults, children are free. 1717 Adams. Www.Makersmarttoledo.Com.
 

Toledo’s do-it-yourself spirit has never been stronger, and the uptown Association is offering a chance to get out and do some homegrown shopping right in the middle of the city, with the first annual Maker’s Mart, a new indie craft fair in the heart of uptown on Saturday, November 17. And a healthy buzz of anticipation is in the air, along with that autumn chill. “It’s been amazing,” says Julie Champa, Executive Director of the uptown Association.

Maker’s Mart indie craft fair will feature wares from nearly 40 vendors including Oh Sew Betty’s handmade dresses by, Jessica Crossfield (pictured below), a set of matchbook notebooks by paper crafter Holly Whitney, Alison Maples’ drip bowland ferociously cute knitted monsters by Miss Eryn Marie

“Our response has been enormous.” For a craft fair? Absolutely. This isn’t the sleepy, grandmotherly kind of craft show that you might be picturing. There will be a shortage of kitschy samplers and concrete-goose clothing. This is a juried show, with a select group of vendors peddling unique handcrafted wares. For an idea of what to expect, you don’t have to look much further than the source of the idea — veteran Toledo crafter Jessica Crossfield. If she doesn’t sound familiar, you might know her as the one-and-only Betty Floored, of the Glass City Rollers roller derby squad, and you might have seen the handmade dresses and bags (many with a strong local flavor) that she produces as Oh Sew Betty! “[Betty]’s really Cool,” Champa says. “She’s a board member [of the Uptown Association] and she does a lot of shows, and she thought it would be cool to do a show in the district. She came to the Special Events Committe, we discussed it, and we learned more about it. This is our first year of doing it, so we’re all kind of learning together.”

The committee put out a call for vendors, and got a terrific response. “We have enough space for roughly 40 vendors, and we received close to 70 applications,” Champa says. “People from all over — Here locally, from Southeast Michigan, Ann Arbor, Westland. It’s been great.” Crossfield assembled a jury from fellow committe members, and the roster of vendors was set. The space came together with the help of Connie Hoffmann of Adams Street Art and Antiques. She leases the space at 1717 Adams, until recently occupied by the International Boxing Club, and was eager to rehab it into a venue for uptown Events. “We thought it would be a great fit,” Champa says. “She’s doing a lot of work in there; replacing flooring, replacing ceiling tiles, installing and rehabbing bathrooms. It’s a great location.”

Champa is excited about the prospect of a day to remember. “I just think From word-of-mouth between folks here in the district and from the vendors themselves, we should generate a really nice crowd throughout the day,” she says. “The timing is perfect because it’s right before the holidays and the items are really unique and totally gift-able.” (We discussed whether that’s a word, and agreed that it is now.) She’s hoping for a bit of spillover, too. “We feel it’ll help the existing bars and restaurants on Adams Street. When the show’s over, hopefully people will patronize some of the other businesses.” There will be live music and food, as well, so, as Champa says “it’s an art show with some entertainment value.” It’s well worth the trip to get some early holiday shopping out of the way. As far as the goods on offer, Champa is thrilled at the potential, “It’s all really unique, handmade items you’ll never find in the mall,” she says. And if you haven’t made it to uptown in a while, this is your chance to see a district that’s gaining momentum. As Champa says, “it’s a perfect fit.”

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Maker’s Mart runs from 10am to 7pm on Saturday, November 17. Admission is $1 for adults, children are free. 1717 Adams. Www.Makersmarttoledo.Com.
 

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