This past weekend marked the 5th annual Handmade Arcade. An amazing gathering of crafters and their wares, this event has quickly become a Pittsburgh tradition. It is the perfect place to find one of a kind holiday gifts, taste amazing local baked goods (including the best vegan cinnamon rolls ever), and catch up with old friends. To be sure, it is not your grandmother’s craft fair. There are no ducks in bonnets, dried flower wreaths, or cow-themed kitchen kitsch. Perhaps most importantly, everything does not smell of cinnamon and pine. What can be found, however, is a fantastic variety of prints, stationary, jewelry, soaps, housewares, plush toys, apparel, knitwear, and more.
I saw some of my favorite indie crafters this year as well as some delightful new booths.
A busy crowd gathers in the Handmade Arcade’s new location, the Hunt Armory in Shadyside.
The Handmade Arcade welcome booth, complete with T-shirts, totes, and shiny gold balloons.
The Sycamore Street Press booth, featuring beautiful letterpress prints and stationary.
Pittsburgh’s own Jason Kirker of Kirkiture who builds paper and wood lamps.
Friend or Foe little monster plush toys made from new and found materials.
This is just a small sampling of the many (85 total) great indie crafters who exhibited. I’m already anxious for next year!
Be sure to check out the following vendors who stole my heart:
Miaow
Etui
Basho Apparel
Figs & Ginger
Beth Pohlman Jewelry
My Paper Crane
My Favorite Mirror
4 loves 
Wow! I really wish I would have gone!
Oh man H.A. was awesome this year! Big ups to Basho who I was stoked on so much that I bought 2 shirts!! And my BF snatched up a Kirkiture lamp too! (Great taste, Emily!)
hey!
I made with photoshop glitter myspace pictures.
have a look at them:
http://tinyurl.com/5w2eqc
Thank you for your website :) xoxoxo