Like thousand of others I’ve taken the pledge to buy handmade this holiday season and am requesting that others do the same for me. If, like me, you live in the Los Angeles area I want to plug a handful of handmade shopping events taking place this month and next. But no matter where you reside, take a moment to visit the vendor pages on each of these event’s websites - many, if not most, of the artists, designers and craftspeople participating have online shops stocked and waiting for you!

Felt Club: XL Holiday
On Sunday, November 18, from 11am-6pm Felt Club is hosting 75+ artists, crafters, and designers from SoCal and beyond who’ll show off their latest and greatest D.I.Y. wares for your handmade-shopping pleasure! There will be fresh and delicious eats and drinks from renowned Eagle Rock eatery Auntie Em’s Kitchen and you’ll enjoy happy shopping music from our DJs, Dirty Robot and Lance Rock. With your $5 admission, you’ll receive a ticket to win a fantastic door prize, and the first 250 visitors will be treated to swag bags full of cool magazines, craft patterns, coupons, buttons, li’l gifts and samples from sponsors and vendors. Last but not least, they’re offering a full roster of hands-on craft classes throughout the day. Click here for complete event information.

Maker Square
Maker Square is the fair-within-a-fair - a mini version of the popular Maker Faire event - hosted by the staff of Make and Craft magazines. Maker Square brings together science, art, craft and engineering in a fun, energized and exciting public forum. The aim is to inspire people of all ages to roll up their sleeves and become makers. Expect to see demonstrations (often hands-on) in robotics, unusual musical instruments, soft circuits, microcontrollers, and more. The Maker Square portion of Felt Club will feature people like Mister Jalopy, who will demonstrate his Mobile Drive-In Movie Projector (featured on the cover of MAKE Vol.11), Jason Torchinsky’s “Super Stick”, a 5-foot tall Atari 2600 joystick (which actually works!!), Jed Berk and his Blubberbots, and many more. In short, Maker Square is DIY meets techno-nerdiness at it’s best!

Handmade for the Holidays
On Friday and Saturday, November 23 and 24, from 11-6pm The HomeGrownMarket.com will be hosting “Handmade For The Holidays” Art, Fashion & Crafts Fair at Fairfax High School on the corner of Melrose and Fairfax. This is the first year for this market but it looks to be not only well located, but well organized with over 150 vendors selling an amazing array of beautiful, creative, and thoughtful products. Find unique and one-of-a-kind fashion, jewelry, baby and children’s items, furniture & decor, bath & body products, art, novelty gifts, holiday items and more. FREE Gift Bags (while supplies last, valued $10-$250 each), FREE Gift Wrapping, FREE Parking, FREE Sit & Relax Lounge, FREE GIVEAWAYS every hour, great holiday music, free chocolate giveaways, Craft & Art Stations, & gourmet lunches and holiday treats. Admission is just $2. Please click here for complete event details.

Little Monster Market
On December 8th from 10am-3pm Little Monster Market, LA’s only handmade market dedicated soley to items for the short set, pairs up with Cool Baby to host a special holiday shopping event. Free Admission. Click here for complete event details.

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