Handmade for the Holidays

In a day when “artisan” and “hand-crafted” have become buzzwords, it should come as no surprise that the market for handmade, locally-made goods is more popular than ever. Now more than ever, the appetite for the one-of-a-kind, limited-edition, and hand-crafted is growing at an exponential speed. After all, why buy something run-of-the-mill when you can find something unique (and homegrown) for about the same cost?

Accordingly, Minnesota is not poor in handmade craft markets, come holiday season. Saturday, November 1, marks the unofficial kickoff of holiday shopping season for locally-made, handmade goods, with temporary holiday shops and markets popping up at the Walker Art Center and the Textile Center. The long-running, semi-annual jewelry artist mart pops up at the Walker for one day only this Saturday, offering handmade jewelry from more than 25 top local and regional artists including local favorites Annika Kaplan, Erin Smith, Yen Chee, silvercoon’s Tia Keobounpheng, and Nick Lundeen. (Bonus: Walker members get a special preview and 10% discount.)

The Textile Center’s annual holiday gallery shop also opens on November 1; having nearly tripled in size since 2012, it fills the Joan Mondale Gallery to the brink with one-of-a-kind fiber art, hand-knits, home decor, greeting cards, jewelry and books. It kicks off with a one-day “To Dye for” pop-up artist market featuring hand-dyed fiber fashions from local artists, and free meet-the-maker artist demos take place every Saturday.

Mark your calendar; here’s a list of some other handmade holiday markets coming this season:

Every Sunday through December 21: Linden Hills Winter Market & Craft Revival: Sunnyside Gardens hosts a weekly farmer’s market and craft makers bazaar with handmade goods, chef talks and demos, food trucks, and local foods. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 2-16, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 23-Dec. 21, 3723 W 44th St., Mpls., 612-516-2163, lindenhillsfarmersmarket.com

November 7-January 11: Jul Shop: American Swedish Institute’s holiday shop includes a wide array of Scandinavian gifts and Nordic design including Saturday candy, tomtes (Christmas elves), light, holiday cookbooks, and contemporary Nordic jewelry. Shop in-store and online at shopswedish.com. Daily during museum hours, American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Ave. S., Mpls., 612-871-4907.

November 7: Maiden Minnesota: This annual charitable shopping event featuring 35 top women-owned businesses in Minnesota, cocktails, and more. 2-9 p.m., $20-$30, Lowes Minneapolis Hotel Ballroom (formerly Graves 601 Hotel), 601 1st Ave. N., Mpls., maidenminnesota.com

November 7-9: Art Attack!: Holiday open studio and artist crawl in Northeast Minneapolis’ Northrup King Building, with food trucks, readings, and entertainment. Shopping highlights include handcrafted goods e-shop A Mano and fine jewelers Britta Lynn Design, Brittany Foster (both studio #435), EC Design Studio and East Fourth Street (both #254), Karin Jacobson (#288), L. Shoff (#375), Larissa Loden (#180), and silvercoon (#277). Also be sure to check out Danish modern furniture refurbishers Danish Teak Classics (also in studio #277). Find a full list of artist studios at northrupkingbuilding.com/artists. 5-10 p.m. Fri., noon-8 p.m. Sat., noon-5 p.m. Sun., 1500 Jackson St. NE., Mpls.

November 7-9: Caché at the Casket: Artist studio crawl in the Casket Arts Building, plus food trucks, live music and more. Fashion offerings include chic bohemian women’s clothing e-retailer Velvet Moon. 5-10 p.m. Fri., noon-8 p.m. Sat., noon-5 p.m. Sun., 681 17th Ave. NE., Mpls., casketarts.com

November 8: Nokomis Urban Craft Fair: Find a hip assortment of gifts, jewelry, art, baked goods, and more from nearly 30 vendors–including Vandalia Street Press, Larissa Loden Jewelry, redshoes26 design, DC Ice, Annabella Sardelis, and the Elixery–at this 6th annual, homespun indie craft fair. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Lake Nokomis Community Center, 2401 E. Minnehaha Blvd., Mpls., nokomiscraftfair.blogspot.com

November 12: Artisan Revival: The Minneapolis Club hosts an evening of music, drinks, and American-made products from Detroit-based watchmaker and leather goods manufacturer Shinola, San Francisco-based hatmaker Goorin Bros., and made-in-Minnesota brands J.W. Hulme Co., Faribault Woolen Mill, Carrier Pigeon jewelry, Britta Lynn Jewelry, and more. Cash bar. 5:30-7:30 p.m., 729 2nd Ave. S., Mpls., 612-332-2292, mplsclub.org

November 15: Minneapolis Craft’za: An offshoot of the long-running indie craft sale St. Paul Craftstravaganza, the Craft’za brings the market to Minneapolis for a one-day sale featuring more than 70 vendors. 10 a.m-4 p.m. Grain Belt Bottling House, 79 13th Ave. NE., Mpls., craftstravaganza.com

November 15 & 16: Northern Grade Minneapolis: The heritage movement is still going strong. One of its earliest proponents, roving American-made market Northern Grade, debuted in Minneapolis in 2009. Since then, it’s expanded to Nashville, Austin, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City, and is showing no signs of slowing. It returns to Minneapolis with perennial favorites Sanborn Canoe Co., Leather Works Minnesota, and J.W. Hulme Co. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., 811 Glenwood Ave., Mpls., northerngrade.com

November 22: Morningside Woman’s Club Holiday Boutique: More than 40 local artisan vendors including StormSister Spatique and 3waybeauty will pop up in the Edina Morningside Church basement for this annual sale, along with food trucks and refreshments. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 4201 Morningside Rd., Mpls., 952-926-6555, emcucc.org

November 28-December 24: Minneapolis Holiday Market at Peavey Plaza: Though Farmer’s Market season is ending, a new sort of market is popping up this year in downtown Minneapolis. This market, inspired by traditional German holiday markets, offers a selection of handmade items by local makers, plus holiday music, festive decor, food, and warm drinks throughout the season. Check back to minneapolisholidaymarket.com for a forthcoming list of vendors. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Sundays except 11 a.m.-6 p.m. December 24, Peavey Plaza, 11th St. & Nicollet Mall, Mpls.

November 28-30: European Christmas Market in St. Paul: St. Paul is also debuting a new European-inspired, outdoor holiday market this year, based on the traditional, open-air Christkindlmarkts that take place in Germany and Austria during the holiday season. Local vendors selling unique, handmade holiday gifts and decorations will be on hand, as will be plenty of glühwein (spiced mulled wine), a special beer by Great Waters Brewing Co., European-inspired food and sweets. 2-9 p.m. Fri., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sat., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sun., W. 7th Pl. at corridor between St. Peter St. & Wabasha St. N., St. Paul, stpaulchristmasmarket.com

November 28 & 29: Holiday Artisan Market: Northeast taproom Dangerous Man Brewing hosts a two-day sale featuring 20 vendors including the Beer Dabbler, Burly Babe, Living Tree Design, the Northern Clay Center, Bubblegum Collective, and Minnesota Smittens, plus treats from Angel Food Bakery and food trucks. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Fri., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., 1300 2nd St. N.E., Mpls., 612-236-4087, dangerousmanbrewing.com

November 28: Black Market Craft: From the makers of Craftstravaganza come this one-day holiday pop-up shopping event, with five local artists selling handmade gift items including letterpress greeting cards, skin care products, decorative pillows, and home goods. Noon-4 p.m. Grain Belt Apartments, 1215 Marshall St. N.E., Mpls., craftza.com/blackmarket/

November 30: Made by Hands Holiday Sale Extra Vaganza: Handmade jewelry, ceramics, glass, wood workings, holiday sweets, paper arts, winterwear, paintings an dmore from more than 30 local artists, plus a food truck, live music and Bauhaus craft beer. Noon-7 p.m., Bauhaus Brew Labs, 1315 Tyler St. N.E., Mpls., facebook.com

November 30: Handmade/Heartfelt Black Sunday Holiday Sale: From the people behind the annual Caffetto Arts & Crafts Fair comes this holiday craft sale with 40 local artisans,musical entertainment and food by local chefs. Noon-7 pm, James Ballentine VFW, 2916 Lyndale Ave S, Mpls., handmadeheartfeltmpls.com

December 5 & 6: Holiday No Coast Craft-o-Rama: The indie craft fair pioneer has been going strong since 2005; it returns to the Midtown Global Market with nearly 100 crafters, artists, and designers. 3-8 p.m. Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 2901 Chicago Ave. S., Mpls., nocoastcraft.com

December 5: Crafts & Cocktails at Canteen: Uptown café Canteen hosts a special sip-and-shop event featuring goods from eight local vendors spanning holiday décor, jewelry, and home goods, plus festive cocktails and beer. 6-10 p.m. 3255 Bryant Ave. S., Mpls., Facebook event

December 6-21: SooLocal’s Holiday Pop-up Shop: Celebrate local art and load up on some one-of-a-kind gifts at once at this pop-up sale produced by art gallery SooVAC. Art and gifts from Minnesota artists and makers include prints, paintings, jewelry, and sculpture. Noon-5 p.m. Sat. & Sun. through Dec. 21. SooLocal, 3506 Nicollet Ave., Mpls. soovac.org

December 6 & 7: A Mano Holiday Gift Pop-up Shop: Local e-retailer A Mano, which specializes in handcrafted, limited-edition products by artisans both local and from all over the world, pops up for a special two-day holiday sale at Forage Modern Workshop. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. both days, 4023 E. Lake St., Mpls., 612-886-3603, foragemodernworkshop.com

December 6 & 7: Holiday Sparkle Mart: Shop for handcrafted jewelry from more than 30 Northrup King Building jewelry artists, plus enjoy cider and cookies. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., third floor gallery (#322), 1500 Jackson St. NE., Mpls., minneapolis.eventful.com

December 6 & 7: Julmarknad: The American Swedish Institute’s European-inspired Christmas market features 25 local vendors, a chance to tour the ASI holiday exhibits, live music, holiday family crafts, bonfires and more. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, $10 adults, $5 ages 6-18, free for children under 5 and ASI members; 2600 Park Av., Mpls., 612-871-4907, asimn.org

December 7: Honeycomb’s Annual Holiday Boutique: Handmade jewelry, stationery, printed goods, ceramics and more from more than 20 local makers including Lindsay Noble, Carrier Pigeon, Annika Kaplan, Maddy Nye, Ginny Sims, Jess Hirsch, Printerette Press, and Nick Lundeen (visit the Facebook invite for a full list). 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Honeycomb Salon, 3504 Nicollet Ave., Mpls., 612-824-2662, honeycombmpls.com

December 9-23: Gifts in the Gallery: The Bloomington Theatre and Art Center’s Inez Greenberg Gallery hosts a holiday gift sale that includes unique, one-of-a-kind gifts, including scarves, jewelry, ceramics, and blown glass handmade by more than 60 local artists. Open during gallery hours, reception 6-8 p.m. Tue., Dec. 9., 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd., Bloomington, 952-563-8575, btacmn.org

December 12 & 13: Raging Art On: Gamut Gallery’s annual holiday art sale returns with more than 40 independent, local makers spanning artwork, photography, jewelry, gifts, and more. Visit facebook.com for the full vendor lineup. Noon-10 p.m., Gamut Gallery, 1006 S Marquette Ave., Mpls., 612-701-8272, gamutgallerympls.com

December 13: World (Craft) Fair: Design and print studio Burlesque of North America hosts its 5th annual holiday gift sale at its Northeast gallery, Co Exhibitions, featuring a wide array of hip Twin Cities artists and makers. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 1101 Stinson Blvd. #2, Mpls., burlesquedesign.com

December 13: 7th Annual Cocktails & Crafts: Local crafters converge at the long-running Crafts & Cocktails event, with pottery, jewelry, letterpress, kid’s stuff, woodworking, soap, blown glass, yarn craft and more. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Clubhouse Jäger, 923 Washington Ave. N., Mpls., facebook.com

December 13: American Craft Council Library x Ship & Shape Invitational Holiday Sale: Local makers selected by Minneapolis-based e-commerce shop Ship & Shape converge as the American Craft Council Library, including Martha McQuade, Spring Finn & Co. handbags, Nick Lundeen, Ginny Sims Ceramics, Erin Smith, Maddy Nye, Crystal Quinn, and more. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., 10-11 a.m. members-only preview, ACC Library, 1224 Marshall St. NE. #200, Mpls., craftcouncil.org/library

December 13: Jackson Flats Holiday Bazaar: Northeast Minneapolis artist live/work space Artspace Jackson Flats hosts a holiday bazaar from its resident artists and greater Northeast, offering everything from handmade mittens to vintage clothing, to original silversmith jewelry, to artist prints, and more. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Artspace Jackson Flats, 18 1/2 Ave. N.E., Mpls., 651-644-9600.