Bloomington Handmade Market celebrated its annual Holiday Market on Saturday and Sunday at the Monroe County Convention Center.
Bloomington Handmade Market was first held in November 2009 at the John Waldron Center for the Arts, after the founders, Mia Beach, Sally Harless and Nicole Wolfersberger, saw “the need for an artistic venue in Bloomington that would enable contemporary, emerging artists and crafters to showcase their wares at an affordable price,” according to the market’s website.
As of 2022, it has become a semiannual event, happening once in June and once in November every year. Artists spots are limited, and the board overseeing Bloomington Handmade Market looks for, “artists and crafters that are creating quality, unusual work of a type that we don't often see in more traditional craft fairs,” to participate in the market.
This year, the market featured over 100 vendors between two stories of the convention center. There were many different types of handmade items for sale, including ceramic dishes, wooden pieces, stained glass, fine art, candles, oils, soaps, crocheted items and more.
Many artists were also open to taking commissions. There were a number of other amenities at the market, including food trucks, a concession stand and an entry into a contest where one shopper wins a $25 gift card to Gather and Oak, a shop carrying a variety of handmade gifts, for voting for their favorite shop in the Shoppers Choice Award. This award is one of two that vendors are able to receive for their participation in the event; the other is the Best in Show Award, which is chosen by the board that organizes and runs Bloomington handmade Market. Vendors receive prizes for each.
Both days, the first 30 customers of the market received a Bloomington Handmade Market tote bag filled with holiday-themed merchandise. Lyndsay Ellis, an attendee who received the tote, said the crocheted ornament was her favorite, while Natalie Gillies liked the patterned apron and magnet the most.
Malory Owen, who makes and sells stained glass pieces for her business Little Tiger Glassworks, first began selling at the Bloomington Handmade Market in summer 2021. She said she’s enjoyed getting to build a community of artists year after year.
“It’s just cool to see new people every year and build relationships with Bloomingtonians,” Owen said.
Owen said she believes the market provides a very valuable space for sellers and community members alike.
“It's not just a great show for me to do now, still as a more experienced artist, but it was a great incubator space. It was an opportunity for new artists,” she said. “(Knowing the logistics of the area you are selling from is) such a weight off of a new seller's mind.”
Owen said these kinds of community events have given her the opportunity not just to sell her items, but also make new friends.
“(My husband and I) had just moved to Bloomington, so it was totally fresh, not knowing anyone, and immediately everyone (was) so welcoming,” she said. “Everybody's willing to lend each other a hand. It's a really good space. And I've done a little bit of traveling around the Midwest and stuff for other shows, and lots of these spaces are like that.”
Other vendors, like Lenora Halliday, who sells felt sculptures under the name Fuwa Felting, also spoke about the community surrounding Bloomington Handmade Market as being what makes it so special.
“No matter what’s going on, we can (all) come together and look at some amazing art,” Halliday said.
Arielle Jordan, who runs a business selling headbands with her mom under the name A Knot That Binds, said the culture of the market encourages her to continue coming back to sell her items every year.
“They (customers have) just always been great to and for us,” Jordan said. “Everyone has a reason why they choose to shop with us, and it’s really good to hear how our product, that we put so much time and effort into, can impact somebody’s life.”
Even though Jordan isn’t originally from Bloomington, she still likes coming down from Indianapolis to sell her products.
More information about the summer Bloomington Handmade Market, which is set to take place June 7, 2025, can be found on its website.
