HANDMADE HEAVEN
EVENT HAS GROWN SINCE HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Thousands of people sift through all of the unique handmade items from local vendors at the Lethbridge Handmade Market, Saturday morning at Exhibition Park. @GBobinecHerald
The Lethbridge Handmade Market took over the main pavilion of Exhibition Park Saturday with a consistent line out the door of people wanting to find a unique handmade gift to purchase for Christmas from a wide variety of local artisans.
Every two months, the Handmade Market puts on a themed show for people to explore through local artisans, crafters and creators to find the one-ofa-kind item and to support local entrepreneurs. The market has grown substantially over the last 12 years, and has done so completely independently.
“This is our 12th handmade market; it is all strictly handmade items so that means we don’t run to any corporations or large businesses and there is no sponsorship,” says Jessy Gust, founder and organizer of Lethbridge Handmade Market.
“It is to create a community and an environment for people to shop handmade and support local and put money into the pockets of your community members and local artists.”
This year’s markets featured 170 different artisans, creators and crafters of locally made jewelry, clothing, art, honey and soaps, to woodworking, metal and plastic creations. The Handmade Market tries to feature as many local artists as possible, with live music and art displays around the pavilion.
“Anybody can come and can feel accepted; there are seniors selling knitted stuff, there are little kids selling little hair bows; everybody is here and everybody respects each other,” says Annie Waldner, general manager and organizer of the market.
“You don't have to worry about the craziness of the mall and you can come here and have a wonderful Christmas experience and see some unique things to get for people.”
Twelve years ago, the Lethbridge Handmade Market was a small event that Gust and Waldner put on every few months, but through word-of-mouth and community support, the market has grown to a full-day event in a large gathering area that draws in thousands of people.
“It all started in the basement of Eagles Hall with only 30 vendors,” says Waldner. “Even just last Christmas we had 100 artisans just for the event and it has grown even bigger this year to now have 170.
“We filled the main pavilion at the Exhibition grounds and have kept it completely handmade and no sponsorship this whole time.”
The support of the community helped grow and develop not just the market, but also the businesses that have been setting up displays at the events for years. Gust says that she couldn’t have gotten this far with the market without the support of the local crafters and creators, and she is proud to see how they have grown with the market.
“We have a team of friends, crafters and creators that are here to show, but they also help us make this market possible which is awesome,” says Gust. “In two years we have seen our friends grow from not even knowing how to set up a table, to have crazy beautiful displays and that is just wonderful.”
The next Handmade Market will take place in February. For more information on the market or how you can get involved, visit its Facebook page.
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