Does this totebag from Richmond Threadlab look familiar? It might — we shared it on our Instagram a couple weekends ago when we visited the local Handmade Holiday Craft Show. The fair, organized by the Richmond Craft Mafia, is a bi-annual celebration of regional makers and artists. We try to attend every year because it’s always packed with talented crafters, many of whom have Etsy shops so you can browse their work online too. Here are some of the standout finds from this year’s show, including a few new vendors we hadn’t seen before.
Spade Moderne showcased a great selection of graphic pillows and tea towels, but the piece that caught Sherry’s eye was a delicate mistletoe brooch — which you could easily repurpose as an ornament. Knowing Sherry, she’d pop it in a shadowbox and call it holiday art.
We were also drawn to screenprinted tea towels from Tiny Peepers. They had playful printed fabrics and a hipster-style onesie that made me nostalgic for the days when Clara still fit into onesies.
Flytrap Studios had a charming 2013 calendar on display — a reminder that the holidays always seem to arrive faster than expected.
Tributary Handmade offered adorable fabric rattles, including silent versions for quieter play — a brilliant idea. The top rattle featured the same pear-and-apple fabric we used for one of Clara’s weekly photos, which brought back fond memories.
Tributary also displayed whimsical dolls that gave me Beatles vibes. They’d be a great fit for a little boy’s room — especially the mustached, suspender-clad character in the middle.
Jessica Reed Artifacts had a collection of pillows, bags, and other items made from reclaimed grain and feed sacks. With the holiday atmosphere of the fair, the festive stocking designs really stood out.
Found Studio featured mixed-media paintings with mason jars as subjects — a playful, modern take on everyday objects fitting right into the Pinterest era.
They also had smaller works we liked, including a long painting with a pennant banner and a tiny green bicycle — the kind of piece that rewards close inspection.
After attending a few of these fairs, many booths feel familiar, but most vendors keep evolving their offerings. For example, Funnel Cloud Studio now includes a New Jersey version of the state prints we admired before.
Clay artist Tasha McKelvey brought charming clay gnome ornaments that sparked the idea of a gnome-themed tree or a yearly “find-the-gnome” decorating tradition.
It’s always a treat to spot Phil Barbato and his wife Meghan. We’ve bought his artwork before, and this year their Baby Octopi pieces grabbed our attention — one even appears to have a gold tooth, which I find delightfully quirky.
Matt Butler had prints that made us laugh — including a cheeky bacon poster he’s known for — and some bike-themed items like custom-printed Toms that form a single image when paired.
Suzanne of Silver Tree Art brought her usual bright, cheerful work. Sherry spent several minutes flipping through her “wisdom cards,” which are small, uplifting reminders perfect for a desk or bedside table.
Sherry was also smitten with layered necklaces from Lucky Accessories, which added a delicate, wearable element to the day’s discoveries.
We couldn’t buy everything we loved, but we did bring home a few treasures. I picked up part of a Christmas gift for a coffee lover from Lamplighter Roasting Company — their bag design was nearly enough to tempt me into enjoying java-flavored treats.
Sherry bought a few of the wisdom cards to keep on her desk as daily pick-me-ups.
We also splurged a bit at Funnel Cloud Studio. I resisted the Jersey print, but we did bring home metallic animal prints — a gold armadillo and a silver rhino — and a poster titled “Things That Are Awesome.”
We haven’t decided where to hang the poster yet — the guest room is a contender — but we’ve already enjoyed spending time exploring the tiny illustrations and debating their merits. Guests were equally intrigued, so we think it’ll be a fun addition to our home.
Huge thanks to all the artists who make local craft fairs like this possible. Their creativity fills these events with charm and surprises. And yes, Sherry literally bounced from booth to booth for much of the day — giddy shoppers make for a fun outing.
Did you visit any craft fairs this season or pick up handmade gifts? Which of the items above stood out to you?