by Noella Noelophile®
How time does fly–and it’s time to have fun.
As in, lots of “indie” craft shows are coming up, in the next few weeks! Here are a few you might like to put on your calendar.
In fact, I’m going to go out of sequence for just a moment. One of our all-time favorite artists is making her “Holiday Fair” debut on Sunday, November 13th!
Designer Paula Bennett, founder of nonprofit yes4arts, hosts her first “Winter Holiday Fair and Family Fun Day” in Torrance on Sunday, November 13th. Free knitting, sewing and crocheting workshops (with materials included!), craft vendors, a silent auction, food and entertainment will all be part of the festivities.
Now, if Paula’s name sounds very familiar–she’s the talented artist who’s taken the “traditional” fiber arts and turned them into…
…a way to empower the next generation to create their own sleek, sexy designs.
Her goal, with yes4arts, is to preserve the needle arts through free classes–while sharing skills that can help students become creative entrepreneurs. In return for her time as an instructor, she asks her students to teach others what they’ve learned.
While this is her premiere “Holiday Fair”, Paula is no stranger to planning amazing events. 
Every spring, she hosts a “Needle Arts Fashion Show”, with music, entertainment and crafts as well as a showcase of knitted, crocheted and sewn original designs.
Like the spring fashion show, this first “Winter Holiday Fair” will be a yes4arts fundraiser. Here’s a link that will tell you more about the free workshops. And if you have time and would like to volunteer to help as Paula hosts her first “Holiday Fair”, she’d like to hear from you.
Yes4arts’ first “Winter Holiday Fair and Family Fun Day” runs from 10 am to 4 pm, Sunday, November 13th at Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Drive North at Madrona. Admission is free; free fiber arts classes start at 11 am.
Okay–back on schedule. If you’re in the Bay Area, here’s some excellent news for this weekend.
The Patchwork Show Modern Makers Festival starts its round of winter fairs today, in Oakland! Personal favorites from this particular show have been jewelry, great scented soaps and some gorgeous graphics, in the past, but that barely does it justice.
On hand will be more than 100 vendors. Live musical performances happen all day, food trucks are featured (but leave room for a handcrafted popsicle and/or sweet–vendors have small-batch artisan foods to die for!) and there’s also a “Patchwork Junior” area, according to co-founder Nicole Stevenson’s “Dear Handmade Life” website. This is where makers under 18 get a taste of selling their work at a craft fair–how cool is that.
The Patchwork Show Modern Makers Festival runs from 11 am to 5 pm, Saturday, November 5th in Oakland’s Jack London Square. Admission is free.
AND, this is the first of three shows! Southern California is next on Patchwork Show’s itinerary, with shows scheduled for:
Long Beach, Sunday, November 13th, 11 am to 5 pm at Marine Stadium, Appian Way and Bayshore. Admission is free.
Santa Ana, Sunday, November 22nd, 11 am to 5 pm, 2nd and Sycamore Streets. Admission is free.
And we don’t want to forget a relatively new favorite, either.
Jackalope Art and Craft Fair started in Pasadena in April, 2015–and it’s received a well-deserved rousing response. Co-created by talented planners Sara Vausbinder, Melissa Shipley and Laura Fischer, this is a three-city show that features more than 200 vendors. Its emphasis is on getting to meet and talk with the exhibiting artisans.
A major strength of Jackalope, besides the unique offerings from so many talented vendors, is its art workshops. 
The winter edition of “Jackalope” comes to Pasadena’s Central Park on Saturday and Sunday, November 12th and 13th. Getting a look at some of the listing vendors, I love those rich-looking handcrafted wooden bowls, the papercutter’s special gift boxes (wow, how talented some people are!) and those European handbags especially. But nothing beats finding new favorites firsthand.
Jackalope Art and Craft Fair, Pasadena edition, runs 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday, November 12th and 13th in Pasadena’s Central Park. Admission is free.
Not in California? If you’re reading this from Arizona, Jackalope comes your way Saturday and Sunday, November 26th and 27th, 10 am to 5 pm at WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 North Pima Road near Pima Freeway.
Meanwhile, the Colorado edition happens Saturday and Sunday, December 10th and 11th, 10 am to 5 pm at the McNichols Building, 144 West Colfax Avenue, east of Bannock Street, in Denver. Again, admission to both these shows is free.
That’s it? No, not really. There’s more to come–but this will get you started!