E-MAIL INTERVIEW w/the Handmade Mafia’s Amy Edgar

I recently had a quick interweb chat with the lovely Amy Edgar, one half of the dynamic duo behind the Handmade Mafia – a very popular, very cool craft show that takes place in Old Strathcona (specifically @ Orange Hall and Savoy) on the first Saturday of every month.

(For anyone keeping track, that would be tomorrow).

Q: What is the Handmade Mafia?

A: The handmade mafia is a family of handmade makers. They are local people making the items they sell.

Q: Okay, and who are the Handmade Mafia, meaning: who organizes the sales? What gave you guys the idea for them?

A: The Handmade Mafia is Ally Ng and (me) Amy Edgar, but as a whole, it’s all the people you find inside selling their goods. We felt there was a need for a monthly market in Edmonton, but also [wanted] to keep it fresh and keep a rotation of sellers. Each month you’re going to find something new! We have a lot of sellers who are doing shows for the first time.

Q: How have the sales been received by 1) vendors, 2) shoppers, and 3) the community (for instance, the folks who host the sales, like Savoy and Orange Hall)?

A: Summertime is a hard time for craft shows in general, but we do have shoppers coming out every month. The ones who are coming out are happy to see the talent in Edmonton – it’s exciting and encouraging to see such talent, and sometimes it can be quite the boost people need to go home and get creative themselves. Both of the venues the show is located at are locally owned, so in a small way it’s supporting them as well. Savoy has provided a great location, and also has a full menu and drinks for shoppers who might be hungry while enjoying Whyte Ave. Orange Hall is a local historic site, and shoppers have been happy to find both places, as some were not previously familiar to either

Q: Do you think shopping local is important?

A: Shopping local is very important. It’s a way to show support – just like a local sports team, you go to the games to show your support. We need to shop to the smaller, locally owned stores to do the same thing. There are stores closing down all over Edmonton right now … it’s sad to see. By going to a craft or art show, you are helping someone who is making these things because they are passionate about them. The quality of something made with love is going to be much higher than something made in a factory. As someone who has been making and selling crafts, I can say personally – I know I put much more effort into making something that’s up for sale because you want to know it’s going to last as long as it possibly can

Q: What has been the most difficult part of getting these sales off the ground? Do you have any funny horror stories?

A: Doing the show has definitely been a learning process. We have had small lessons at each month’s show. Our very first Mafia show was “cozy” for the vendors, meaning they were cozied up together. It worked out to be a good thing in the end, because you get to meet new people when you’re sitting right next to them all day…hopefully vendors came out of the day with a few new friends.

Q: What kinds of things can people expect to find at a Handmade Mafia sale?

A: We have many things. There’s jewelery, art, purses and more. We have a rotation of people each month, which in turn brings a new rotation of items being sold. One month you may find sock monkeys, handmade completely from scratch clothing … and the next you will find plush bears, handmade soap and photography or paintings. Its going to be different every month!

Q: If anyone would like to be a part of the Handmade Mafia, either as a vendor, or even just to volunteer, how can they get involved?

A: We have a facebook group under the name The Handmade Mafia, for general information and dates for the upcoming shows. There is also something else in the works for handmade makers coming soon (think Stitch and B*tch). To be included on our monthly call out , and for any other inquires, or to get information email Amy @ amyjedgar@gmail.com or Ally @ msallyng@gmail.com. One thing we would love help with is just getting the word out there – we are so proud of the talent we just want to share it with everyone!

Q: Is there anything else you’d like people to know about the Handmade Mafia?

A: …only that our Tommy Guns have been replaced with glue guns, fedoras are optional and the business suit is too hard to make by hand. We prefer something a little more casual!