With all of the commotion surrounding the Renegade Craft Fair this past weekend, it can be easy to forget that Chicago’s second biggest indie craft show was just two weeks ago. November twentieth was the eighth year for the DIYTrunk Show, a fair put annually by the Chicago Craft Mafia. While similar to the Renegade Craft Fair (both events are held at the  Pulaski Field House), the trunk show is somewhat smaller in scale, takes place on one day only, and focuses more on local crafters.

The Chicago Craft Mafia organizes the show in order to support the Chicago crafting community. Their passion for craft is laid out in their Craftifesto, which states that craft is powerful, political, personal, and possible

At the trunk show I interviewed three very different participants. The first, Paul Snagel, proves that craft is powerful, that is, that the things we want and need can be bought from craftsmen in our own community. Paul rescues vintage objects from obscurity and transforms them into lamps. His interview can be found here.

The second, Laura Berger, proves that craft is personal.  Laura shares her charming, quirky illustrations through prints, cards, and a number of other items. Her interview can be found here.

The third, Allyson Dykhuizen, proves that craft is possible. Through her organization, Sweatshop of Love, Allyson makes knitting accessible by  teaching classes and selling patterns and kits. Her interview can be found here.