Artsy-fartsy things to do (Pittsburgh: hotel, buy, shops)

[unicornsareawesome]

I am just curious - are there neat crafty things to do around Pittsburgh? I'm not talking about visiting museums, but more like art festivals, craft get togethers, any kind of scene that likes to be creative? I know it's a strange question, but it's important...

Thanks in advance!

[greg42]

Wouldn't say at all fartsy, but the indie craft fair Handmade Arcade is this Saturday:

Handmade Arcade

This is just one event. There's the big and quite a bit less indie Three Rivers Arts Festival every June. It was shorter this year but still a major event.

I'm sure there are any number of craft get togethers, etc. That's a little vague, not sure if you mean just vending or more like actual crafting with a group, but either way I'm sure you can find things.

If you are in the area I highly recommend you check out Handmade Arcade this weekend. Many of the vendors are local and you can talk to them for more ideas, plus there will be info on other related goings-on in the city.

[unicornsareawesome]

Thanks! That Handmade Arcade looks awesome, but alas, I'm stuck in Florida until I move up there.

Really I'm looking for either; get togethers for crafting or events like the ones you suggested. I'm not looking for hipster hangouts but just a creative juice in the city, if that makes sense.

[Tombstoner]

You might check out the Center for Contemporary Craft in the Strip. It's kind of a hub for crafters in Pittsburgh so (as memory serves) you'll find lots of bulletin board/flyer stuff showing you where the whole gamut of craft events are: http://www.contemporarycraft.org

The Pittsburgh Glass Center is a slightly more "serious-about-crafts" place, but they too have great exhibitions and are kind of a clearinghouse for arts and crafts in the area: Pittsburgh Glass Center

[Tallysmom]

I'd check at the various places where you'd buy supplies for what you craft. I quilt so I'd check quilt fabric shops. But if you scrapbook, check at those places. (I'm also not in Pittsburgh, so I can't be much help that way)

I know out here all my quilt places have classes and also have "stitchnbitch" nights. There's a small fee but you can get together and meet other people and work on projects. It's good for when you're doing a big quilt and you need a big space to baste.

Good luck!

[greg42]

I've always found the Society for Contemporary Craft to be more of a gallery for "serious" artists as well, but perhaps I'm wrong.

I don't really know that much; I just happen to know Handmade Arcade because I've been there a couple times. I see various things around here and there that suggest what I would think was creative juice in the city; I don't think it's lacking in this department.

[Tinare]

Is there a particular kind of craft you're interested in? I'm a knitter and there are knitting groups and classes at each of the yarn stores around town, there's an annual knitting festival (link below), there are yahoo groups and meetup groups, etc. I'm sure that there are a lot of similiar things for folks involved in other crafts. I've met fiber artists of various types (weavers, tatters, spinners, etc.) at knit and crochet events as well. As Tallysmom said above, supply stores for the craft you're interested in would be a wealth of information about the local scene for that craft.

6th Annual Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival - February 13th & 14th, 2010

[fleetiebelle]

For craft shows, there's also the I Made It Market: I MADE IT! MARKET : HOME

[BrianTH]

My wife does scrapbooking and there are a bunch of people who get together to do that (including at weekend-long retreats where they will get together at a local hotel away from annoying husbands and such). I have gotten the impression there is something similar going on with pretty much all the major crafts.

[fleetiebelle]

And I think if you go to some of the local crafty shows and talk to the artists/vendors, they'll give you the lowdown on the local craft scene. One of my coworkers is involved with organizing Handmade Arcade, and she's got tons of crafty friends. There are websites, Facebook pages, Etsy pages that can give you more info.