Toronto’s craft community goes nuts in December. Check out which ones are in your hood and stop by to see what the city’s craftiest minds have been cooking up all year, it’s a great opportunity to round up a crew and knab some one of kind gifts. How else would you rather spend a Sunday afternoon than perusing handmade tea cosies and while sipping apple cider?

Handmade Holiday (Dec. 3) Stephen-in-the-fields, 103 Bellevue Ave.
Presented by Kensington Markets Kid Icarus, this one-day show specializes in poster art, notebooks, and funky envelopes and cards. Grab a mystery loot bag at the door, and stick around for raffles throughout the day. $2

Parkdale Holiday Bazaar (Dec. 3) Masaryk Cown Community Centre Gym (220 Cown Ave)
This community event features over 50 vendors from the Parkdale neighbourhood showing vintage, handmade or locally grown products. There will be prize giveaways, a Christmas portrait studio, carolling and a clothing drive.

City of Craft (Dec. 10-11) The Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen St. W.
This is Toronto’s largest independent craft show. An alliance of 55 local crafters put together a celebration of craft selling, workshopping, cupcake scarfing, and free stuff giving. With everything from embroidered tea towels to tiny pill bottle vases, it’s an Etsy-esque exgtravaganzaa. $2

Movies and Makers (Dec. 17th) The Fox Theatre (2236 Queen St. E)
It’s a craft show in a one of the city’s first movie theatres! 30+ vendors show handmade clothes, jewellery, photography, fine art, kids toys and home decor. movies-and-makers.blogspot.com

The Sassy Little Craft Show (Dec. 15th) The Central (603 Markham St.)
An evening craft show with an attitude. Retro inspired gifts, live music, booze, and rockabilly flavah abounds. This ain’t your granny’s church basement.

OCAD’s Book Arts Fair (Dec. 3) Great Hall (100 McCaul St.)
For 27 years, OCAD’s Printmaking program has put on this holiday festi, where visitors browse the work of 50 – 60 book artists, printmakers, and small publishers. Print’s not dead! PWYC.

The Artisans Gift Fair (Dec.3 , 4, 10, 11, 17, 18) The Tranzac (292 Brunswick Ave)
The Tranzac hosts every kind of event from poetry slams to pro wrestling matches, but their gift fair is a definite gem. 40+ vendors with trendy to traditional crafts live music. Free.

~ Kait Fowlie