It was a very good time. I had planned on taking pictures during the event and did manage to take some during set-up the night before and very early on Saturday morning. But after the ball started rolling, that plan ended. I had an Indie Biz Chicks table set up in the lobby, a separate area. I did manage to take some quick trips onto the sales floor throughout the day, but didn’t end up doing any filming.  Thankfully, the DVX team had set up a live blog and participants were able to post pictures, video, and on-the-moment reports.

If you have never been to a large indie craft fair, definitely go back and look at the blog. It is hard to imagine what one of these events looks like until you see one! Thousands of people came out for the event – the sales floor was literally packed all day, from 10am – 7pm.

It was great to see so many people buying local, and supporting indie businesses. i3Detroit, Provo Craft, and Mariah from Yelp Michigan had make and takes set up, allowing people to get their craft on while they shopped and socialized with friends (and there was a cupcake car).

Trust me, when it comes to putting on a craft fair, Handmade Detroit knows how to bring it. The vendors who came in from out of state were amazed at the turn-out. But as Michiganders know, our state embodies the DIY spirit. We have been a pioneering, innovative bunch for a long time. As you can see from pictures and posts from the DUCF live blog, Michigan is still home to many awesome, creative entrepreneurs. Yay, us!

The event is put on by Handmade Detroit, and these ladies KNOW how to throw an awesome craft fair!

There will also be a Tweetup on November 20 at The Majestic Cafe from 7 – 9 pm.

Indie Biz Chicks will be at BOTH events, so come out and say “hi” to me and my Handmade Detroit friends!

Please help me spread the word about this by posting this on Twitter with the hashtag #DUCF.  Thank You!!!

When I started Michigan State 10 years ago, I was pretty positive I was destined for a life of print magazine editing, becoming famous for running a world-famous indie music magazine, marrying the lead singer of Blur and living in a multi-million dollar loft in Brooklyn. Did I mention this was all going to happen by the time I was 25?

But when I was 25 I found myself editing blogs instead of magazines, learning how internal combustion worked and day-dreaming of a smallish apartment in Plymouth, Michigan.

Just a few years out of college the decline of the newspaper industry went in to full stride and I quickly found myself looking for not only a new job, but a new career. I definitely spent my fair share of time online, joining Friendster right after graduation and writing whiny posts over on LiveJournal, but was a qualified to edit blogs? I thought people didn’t edit blogs?!

As I started looking for new jobs I saw a posting for a blog editor in Ann Arbor for a digital-based public relations firm. “I’m qualified, I think?” I convinced myself. A few months earlier I had started helping a friend out with a craft blog launched to promote our craft group, Handmade Detroit. I interviewed for the job and realized that I’d be lucky to get called back as “blog editor” was definitely the new black in terms of job titles. But instead, I got the job and started running blogs for major companies, from cars to insurance providers.

Definitely a lot different than community journalism and DEFINITELY different than running my dream version of Pitchfork.

Three years later I couldn’t be happier. I still work for the same company helping companies with not only blogging, but getting involved with all sorts of online activities. Sometimes I miss working in a newsroom when national (or local, for that matter) news breaks, but I wouldn’t trade my gig for the world.

I also realized that maybe I could still marry the lead singer of Blur… I just need to get him to start blogging and move to southeastern Michigan.

About Lish
Lish Dorset is a proud member of Handmade Detroit, the crafty gang that brings you the annual Detroit Urban Craft Fair. When she’s not day-dreaming of marrying Internet celebrities (are you listening, Akiva Schaffer?), she’s either busy at work, embroidering swear words on dish towels or trying to convince her friends that Wham! is one of the best pop groups of all time.