Midwest, Baby. Midwest.

I am a Michigan girl. I’m very proud to be from the mitten state,  and the Midwest region, so I may be a bit biased as I write this post.. But seriously, we kind of have it going on. And it’s about time you all figured that out.

I know, I know. The term “Midwest” probably makes you think of farms, small towns, a good work ethic, and unfortunately, high rates of unemployment and a terrible economy. But don’t let that fool you. We are a hearty people. We survive horribly cold and bitter winters full of snow, sleet, and ice; hot and humid summers; tornadoes; flooding; and the above mentioned horrible economies and high rates of unemployment…

And when it comes to the creative DIY (do it yourself) spirit, we kind of rule. Sure, places like Brooklyn and Austin get mentioned a lot… but I think there’s something worth mentioning in the following cities:

Columbus

Two years ago,  my friends Beth and Lish and I headed to Columbus, Ohio to meet up with a fantastic group of crafty ladies. Since then, we’ve all kept in contact via Facebook & Twitter, and some of the Ohio ladies have headed north for various crafty events in Detroit.

This weekend, some of the Detroit girls are heading south to Columbus again for the MidWest Craft Caucus.  I am totally bummed that I can’t be there, but I can’t wait to hear the stories. I’m sure they will be having a blast, and the best kind of mayhem!

Here are some Columbus links to check out: Wholly Craft, Stinkybomb Soap, Made By AmyD, Craftin’ Outlaws, Crafty Cotillion.

Chicago

You may have heard of Venus Zine… This was a little zine that Amy Schroeder started in her Michigan State dorm room about a decade ago. She then moved to Chicago and turned that zine into a national magazine that focused on all things indie and DIY, including music, the arts, and all things crafty. A couple of years ago, she sold Venus and headed east to New York, where she is now heading up The DIY Business Association. Amy and I have collaborated on various projects through the years. It’s completely awesome to call her a friend and supporter of Indie Biz Chicks!

The first Renegade Craft Fair was held in Chicago in 2003. Simply put, it was a huge success. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s the definition of a large indie craft fair. In addition to Chicago, the event will also be taking place in Brooklyn, San Francisco, Austin, Los Angeles, and London this year. (And seriously, how freaking awesome is that?)

Sue Daly, co-founder of Renegade Craft Fair, is the owner of Renegade Handmade, an actual brick and mortar store located in Chicago’s Wicker Park. If you are ever in Chicago, you should stop by the store and say “hi”  – but if you can’t, you can always shop online.

Minneapolis

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I am a fan of Minnesota rock. You’ve all heard me go on and on about Motion City Soundtrack and Farewell Continental on this blog, my Twitter, Facebook, and in person (if you know me in “real life,” that is). Well, this post is all about giving shout-outs to my favorite Midwest stuff, and that includes them. So there.  But through knowing them, I can say that Minneapolis has a more than thriving local music scene, and while I’m a little jealous, I’m glad to know that there are still lots of people out there who like good music enough to keep making it. In mass.

Neighboring city St. Paul will be home to the first ever BlogHer Handmade this September. It costs an arm and a leg to attend, though. (Like, $500!!! They really should have thought of the market they are trying to attract…) Look for an ONLINE blogging conference from yours truly that will be happening soon. And for a lot less money. Yep. I just said that out loud. I don’t really care who that pisses off.

Detroit

And who are my favorite crafty people of all? The ladies behind Handmade Detroit, of course! They are all full of the indie, DIY spirit I love, and they are always working on a new project, whether it is something they founded, such as Detroit Urban Craft Fair, or simply working to bring other cool events here, such as Maker Faire.

More cool Detroit links: Reware Vintage, Glass Action, My Marigold, Phantom Limb, i3 Detroit.

*** The “Midwest Is Best” photo is actually the front of a tote bag I purchased from MeganLeeDesigns.com ***