Last week on Craft Thursday we profiled the local non-profit Trillium Artisans. This week we're looking at an international group that unifies crafters by family (ok, city), the Craft Mafia. Originating in Austin, TX, the reign of craft has spread to cities small and large, including Portland. EcoMetro cities Berkeley/Oakland and Seattle are suspiciously absent, though St Paul has a familia. Join the current family and climb the ranks of craft associates and bosses.
This mafia's mission statement is to "
link and cross promote sister groups in other
cities, share web traffic, and provide helpful information to other
professional craft designers and groups." New groups are asked to have three members from different types of craft businesses, join the
Craft Mafia Flickr pool, and link between city sights, all to share the wealth. Knowledge is shared centrally through the
Craft Mafia blog, which provides updates on events and individual members. Here's a selection of crafts from group members.
Recycled fabric lunch kit by
Glue and Glitter, $45
Handmade toys (and patterns) from
Roxy Craft, $5-$30
Pay a visit to the
St Paul Craft Mafia or say hello to our friends at the
Portland Craft Mafia.
As the Craft Mafia says, "Thank you for asking, and fuhgedabouddit! "