The Hip Handmade Market
I’m a pinner. I love scrolling through Pinterest, my eyes feasting on the buffet of mindblowingly creative ideas for practically every area of my life.
I’m a pinner.
I love scrolling through Pinterest, my eyes feasting on the buffet of mindblowingly creative ideas for practically every area of my life.
I pin inspirational ideas onto my boards hoping that someday I’ll handcraft my daughter’s birthday party invitations, I’ll make that beaded necklace, and I’ll refinish that wooden dresser that was damaged in the tornado.
But I never do.
At this point in my life, I lack the time, patience, and skills for these super hip DIY projects.
Alas, I never move beyond pinning.
Except for the dresser – I did do that project and, by golly, it actually turned out well.
Yet I yearn to surround myself with one-of-a-kind, handmade items; I want a DIY lifestyle without doing it myself.
A bit problematic, right?
Luckily, there’s an event in Joplin that provides a solution to my Pinterest conundrum: the Hip Handmade Market (or HHM, as the chic people say).
With booth after booth filled with contemporary arts and crafts, walking through the HHM is like seeing Pinterest boards come to life.
Therefore, in my mind, when I buy something unique from one of the craftspeople at the HHM, it’s like I’ve virtually completed a project on Pinterest.
I know, I know – I’m stretching it. But the HHM really is the next best thing to “doing it yourself.”
Held twice each year, the HHM’s popularity has skyrocketed since it debuted in spring 2014. But a successful market doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a huge number of vendors. Emma’s goal is to provide an ample number of vendors without compromising the quality of the products, so competition to participate in the HHM is pretty fierce.
Vendor applications are carefully reviewed by a selection committee. While some vendors travel from other states, the committee’s goal is to choose as many local artisans as possible.
Thanks for supporting our local talent, Emma!
At the spring 2015 HHM, there were 52 booths (including one that I’ve been obsessed with since the first HHM: Kristin’s Laboratory).
Here’s a glimpse of some of the items I saw (including vendor names and where they’re from).
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-charlie-7-bags.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=320&q=80&w=320&s=a58781b1874ba62471d0ebb1e9108d3d 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-charlie-7-bags.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=540&q=80&w=540&s=0bfadf9c1baf2fe6f1d4ef9265a03718 352w)
Fun Fabric Handbags (Charlie 7 – Joplin)
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-old-books-light.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=320&q=80&w=320&s=2e7e62d7d71685bcf7dc5175b96930c8 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-old-books-light.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=540&q=80&w=540&s=3d8522ac151ce5a5a7c1e3a929ac2789 412w)
Lanterns made from recycled book pages (Old Books, New Stories – Joplin)
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-sweet-pea.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=320&q=80&w=320&s=73b3500bf7a992e28bceabf274429c72 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-sweet-pea.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=540&q=80&w=540&s=0a624ad313b9daf99dc314832c4298ae 483w)
Artwork made from dried flowers (Sweet Pea Paintings – Joplin)
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-hooked.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=320&q=80&w=320&s=2b0847836dbde57a774f1661350e5ace 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-hooked.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=540&q=80&w=540&s=42aea9b02d8194c13602c4e1bc8aec48 443w)
Nail and string art (Hooked – Webb City)
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-little-landscapes.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=320&q=80&w=320&s=7a937011a62872329962bdfb1718fb57 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-little-landscapes.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=540&q=80&w=540&s=79f804de5f604040ba70764ced4cd052 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-little-landscapes.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&q=80&w=768&s=dc54c60b60f75d5c70fb662734c33a9f 563w)
Naturescapes (Little Landscapes – Carthage/Webb City)
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-odd-duck.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=320&q=80&w=320&s=16c206f31ca408825de36ed60ed2f940 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-odd-duck.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=540&q=80&w=540&s=65314479e692fb196cc560b8fd60999f 465w)
Yummy toast? Nope! Handmade soap (Odd Duck Soaps – Webb City)
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-lady-thread.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=320&q=80&w=320&s=405ae9bc6603c7adc62d9da219a84b56 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-lady-thread.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=540&q=80&w=540&s=60155a6a8a1ed94488c74be3b9bf335b 450w)
Shark pillow (The Lady in Thread – Ozark, MO)
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-needle-felt.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=320&q=80&w=320&s=72d334fefa00c3a468b67d0c30dc52ce 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-needle-felt.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=540&q=80&w=540&s=24b71c03b995720f7e77adda8e106df1 462w)
Adorable felt collectibles (Needle & Felt – Kasson, MN, formerly of Joplin)
It was difficult trying to limit my shopping at the HHM because I wanted to buy most everything. Here are some goodies that did make it home with me:
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-joy-elizabeth.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=e1b04d45315d9946d4e8ea58fa4796c4 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-joy-elizabeth.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=862b6a11b015d5b0af0c80254e684acd 327w)
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-elegant-ammo.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=7b54518985b76c9fc7d8e1357f00155d 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-elegant-ammo.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=fe3576d1f00c235ff2123b42d615da36 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-elegant-ammo.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=8436f863aeef6b6687603fffca291a3b 600w)
These are just a few of the uncommon finds at the HHM. Browse the complete list of super hip vendors right here.
So how did Emma manage to attract so much talent to Joplin? Because she’s a natural magnet for creativity. Check out these decorations that she made for the HHM – by hand, I might add.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-cascade.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=b050247d10f0adba786e809aed4a573e 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-cascade.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=808ce6702d601735297876a7a8c43f0d 382w)
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-backdrop.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=354e468bd1da23dad8e5bdef00e66421 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-backdrop.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=bb32ee0e64f7de15952691772b2b4385 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-backdrop.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=9f216f3633e953b6a4dfe16fae3da880 570w)
Art Feeds Joplin, the HHM’s partner, highlighted Emma’s good-naturedness with a playful craft at the HHM: the Flat Emma. Kids of all ages were invited to decorate a likeness of the lady in charge.
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-flat-emma.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=22f37fd974fdd6ad8389a12ae8bd4974 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-flat-emma.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=254ee8393e6340689e036287464ada49 540w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-flat-emma.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=f303b350f1b70e878f6cef30abe2f109 600w)
![](https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-flat-emma-done.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=e6e6628c9bc52d9490989e0e443d7f36 320w, https://visit-joplin.imgix.net/images/hhm-flat-emma-done.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=c6c96c96a1877705a31df11526dee3f5 479w)