Do it yourself during the holiday season

Though the do-it-yourself revolution has been brewing via blogs and web boutiques for years, this holiday season, the do-it-yourself gift is going mainstream.

Online tutorials and craft stores make the process accessible for any aspiring crafter, but now even the crafting-impaired can get in on the handmade revolution with abundance of craft fairs popping up in Utah.

These modernized events bring in droves of mothers, college-age girls and preteens, and even a few men, altering the craft fair into a new, hip alternative to other mass-produced fashions.

"These are not mommy crafters or scrapbookers, these are people who are into different things," said Provo's Bijou Market creator Emily Frame. "The crafts are high quality, on-trend and fresh. They aren't something you see all over the place."

In November, the Bijou Market hosted 50 craft vendors and crowds of shoppers from all over the state who were eager to purchase their one-of-a-kind iPod cases, personalized necklaces or eclectically-flavored cranberry habanero chutney.

"We had hundreds of people waiting in (the check-out) line for 45 minutes with a smile on their faces, because they were so excited about what they were buying," Frame said.

Frame started out making headbands with a friend last year.

When the two found out that their other friend was selling homemade skirts, their crafting led to a small party to sell their goods to close friends.

In March 2009, Frame turned the party into a craft market with 15 vendors and 400 attendees, and the event grew exponentially from there.

"It's cool that these talented people can bring out what they love and put their heart into," Frame said. "It's definitely a different experience than going to the mall during the holiday season."

The community atmosphere makes the event fun and inviting, as people come together to support each other, she said.

Still, Frame has suggestions on how to give handmade gifts made by your very own hands: T-shirts embellished with bows, ribbons or feathers are "easy, affordable and hot right now," she said, along with ornamented headbands or homemade jam.

None of these crafts require special skills or tools, but handmade gift options become even greater by learning basic crocheting, knitting or sewing techniques.

Crafter Noelle Olphin, one of three women behind another Provo craft fair, The Beehive Bazaar, said she often draws inspiration from craft fairs for her own crafting endeavors.

"You see what people are doing and want to try something else — it opens a new level of thinking and creativity," Olphin said.

She said she thinks creating the gift yourself adds more meaning for the recipient, but oftentimes people can find gifts at her bazaar that they couldn't make themselves.