Steve's Independent Makers Fair
Steve is in the House!
Shop local, support artists, and experience something new at VP’s first-ever TECH INSPIRED Makers Fair Fundraiser!
This fall, Video Pool Media Arts Centre (VP) proudly launches its first ever tech inspired makers fair event, Steve’s Independent Maker’s Fair (SIMF), a new community initiative celebrating local makers, artists, and media-art practitioners. Hosted inside the historic Artspace Building, this inaugural fundraiser invites the public to explore a lively marketplace filled with handmade goods, creative technologies, and unique works from emerging and established creators.
Taking place on Saturday, November 28, 2026, Steve’s Independent Maker’s Fair blends craft, creativity, and community support, with all proceeds contributing to VP’s technology-based arts programming, workshops, and artist resources.
Food and beverages will be available throughout the event, making it a welcoming gathering space for visitors and vendors alike.
There will even be a 3D printing demo!
VENDORS at SIMF
Wild Whimsy Works
Everything we make is made with joy and enthusiasm, we dont follow trends or mass produce what sells the best, we make whatever inspires us and gives us the creative spark! We make various crochet items such as amigurumi, wearables, and functional household products. We make polymer clay figures and worry stones, as well as various beaded jewelry- some of which is made with beads we crafted ourselves from polymer clay or porcelain clay. Occasionally we have wood burnt pieces and fine art drawings (pencil, colored, ink, ect...). We also have a selection of linocut prints that we hand-carved and stamped ourselves.
Pine and Peony Co
I make artisan soaps, hand cast HydroStone candle vessels that I fill with my own custom wax blend, and botanical essential oil mists in small batches. I cast each vessel myself using locally sourced HydroStone, colour them with iron oxides, and finish them with an environmentally friendly sealer. I have also developed my own wax blend to pair with the vessels, and I use clean burning, phthalate free fragrances. My soaps are always vegan, palm oil free, and made with the highest quality ingredients possible. Everything is handmade by me with a focus on quality, thoughtful design, and creating products people can enjoy every day.
Manitoba Blacksmith Guild
The Manitoba Blacksmith Guild is a non-profit organization. It is a community composed of artisans and craftspeople who share a passion for shaping steel into creative artwork and tools. From beginners striking their first hammer blows to experienced smiths refining their craft, our guild brings people together to learn, share knowledge, and keep the tradition of blacksmithing alive in Manitoba.
Afrojesters
A 3-in-1 hybrid artwork combining a handcrafted side table, plant stand, and interactive augmented reality experience. Inspired by solarpunk, the piece explores a playful vision of a future where technology, nature, and art coexist. The table functions as both furniture and a physical art object, while the AR layer activates a digital world that extends the artwork into an interactive narrative. Techniques include woodworking, painting and surface design, digital illustration, animation, augmented reality, and interactive storytelling. The physical and digital elements work together to transform an everyday object into an immersive experience.Â
Alma Loop
Handcrafted crochet accessories, including unique keychains, charms, and bags. Each piece is crocheted by hand using traditional techniques, with a focus on detailed, playful, and functional designs. I would be a good fit for this fair because my work is rooted in independent, hands-on making. I design and crochet each piece myself, from small playful accessories and keychains to handmade bags, combining traditional crochet techniques with my own designs and attention to detail. I’m especially drawn to the fair’s celebration of independent makers and the idea of bringing different creative practices together under one roof. As a small local maker developing my own brand, Alma Loop, I would love the opportunity to share my work, connect with other makers, and contribute to a diverse group of artists and craftspeople.
Prairie Muse Designs
In the modern times of entire industrialization it`s important to go back to the art and craft techniques made by hand. My painted garments are created with ordinary bleach used for home cleaning and painted by hand - no stencils or prints, only free hand drawing on the new or recycled clothes. The same is with my jewelry - made from found objects, scrap metal, beads etc they combined in a one-of the kind pieces that are more than just a jewelry - but kind of statement and personal vision. While not using any specific old technique, except of hand drawing and embroidery / stitching, i still consider having a great importance of secondary using and recycling of industrially manufactured goods and incorporating it into personal creative world of the human. I truly believe that bringing old hand made crafts of our grandparents to the modern being may enrich it and provide more stable base to our creation, meaning it becoming more rooted in our private and national history. The good combination of hand made and industrial / technological parts will create completely new attitude and self identity. As I mentioned i`m using new materials and tools in the old art and craft techniques. Bleach as a painting medium on clothes, scrap metal or found objects as the decorative items for jewelry etc.
The Second Half
I make soap from scratch. But with catch. I will make it with local beer or water from the experimental lakes. I will infuse olive oil with lilacs from Assiniboine park. I add local honey. Each soap tells a story and each soap uses fun local ingredients - like dried bael fruit from the Thai Restaurant in Gimli!
Movie Exchange
Movie Exchange is a free library of Vhs tapes available to the public in the Exchange District of Winnipeg. Free Vhs movie nights are also screened monthly to bring fans of analog together, building local community.
Punkratz Art
I work with various printmaking techniques to explore the queer and disabled experience. I use linocut and etching, and screenprinting digital images using threshold layers for colour blocking. My printmaking work is very based on the embracing of old tech, and I combine old and new tech through screenprinting digital images, using threshold layers for colour blocking, to create an image that explores emotions beyond what is apparent in the original.
KSH Dark Castle Studio
Where sterling silver creations merge into the dark patinas of existence and experience. Gratitude to nature and all its influences.
Kami Goertz
I hand make reclaimed textile Soft Action Figures using hand and machine sewing techniques. I used a vintage Brother sewing machine, and a modern quilting sewing machine as well as various stitching skills.
Craigs Wood
Craigs Wood creates simple but functional wooden dishes, elegant wooden art, and practical utensils hand turned from softwood, salvaged lumber, local hardwoods, and other woods. All pieces are hand turned on a lathe, and sealed with a shop made Manitoba hemp seed oil finish.
Venzon Concepts
I am a long standing member at Winnipeg maker space North Forge (9+ years). I am well versed with virtually all machinery available to members. I frequently utilize 3D Printers, Laser cutters/engravers, CNC Router, among other machinery. I make things that I find interesting and that no other makers produce. My offerings will be unique and of my own design.
Dirt Forms
I make functional ceramics with hand sculpted and screen printed design elements! I most often make pots on an electric pottery wheel. I also make casting moulds off of hand sculpted forms to create vessels. I draw all my illustrations for screen printing by hand on paper. Other aspects are hand painted. I sculpt all aspects of my work by hand. I most often fire in an atmospheric kiln (wood, soda), which cannot be replicated by the nature of the firing process.
Kiva Louise Designs
have been sewing since the age of 11, and also studied dressmaking in Japan in the late 80s, which is taught in a different way from the west. My materials are collected from around the world, incorporating many different types of fabrics and notions. Embellishments are added to thrifted items, which are already unusual to begin with. One discipline is collecting vintage magazine pictures, transferring them to fabric and applying to the garment.
Thanks to our Funders
We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Canada Council for the Arts, Manitoba Arts Council, Winnipeg Arts Council and the Winnipeg Foundation.
