Search Makers
Portland is a bustling hub for artists, entrepreneurs and makers of all stripes.
The Rose City is a haven for makers, with a seemingly endless supply of community studios, warehouses and makerspaces that let you DIY your way around town. Whether you make it yourself or buy it from a local artist, finding a made-in-Portland souvenir should always be on your to-do list. Read on for our guide to the city’s maker scene, then check out our events calendar for upcoming maker events in Portland.
Local Makers
The Rose City's maker community crafts an endless array of unique, handcrafted goods.
Makerspaces to Visit
Behind the doors of warehouses and studios across the city, highly skilled locals craft everything from candles to clothing to custom furniture. The best part? These makers not only create and sell their goods but also offer workshops and tours. Discover your inner DIY-er and see the creative process up close at the city’s most celebrated makerspaces.
Maker Events
Visit with local artists and find inspiration for your own next project at these events.
Portland Open Studios
For two weekends every October, Portland Open Studios invites visitors to explore the houses and offices of artists across the city.
Crafty Wonderland
Portland’s biannual art and craft fair boasts unique handmade wares from 225+ local vendors.
Portland Saturday Market
Open every Saturday from March–December, Portland Saturday Market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S.
Classes & Workshops
Modern Domestic
Settle in at one of the premium sewing machines at Northeast Alberta sewing studio Modern Domestic and take part in classes of all levels for crafting apparel, quilts, bags and accessories. This sewing studio is also a retail store, so if you run out of buttons or batting mid-project, they’ve got you covered.
Bridgetown Forge
“My biggest joy is hand forging,” says Arnon Kartmazov, founder of North Portland’s Bridgetown Forge. Trained in Israel and Japan, the blacksmith shares his joy — and his exemplary skills — by teaching classes such as basic smithing, tool making and knife making. Beginners welcome.
Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC)
Offering classes on letterpress printing, bookbinding, screen printing and graphic design, the Independent Publishing Resource Center is geared to lovers of books and creative expression. A mix of workshops, kids’ classes and free events like Open Collage Night make this Southeast Portland resource center a progressive space for literary crafters of all stripes.
Klum House
Klum House is a one-stop bag making shop and school offering bag making kits, patterns, tools, supplies, and workshops to help makers like you create heavy-duty bags on a home sewing machine.
Make & Mary
Make & Mary provides arts and crafts classes for the “highly inspired.” Their calendar of cannabis-themed workshops includes painting, macrame, wood burning, embroidery and a self-care series where students make their own CBD-infused massage oils, tinctures and bath salts. BYOW (weed) is strongly encouraged.
Learn a Craft
Tours
Spooltown
Get behind the scenes at sewing factory Spooltown, the production force behind handbags and accessories for brands big and small. Book a tour for up to 25 people at info@spooltown.com to check out this Central Eastside makerspace, their robotic cutting table and their team at work cutting leather, skiving (slicing fabric) and sewing.
Grovemade
Crafting wood and leather accessories for home, office and lifestyle (think planters, laptop stands and minimalist wallets), Grovemade does everything from product conception, design and manufacturing to photography and marketing at their Southeast Portland headquarters. See their production process, milling machines, industrial lasers and woodshop; tours for up to seven people can be booked at hello@grovemade.com.
PSAA
Portland Street Art Alliance offers interpretative tours of Portland street art, via biking, walking, or driving tours. This volunteer-run organization sends expert tour guide leaders who have experience in community art making, public policy, urban and public space studies. Learn about the history of Portland street art while exploring all of the neighborhoods.
Upcoming Maker Events
Explore the city's vibrant maker scene these upcoming events.
Annual Fall Fair
Cornell Farms is excited to share that the Oregon Potters Association Fall Fair will return to the Farm in 2023, and this year's market will be even bigger than the last. On the last weekend of September, they will host more than 30 OPA-affiliated ceramic artists in the on-site greenhouses for this three-day, market-style event….
Last Friday Markets
Shop from local makers and get your farm fresh produce. Triskelee Farm will have food vendors and local beer and wine on tap. Bring a blanket and hang out on the lawn. Free admission. Every Last Friday of the month. From May through September.
Come Thru: Black & Indigenous Market
Come Thru Market is an incubator market centering on Black and Indigenous Farmers, Makers, and Friends. Come Thru supports BIPOC growers in taking their small business dreams to the farmers’ market environment. It’s a vibe – Come Thru and get what you need.
First Thursday in the Pearl District
Starting in 1986, First Thursday in the Pearl is a district-wide celebration on the first Thursday of each month. Originally a gathering of art collectors and dealers, the celebration has grown to a monthly event of over ten thousand people, including art enthusiasts, wine aficionados, and scenesters looking to see and be seen. Art galleries…
Portland Night Market
The Portland Night Market showcases many unique businesses that call Portland home. Blending food, culture, music, drinks and retail for an adventurous evening in the Central Eastside. Meet some of Portland's best makers and creators. With almost 200 hundred makers, the Night Market offers food carts, drinks, clothing, lifestyle goods, home goods, body care and…
Portland Indigenous Marketplace
Portland Indigenous Marketplace (PIM) is a culturally-specific, community response organization. All members of PIM’s board and staff reflect the community served. As active Indigenous and Black Artists and Entrepreneurs, they utilize their extensive networks to connect with the community. The Indigenous and Black Artists and Entrepreneurs this organization serves through the Indigenous Marketplace programming are,…
Oregon Buddhist Temple Fall Bazaar
Shop for Omiyage and handcrafts at the annual Oregon Buddhist Temple Fall Bazaar — pre-order delicious menu items such as Mar Far Chicken, Chow Mein, Chirashi Sushi or Bento. The Oregon Buddhist Temple welcomes all people, regardless of ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, and political or religious affiliation.
The Second Annual Ghost Show
It’s been another strange year. Let’s make it even stranger with the 2nd annual Ghost Show, presented by Telltale. Telltale regularly curates storytelling nights for folks that like to get vulnerable and take no shit, but this night will be special. This is the night when they bring grief and joy together. Ghosts can represent…
Portland Flea + Food
The Portland Flea + Food is a gathering place for the creators, curators and collectors held the last weekend of the month from April to October in Portland, Oregon. Every market features 80+ local artists, makers, and curators of the best vintage, handmade and locally sourced goods in town. Saturdays at Ecotrust: 721 NW 9TH…
Oregon Buddhist Temple Holiday Craft Fair
The Oregon Buddhist Temple will be hosting the 8th Annual Holiday Craft Fair. A wide variety of artisans and crafters will be there to share their wonderful handmade goods at affordable prices. Come enjoy a fun day of shopping.
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