Group show featuring work from UK based Craft Mafia members. Manchester Craft and Design Centre. March to May 2009.

Exhibition statement from Manchester Craft and Design Centre website:
UK Craft Mafias
20 March 2009 - 2 May 2009

In an age of ready-made entertainment and disposable fashion, craft DIYers are rediscovering the joys of grannys knitting patterns and dusting off their crochet hooks. This social and business network that originated in the U.S. has infiltrated our shores with an enthusiasm for open source inspiration, combining a nostalgic appreciation for the hand-made with a passion for technology and contemporary references.

UK Craft Mafias celebrates the rise of online Craft Mafias in the UK, showcasing the best of
members work from Manchester, Nottingham, Glasgow, and Sheffield. The Mafiosis output ranges from cutesy to controversial, revealing the wealth of talent brought together through this web-based network. Deploying techniques passed down through family members and friends, many Mafiosi are self-taught craft afficionados.

Craft Mafias utilise blogs and social networking sites to spread their craft mission, selling their work through sites such as Etsy and Folksy as well as craft fairs.