Billed as "the world's premier housewares marketplace," the International Home and Housewares show features over 2,000 exhibitors from around the world. The annual trade show, which takes place at McCormick Place, is "a one-stop shop for anything and everything that goes in and around the home," including products, companies and trade professionals that focus on trends and lifestyles related to - that's right - housewares. more ›

Ford Motor Company, which has an assembly plant on Chicago's South side and a stamping plant in Ford Heights, unveiled the new Ford Explorer Monday afternoon with much fanfare. While the launch of the newly redesigned Ford Explorer has been anticipated among car aficionados for some time, the big story in Chicago is the employment impact building the car here will have on the local economy. Ford will be adding 1,200 workers to it's local payroll to handle production, which is expected to start in November. Mayor Daley, poet laureate of the City of Big Shoulders, summed it up to Crain's, saying “New jobs are being created. Overtime is being created... In America, people want a job.” Echoing that sentiment, Bill Ford Jr., executive chairman and great-grandson of founder Henry Ford said that while his company has experienced four quarters of growth, he's still feeling cautious about the market. “Overall, the car market isn’t as healthy as it was two years ago. So far in July, though, early sales look good,” he told the Sun-Times, adding that “we’ve got to get the economy moving again for all of our sakes.” more ›

If you plan to spend your lazy summer days knitting, has Sweatshop of Love got something special for you. Founder and owner Allyson Dykhuizen just released Summer Tour of Knitting Patterns, a new eBook with 10 brand spanking new patterns. Dykhuizen, who has been making a name for herself with Chicago-based knitting classes, events, and even a book club, has been writing patterns for a few years. The next move was a book, so she worked with a graphic designer to put it together. more ›

Success has come in a torrent for Rudresh Mahanthappa since he released "Kinsmen" almost a year ago. The album was declared one of the best of 2008 by folks from the New York Times, NPR, the Washington Post, Rolling Stone, the Village Voice, the Boston Globe...well, you get the idea. more ›

Late last year it looked like the Big Three were circling the drain of automaker history. But while GM is trying to sprint through bankruptcy while bringing new models and cars to market, and Chrysler is hoping the Italians can finally make a high-quality mass-produced car, Ford has been quickly rolling out it's updated line of competitive, updated fuel efficient cars. Among the lineup of cars designed to compete with the auto transplants are the Euro Focus, the Transit Connect, the Fiesta, the Fusion and the Taurus. And unlike the other two American car companies, Ford went through many of the same economic and design challenges several years back. The result? A solvent, nimble company that's well positioned to launch competitive and appealing cars at a time when the auto industry is struggling to get buyers into showrooms, without having to depend on federal bailouts to keep the lights on. more ›

A new documentary is in the works to illuminate the flourishing DIY trend. Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY Art, Craft, and Design is the product of first-time filmmaker Faythe Levine, who was inspired to create the documentary after attending Chicago's Renegade Craft Fair in 2003: more ›

One thing we never thought we'd own is inedible food. But Go Buggy's Gyoza Dinner set (pictured) has changed our mind. The hand-sewn details and bright colors make us want to both squeeze those mushrooms and then promptly devour them. more ›

Some weeks it feels like the world is out to get us, and this was one of those weeks. Luckily, our spirits were lifted as soon as we saw these adorable prints from laurageorge, who believes that we should all feel good more often. And her illustrations definitely achieve that goal. Her prints are seemingly simplistic designs filled with little touches and details (go to the close-ups of Tell Me, pictured) that make them unique instead of just cutesy. more ›

For our part, we've never found diamonds that interesting. Sure, they're sparkly, but they also spark war and social injustice. Give us a brilliant blue sapphire or glittering ruby for our precious jewels. We love the jewelry on Recycled Rings because it joins our love of re-imagining traditional rings and the knotted designs with tiny beads sewn in are unique and wonderful (like the Middlebury ring, shown). more ›

With wedding season officially in swing (we've received three invitations already) it can be hard to find original gifts. Luckily, this cranberry cardamon and clove teacup candle from Something Beautiful is useful and pretty, unlike those monogrammed towels. more ›

You may have noticed that we're suckers for bright colors—in our wardrobe, our homes and our jewelry. So when we saw PetitOiseau's miniature Bakelite picture frames (pictured), we fell in love. The small size is perfect for a coin or stamp or doodle. more ›

We always tromp down Belmont to Paper Boy any time we need to buy someone a birthday card, because the stationary store usually has a nice little selection of cards handmade here in Chicago. We have an affinity for Chicago's DIY scene, and are complete suckers for anything fashioned by local artists. more ›

We're of the firm opinion that, while you can have too much of almost everything, this rule does not apply to accessories. Especially when those accessories happen to be gorgeous natural stone pendants, vintage pins and colorful key chains. We especially love this "All Eyes On You" filigree necklace (pictured). more ›

With the usual hustle and bustle of city life, sometimes it's so nice to just enjoy simpler times and places. That's why we love Jennifer Larkin, the owner of JKL Creations and The Paper Peony. We're suckers for well-done letterpress items, and Jennifer's have a sweet, clean design. more ›

Now that we're finally getting nice weather, it's time to stop wearing that gray sweater you've had on all winter and decorate yourself with bright baubles. We like to make it a personal mission to make ourselves look like a bunch of crazy wildflowers. Local Mom O Matic's Automat is helping us in our quest with their vintage buttons and plastic bits transformed as fun, bold jewelry (we adore this church basement charm bracelet, pictured). more ›

One of the best things about good art is that it transports you to another world, even if it's a realistic world, that you see through someone else's lens. That concept is especially true of the work of James Spicer. His photography focuses on urban life through miniature scenes (like Rush Hour right). more ›

Parking in our city during the winter is an especially trying act. If you've shoveled a spot adjacent to your building and "saved" it by means of a spare chair or ironing board, or even been embroiled in a debate about the morality of doing so, you'll appreciate these space saver cups by Chicago based Circa Ceramics. more ›

As previously stated in our 16 Sparrows interview Made in Chicago loves handwritten letters and cards. We love email and technology too, but nothing beats a physical card in the mail if we can get it. more ›

Welcome back to Made in Chicago. Did you miss us last week? Everybody needs a sick day, and we've whipped up something extra tasty today to make up for our absence. more ›

Some of us aren't sure how we ended up in Chicago, but it did call to us, and before we know it, we were unpacking our suitcase and calling it home. This happened to Donovan Beeson, 25 and Kathy Zadronzny, 26, proprietors of 16 Sparrows, a digital source for all things paper. Both ladies found themselves drawn here from warmer climates, Savannah, Georgia and Miami respectively, during the blizzard of 2003 and have never looked back. more ›

You might have seen Antler Girl around. She's been spotted for a couple years now on t-shirts, bags and postcards. What you might not have known is that Antler Girl is only one of the mostly-human, part-animal characters roaming our city by fabric and paper (like Giraffe Girl, pictured). more ›

So much so she posts the process of her paper creature creations on her blog. Esther's cards and stationery are delicate pieces that are brilliantly colored without losing their subtlety (like the bunny Zaha, right). A resident of Little Village, Esther says, "I find confectionery inspiration from the many colorful bakeries there and in the surrounding neighborhoods." more ›

Artists have a reputation of being snobbish, standoffish and altogether pretentious loners. Some are glad to claim that title while others, like the members of The Post Family are out to prove it wrong. The troupe of mostly paper-goods artists share a loft space and website where they collaborate and hawk their wares. They also encourage anyone to say "hello." In their own words: more ›