Martha's Second Annual "American Made" Awards Announced

This fall, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia will present its "American Made" program for the second year, as announced by Martha Stewart today at the Smithsonian Craft Show. The artisanal fair and workshop will be held October 16-17 at Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall.

"American Made" is a movement for individuals and communities that have turned their passion for handcrafted, well-designed goods into small businesses. With small businesses in the U.S. creating the majority of new jobs, "American Made" shines a spotlight on the rising stars in this maker subculture with the "American Made Awards," selected by the editors of Martha Stewart Living in the categories of Crafts, Design, Garden, Style, Food, and Technology; as well as Audience Choice honorees chosen by popular vote on the "American Made" website. More than 230,000 people took part in last year's Audience Choice nominations and vote.

The inaugural 2012 "American Made" event transformed Grand Central Terminal's historic Vanderbilt Hall, featuring a retail store and cafe curated by Martha Stewart and the editors of Martha Stewart Living, as well as a classroom for workshops and panels with participation from luminaries such as Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg; Calvin Klein; Millard "Mickey" Drexler; Tory Burch; Willie Geist; and Karen Mills, the 23rd Administrator of the Small Business Administration and a member of President Obama's cabinet. More than 100 hand-selected purveyors, sellers, artisans, and celebrities took part in the event, which was attended by approximately 500,000 people.

"There is currently a return to community that focuses on the handcrafted and local, and a repopulation of America's Main Streets with such businesses," said Ms. Stewart. "'American Made' is designed to celebrate and support these creative entrepreneurs in the fields that express MSLO's core values. I'm thrilled that we are able to make 'American Made' an annual event, and I'm looking forward to building on the success of last year."

For updates and to learn more about "American Made," and to nominate Audience Choice honorees (beginning on June 20), click here.