Canoga Park shop highlights local artisans

PHOTOS BY TAMI CHU

Debbie Gordon, owner and organizer of Artfully Made Artisans Mall, started in the craft world by making acrylic magnets featuring her mom’s wise sayings. These are still for sale in the shop, along with acrylic magnets crafted from vintage fabric and those with other inspirational sayings.

Gordon took a leap of faith last year, moving her magnets and her business from the movable landscape of farmers’ markets to a permanent location in Canoga Park’s Historic Arts District.

Nestled among coffee shops, antique boutiques, thrift stores and restaurants, Artfully Made is home to a rotating roster of 25 primarily local artisans, all peddling handcrafted wares. Gordon has three rules: Goods must be homemade, family-friendly and different from those currently on display.

Gordon gathered her farmers’ market friends and pulled a few more from the Pierce College Vintage Mart, and they were off and running and happy to be out of the elements.

The collective’s offerings range from vintage-inspired jewelry to up-cycled clothing, resin art, wood craft, photography and more. While browsing, you might wander over to the book nook, where pre-loved titles are sold for $3 each, and magazine back issues are free. A portion of the Back Room Art Gallery is available for free to students to exhibit or sell their work. The students come from a few of the local high schools and they receive the entire sale amount.

Customers say the place has a good energy, which Gordon attributes to the daily blessing she gives when she opens the shop. And the incense.

“[Plus] all the items in the shop are created with passion and love by our artists,” she adds.

A vintage vinyl collection, courtesy of Trevor Witt, helps set the mood. Witt is the founder of The Peace Café label coffees, made with beans from direct-trade roasters (roasters who have direct relationships with growers) to ensure farmers are paid above-market prices.

Witt typically uses medium- and lighter-roast coffees to showcase the flavors of each varietal and region’s terroir.

He delivers his fresh-crafted cold brew in the Valley, and bottles are available at Artfully Made. (I recommend the rose honey cold brew, flavored with oat milk, rose water and honey.)

PEACE is an acronym for the promotion of Peace Education, the Arts and Civic Engagement. Having earned a degree in international relations, Witt aims to open a café in fall 2026 featuring a library with conflict resolution material, as well as workshops and classes.

It’s easy to see the collaborative spirit at Artfully Made. Vendors support each other and cross-promote on social media. Small-group art classes and free informational community events are held two to three times a month.

People shopping for treasures and holiday gifts are drawn to Gordon’s whimsical window displays. As at Macy’s of yore, shoppers stop to look at beaded sun catchers and other beckoning curiosities. Before you go, know that the store has limited hours, from noon to 5pm, Thursday through Monday.

ARTFULLY MADE ARTISANS MALL
21526 Sherman Way
Canoga Park
ArtfullyMade.biz