In case you are looking from a break from all the spooky Halloween events this weekend, there are a few shows happening that will help you indulge your crafty side. If you are lucky enough to live near Red Deer, AB, or Kitchener, ON, be sure to head out to support your local crafters and artisans!
-Red Deer, AB: The Our Best to You show is being held at the Parkland and Prairie Pavilions in Westerner Park. Doors Open at 10 am daily from Friday through to Sunday. Adult entry is $5.00, Seniors and Youth are $4.00, kids are free. You can also get a re-entry pass so that you can come back throughout the weekend! You can find directions an exhibitor list, and other details online.
-Kitchener, ON: Bingemans Conference Centre plays host to the ArtWorks Show and Sale this weekend. The show begins at 10:00 am on both Saturday and Sunday, and entrance is $4.00 for adults. (Head to the website for a $1.00 off coupon). An exhibitor gallery can be found here to help you plan your shopping adventure. I’m making my list now… See you there!
~Jennifer
Jacki, the creative mind behind Plushoff, obviously has a great sense of humour! Her shop has had me giggling for the last little while, and I just had to share.
If you have a child who has trouble sleeping, maybe the Sleepy Marshmallow Bed Bug would help them snuggle in a little more…
Do you love ice cream, maybe want to impart that love on your little one early? Let them play with this plushie Strawberry cone!
Better yet, combine the ice cream with a jar of dill pickles for your pregnant friend ;)
Thanks for the smile today, Jacki from Kamloops! To see more of her work, check out her Etsy shop, visit her website or chat it up on Twitter and Facebook. She’s also been known to do custom orders, and wouldn’t these make adorable stocking stuffers?
Cheers,
~Sarah
Updated: Just discovered there’s a Plush Off shop on Cargoh, too :)
What can make you smile, even when you are paying for a cart load of groceries? Yes, that bag of brownies might do the trick, but even better than that would be a really cute wallet. A pretty, unique wallet has way less calories than the brownies, and is just one more way to express your own sense of style and personality each and every day. Enter: Bliss by Heather. These handmade fabric wallets have a slightly retro feel, and lots of space to keep your daily life organized.
Pretty in Blue
I love this fabric with the Mod circles
There is also a whole line of carriers to help keep any “personal hygiene products” discreetly (and stylishly) stashed away.
Don't want the world to see? No problem!
Even your checkbook can be looking lovely, thanks to this sweet pink cover!
A little bit of bliss can go a long way. If you want to see more, or pick up a piece to hang out in your favorite purse, head over to the Bliss by Heather Etsy shop or visit her blog. You’ll be glad you did.
Blissfully yours,
~Jennifer
I have stopped going inside of card stores. I rarely find a card that says exactly what I am feeling or trying to convey. Often I find the “humour” is very generic (really?? a ladies birthday card that cracks a joke about chocolate? or shopping?? how creative!), and I end up leaving disappointed. So instead I have started making my own cards, or finding handmade cards that fit my style and sense of humour. When searching for a card the other day I came across Navy Blue Notes, and honestly started laughing out loud. The inside of the cards are blank, (no horribly corny and painfully forced rhymes here!) so you can compose your own message, and the fronts have a little bit of fun attitude to bring some levity to almost any situation. The Navy Blue Notes tag line says it all: “Simple, social notes to amuse the lighthearted & antagonize the humourless”.
Surprised by your feelings? This card has you covered
Sometimes we all need a little tough love. Just don't forget the Love part!
My Dad once scored an eight-ender... Wish I'd had this card then!
Hee! You're darn right she is!
You know you're thinking it...
I originally found Navy Blue Notes on Cosa Verde, then discovered that they also have an Etsy shop, Cargoh shop and a blog. Made from eco-friendly 100% post consumer recycled paper, these cards will make both the recipient and the earth feel good! Especially in this digital age, a handwritten note is something special and heartwarming. Taking the time to write a personal note really shows someone you care, and if you can share a laugh while you are at it, what could be better than that?
Wishing you a day filled with smiles,
~Jennifer
Sometimes, you find beauty when you least expect it. Looking for inspiration, I did a quick search tonight for something blue on cargoh.com… and look what I found!
This gorgeous mosaic ring is made of blue stained glass, and is just one of the many colourful pieces in Aimee Mitchell’s shop.
I also really love the Creamsicle ring, where she used recycled glass placed vertically in the ring base – the texture and colour is fantastic!
Aimee lives in Vancouver with her husband and her little Jack Russell (who’s name is Mini – love it!). She has a couple of shops online featuring her jewellery and accessories, but she also has stained glass art pieces that are really gorgeous. I’m a sucker for funky accessories that add a bit of interest to a boring “jeans and t-shirt” day running around with the kids… which is why I think my favourite piece of hers is this stunning belt buckle:
You can find more examples of Aimee’s work in her Cargoh shop, in her jewellery Etsy shop or her art shop.
Cheers,
~Sarah
Need a fix of creativity this weekend? Or some quality shopping time for your Handmade Holiday Challenge?? Check out these events taking place over the next few days.
Toronto, ON: The Creativ Festival begins today and runs until Sunday. Head to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre or click here for more info. Doors open at 10:00 am daily.
Oshawa, ON: The Heart of Country Craft Show comes to the General Motors Centre. Running today from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm, and opening at 10:00 am on Saturday and Sunday. An exhibitor list and other details can be found here.
Ottawa, ON: Feeling festive? The Signatures Christmas Show is coming your way. The show opened yesterday, and runs until Sunday beginning at 10:oo am each day. Head to their site if you would like to know more.
London, ON: The London fairgrounds play host this weekend to the London Art and Crafts Fall Show and Sale. Held at the Canada Building, admission is only $6.00. Doors will open at 1:00 pm today, and 11:00 am on Saturday and Sunday. Further information can be found here.
** As always, if you have a show or sale that you think our readers should know about please let us know! We are more than happy to promote events from coast to coast, and we always appreciate your extra eyes and ears to help us find out about events we may otherwise miss** (thanks to the lovely ladies at Vanilla Bean Desserts we have two great shows on the east coast to share with you in the coming weeks!)
Cheers!
~Jennifer
Ever since I stopped Trick or Treating and started handing out treats instead, I have always made sure that we have extra candy. That way we have plenty of leftovers for me to nibble on, sometimes right up until Christmas time! The other day I stumbled across the Bruce County Nut and Fudge Co. Let me tell you, if you gave out their treats on Halloween night, you would have the most popular house on the block! That said, I am pretty sure that you will NOT want to share these delectable goodies.
A delicious apple, dipped in caramel, then chocolate, then drizzled with more chocolate. Divine.
My personal fave: Caramel apple, with toasted pistachios, dried cranberries, and white chocolate drizzle.... (*drool*)
Fudge!!!
There are a seemingly endless array of fudge flavours to choose from. Everything from the classic Maple to Cookie Dough or Cappuccino. You can even go “nuts” and pick from all kinds of roasted and glazed nut selections, perfect for a holiday snack plate.
Roasted almonds with caramelized sugar, cinnamon, cocoa, and vanilla
Yvonne, Melissa, and Tanya come by their sweet tooth honestly. They grew up watching their parents running a candy company, and have since created Bruce County Nut and Fudge Co. to bring fantastic sweet treats to a whole new generation. Their storefront is in Sauble Beach Ontario, but you can shop online by clicking over to their website. You can even join the apple of the month club!
Enjoy!
~Jennifer
This time of year we revel in the weird, the different, and yes, the strange. So why not embrace the unique aspects of your personality, right down to your toes? Strange Shoes offers a fun way to do just that! Taking plain canvas sneakers and turning them into mobile works of art is no small feet (ok, feat, but the pun was worth it, I think). How much fun would it be to walk around town in some one of a kind footwear?
Could these puzzle shoes be the final piece to complete an outfit?
Ghost shoes for the halloween lover, or the Pacman fan!
These nautical themed ship shoes bring the coast with you anywhere you go.
Strange Shoes is a husband and wife team based in Saskatoon. They are always happy to do custom orders if you have a particular theme or design in mind. You can follow their new twitter stream, or check out the Etsy shop to see more!
Cheers to all things weird and wonderful,
~Jennifer
p.s. thanks to The Doors’ “People are Strange” for the post title… it’s stuck in my head, now is it in yours??? :-)
My daughter has been bugging me to make her an eye patch to go with her pirate hat. Good thing I found Her Flying Horses – eye patch problem solved :) Natasha, the creator and crafter behind Her Flying Horses and her 3 year old muse must have a lot of fun imaging at their house!
Arrrrrr, matey!
There’s still some time before Hallowe’en if your kids haven’t quite decided what they’d like to masquerade as this year, and Natasha has some fun choices – of course, there are black cat ears as well as superhero capes and accessories, but also some more unique ideas. Ever have a kid who wants to go incognito?
Who me? I didn't do it!
Her costumes are definitely not just for Hallowe’en, though! This adorable felt crown would be fantastic for a little birthday girl or just as an addition to your family tickle trunk. Natasha also has a collection of hairpins and clips, as well as some other jewellery that you can check out on her Etsy shop.
Any princess would love this sweet tiara!
Cheers,
~Sarah
Since starting Canadian+Handmade with Jenn this past spring, I’ve discovered so many incredible artists and crafters, that I’ve decided to challenge myself.
This holiday season, I will endeavour to shop solely from Canadian handmade crafters and artists. I will definitely be making some purchases from some of the fantastic vendors found here on C+H, but I’m also planning to attend as many handmade industry events as I can this fall… Make It Edmonton and the One of a Kind Show in Vancouver, for example, as well as our local events in my small city and in Edmonton. Part of taking this stand is to support our fabulous small businesses and the creative talent in our fair nation, but it’s also about being a conscious consumer and really paying attention to what we bring into our home. I know that my family could stand to do quite a bit better in that area, and this is one way to keep us all thinking about where are money goes and the impact of that.
The “rules” that I’ll be following:
1. Buy handmade, and Canadian if at all possible.
2. One exception: books, which may be purchased from an independent retailer (no Chapters or Amazon!) since I just can’t imagine a Christmas without new books for my girls!
3. Gift certificates are okay, as long as they are for an “experience” gift – ie. a round of golf, tennis lessons, spa day, a flight across the Rockies! www.trythat.ca is a fun site with lots of choices for Canadians.
4. Make some of the gifts myself (I do have a few crafty skills I can put to use!)
This means no dollar store stocking stuffers, no Calico Critters or Disney movies. I’m going to keep track of what I buy and who made it, and will report back here after all my family and friends have opened their gifts. I’m working hard to convince my husband to join me and will be sending him Etsy and Cargoh links regularly :) I’d just really like to see what a Christmas without “Made in Taiwan” stickers looks like.
If you’d like to join me in this challenge, let me know in the comments below and we’ll compare notes after the holidays. Of course, you can make your own exceptions (I’m sure there are 13 year olds out there who would run away from home if they didn’t get the new iPad they’re dying for, or the latest Justin Bieber CD!), but the goal is to be as Handmade as possible. I’ll admit that I started shopping in earnest on the weekend, and I can’t wait to get creative for the “hard-to-buy-for” folks on our list.
Here’s to a Handmade Holiday!
~Sarah
