holiday show schedule 2011 + swag peek

every weekend from now until the middle of december you'll find me setting up camp at a vancouver area craft show. i'll be at:

sunday november 20: BLIM community market

chinese cultural centre

west pender @ carrall streets

12:00 - 5:00

thursday november 24 - sunday november 27: MAKE IT

croatian cultural centre

3250 commercial drive @ east 16th

thursday 4:00 - 9:00

friday 11:00 - 8:00

saturday 11:00 - 6:00

sunday 11:00 - 5:00

sunday december 4 - GOT CRAFT?

royal canadian legion 

2205 commercial drive @ east 6th, vancouver

10:00 - 5:00

saturday december 10 - sunday december 11 - GOT CRAFT at river market

810 quayside drive, new westminster

saturday 9:00 - 6:00
sunday 11:00 -6:00

friday december 16 & saturday december 17 - NICE BALLS xmas market

little mountain gallery

160 east 26th street @ main

friday 5:00 - 10:00

saturday 11:00 - 5:00

and a sneak peek, while we're at it:

the first 45 people in the door at the got craft show on december 4th will score free swag bag of awesome goodies from each vendor! my contribution this year is a hand-stamped hudsonny button and a mini aromatherapy mist from my new line, feest. you've got to get there early to get one of these much coveted bags, but you not only get the goodies - also, bragging rights (and a tote to carry home your handmade finds!).

more on feest soon! had better pack the car - leaving to set up for blim in a couple of hours!

showing: little mountain craft

i took part in a swell show on saturday this past weekend - little mountain craft, at the studio on 26th off main. as luck would have it, the sun was shining - a rare event this summer in vancouver, it seems - so the assortment of cool folks selling handmade and vintage goods set up along the sidewalk. lots ice cream was consumed, a free terrarium-making workshop ensured everyone had a little greenery in their homes, and i brought out a few new items - 1" pinback buttons handmade from vintage encyclopaedias (more on that soon!).

it's a recurring show - drop on by the next one on saturday, august 20th. 11-5 at little mountain studios, 195 east 26th right off main street.

all wrapped up!

the holiday craft show season of 2010 is officially done for me!  with shows almost every weekend for the last month it has been a busy season.

on saturday i did the excitingly-named nice balls xmas sale at little mountain gallery on east 26th in vancouver's mid-main neighbourhood.  it's a very cool art and music space and the show united a good selection of hip vancouver crafters. put on by melanie of a farmer's daughter, we had good music, were well-stocked with mind-meltingly delicious treats made by elisha of sweet valentines high tea catering, had awesome vintage clothes from melanie of sassy vintage and many great makers.

and sunday wrapped up the season with the artsy fartsy craft market at the carousel theatre on granville island.  it was a first-time event and a fundraiser for youth theatre. it was also a good chance for me to do some of my own christmas shopping - i am woefully under-prepared this year.  favourites were the sewing kits made by sam of sammade (and i had to treat myself to one of her awesome buttery-soft gold leather pencil cases!), the beautiful environmentally-conscious paper goodies from note + emote and i couldn't help squeeing at the super-cute gnomes and creatures from jocelan at cutesypoo.  i love buying local and handmade, and am even happier giving or enjoying something knowing about the person and process behind the product.

 

a big thank you to everyone who visited these events, who has cheered me on and supported me and all the talented local crafters this year.  and thanks so much to all the fellow makers for continuing to inspire me, for sharing tips and techniques, and for working together to create a vibrant and welcoming handmade community.

2010 has definitely been one of transition for me and i am looking forward to some big changes in 2011 - stay tuned!

got craft awesomeness

thank you to everyone who dropped by the fantastic got craft event on sunday!  it was my first time as a vendor at the holiday show and man, it did not disappoint. some events are more fun on the shopping side of the table but not the case on sunday. from the long line of folks who started queuing at 6am to get a much-coveted swag bag to the round of closing applause from the other vendors, it was a blast.

 

 

i managed to finally start my christmas shopping there too, so bonus! i have never thought of myself as a terribly last-minute shopper but for the past few weeks i seem to have run into every person in the lower mainland who is comfortably reclining on their satisfied laurels on top of a heap of gifts. having started, i now feel a little more like a functional adult! of course my finds are still a secret...

and for myself, since i can't resist, i got a swell caboose tee from locomotive clothing and traded the lovely valerie of cabin + cub for a beautiful woodburned birdie panel. have wanted to add a piece from her collection to my den wall forever. trades rock! so does winning - free morrocan mint lipgloss from the awesome folks at olive bath & body for completing a scavenger hunt they tossed up on twitter. 

and thank you to a few wonderful craft-loving folks who mentioned hudsonny in their got craft reviews. check out these lovely blogs by other talented local folks. many thanks to carli of the terrific blog stitch rabbit, shalyn of ars gratia artis and yukirat of vancouver portraits who did an adorable sketch of me at the table - so cute!

and in case you missed it, here's a great time-lapse video taken at the spring show. it shows the entire day's set-up, craft event and tear-down in two minutes!  

Got Craft from blueolive on Vimeo.

back in the saddle

oh i have been doing such a poor job of communicating in this space recently! this fall has, in turns, flown and crept by but all the while i've been to-the-gills busy. which is great, except when it comes to finding time.

i've done a few shows for the season and there are a few more to go. this past saturday i displayed at royally crafty, a mini fair in the recently opened river market in new westminster. the space is opening in stages and has been totally recreated into a bright, modern and stylish shopping and community venue. it's a fantastic development in a city on the verge of big changes. with exciting boutique shops tiny (where small is beautiful) and great wall of tea (wow, check out that awesome wall!), a donald's market and eye-catching art and light installations it was a compelling space for a craft event.

for more photos of the developing river market space, check out this great post at the new domestic.

covet, covet, covet

i stopped for a peek today at the local blim craft market and spotted many lovely locals who will also be at next week's got craft? event. one of my many favourites?

loved, coveted, drooled over the beautiful ceramics and jewelery by claire madill of hey day - particularly the awesome vintage jar series. i love them all! there's something about the contrast - the essential usefulness and practicality of the jars against the clean, modern finish. they're porcelain, slipcast using molds taken from the original vintage glass jars. lined with a shiny clear glaze, they're functional as well! especially love the beaver jars!

day one: portobello west holiday market

today was the first of a two-day holiday edition portobello west market - the last one before christmas. here's a quick (not-very-good) shot of the table:

i displayed some new stuff: fleecy baby hats, felt xmas ornaments, some new felt pins. and of course all the faves: tartlet pincushions, gnomes, tooth fairy pillows, bunnies, pillow clubs, barrettes, baby accessories and more.

if you're in the area come on by tomorrow! rocky mountaineer station (map) from 12-6. awesome shopping to be had!

one of a kind - you must go!

just got back from a stroll through the delightful one of a kind vancouver show. it was my first year making the trip - in the past i've somehow missed it for one reason or another - and it was well worth a visit! it's on for the rest of the weekend - all day saturday (10-9) and sunday (10-5) at the vancouver convention centre (the original site, under the five sails). tickets are $10, or $8 if you buy online and there really is something for everyone.

there was everything from jewelery to fashion, foods and home decor, art and of course my favourite - paper goods and eccentric little creations.

i should have taken photos of all the amazing displays but i always feel kind of conspicuous! thankfully i worked up the nerve to ask permission to snag some photos of these favourites:

the fab hobsnobs booth featured the work of jeannette of the beautiful project, valerie of cabin & cub and sasha of track & field. i loved the way their pieces complimented each other and the simplicity of their display really let their work take centre stage, as it deserves. if you're looking for a beautiful gift, cheeky card or little treasure for yourself it's a one-stop shop right there! i especially love the holiday cards, the collage and woodburned wall panels, the laptop bags and the little bird pins.

i fell in absolute love with the dresses, hooded caps and capes for wee girls at the patouche booth. meticulously crafted and beautifully displayed, the clothes are a dream - definitely the kind that become heirloom pieces. i'm not in the mood for more babies, but the girl clothes would almost make it worthwhile! the small-batch clothes are getting a lot of press, and there's a great interview with creator kessa over at make something.

and i spotted (and sniffed) the most delicious-smelling premium natural skin care products from matter company. i really loved their mama & baby range - gorgeous products infused with essential oils and made with ingredients such as shea butter and beeswax.

just a few of the many other favourites that i didn't get photos for were the organic linen baby slings & nursing covers from toronto-based ollie go lightly, the whimsical creations from roxypop and little red caboose and amazing work from the emily carr university of art + design.

and if all that isn't enough - there's fudge! mmm... going to dig into mine now. maple! i'm hoping to go back tomorrow or sunday to pick up a few things i didn't get a chance to go back for today. once we ran out of crackers it was time to hit the dusty trails... good news though - your admission is good all weekend!

yay portobello!

i was so happy with how yesterday's portobello west market went. it was my first time on the other side of the table, and truthfully i was a little nervous for the few days beforehand. i am such a fan of so many folks i've seen exhibiting there, and more than a little in awe of their talent and creativity. but i was feeling good once we started to get the table set up. my trusty and crafty friend kim of milkybeer was there to help all day and i am so grateful for both the moral support and help - and bathroom breaks! ;-) it's so wonderful to me to meet people face-to-face and see their reactions to my smiley creatures and creations.

for this event i brought my always-popular gnomes and bunnies (and this time a version stuffed with organic cotton fill), my felt pins and vintage button barrettes too. and i had some new lovely stuff - coin purses, modern caveman pillow clubs (which drew many laughs) tartlet pincushions that seemed popular (and suprisingly so with the kids!), and also tooth fairy pillow kits!

my tooth fairy kits (in the etsy shop later this week) are one of my very favourites. they're made of unbleached organic flannel and stuffed with organic cotton, both industrial leftovers from a local supplier who makes fabulous organic bedding. shaped like a tooth, and with a lovely pocket on the back made of japanese linen/cotton prints - perfect for stashing lost baby teeth in preparation for visits from the tooth fairy! and to keep those little teeth all organized, each pillow comes with 20 tiny envelopes stamped and ready to inscribe with name and date for posterity. so many folks, i mean the tooth fairy, keep baby teeth, but nobody really seems to know what on earth to do with them!

i'll be at the market again on october 25th, and also for the christmas show on december 12 & 13. there are so many lovely, lovely vendors and so much to tempt. i had to restrain myself from shopping while there! instead i've started dropping not-so-subtle hints to jamie about christmas stocking shopping.

please do come see me at one of the next markets! and for anyone looking for something specific that isn't in my etsy shop yet, please just drop me an email.

lovely mondays: got craft? favourites

i fell in love with so many of the creations at yesterday's got craft? event, and i figured my four top favourites from folks who also sell on etsy would make a perfect collection for this week's lovely monday post... clockwise, from top left:

i loved the unique cards from thebeautifulproject. combining 'original illustrations, cheeky sentiments and a bit of whimsy', they're the perfect answer for anyone asking "why don't they make better cards?" you can buy them from her etsy shop (some designs are even on sale now - scoop them up while you can!) or at local shops like dandelion and paper-ya.

i'm always drawn to things made using old maps. i think it's the timelessness of travel, particularly to places with history... kohana jewellery (etsy's ktwigs81) was selling lovely handmade jewelery featuring vintage maps and glass. i especially love the londres (london) pendant. the 1" pendant comes with a 16" silverplated ball chain.

i should have bought some soap from olive, maker of delicious natural bath & body products. funny: i overheard a couple walking away from the show. the woman wanted to buy some soap and the guy was muttering "we already have lots of soap". girl, you should have bought the soap. ;-) i love this high tea soap bar - made of luscious palm, olive and coconut oil and including bergamot and spruce essential oils, a touch of sweet orange and exfoliating black tea leaves.

there's just something about the colours in this print - grayhounds by elseetee. 3 x 4 x 1.5" block featuring a print from one of her original drawings. the sides of the block are decoupaged using premium, silkscreened japanese chiyogami paper. also available in larger sizes if you're looking for something to fill a bigger space on your wall.