Shopping handmade in Toronto the weekend before Christmas is waaayyy better than the mall!

Day 74/365

As you know, I participated in my final craft show of the year last weekend.  Naturally, people are asking me if I’m relaxing now and decompressing after a busy holiday show season, you know, taking it easy.
Nope.
I’m the type of person that cannot just sit and do nothing, cold turkey, after so much creative activity.  So instead I decided to take the day to go scope out a few shows.  Some I was considering participating in, others were unexpected surprises!  I just wanted to see what they’re like from the customer’s point of view.  Let me tell you, it was great!  Buying handmade really is fun!!

To give you a sense of what I mean, here’s what my day looked like.

1.  The Christmas Craft Beer Carnival10418905_782575241812311_1390269032052293587_n

I didn’t actually have any beer, in the name of enjoying the rest of my day with a clear head.  Instead I visited the booth of the lovely Nathalie Roze and purchased one of her warm and beautiful sweater toques!!

2. The LocalTOMarket Pop Up

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Although it’s inside a large event tent, it was still pretty cozy at this show.  Not everything was handmade, but the things that were had a nice variety and were well-made.

3. The Collective Show

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It is the fifth year for this holiday show, which I found out also happens in the summer!  Located in the beautiful new Artscape Youngplace, the level of craftsmanship and quality at this pop up was amazing!  And it runs till the 22, still time to check it out and shop handmade!!

 

The Coptic Indigo Journal

Day 73/365

You may remember when I posted about the Indigo Journal back in October.  I had shown a small journal created with my fancy-pants hand dyed indigo paper.  Well, now I’d like to share this larger, one of a kind, really pretty variation: The Large Coptic Indigo Journal!

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Measuring 8″ x 10″, with reclaimed leather and brass button closure, this is a pretty nice journal for sketching or writing full-out.

I managed to dig up some photos showing the hand-dying process, and I’m pretty sure I found the exact hand-dying of this sheet of paper!

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And of course the hand dying was all done here in Toronto at Paperhouse Studios.  While it is difficult to cut up these papers, especially after the work that goes into making them, it’s pretty fantastic seeing how the book cover acts as a frame, capturing a portion of the paper.

 

Wordless Wednesday 17.12.14

Day 71/365

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Last Chance for 2014!

Day 70/365

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Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow is the last bookbinding workshop I’ll be instructing for 2014!  And there’s still time to register, if you’re quick!

Longstitch/Linkstitch Book Making
Wednesday December 17, 6pm – 9pm
Graven Feather, 906 Queen St. West

For more info and to register, go here.

Upgrading the Coptic Journal

Day 69/365

Sometimes I like to re-visit projects I previously thought finished.  I’m going to share one today.

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Remember these coptic bound journals?  Well, I chose my favourites and recently gave them an upgrade.  I’ve been listening to your requests for bookmarks in journals, and decided to test the market with these books.

DSC_0735And, the response has been positive!  I love that the idea of re-vamping an already-bound journal.  It really reminds me that these aren’t ‘finished’ journals, but rather artworks that are going to be completed by the person who fills them with words/sketches/ideas/etc.  Theoretically they could continue to evolve into a completely different journal than when originally ‘completed’.  This is part of the creative energy that keeps me going and moving forward – I love it!

Also, I love the dangly beaded fringe/tassels!

 

Official Opening!

It’s with great pleasure that I announce the official opening party of my new vendor space at Arts Market!  I’m so pleased with my booth there, the lovely staff and the opportunity to host my book making workshops and classes on a regular basis.  It’s the start of something great!!DSC_0653

This opening is to celebrate not only my own vendor space, but also a few other Arts Market ‘newbies’.  We will be taking over the space for the evening and hope you’ll join us!

The details:
December 11, 2014 from 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Arts Market, 846 College Street, Toronto (just west of Ossington Avenue)

For more info, please take a look at our facebook event found here.

Wordless Wednesday 3.12.14

Day 57/365
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The Studio on a Sunday 30.11.14

Day 54/365

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I’m not actually in the studio today.  Instead, here’s a picture from not that long ago of the studio in full swing.  Maybe it’s because of the state of messiness in here right now, but I’m reminded of a saying I once saw on a co-workers desk.

It read: ‘If a cluttered desk means a cluttered mind, what does an emtpy desk mean?’

I have no idea who wrote or said this, (if you know, please share below!) but it makes me smile whenever I remember it.  Yay for messy desks!!

Wordless Wednesday 26.11.14

Day 50/365

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