Friday, November 30, 2007

VENDOR CALL: ALL CAPS @ whippersnapper

ALL CAPS is looking to fill their remaining vendors spaces for their approaching show.
Here's a note from them with all the deets:

ALL CAPS

Hello Crafters of Toronto!

The holidays are coming, and in the spirit of giving, sharing, and extra pocket money, ALLCAPS are putting on a craft show!

The Where: It all goes down at the Whipper Snapper Gallery, at the corner of College and Clinton.

The When: This will be taking place the day of our December show, December 8th.
Set up at 3, doors open 4pm and will run through the show allowing folks to browse your wares 'tween bands. Cover is Pay-What-You-Can before 6pm, $7 after ... Come 7pm, bands delighting all with musical goodness!

Bands include:
The Youngest (Amy L from Fox the Boombox, Librarian's Touch, MSTRKRFT)

Big Digits (electro dance party enthusiasts from Cambridge, Massachusetts)

Kaeru (members of Ohbijou and Forest City Lovers)

The Details: There will be a small fee for table space, to be paid the day of.
Space is limited, and we are tables are given on a first come first serve basis.
To secure a table, email shamelesspromo@gmail.com with the following:

1. your name
2. a brief description of what it is you do, and what you'll be selling
3. anything else you think we should know


Thanks, and hope to see you all out!

ALL CAPS
and ohbijou

CRAFT SHOW: the other kind @ whippersnapper

EXHIBITION/CRAFT SHOW: mcclure & egan holiday exhibition and sale

MandE_Evite
Click here to enlarge.

To see more of their incredible jewellery-slash-art, visit the McClure & Egan website.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

CRAFTY BIZ: blue banana market grand opening

Nicole of Precious Pink Designs wrote to share this invite to the Grand Opening of Blue Banana Market, a new artisan marketplace located in the heart of Kensigton Market.

Blue Banana invite
Click here to enlarge.

I have been meaning to post about this space since coming upon it by accident a couple of weeks ago. It's kind of an antique mall type concept where you pay to rent a case or table, or wall space and the market provides sales people who sell your work for you. The space is open concept and kind of warehousey (it was unfinished at the time I visited) with big glass doors. There was also proportionally more imported & manufactured crafts than locally handmade ones, which kinda bummed me out, though many spaces were yet to be occupied.
The location is great (right near College on Augusta), and I was thinking that if lots of local crafters joined up it could develop into something interesting. According to Nicole they are offering the first 2 months free (perhaps for a limited time) as an incentive to get in on the action.

The owners state the following re: cost:

We have many spaces available for artists, Walls, Tables, Shelves,Showcases Booths depending on location and area the prices can vary.

Most Showcases are $175.00 per month with lock and key, wall spaces are $200.00 per month, Shelves are $100.00 per month.

If you do decide to check it out (either as a customer or vendor), please report back - I'd love to hear your impressions of the space & concept.

For more info on the store visit their site: www.bluebananamarket.com

CRAFT SHOW: mob encore holiday hits

Have you guys checked out MOB Collection? This is a great online shop/travelling salon-style show featuring the excellent work of mainly Toronto-based designers.

If you are new to MOB and want to learn more about them/their designers come on out to their next show on Wed. December 5th (more details below). This is an "encore" show as they held a preview/sale for thier regular customers a few weeks ago and they'd like to open it up to a wider audience.

Many items at the show are not featured online and they've tried keep prices low for holiday gifty shopping (there won't be furniture & many items are below $100). After 6pm there is always wine and snacks.

mob collection encore show

EXHIBITION: the shelf project 2007

shelf project C1 art space


The Shelf Project 2007

November 30 to December 31 2007.
Reception: Friday, November 30 at 7pm

C1 art space
44 Ossington Avenue
416 538-7999

Holidays Hours: Wed, Fri, Sat 12-6pm, Thurs 12-7pm, Sun 12 –5pm

C1 art space celebrates it’s 3rd anniversary with The Shelf Project 2007, a rotating exhibition of works created by artists from across Canada. The exhibit will showcase an assortment of unique fine art and craft works including ceramics, textiles, glass, jewellery, mixed media, drawings, paintings as well as artist T-shirts and an assortment of handmade ornaments.

If you are looking for a holiday gift for someone extraordinary, The Shelf Project is a great place to find it. Works in the show will be priced affordably, from $5 - $300. There is something original and handmade that fits into everyone’s budget!

CRAFT SHOW: One of a Kind highlights - xmas 2007

i spent several hours at the One of A Kind show and sale this weekend and saw many wonderful and beautiful things. what i especially love about the OOAK is being able to meet the artisans who create all these handmade goods, and doing my holiday shopping by buying direct from the makers rather than trudging through the malls and getting products makes the holiday season a bit brighter!

the One of a Kind Christmas Show is on until Sunday, December 2, 2007 at the Direct Energy Centre (Exhibition Place) Toronto. the hours are pretty good; weekdays 11am - 10pm, saturdays 10am - 9pm, sundays 10am - 6pm.

i've compiled a list of some of my favourites to help you navigate the show. mark them on your map! Raplapla

a-39 - shi - accessories

a-52 - jenna rose - accessories
b-20 - cul de sac - ceramics
b-20 - jasnart - ceramics
b-40 - tasci designs - jewellry
b-50 - margi laurin - accessories
c-10 - fidoodle - toys Monster Factory
e-36 - monkey house - toys
e-46 - monkey business - clothing
e-48 - Prickly Pear - accessories
e-57 - kania - clothing
g-12 - wildwood insects - neat-o
g-24 - wishfern - home dec
g-46 - kepo - paper
g-48 - papersnake jewellry - jewellry
g-50 - kim's suitcase - textiles Kosoy & Bouchard
g-52 - the gable nursery - kids
h-14 - flakes - paper
h-43 - read my hips - accessories
h-44 - Imooi - accessories
h-47 - resinate - home dec
h-49 - leo rising - accessories
h-53 - damned dollies - accessories
i-43 - jen bird designs - glass
i-52 - little green press - paper Pascale Faubert
i-7 - yasmine louis textile - clothing
i-8 - tsunami glassworks - glass
j-35 - izik levy - glass
k-60 - tansy & co - home dec
l-15 - the candi factory - clothing
l-19 - biko - jewellry
l-37 - kosoy & bouchard - ceramics
l-53 - fawn ceramics - ceramics
n-58 - plastik wrap - clothing Jack & Marjorie
o-19 - kid brother - kids
o-48 - zili otto - clothing
o-8 - lesley anne green - ceramics
p-36 - planet kid - kids
p-44 - susan harris design - clothing
p-45 - nixxi - clothing
p-50 - eve gravel - clothing
p-51 - terre plein - textiles
p-53 - lousje and bean - clothing
q-13 - erin tracy designs - jewellry
q-24 - adora - textiles
q-35 - miru's friends - toys
q-36 - judy black - accessories
q-37 - melonhead knitwear - accessories
q-43 - passenger pigeon - clothing
q-47 - namoda - clothing Jenna Rose
q-58 - bootyfly bags - accessories
r-43 - nude clothes - clothing
r-50 - revolve - clothing
r-52 - beebop & wally - clothing
r-56 - luved clothing - clothing
r-6 - kyla francis pottery - ceramics
s-44 - sculptures portables - jewellry
s-5 - kanvas ink - paper
s-7 - bookhou - home dec
t-27 - rat girl - accessories
t-5 - viola blanca - accessories Passenger Pigeon
t-6 - laura kapp - clothing
t-8 - hoibo - accessories
t-9 - mehoi - accessories
u-32 - rabbit green - kids
u-38 - stella - jewellry
u-44 - venus giftware - accessories
u-47 - little brown wren - accessories
u-52 - this is j - clothing Resinate
v-35 - truth - accessories
v-36 - jack & marjorie - accessories
v-38 - parade organics - kids
v-52 - tenacious - accessories
v-63 - fabricawakuwaku - toys
w-14 - baby mango - kids
w-27 - jules & annie - accessories
w-29 - raplapla - toys
x-24 - jewel envy - jewellry
x-48 - precocious - clothing read my hips
y-20 - third moon designs - accessories
y-54 - fixeight - accessories









Monday, November 26, 2007

CRAFT SHOW: Woodlawn Pottery Studio Show

The Woodlawn Pottery Studio, a 25-year-old non-profit Toronto women's cooperative, invites you to their annual Show of a unique collection of ceramics. Both functional and decorative clay works featured. Choose pieces for your home, as well as holiday and/or corporate gifts.

Location: The Gladstone Hotel

Date: Saturday, DEC 8 - 9, 2007

Times: Sat 11am-6pm and Sun 11am-5pm 2nd Floor

free admission!

more information can be found at woodlawn pottery studio and at the gladstone hotel

This event has also been added to the Toronto Craft Alert Event Calendar. Google Calendar users can add this event to their own calendar by clicking HERE.

CRAFT SHOW: TANK fire+metal at The Distillery District

The designers at TANK Fire+metal are hosting a holiday shop-till-you-drop show in the Distillery District!

Show Info: TANK fire + metal studio in the distillery district...
Date & Time: December 1st, 12pm to 8pm
Location: Tank 103, Case Goods Bldg. 55 Mill St. [647-430-8589]

HOLIDAY SHOP TILL YOU DROP!
*30%-40% off most jewelry & artwork*
One day only!

Great gift ideas for the holidays! Please join us for this spectacular shopping event. Deals on hand made glass & silver jewelry and original artwork. We'll pack it up cute for you, all ready for gifting! Yummy homemade snacks and cider provided.

Gift certificates available for jewelry or classes & workshops.

Come visit before or after you go the the city of craft show!!

More information at TANK fire + metal

This event has also been added to the Toronto Craft Alert Event Calendar. Google Calendar users can add this event to their own calendar by clicking HERE.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

CRAFT SHOW: OCAD book arts fair

I generally really enjoy this this show. Too bad I will be nursing a craft fair organizer hangover that day (sweatpants & dvd marathon for me, yessir.)

23rd Annual Book Arts Fair
Ontario College
of Art & Design

10:00am to 5:00pm, Sunday December 2, 2007

Work by book artists, printmakers, papermakers, and private press printers available for purchase

Every year in December, book artists, printmakers, papermakers, and private press printers gather at OCAD to show their work and demonstrate their skills in OCAD's Central Hall and Printmaking studios. The university community and general public are welcome to come and watch artists at work making paper, printing from litho stones, screen printing, hand typesetting, book binding, wood engraving, etching and much more. Many items are available for sale, providing unique ideas for holiday gift giving. Admission is pay-what-you-can.

Ontario College of Art & Design
100 McCaul St.
Toronto, Ontario
416-977-6000 Ext. 268

www.ocad.ca
bookartsfair@gmail.com

OCAD book arts fair

VENDOR CALL: xmas bake & craft fair (dec. 9)


Annares Natural Health passed along this call for vendors for an upcoming craft & bake sale:


VENDORS WANTED FOR

Christmas Bake and Craft Fair at
St. Matthias Church, 45 Bellwoods Avenue, just North of Queen St, just East of Trinity Bellwoods Park
December 9
Set Up: 10 am
Runs: 11 am through 4 pm
Tables are only $15 each.

Please join us for our Annual Christmas Bake and Craft Fair.
The Fair is hosted by our Sunday School Programme.

We hope you'll consider selling your Christmas gifts at this year's sale which will be held after the service in the Upstairs Parish Hall, on Sunday, December 9th.

We look forward to artisans from our Parish, our Sunday School and our community selling ornaments, pottery, baked goods, hand crafted soaps, candles, Christmas stockings, and other fine and unique gifts.

Scouts Canada will be on hand selling Christmas Cake.

If you'd like participate by reserving a table for $15,
please contact Catherine Dennison 416.603.9657
or leave a message on the Parish voice mail at 416.903.6720

Anarres-79967996060.preview
Anarres' natural soaps

Saturday, November 24, 2007

CRAFTY BIZ: bizstart your craft empire

This is a very exciting opportunity for you to get your craft business going for serious...

Bizstart is a 48 week program for aspiring young entrepreneurs. We provide a stipend of $280 per week and an intensive program with workshops on Business Planning, Marketing, Sales, Life skills and Financial Planning over the course of 11 months. We help youth find funding for their enterprises before the end of the program & link them with mentors in their field to ensure success. There are 20 spaces available in total.

This project is funded by HRSDC. The Application Deadline is Dec 7, 2007. For more information contact ybc@yes.on.ca.

MAIN FLYER 2007-2008
Click here to enlarge


Friday, November 23, 2007

EXHIBITION: found and crafted at xpace

An interesting experiment in dumpster diving at Xpace:

found and crafted

FOUND AND CRAFTED
Explorations in furniture


Date:
NOV 23 to DEC 8 2007

Reception:
FRIDAY, NOV 23 from 7 – 10 PM

Who:
Andrea Chin / Andrew Morton / Amrita Takhar / Gina Yu / Joel Pollock /
Grace Park / Erin McCutcheon / Marijan Zelic / Mike Kicul / Willie
Tsang

Gord Peteran and Ted Hunter give ten emerging designers the same
brief: go find a chair on the street, analyze the reasons behind its
disposal and reconstruct the chair in any way desired…the outcome does
not necessarily need to be a chair. Through this restoration both
history and newfound potential within the chair are exposed. Using
this reconstruction as source material the designers make new chairs
to highlight the discarded chairs strongest points. Found and Crafted
showcases the result of this innovative design initiative: each new
chair is displayed alongside a photo of the discarded, restored chair.

The designers featured in this exhibition are students in their final
year of the Ontario College of Art and Design 's prestigious
Industrial Design program. This program investigates customer and
commercial projects, furniture, interaction and experience design,
strategic creativity and applied innovation. Engaging in extensive
research and analysis, these emerging designers develop new products
and experiences while addressing current and emerging human needs.

The work featured in Found and Crafted exemplifies innovative and
rigorous design practice. Walking the blurry line between art and
design, Found and Crafted examines the cyclical nature of objects,
creating a discourse around what a chair as furniture is, and what it
can be through investigation and manipulation.

XPACE Cultural Centre
58 Ossington Ave
Tuesday to Saturday 12-6

Thursday, November 22, 2007

CRAFT SHOW: the One of a Kind starts today!

One of a Kind Show - Christmas 2007
wee! i am so excited about going to the One of a Kind show this year. i'm not sure if i will go tonight, but if not, it will be tomorrow and the next day and the next... well, i don't know if i have that much energy. i know there are so many exhibitors, with every visit i'll catch something i missed the time before (and not to mention trying to taste every sample in the flavours section).

i will take an in-depth look at all the booths this weekend and make a list of my favourites to share here on the TCA, that way if you only have a short time there (who has time to see 800 vendors?) you can mark your map with the don't-miss booths.
oh - and please leave a comment below if you are an exhibitor with a booth you'd like us to stop by.

The OOAK website has some sneak peaks of some really beautiful stuff to get you salivating for some inspiring handmade goods:

Pamela CoulstonPamela Coulston

Kelly KirkhamKelly Kirkham

Jenna RoseJenna Rose

Prickly PearPrickly Pear

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

CRAFTY HAPPENING: city of craft is upon us!

Hey guys, I seriously can't belive this is next weekend!!!

cityofcraft-poster

So here it is, Everything you Have Ever wanted to know about City of Craft:

In brief:

WHAT: City of Craft
WHO: 60+ craft vendors, community groups, installation artists & workshop leaders
WHEN: Saturday December 1, 2007, 11am-8pm
WHERE: Theatre Centre, located at 1087 Queen Street West at Dovercourt.
WEB: http://cityofcraft.com

In not-so-brief:

Come dive into Toronto's crafty cultural landscape at City of Craft, a day long opportunity to buy, observe, experience, chat about, share and reimagine all things handmade. Not your run-of-the mill craft show, this dynamic happening will feature craft-based installations, demos, and free workshops, alongside a curated craft fair filled with contemporary, stylish, and offbeat handmade goodies.

You'll also have the chance to learn about great local classes, studios, resources, and craft based projects, getting you in the mood to make stuff and make stuff happen. Eager beavers will be rewarded with swag bags designed and screenprinted for City of Craft by local label Schoolyard (
Katie Chan and Hilary Dennis) & chockful of indie craft goodness from multiple vendors and sponsors.

Event highlights include:

*60+ craft vendors and exhibitors from Toronto and Montreal selling awesome handmade art, craft & fashion and promoting their craft-based initiatives
*Soft City, a plush cityscape that invites Torontonians to reconsider their relationship to the place they live
*
StreetKnit's hand-knit house, an inventive endeavor to bring awareness to issues of homelessness in the city (Donations of hand knit garments will be accepted at the event).
*Perusal of Toronto Zine Library's entire collection of zines in the cozy reading lounge.

*Ample opportunities to make stuff:
-a crochet workshop taught by
Shannon Gerrard (let's just say it's connected to her latest project) 1-2pm
-a craft materials swap run by
the workroom & Sew Be It Studio - 2:30-4pm***
-a make-you-own gift wrap session hosted by
Toronto Church of Craft - 4:30-7pm

*** To participate in the swap bring fabric, notions, yarn, or beads to swap and canned goods to donate the Daily Food Bank. Leftover materials will be donated to charity.

Please share this invite with craft-inclined friends & family, or anyone you know who might enjoy finding unique handmade gifts in a decidedly un-mall-like atmosphere.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

CRAFTY LIT: new craft column "sew what"

owl_tea_cozy

Rina from The Sewing Studio wrote to tell us about Sew What, a new craft column she’s started where she posts updated projects once a week. The column appears on She Does the City, a Toronto-based site aimed at, “gals looking for a life less ordinary." According to Rina, Sew What projects “aren't Martha Stewart type crafts, although we love her, but hip kinda funky twists on old favourites.” Like the owl tea cozy above.

Rina is really interested in involving readers as much as possible so if anyone ever has a request to learn how to do something, or a craft that they really want to share she’d love to read, respond to, or post it. Contact Rina
here.

Where to find Sew What:
http://www.shedoesthecity.com/fashion/sewwhat
Or click on “Costume Cupboard” on the main page of the She Does the City and find it towards the bottom of the page.

she_does_city_new_logo_edited-1




Monday, November 19, 2007

TCA ON THE ROAD: people are diying in detroit.

It doesn't seem a stretch to say that as a Torontonian, Detroit can seem like the post-apocalyptic metropolis that one has to survive their way trough on a road trip to Chicago. That's how I felt about the place, anyway. Everyone you talk to is behind bullet-proof glass, the downtown core features incredible abandoned gothic office towers and there is a driverless, passengerless monorail that loops tiny seemingly pointless circles between empty-looking buildings. Creepy, but also mystifying.

So when I had the opportunity to attend the first Detroit Urban Craft Fair in 2006, I jumped at the opportunity. I just wanted to see who was making things in Detroit and what they were making. As it turned out, organizers Handmade Detroit had hooked into a huge need in the community and the event was and unbelievable success. As I came to understand, the sprawling downtown is only sporadically populated (I mean, some blocks only have one house on them) and after racial riots in the sixties, many residents fled to the suburbs. This (and various subsquent devastations) has left the community both polarized and dispersed. The Urban Craft Fair tapped into this need for connection and managed to draw shoppers who drove hours to be there, to meet crafters and to just...be with people.

As a result of this success, the HD ladies launched a holiday fair (which I participated in this year and just got back from).

Oh, and if Detroit/Michigan crafters have a shared theme, it's regional pride. Lines like Phantom Limb, Detroit GT and City Bird all have substantial regional designs on/in their goods. And really, it looked like almost every table had some form of local pride product somewhere on it. It felt like such a far cry from the ironic aesthetics of Toronto's assertions of regional pride. But then again, Toronto isn't suffering the population dwindling of Detroit, or the violence, or the disjointedness.

On this trip, we also undertook some getting-to-know Detroit and set out to explore the city based on a to-do list that our pal Stephanie gave us. On top of all the abandoned buildings we went to (including an opulent theatre gutted and turned into a parkade), the biggest highlight of our urban tourism was The Heildelberg Project. This is a huge installation art project that spans about three blocks square in one of Detroit inner-city neighbourhoods (one of the erstwhile residential areas that is now equal parts housing, burnt housing and vacant lots - see here for an aerial illustration of this). The idea behind this sprawling twenty-year project is to engage people locally and abroad to simply come into the city through art. Also, artist Tyree Guyton wanted to bring large-scale art to the people in the inner city. The project also mostly supports the block on which it is centred.

On a much more suburban note, we also visited a couple of supply shops just outside of the city proper. Munro Crafts in Berkely is a jewellery maker's dream come true. Although beading supplies seem to be the bread and butter of this business, the many nooks and crannies of this craft supply shop house all kinds of surprises from vintage doll-making components, to packaging and displays (mostly geared towards jewellers, but good basic display ideas for creative crafters of any ilk). Have You Any Wool (also in Berkley) is a yarn and supply shop that resides somewhere between hipster boutique and classic suburban supply shop. They have a great selection (and currently that Canadian dollar goes a long way on already low American prices) and an atmosphere that is comfy while still having a knowledgeable staff on hand to help with just about anything (from yarn selection to help with botched fibre projects).

Speaking of knitting, whenever I'd mention the creepy empty monorail to Detroit crafters, they were quick to point out that there is a weekly knitting/crochet meeting on it. That really seems to sum up the DIY movement there; It exists to bring life back to a once-beautiful city that the forces of big industry have abandoned.

For more images from the sweetie pie press/Misanthrope Specialty Co. trip to Detroit, looky here.

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CRAFTY BIZ: small edition sets from sheridan craft & design students

These beautiful sets are made by Sheridan Craft & Design students. They are all small editions - the coasters are an edition of 100 and the group sets are an edition of 50.

If you are interested in purchasing some, please email Anna at zygowski.pirate@gmail.com to reserve one; it can be delivered to you.

Just in time for the holidays......beautiful limited edition gift sets made by hand.

redone 1
Click here to enlarge

redone 2
Click here to enlarge

Choose from a set of four coasters, one each in glass, hand-screened felt, wood and ceramics OR a silk-screened gift bag set containing a beautiful hand-blown glass, hand-thrown bowl and finely crafted wooden cutting board. These sets represent current work from students of the Craft & Design Program. Gift sets are $85 and coaster sets are $25.

This sale is a fundraiser and all proceeds support the students' year-end final exhibition.

CRAFTIVISM: a call to knit

streetknit.art

Are you a knitter with a conscience? Streetknit wants you to join in their house knitting project at, you guessed it, City of Craft.

Some words from Streetknit:

GIMMEE SHELTER

On Dec. 1rst Streetknit will in fact, in truth, in reality verifiable build a house out of knit-wool before your very eyes at the colossal City of Craft , 1087 Queen St.w, being thrown by some very crafty ladies, for a very crafty city. We have a crew of volunteers working around the clock (for the clock was in the way), blueprints, engineers, morale-officers, wool, coa-coa, hankies to dab our brows with. Our progress will be monitored by the nice people at New York's DIYThing over the coming month. Watch for us here:

http://www.diything.com/

Our knit house will also be mentioned in the Globe's lifestyle section on Nov. 24th.

AND WE WOULD LIKE YOU, NEEDLY HUDDLING MASSES, TO HELP US.

The house will be made almost entirely out of scarves and blankets that will then be donated to homeless shelters around town and homelessness-service providers to distribute to the homeless and nominally housed. Please bring us your blankets, scarves, or join us at City of Craft and take a seat and knit a little something for StreetKnit. Boy o boy do we have yarn and needles. We might give you a button for your efforts. A little button that says "Streetknit." And you'll be like, look, me and my needles almost did as much to address Toronto's chronic housing shortage than all three levels of government did in seven years, cool. Want to read more about that?: See this Street Health Report for 2007. Clack, clack, clack.


What's Streetknit, you ask?

Founded in 2006 by Sadie Lewis in Toronto, Streetknit rouses the knitting communities of Toronto, hobbyists, s n' bs), society yarn-darlings , needle-clackers of all ages to put needles together and spend some time knitting some warmth into an extra scarf, maybe some toques with affectionate or somber colours, mitts, blankets, socks, even a sweater and see it reach those without home. We hear report that the kids like it in basic black.

These goods can be dropped off at friendly-neighbourhood StreetKnit drop-off points: local yarn-knit shops Knit-O-Matic (1378 Bathurst St.), The Naked Sheep (2144 A Queen St. E.), Sew Be It Studio (2156 Yonge St.) and The Knit Cafe (1050 Queen W.). StreetKnit! will be distributing to homeless outreach programs all over the city again this year including Windfall Clothing , St. Francis Table, Scott Mission , Parkdale Community Health Center as well as future friends PARC and Out of the Cold. We also now collect yarn to distribute to groups knitting street knits.

Every year people in Toronto freeze to death because they have nowhere to come in from the cold. Since 2006, StreetKnit! has helped inspire and organize office clubs and yarn-shop drives and knitty parties to do our small part to alleviate this situation, craft drives with DJs spinning, knitting classes for teens and adults, and drives within offices to donate to StreetKnit!, combining fun and sociability with doing good for the community. See our site for more details of some of these past events and drives: http://www.streetknit.ca/.

We have been featured on Omni Television and City News as well as here or there and everywhere, all over the local print and blog and knit-blog media.

Interested in hearing more or organizing your own StreetKnit! drive?: contact streetknit@gmail.com, or ryan.kamstra@gmail.com and we can help set you up.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

CRAFT SHOW: FUNPASS Sip & Shop

FUNPASS would like to invite you to join us for the Pre-Christmas Shopping Party. funpass shop and sip
When: Thursday November 29, 7 pm – 10 pm
Where: 6 Degrees Club, 2335 Yonge Street
Why: for some Sipping, Shopping, Munching & Purse Snatch FUN!
Admission is $10 (donation to the Children's Wish Foundation) & don't forget your purses for the PURSE SNATCH!


Make Up, Fashions, Skin Care, Jewelry, Purses, Candles, Holiday FUN stuff and more!

You can experience 'Retail Therapy' (shopping) as you SHOP for loved ones and enjoy sipping a glass of your favourite wine, spirit or non alcoholic beverage. Gals can come with gal pals or bring your favourite man so he can find out what to get you for that special gift (hinting works). Guys why not surprise your ladies with the perfect gift.

We do love presents! Exhibitors will also be serving up some special sweet treats to munch on to keep your energy up for Shopping FUN!

FUN Purse Snatch
Ladies bring your unused or 'gently experienced' handbags for the Purse Snatch FUNdraiser as they can be someone else's treasures.

Purses will be priced at $5, $10, $15, $20, $25 with all proceeds going toThe Children's Wish Foundation

1st 150 guests receive a Fun bag of swag!

Tell everyone you know! FUNPASS = Your PASS to FUN!


This event has also been added to the Toronto Craft Alert Event Calendar. Google Calendar users can add this event to their own calendars.

CRAFTY HAPPENING: dance dance party party t.o.

Dance Dance Party Party
From the DDPP website. Soon to expand northward??

I am way swamped with crafty projects, otherwise I would be starting the Toronto chapter of this NY-based initiative to provide a space to shake your boots on a regular basis without having to go to a club or house party. Reminds me of my very brief (and very laughable) stint as a punk rock aerobics instructor, or my attempt while living in Mtl. to start Front Liberation de Dance (FLD) - an impromptu living room dance party network.

:::::::::::::::::::

Dance Dance Party Party is more than a dance party, it’s a mother effin’ revolution! It’s a judgment-free zone full of amazing ladies just like you. We guarantee you can do your funkiest, craziest dance moves and no one will bat an eye because we’ll all be doing the same.

THERE IS NO TEACHER so you can feel free to do what you want. Want to spin? Spin! Want to jump? Jump! Want to sit in the corner and do yoga? Sweet! Do it!

Dance Dance Party Party is just like being out at a club with your girlfriends without the expensive cover charge and sweaty dudes grinding on you (ew) and trying to get yer number (no).

Leave your painful high heels at home, but bring your workout clothes because you will SWEAT!

So… what are you waiting for?

:::::::::::::::::::

Someone needs to make this happen in Toronto! Contact DDPP to get going on it.

If you do, please let us know. I will be there with sweats on!

Saturday, November 17, 2007

SUPPLY YOUR HABIT: The CARFAC Ontario 2008 Artists' Day Planner

Keep track of your artsy endeavours with the the CARFAC Ontario 2008 Artists' Day Planner.

An excellent professional resource:

  • The Artists' Day Planner will help you allocate your time while identifying opportunities to which you can submit your work.
  • You will be able to clearly see when various funding bodies have deadlines, and plan your schedule accordingly.
  • You will refer to your Artists' Day Planner again and again in 2008 as you work to meet your professional goals!
  • Also a great holiday gift idea for the artist in your life!

Features:

  • Weekly and monthly planning layouts;
  • Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, various municipal funding programs, and many more funding and exhibition opportunities with deadlines in 2008;
  • Religious observances;
  • Moon phases;
  • Artist-focused advertising to help you find businesses that provide the services and products you need;
  • Lined writing space and blank sketching space allowance in each day segment;
  • Monday to Sunday structure to maximize your weekend planning;
  • Size: 7" x 8.5", Spiral Bound.

sample pages

Artists' Day PlannerAs an artist-run organization, we understand that your time is precious. In addition to making work, you are responsible for managing the business aspects of your career such as: financial management; marketing and promotion of your work; writing grant applications; researching opportunities; and countless other tasks. On top of all of these responsibilities, if you are like most artists in Ontario, you probably have a full or part time "day job" as well!

We at CARFAC Ontario have developed this Day Planner for you to use as a tool to help you in managing all the conflicting priorities in your life and to help identify some of the opportunities for which you may be eligible. Hopefully, this will allow you more time to spend on the most important part of your job as an artist - making artwork!

Here's to a happy and prosperous 2008!

Order now!
CARFAC Ontario Member Price: $14.00 (Plus GST + S&H if applicable)
Non-Member Price: $18.00 (Plus GST - S&H if applicable)
(Allow approximately three weeks for delivery)


Order form or buy online

Orders can also be placed by calling or visiting our office.
CARFAC Ontario
401 Richmond Street West, Suite 440
Toronto, Ontario M5V 3A8
web address: http://www.carfacontario.ca
email: carfacontario@carfacontario.ca
phone number: 416-340-8850
fax number: 416-340-7653
toll free: 1-877-890-8850

CALL FOR ARTISTS: Green Arts Barns Live/Work Studios


Announcement from Artscape: applications for the Green Arts Barns Work-Only Studios and Rent-Geared-To-Income (RGI) Live/Work Studios for professional artists are now available.

Tenants of the
Green Arts Barns will contribute to the creative synergy, imagination and community that will transform Toronto's historic Wychwood TTC Streetcar Repair Barns in the St. Clair and Bathurst neighbourhood into a model for innovative creative redevelopment in North America.

how to apply: If you are a professional artist who is interested in applying for a work-only studio or RGI live/work studio at the
Green Arts Barns, you will find applications and answers to frequently asked questions on Artscape's website.

There will be up to 15 artist Work-Only studios at the
Green Arts Barns, which will be leased to artists at below market rates, ranging in size from approximately 206 square feet to approximately 316 square feet.

There will be 26 artist Live/Work studios at the
Green Arts Barns that will be managed by Artscape Non-Profit Homes Inc (ANPHI) and will be leased to artists and their families on an RGI basis.

Applications are due by January 31, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. We regret that we are unable to accept late applications.

about the green arts barns: Located at 76 Wychwood Avenue, south of St. Clair and west of Bathurst,
Artscape's Green Arts Barns will employ green technology and be the first heritage building in Toronto to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.

The
Green Arts Barns is a unique meeting place and resource serving the arts, the environment and the diverse communities that make up the St. Clair and Bathurst neighbourhood.

The Green Arts Barns will:
  • Provide affordable space for the arts and the environment
  • Animate the adjacent park with programs and services
  • Provide facilities for community-based educational and recreational activities
  • Preserve an important part of our built heritage
  • Honour the legacy of public transit in Canada
  • Be the first designated heritage site in Toronto to seek LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Canada certification
contact: Wendy Campbell 416-392-1038 ext. 37, gab @ torontoartscape.on.ca

Artscape is a not-for-profit enterprise engaged in culture-led regeneration.

GET SCHOOLED: Holiday Gifting Workshops@the workroom

Want to get your craft on and make something cool for the one you love? the workroom, Toronto's first sew and craft by the hour workspace, has four holiday gifting workshops scheduled to help you get a jump start on your holiday gifting!

These one night workshops in Parkdale will inspire you to get crafty and make simple, beautiful gifts for your family, friends and for yourself. Email the workroom with any questions or to sign up.


Wine Bottle Vases $30
Friday November 23, 7-9pm
Empty wine bottles haven’t made it to recycling? Convert your blue box Beaujolais into stylish vases. Learn to use a bottle cutter to cut the tops of wine and beer bottles and glass jars. Using simple glass etching techniques you’ll personalize your glass vessels. Go home with a new appreciation for empties. Absolutely no sewing skills required.

Handy Apron $35
Wednesday November 28, 7-9pm
This apron is super handy for crafters, gardeners and anyone working with tools. It has several pockets and a couple loops so that you will always have everything you need close by. This is the perfect class for a beginner to get some practice on the sewing machine.

Quilt-as-you-go Tote - $50
Thursday November 29, 6-9pm
Scraps have never been happier than in this cute and quirky tote! Pieced and quilted at the same time, we'll whip it up fast in this fun three hour workshop. Bonus! It even has pen pockets! A great project for a confident beginner with a few projects under her belt or an instant gratification project for a more experienced sewer.

Sewn Men’s Tie - $50
Wednesday December 12, 6-9pm
Every guy on your list will want one of these dressed up ties. You will learn to cut and sew on the bias. To add extra special detailing, we’ll try out some easy image transfer and stenciling techniques. Suddenly, a tie is not such a boring gift.

A complete class schedule can be downloaded from the workroom website.

These events have also been added to the Toronto Craft Alert Event Calendar. Google Calendar users can add any of these events to their own calendars;
Wine Bottle Vases, Handy Apron, Quilt-as-you-go Tote, Sewn Men's Tie.

VENDOR CALL: flea affair in mtl.

from Jill at Quel Damage:
The Art/Craft/Flea Market is taking place in Montreal, but it is open to anyone and we still have tables available, I've included more details below. If you are interested or if anyone you know is interested please write me an email at this address or call me at the below number.
Take Care,
Jill
Quel Damage - Episode Design
(514) 927-4078
flea affair in montreal

click here to enlarge
Please mark your calendar for December 1st and designate it 'Craft Fair experience of a life time' day.

From 11am to 6pm local designers of all varieties will be selling their crafts to the public; there will be Jewelry, Fashion, Culinary Design, Zines, Publishers and much much more...

After the arty madness, Quel Damage will be holding a 5 Ã 7 for all participants at the same location...yummy food & cocktails

Tables are $40 each for the full day and a complimentary (for artist/ participant) 5 A 7 followed by an after party at the Quel Damage's Studio Space with a Film Screening & fashion show!!! ahhh so much in one Day

For more info please email
Quel Damage - Episode Design

CRAFTY BIZ: OOAK invites

A few invites came through from bookhou design, Papersnake & Kim Kutner to visit their booths at the One of a Kind Show. If you are planning to go to the show, be sure to use the TCA coupon code to get $4 off your tickets when buying online.

OOAK e-vite07

Find Papersnake in the Rising Stars section, booth #G-48.

bracelet

Kim Kutner & her Suitcase will be in the Rising Stars Section teeny weeny booth G-50.

kim @ OOAK

I (Jen) will be helping out at the
Damned Dollies BoothH-53 in the Rising Stars section on Thursday Nov. 22 & Fri. 23. If you're at the show come by and say hello!


Dear Diary Craft Fair 056

Please feel free to toot your own OOAK horn by commenting on this post or submitting your booth info to us at torontocraftalert@gmail.com

Show hours:

Thursday, November 22 to
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Weekdays 11am - 10pm
Saturdays 10am - 9pm
Sundays 10am - 6pm


STUDIO SALE: sheridan craft & design kids

webinvitation

Click here to enlarge

The Textile Studio students in the Craft & Design Program at Sheridan College would like to invite you to their Textile Studio Sale, taking place in Toronto on Sunday, November 25, from 2-7 pm at 84 Winchester St. in Cabbagetown (one block north of Carlton St. and east of Parliament St.)

All proceeds go to support the textile graduate exhibition taking place in May.

CRAFT SHOW: the moose show [this weekend]

Evite_to_MooseShow07

You
are invited
to
The Moose Show


November 15-17,
CBC building Toronto


Come in from the cold November winds and enjoy a splendid quality show.
For more information and directions go to www.mooseshow.com

The Moose Show, festival of fine craft, is an annual showcase of outstanding Canadian artisans. It is a co-operative & not-for-profit event that brings together talented and innovative artisans who share a dedication to excellence in craft & art. We invite you to share in the intimacy of our show, meet our artisans and experience shopping like no other. SHOP CANADIAN!

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

CRAFTIVISM: 2 kensignton shops shut for buy nothing day

steven&natalie

An interesting initiative from Kensington Market neighbours Left Feet and Heart on Your Sleeve, a Vegetarian and Sweatshop-free shoe store and Ethical & Eco-friendly fashion boutique.

In observation of "Buy Nothing Day", both shops are shutting ‘er down on what is normally one of the biggest shopping days in North America - November 23rd.

“The stores' founders, Steven Fish and Natalie Stephenson, are doing so in an effort to highlight the part that businesses have to play in reducing our global environmental impact. They are confident that their customers will understand, and would love to see other retailers do the same thing.


Steven explains: "Yes, at a basic level we do make our living selling things. But we don't support aimless, rampant consumerism. We're in the business of ethical retail here, and we support other activists who want to encourage less, more meaningful, buying, and want to take a one day holiday from all consumption"

For those of you unfamiliar with Buy Nothing Day, Adbusters explains it thusly: it "isn't just about changing your habits for one day" but "about starting a lasting lifestyle commitment to consuming less and producing less waste."

more information about Buy Nothing Day

CRAFT SHOW: The Motherlode of Craft Fair Lists - November

If you are looking to get your holiday shopping started early, don't forget to check out our Motherlode Craft Fair list. New events are being added all the time!
If you have any other local craft shows or fairs, please email your tips to us at
torontocraftalert@gmail.com. More information and local show dates will be added as they become available!

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

CRAFTY HAPPENING: Craft Swap!

Craft Swap Part at Sew be it Studio

Craft Swap Party at Sew be it Studio!

When: Saturday, November 24, 7-9 pm
Where: Sew Be It Studio 2156 Yonge Street (just south of Eglinton) 416-481-7784
Admission: $7 Of this admission price, $5 is being donated to the Assaulted Women's Help Line.

for more information contact sew be it.

Rules:
  • Craft items brought in must be in good condition, clean and COMPLETED! (No half finished pillows or un-raveling scarves.)
  • Any types of crafts are welcome.
  • Bargaining is warmly encouraged.
  • No fighting for the goodies.
  • Be fair, respectful and courteous.
How it works:
  • You can bring in as many of your crafts as you want to trade, then exchange and bargain for someone's else's treasures.
  • We will have some drinks and snacks while we swap till we drop!

The mission of this event:

  • To promote goodness in the name of craft.
  • A chance to meet other local artisans.
  • To raise donations for the Assaulted Women's Help Line
  • A chance to party and increase our good karma!!

P.S. This is not a craft sale. This is all about bartering for your handmade goods.