CRAFT TORONTO PICS: Truffle Keychains by beatblack

Truffle Keychains, originally uploaded by beatblack.

At first I was excited about some food craft in the flickr pool, and then I saw these were polyclay keychains and was double impressed - check out those nuts!

From the Craft Toronto flickr group. You can join too!

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Venus Zine’s 4th Annual Craft-Off Contest (deadline: September 18)

Venus Zine is a fantastic rag in which to gain exposure for your crafty prowess, especially if your work has a crafty-craft DIY aesthetic...Thanks to Natalie for passing this along!

Enter Venus Zine’s 4th Annual Craft-Off Contest

Deadline: September 18 (sponsored by Singer)

Got a clever handmade gift idea? Does it cost less than $40 to produce? Want to share your project with the world? If you answered yes to these questions, you should totally enter Venus Zine’s 4th Annual Craft-Off Contest, a competition pitting the craftiest in the land against one another to come up with the best, most creative, most fantabulous DIY creations imaginable ... on a budget.

Winners will be chosen from the submissions received, and the best projects will be featured in the winter 2008–2009 issue of Venus Zine, on newsstands December 1. Winners will be featured fancy pants–style in the magazine (photo and bio and all) in addition to venuszine.com.

PRIZES
- GRAND PRIZE: 1 winner will get the Singer 8763 Curvy sewing machine.

- Runners-up will receive one-year subscriptions to Venus Zine.

- All winners will be featured in the winter issue of Venus Zine in addition to venuszine.com.

For all the rules & submission guidelines see the contest post here.

SUPPLY YOUR HABIT: Needlecrafts Clearance at Knit-o-matic

A notice from Haley of Knit-o-matic about their virtual & real-life needlecraft sale:

Needlecrafts Clearance, 50% off or more!
We're clearing out all our needlecraft kits, buy them in the store or ONLINE:

Sublime Stitching Embroidery Patterns $2

Wool & Hoop Crewel Embroidery Kits $11

Subversive Cross Stitch Kits $6

Crafty Like a Fox Counted Cross Stitch Kits $5

SHOP CRAFTY: Trap Door boutique- opening reception (August 28)

Trap Door boutique, fashion for the artistic professionals.

*Opening reception will be from 7.00 pm till 11.00 pm at 2993 Dundas st. West*
Trap Door boutique is opening its doors August 28th with a collective art show and reception.
Where 2993 Dundas st. West, Toronto
www.shoptrapdoor.com

We will be carrying Canadian clothing and accessory designers.
Just to name few...fashions by Desperately Different, Dagg and Stacey, Studio Fresh, Snoflake, bags by Jack and Marjorie, jewelry by Missy Industry and more.
We will be also featuring a selection of Eco friendly designs.

Art work by Stu (playdead cult), Jonah K (teknotribes), Zirco Circus, Mikey Brand, Justin Ericson.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: The Bookmark Project 2008 (deadline October 1)

Deadline for submissions: October 1, 2008
Results will be announced shortly afterwards.

For the seventh year, the Koffler Gallery is organizing The Bookmark Project, an intervention of artist-designed bookmarks concurrent with the annual Jewish Book Fair organized by the Koffler Centre of the Arts.

This year’s theme, Insert, explores the interplay between the reader and the bookmark in the act of reading. The reader inserts him/herself into a book, activating it with their emotions, memories, and thoughts. When the reader pauses, the act of inserting a bookmark tangibly signals a temporary exit while simultaneously indexing the point of re-entry into the text. As an insert, the bookmark becomes a place holder for the reader’s hands, eyes, and thoughts, marking territory and preserving their intimate relationship with the book. Denoting the reader’s absence, the bookmark’s presence echoes their memory inside the book. Upon returning, the reader once again replaces the bookmark in order to immerse back into the text. The act of reading therefore proceeds in the continual interchange between the reader and the bookmark, initiated and sustained by the process of ‘inserting’.

Both unique bookmarks and multiples created by fine art students and practicing artists will be introduced into the 8,000 books on display during the 32nd Annual Jewish Book Fair held from October 30 to November 10, 2008. The event draws 10,000 participants. The bookmarks will also be on display in the Koffler Gallery showcase through November.

For more on the requirements for submissions or to download the submission form – visit the webpage.

+ This lisiting and image is reposted for news reporting purposes only

EXHIBITION: Heather Goodchild: The Below is like the Above @ QueenSpecific (Aug 22-Oct 8)

Via AkimboQueenSpecific presents:

Heather Goodchild
The Below is like the Above

22 August- 8 Oct., 2008

QueenSpecific, the window case next to Dufflet Pastries at 787 Queen Street West,
Opening 22 August, 6-7pm.

Heather Goodchild is intrigued by the symbolism of Freemasonry, alchemy, religion and the mysteries and hidden dangers lurking in fairy tales. She works with fibre to create felt mosaics and sculptural creatures that inhabit her dioramas.
For "The Below is like the Above", Heather has transformed the tall QueenSpecific vitrine into a cathedral where trees stand in for pillars and beasts come to supplicate.

Heather Goodchild lives and works in Toronto and is represented by Katharine Mulherin Contemporary Art Projects, www.katharinemulherin.com.

QueenSpecific is a window exhibition space displaying site specific art installations. It is located on Queen St. West adjacent to and sponsored by Dufflet Pastries. Artists exhibiting in the space are asked to consider the dimensions of the window, the locale, and the potential to engage with the casual passer-by.

QueenSpecific is programmed by Toronto based artist Joy Walker.

For more information contact:
info@queenspecific.com

ASK CRAFTY: where to find classes on weaving, ceramics, upholstery & rug braiding, and dyes for animal fibres

Workshop leaders & schools take note: lots of people looking for classes in this latest round of ask crafty. Please reply in the comments section of this post!

x Would you happen to know where I can take weaving classes? – patti
x i want to take a ceramics class (not thrown pottery) in Toronto.
any suggestions on how to find out? – Denise
x I'm looking for some upholstery classes. Any suggestions? – Rosanna
x I was wondering if you knew of any craft courses that teach you how to braid a rug? – Vanessa
x I’ve been looking for a local source for dyes for animal fibres and have failed.- Gayle

GET SCHOOLED: Digital Treats for your Photographs (September 20)

Do you have photographs EVERYWHERE from your memory card to CD's, from your computer hard drive to photo websites? Would you like to learn a simple solution to overcome your digital dilemma and create stunning keepsake albums, photobooks, page prints, cards, invitations and so much more? Simply attend this class to learn how!

Date: Saturday, September 20, 2008

Time: 11:00 a.m.

Location: Sheridan Davis Residence and Conference Centre
7897 McLaughlin Road
Brampton, ON L6H 5H9

To register for this class, contact Sharon at shibbert@rogers.com

CRAFTY BUSINESS WITH LAURA-JEAN: hiring help

Laura-Jean is back with some advice on an issue that is relevant to any growing craft business: hiring help.

Here's a question from one of our designer/members at Fresh Collective. Nicole from Precious Pink Designs, has been designing jewellery for years, and is now adding a clothing line, which she is also selling at our shop. She's at the point in growing her business where she's ready to hire help.

Q. I have a friend who sews and she'd like to sew for me when I'm ready. Is there a standard industry hourly wage for sewers? Do you know of a fair average?

A. Being ready to hire help is an exciting point to be at in your business, but there is a lot to consider. First, you want to pick the right person. Then you need to figure out how much to pay them and how much they will work, as well as whether they will be a contract worker or employee. You need to decide exactly what their duties will be, whether they will work at your place or their own, and whether you pay by the hour or by the piece.

It sounds like you're talking about a contract labour situation. There are a lot of details to determine whether someone is an employee or a contract worker, but, in short, if your friend were to take home sewing and sew it at home, invoicing you by the piece, this would be a contract situation. Generally, if the person works on your equipment at your place, and is paid by the hour, that is an employee situation. You can find info on the details that define those situations here.

This can be a great way to start out, because you'll only need bits of help here and there. There are downsides to a contract labour situation. One is that your worker may get busy with other work and leave you high and dry just before an important show. You tend to pay more per hour for the work, and often find yourself shipping out the sewing but spending lots of your own time doing mundane jobs like putting on price tags and packing boxes. As well, if you're not careful, you can multiply your mistakes. I recently had 30 skirts sewn, and I had given my sewer the wrong information about the seam allowance. I got back 30 skirts that were two sizes too big! If we had sewn those here in my studio, we would have noticed something was wrong on the first one and saved ourselves a lot of hassle. At the same time, the plusses of contract labour are many! Your worker supplies and repairs her own machine, you get an invoice and pay it (rather than deal with the paperwork and expenses of payroll) and you don't have to keep her working more than you want or need to.

Your friend may be a good match for your job, but I hired friends to help out here and there in my early years, and found it didn't work out great. I didn't know how to go about finding and selecting someone, and friends were just there, needing work and offering to help. It quickly fizzled out though, because their interests were really somewhere else and they just wanted a job (not this job). I did have one good match, however, who was a friend of a friend. She loved doing crafts, and was an actress with a few auditions a week to go on. I was able to offer her the flexibilty to take an afternoon off here and there to audition, or book a job, and she was able to earn a bit of money with a job that was pretty fun, so that worked out for a couple years for both of us. Don't make the mistake of hiring the wrong person just because they're there offering help.

In a contractor situation, pricing is to be determined between the two of you. Often, you give the sewer one sample. After sewing it, they tell you a price, which you can agree to, or negotiate. Sometimes a bulk order can bring down the price, or the style can be simplified. I usually go into it with a price range in mind that I'd be willing to pay based on how fast I can sew it and how much I think I can sell it for. If something took me 20-30 minutes to sew, I'd want to pay around $5-8. I figure a professional sewer is probably going to be faster than me, so they can make a pretty decent hourly rate.

You may feel like you need more of a general assistant, to do a bit of whatever needs doing around your studio. In this case, you'd be taking on an employee, which makes you an employer, with lots of responsibilities. First, you have to set up a payroll account with Revenue Canada. You'll be responsible to make deductions from the employee's paycheques and submit them to the goverment. These deductions are not only for income tax, but also CPP (Canada Pension Plan) and EI (Employment Insurance). You also have to add to the CPP and EI contributions, which will be an extra expense to take into account. Not only all that, you'll have to pay into WSIB (Workplace Safety Insurance Board), which is the insurance fund to protect workers if they are injured on the job. This is a seperate account you have to set up with them, and you pay a percentage of your gross payroll. The percentage you pay is determined by the type of job you offer and how likely injury may occur. (I pay a little over 1%.)

Ok, yes, this is a pain to set up, but it's not rocket science. You can do it yourself or if you have someone helping with your bookkeeping, they may be able to help you set these accounts up. Another option is hiring a payroll service, possibly through your bank. Many artists feel intimidated by the process, and are tempted to just pay cash under the table for part-time help. Not only could this land you in hot water, you miss out on the chance to count it as an expense. Payroll can easily be your biggest single expense, so doing it properly and writing it off will save you a lot of money and headaches in the long run.

I have to mention that I have the dream team of employees. I'm so lucky to have Jessie and Sian putting their all into their work. They are both just a great fit for me, and I love knowing that I have help every day with whatever needs doing. On top of all the obvious reasons employees are great, I just love the company! It can be lonely working away in your studio all day, and I really find having people around keeps me inspired and focussed and gives me someone else to bounce an idea off of, or ask an opinion of.

But hiring employees has problems too. Once someone is depending on you for their living, it can be stressful when money's tight. You really feel responsible to keep them working, and that may mean paying for supplies and making product you don't really need right now. You can really end up in a pickle financially, and may find you need to lay someone off. Cutting someone's hours, or a temporary lay-off means you risk losing your valued employee to another job. I did find myself in this situation once, and the employee had become a friend too, so it was a big crazy cry-fest! In the end she used it as the push she needed to start her own business, and everything worked out great, but at the time I felt just horrible!

When determining how much to pay an employee, honestly, unless you have a super profitable business or are just plain wealthy, start out very low. I usually start a bit above minimum wage. You can always raise it, but you can't ever lower it. When you're paying someone hour after hour, day after day, it can add up quickly, and they depend on their job whether your business is doing well or not. I'd rather start out low and raise as I can, than have to lay people off because my payroll costs are killing my business. One thing to consider is how much you pay yourself for all the hours you put in. I bet it's pretty low, and maybe a wake-up call to what your business can afford.

Don't forget that you have expenses other than the hourly wage. There's that employer's CPP and EI I mentioned before. You also have to pay vacation pay (4%-6%) and holiday pay (you pay them to not work on holidays!) As well, you have to factor in breaks and lunch. For example, if a worker can make one skirt in an hour, she will not be able to make 8 in an 8 hour day. Maybe 7 if you're lucky. So, a $10 an hour wage may actually cost you closer to $13 per actual hour worked. On top of this, there will be a lot of training in the beginning which will cost you your time and money.

For a general assistant, I look for someone inexperienced, but with the right personality. I can train a crafty person to do anything we do in my business, and I mostly want someone who is going to love the job and give it their all. If someone is interested in what they're doing, they're likely to do a good job. At Fresh Baked Goods, there isn't much room for career advancement, at least at this point, but I do offer a great chance for someone to take on a lot of responsibilty, a variety of tasks, offer a lot of input, and learn a lot about having a small business. For someone who wants to own their own shop one day, or design their own line, the job has more value than just the hourly wage.

One final option for extra help is taking on a co-op student. In short, high school students get credits for working for you and learning through "real world experience", and you get free labour. Some have all day placements for one semester, and some are every other day (mornings or afternoons only) for the whole school year. While free labour sounds great, they are very inexperienced and require a lot of training and supervision. I've had some bad experiences (which I later realized I should have nipped in the bud and given them the "real world experience" of being fired from a job they aren't taking seriously!) but I also had some amazing experiences with lovely, sweet kids who work hard and love to learn. Jessie, my main assistant, was originally a co-op student almost a decade ago, and I hired her on after she finished college. Register your workplace with the Toronto District School Board and a teacher will probably give you a call in the fall to see if you'll take on a student.

Well, I hope this is a help to all of you who are thinking about taking those big steps toward growing your business beyond your own self-employment. I found the transition tricky at times, but it's a step that can really get your business growing. New people always bring a fresh perspective and new skills to your business and it's a great feeling to be able to get things done so much more quickly when you don't have to do everything yourself! And good luck, Nicole! I can't wait to see all your new fall stuff on the racks and see it start flying out the door!

VENDOR CALL: City of Craft Applications due SOON (deadline: August 31, show: December 13)

Hi All,

Just a friendly reminder that applications for this show are due midnight August 31st - so please check out the applications & FAQs here and get in touch if you are interested in getting in on the crafty fun.

FYI to those who didn't attend last year: this is a juried craft show AND craft culture event with installations, workshops, and craft community exhibitors doing outreach. We had close to 1500 attendees last year, and got amazing feedback on the show. We have been really excited about the quality of applications coming through so far and look forward to hearing from more of you!

Love,
City of Craft

GET SCHOOLED: Silkscreen Workshop Sale at Peach Berserk (Fall & Winter)

A note from Kingi....

Our new book 'Peach Berserk's Silkscreen NOW' is now out, and doing
really well.

To celebrate, we are have a Silkscreen Workshop Sale! If you sign-up for any
of our upcoming Fall or Winter workshops, between now and the end of August you
will receive a FREE workshop DVD, and 10% off.

Please call to sign up today---416 504 1711. Not sure of the date that you want
to take the class? Just ask for a gift certificate for the workshop, usable
anytime.

Here is an email that we got from Leo, who took our last Workshop---

Hey Kingi, it's Leo from sundays workshop. I just wanted to thank you and
your wonderful sidekicks for one of the best days ever! As I got on the
streetcar to go home that night, I smiled a real smile, which I haven't done
in sometime. I thank you for that. I can't wait to continue the screen
printing experience!
Thank you, Leo

Hope to hear from you soon, xoxox Kingi

GET SCHOOLED: Landscape Ruching Workshop...Make An Art Quilt (September 27)

From Sew Sisters Quilt Shop:

Explore landscape quilt making using ruching techniques with Gordana Brelih. Ruching is a method of pushing valleys and mountains into fabric as you stitch by poking the fabric with a skewer. Embellishment and embroidery techniques will also be incorporated into your expressive landscape.

Saturday September 27, 2008 from 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sew Sisters Quilt Shop
3961 Chesswood Drive
Toronto, Ontario M3J 2R8
Price: $79.50

VENDOR CALL/CRAFTY BIZ: The Freshest Goods Market / UP IN YOUR BUSINESS at MANIFESTO 2008 (show: September 21, deadline: August 29)

UP IN YOUR BUSINESS at MANIFESTO 2008

Toronto's arts community includes a growing number of young
entrepreneurs who are running their own businesses as promoters, MC's,
managers, filmmakers, graphic and fashion designers, visual artists,
producers, and more. These entrepreneurs are essential to the vitality
and sustainability of the cultural industries in Canada and worldwide.
Up In Your Business is a program dedicated to supporting this scene
and is once again taking place as a part of the Manifesto Music & Arts
Festival in September. Although Up in Your Business is a multi-part
program, one major component of the program is:

The Freshest Goods Market

September 21, 2008 @ Nathan Phillips Square
Young entrepreneurs will set up booths to showcase their business and
sell their wares at Nathan Phillips Square on Sunday, September 21,
2008. The day will also include a major outdoor concert. The event
will be a significant sales, promotion and networking opportunity.
Cultural industry representatives and heavyweights will be in
attendance.

Up In Your Business wants to support youth to pursue their aspirations
in the art of business. If you are a young arts entrepreneur between
the ages of 16 and 30, register now – space is limited. To apply, you
must be:

* An entrepreneur or part of a group of entrepreneurs working in
the fields of urban arts (including music, film/video or fashion)
* Developing or running your own business
* Between the ages of 16 and 30
Please go to: http://www.themanifesto.ca/UIYB/ to fill out an
application! > DEADLINE: AUGUST 29.

Please send an email to uiyb@themanifesto.ca

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Canzine Call For Art Room Entries and Table Registrations (deadline: Aug 29th)

Canzine call for art room entries and table registrations, October 26th @ Gladstone Hotel

Deadline: August 29, 2008

For the past two years Toronto's Canzine, Canada's largest zine fair and festival of alternative culture, has included artists who take over the hotel rooms on the second floor of the Gladstone with interactive installations. Forests, musicians, funerals and crocheted boobs are just a few of the things that have filled our rooms in the past. This year Broken Pencil will continue the tradition and are currently looking for artists who would like to rent a room to entertain the masses.

Interested parties should send a pitch detailing what you plan to do and how you'll pull it off in a hotel room to Broken Pencil editor, Lindsay Gibb, at editor@brokenpencil.com with "Canzine Art Room Proposal" as the subject line.

Art rooms are $75. This year's theme is comedy, and while it's not imperative that the rooms keep with the theme, we definitely encourage using the space for hilarity. August 29th is the deadline for submissions.

We're also accepting table registrations from anyone who would like to sell their wares at Canzine. Tables are $10. To register please visit http://www.brokenpencil.com/canzine.

Hotel Canzine
Sunday, October 26th
The Gladstone Hotel
Downtown Toronto, 1214 Queen St. West (Queen just East of Dufferin)
$5 admission comes with a free copy of the Fall issue of Broken Pencil Magazine – issue 41 "Comedy"

For additional information about Canzine contact Norah at canzine@brokenpencil.com.
For media inquiries contact Lindsay at editor@brokenpencil.com, 416 204 1700

FREE STUFF: Skull Book Cover Download by Rosemary Travale

Skull Book Cover Download!, originally uploaded by Rosemary Travale.

The talented and always good-humoured Rosemary Travale sent this goodie along for your back-to-skool pleasure.

Skull Book Cover Download!

Cover your ugly old school books up in style with this Skull Book Cover download! Get it here.

It's black and white so you can ever colour it in to your liking. Who doesn't like colouring?

SHOP CRAFTY: blogTO's "Best Places to Find Stuff Made by Local Designers”

Some recent googling led me to “The Best Places to Find Stuff Made by Local Designers” compiled by blogTO. They’ve selected 12 shops and profiled each one (some more extensively than others) with interviews and photos. There is even a voting function where you can rate the shop out of 5 and leave comments. Maybe many of you have seen this, but if you haven’t it is definitely worth a gander & a weigh-in with your votes.

VENDOR CALL: new designers wanted for Fresh Collective & Fresh Baked Goods

Designers Wanted!

Do you have your own line of jewellery, clothing, tee shirts, kids stuff, bags or accessories?

We have space at both our collectively run shops coming available! This is a great opportunity to get involved with a fabulous, supportive group of designers, all working together to run their businesses in this framework. We each pay a monthly rent on our space, and take one day a week working in the shop, which is a great chance to be accessible to your customers and to see what people buy and why.

Our shops are in great locations (Kensington Market and Queen West) and are well-established (10 and 5 years respectively). We have a loyal clientel who love handmade fashion and accessories.

We now have new mini-spaces, to make it easier for new designers to get involved!

The commitment is only month-to-month, but we've had many, many designers stay on for years. And many have even gone on to open their own shops!

This is a great way to develop and grow your business! For more info, check out our websites at www.freshcollective.com and www.freshbakedgoods.com.

The next step is to contact me, Laura-Jean, at knittingqueen@rogers.com with any questions you have.

I look forward to hearing from you!

VENDOR CALL: Proudly Canadian Crafts Holiday Craft Show (November 2)

A note from Latoya at Proudly Canadian Crafts:

Proudly Canadian Crafts would like to invite you to be a vendor at our upcoming Holiday Craft Show on Sunday November 2nd, 2008 from 11am to 5pm.

The event will take place in the trendy art community of Dundas & Dufferin.
In order to participate crafts must be handmade in Canada. Manufactured or international products won't be considered. The space includes tables & chairs and the fee is $40.00 for the day.

Our craft show realizes the importance of supporting the local economy and encourages its patrons to buy Canadian!

If you have any questions or would like to receive an application package please feel free to email me at proudlycanadiancrafts@gmail.com

CRAFTY HAPPENING: Shoes & Sound at Keep Six Contemporary (August 22 & 20)

A couple of engaging events coming up at Keep Six...one meaty and the other sounds like good fun. The chat on sound art is coming up tomorrow.

Location: Keep Six Contemporary; gallery and project space, 938 Bathurst St, Toronto
Contact: http://keep6c.com/main 647.436.6594



THE MEAT

sumMORE SPEAK

ANNA FRIZ, BENTLEY JARVIS, JAMES BAILEY,
and NADENE THERIAULT-COPELAND

speak on Sound Art

Date: Wednesday, August 20th 7:30 – 9pm, doors open at 7pm

Featuring presentations by Anna Friz, Bentley Jarvis, James Bailey, and Nadene Thériault-Copeland. Each draws from their experience as innovative artists, educators and programmers in the field of sound art to review current trends and share expertise. An open forum discussion will follow the presentations.

sumMORE SPEAK is coordinated by Toronto based artist, Katie Kehoe and gallery director, Rafi Ghanaghounian. The primary function of these talks is to stimulate conversation around contemporary art issues by bringing awareness to the general public in a casual atmosphere. Through engaging prominent artists and professionals who are based in Toronto and whose foresight and innovation has made them leaders in their respective fields. sumMORE SPEAK seeks to encourage debates and springboard open forum discussion.

THE FUN

The Shoe Party

WHEN: Friday, August 22, 2008, 7pm

WHAT: The Shoe Party is a semi-serious event involving a runway, a judging panel, prizes and a bar. Curious observers, enthusiastic first-timers and seasoned runway participants are welcome to show off their favourite footware.

The 4th Shoe Party will be enhanced by an exhibition curated by the Trousseau Society. Titled, City Sole: A Love Affair, the show explores a recently uncovered Toronto collection of over 7,000 fashion history items which has yielded a breathtaking selection of party shoes from the turn of the century to the 1980s. Still carrying a lingering but potent memory of these impulses, the shoes are being brought back for a final party out on the town. Freed from their boxes, 10 pairs of never-before-seen shoes will be displayed against a backdrop of photographs of Toronto women from across the city modeling their favourite fancy footwear circa 2008 - creating one last riotous, colourful celebration of women from across the generations.

For additional information and pictures from previous years, visit www.theshoeparty.blogspot.com Contact: Ann Pocket or Elise Hodson
647-238-3779

SCHEDULE:
7 to 8 registration and reception
8 to 10:30 runway competition
11 awards ceremony

TICKETS: payable upon arrival
$5 general admission
$5 per pair of shoes entered for the runway
Cash bar

CONTACT: theshoeparty@gmail.com

2008 CATEGORIES:
Glamour,Street, Unique, Corporate, Vintage, Manly, Hot
Taken New category! Calling all brides, bridesmaids, grooms and other wedding participants. We want to see what you wore down the aisle by choice or otherwise.
Best in Show A select committee will nominate finalists for the most prestigious award of all. But it's up to the audience to choose the ultimate winner.

DRESS CODE: Strictly White
SHOES: Anything Goes

REGISTRATION: Space is limited! There are 7 places per category. You can enter more than one pair of shoes and in multiple categories. Sign up at the party or reserve a spot ahead of time by contacting theshoeparty@gmail.com

This year will see the return of three of our favourite judges:
Flavio Belli Artist, Curator, Commentator and Critic
Avryll McNair Designer and Real Estate Professional
Nelson Silva Footwear Designer

We are also pleased to welcome two new members to the panel:
Serah-Marie McMahon Editor, Worn Magazine
Mafalda Silva Fashion and Footwear Designer

CRAFTY BIZ: Rozaneh vintage repair services

Got damaged vintage gathering dust in your closet or drawers and no one to help? Rozaneh Vintage is now offering vintage mending services ranging from minor repairs (e.g. button replacement, zippers) to major restoration (e.g. old lace on Victorian (1900s) or more recent pieces). Guaranteed honesty about whether the repair is possible or not.

If interested drop by the Rozaneh studio during regular store hours:

Thursday 1pm-8pm
Friday 1pm-7pm
Sunday 1pm to 7pm

OR:
to arrange another time or discuss your needs, call 416-534-8303

LOCATION:

442 Dufferin Avenue, Unit E
Steps North of the Gladstone Hotel
South of Dundas at Alma Bus stop

CRAFTY HAPPENING: Zine Dream small press art fair (August 24)

Click here to enlarge

ZINE DREAM
small press art fair, featuring over 40 local artists and zinesters!
+ All 3 rooms of the rooms of the tranzac, with music and
performances all day! + Toronto Zine Library Open House,
come hang out and read zines! + there will be a bake sale!!

SUN AUG 24 08 - TRANZAC, 292 Brunswick Ave. 12 to 6 pm

+ with music by
-Peace Loving (from Jamaica Plain, MA - http://www.myspace.com/peachloving)
-Doctor Matthew Dunn
-$100 lite (Ian & Simone - http://www.myspace.com/1hundreddollars)

-DJS Longhorn Grille + Orenda

+ performances by
-Lou Calabro
-Stephanie Wilkie
-Chris Locke

PWYC

contact laura (lauramclaura at gmail) or jesjit (jesjit at gmail) for more info

CRAFTY CHAT: ERASURE? Conversations On Graffiti (September 20)

TheStoreFront Community launches their first large project challenging values assigned to neighbourhood graffiti:

Graffiti at Deleware - Bloorcourt Village. Ordered to be removed by the city

ERASURE? Conversations On Graffiti

Is graffiti art or crime? Vandalism or beautification? What is the connection between gang related activities and graffiti culture? What is good graffiti and what is bad? These are questions we'd like to address at the first large scale project of TheStoreFront Community that will take place on Saturday September 20. Property owners around the GTA, a few in our own neighbourhood of Bloorcourt and Bloordale Village, have been ordered by the City to remove commissioned art / graffiti from their properties. We would like to build dialogue on this issue with an exhibit, neighbourhood tour, discussion and interactive pieces to collect information from the public. Through documentation of our event we want to make a mark as TheStoreFront Community, measure our collective power and put our communication strength to the test with an issue that affects the urban landscape.

Visit the webpage to weigh in with your thoughts on this issue.

Also Need volunteers to help out with the event.

Contact us:
info@thestorefrontcommunity.com

GET SCHOOLED: Decorate Your Own Hat Party (September 21)

Hat Frenzy! and Creative Yarns Inc. together are hosting a 'Decorate Your Own Hat Party'. Half of the proceeds will be donated to Scarborough Centenary Hospital.

The event will be held at Creative Yarns' downstairs training room, in their store, at 269 Ellesmere Road (at Warden Avenue).

Sunday September 21, 2008. 1 pm to 4 pm

Participants will get one hat of their choice to decorate in two ways. Supplied are ribbons, yarns, beads, bows, rosettes, appliques and training, as well as snacks for the break. Participation will cost $80.00 per person.

Space is limited - so if you are interested, or know someone who might be interested, please call Diane at Hat Frenzy! as soon as possible at 416-267-0406. You will be contacted with sign up details, then you will get to choose the hat that we make for you.

GET SCHOOLED: Needlefelting Workshop on Ward's Island (August 17)

Wondering what do to this weekend? Want to try something different? Why not head over to the island to pick up a new crafty skill for the cost of a movie and a kiddie popcorn?

Needlefelting Workshop

taught by Sarah Rosensweet of Sweet Thing Designs (www.sweetthingdesigns.com)

Sunday, August 17 3:00-6:00
Ward's Island Clubhouse, Toronto Island
a bargain at $15, including materials (class is part of Arts Sundays workshops- sponsored by the Ward's Island Association)
to sign up or for more information- email me sarahrosensweet@gmail.com

GET SCHOOLED: Workshops at the Paper Place (September-November)

OOo all this looks amazing!! ch-ch-check it ouuut:

Workshops are back at The Paper Place!!!

Workshops Available:

Meishi Pocket Book
Wednesday, September 24, 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Paper Cutting for Card Making
Tuesday, September 30, 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Konnyaku
Wednesday, October 1, 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Paper Pendants
Wednesday, October 8, 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Paper Tearing for Card Making
Wednesday, October 15, 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Shameless Self Promotion - Custom Presentation Enclosures
Wednesday October 22, 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Secret Square Booklet
Tuesday, October 28, 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Non Toxic Image Transfers
Wednesday, October 28, 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Crane Folding
Wednesday, November 5, 6:30pm - 8:30pm


Interested in a workshop or two? All you need to do is register! Payment is required upon registration for all workshops to guarantee a space. You may register in person at the store or by phone with a credit card. Withdrawal allowed up to three days before the workshop. No refunds after that time.
Please Note: Due to renovations, we are unable to provide access to washroom facilities.

For more information about the workshops, go to www.thepaperplace.ca, and enter workshops.

The Paper Place
887 Queen Street West
416 703 0089 | info@thepaperplace.ca

EXHIBITION: Moimoi Design: Beeline at MADE (Aug. 21-Oct. 4, opening: Aug. 21)

moimoi Design: Beeline

Installation in the MADE Cooler
New collaborative installation by Angela Iarocci & Claire Ironside @ MADE

moimoi (moy moy): is a Toronto-based collective dedicated to trans-disciplinary
exploration across art, design, craft, and education.



Exhibition: August 21st - October 4th
Opening Reception: Thursday August 21st, 2008, 7-9pm
Location: 867 Dundas St. West
Showroom Hours: Tuesday - Friday 11am to 7pm
Saturday 11am to 6pm
www.madedesign.ca | 416 607 6384

This exhibition celebrates the honey bee's industriousness through the creation of a bee inspired environment and objects. The hive-like installation is comprised of beeswax candles which embody the number of flower trips required to make the wax and wall murals inspired by bee vision, the flowers typically visited to make honey and the relationship between flower and hive.

Local honey made by the Toronto Beekeepers Association through Foodshare is also on display.

GET SCHOOLED: Fall 2008 workshops and classes @ Koffler Centre of the Arts

via akimbo

4588 Bathurst Street

Toronto ON M2R 1W6
t 416 636 1880 x 269
f 416 636 5813
www.kofflerarts.org

engage the world.

Fall 2008 workshops and classes - REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Why not take a class or three this fall at the Koffler? We're closer than you think. The Koffler offers over 65 classes in visual arts, music, dance, and so much more for all ages and all interests. REGISTER BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2008 & RECEIVE A 10% DISCOUNT. All classes are open to the general public – please visit our website for all available courses & details.

CHILDREN/TEEN VISUAL ARTS COURSES INCLUDE:

Jewellery Making NEW!
Family Pottery
Sculptural Clay for Kids
Colouring Outside the Lines
Mixed Media NEW!
Paint Like Picasso
Stone Sculpture for Kids
Pottery for Teens
Portfolio Preparation
Painting & Drawing taught in Russian & Hebrew NEW!


ADULT VISUAL ARTS COURSES INCLUDE:

Jewellery Making NEW!
Pottery
Experimental Painting: Critique
Experimental Painting: Mixed Media
Life Drawing (Instructional and Open Studio) NEW!
Drawing for Beginners NEW!
Acrylic Painting
Contemporary Figurative Painting NEW!
Portraiture
Painting & Drawing taught in Russian & Hebrew NEW!
Printmaking
Monoprint NEW!
Stone Sculpture
Independent Stone Sculpture
Japanese Paper Making NEW!

CHILDREN/TEEN MUSIC CLASSES & ENSEMBLES INCLUDE:

Deborah's Sing-Along
Suzuki Violin
Private Instruction: Piano, Guitar, Violin, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Flute, Accordion, Flute, and more!
Renanim Youth Choir NEW!
Shirim: Hebrew Music NEW!

ADULT MUSIC CLASSES & ENSEMBLES INCLUDE:

Raising a Musician: Workshops for parents NEW!
Suzuki Violin
Private Instruction: Piano, Guitar, Violin, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Flute, Accordion, Flute, and more!
Koffler Concert Band: Resa's Pieces
Get Your Chops Back workshops NEW!
Cello Ensemble
Koffler Chamber Orchestra

FOLKDANCE CLASSES INCLUDE:

Israeli
International
Nirkoda Israeli Dancers
Classic & Traditional
Israeli Folkdancing for Families
Rikudiyah Israeli Dance Festival for Children

BALLET, JAZZ & HIP HOP DANCE CLASSES:

We are proud to announce our NEW dance provider: The Martha Hicks School of Ballet!

For info & registration: http://mhsbatthekoffler.ca

To register or for more information:

Nataly Dayan, Head of Education and Student Services
416 636 1880 x 269, ndayan@kofflerarts.org
or fax Registration Form to 416 636 5813

Click the link below to view the basic registration form required for Koffler Programs

http://www.kofflerarts.org/upload/Koffler%20Registration%20Form.pdf

Koffler Centre of the Arts

Come early. Stay late.
(and bring your mother)

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Fashion Project for [FAT] 2009 (deadline: Sept. 15th)

We are currently accepting proposals for a fashion project that will be exhibited during [FAT] Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion Week, spring 2009. The final project will include 12 designers from across Canada, representing all ten provinces and both territories.

Applicants can live in their chosen province or hail from there - but intimate knowledge of the area is crucial.

This exhibition will collect designers from across the country to re-design their province/territory's representative stereotype. Tongue-in-cheek, absolutely, but the end result should be a slightly more accurate depiction of the diversity within our large country.

Deadline for proposals is September 15th. Final outfit deadline February 15th.

For further details, please go here.

Submission Requirements:

• - sketches of proposed outfit, along with details regarding design choices.
• - 5 examples of past work, with at least two demonstrating sewing ability. Collaborations between artists and fashion designers are welcome. Submissions can be send electronically to breeynmccarney@yahoo.co.uk, or on disk to:

[FAT] Home Project
902 Cavers Street,
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,
S7K 0Z4

For more information, please contact b@breeyn.com

www.breeyn.com
www.getfat.ca

CRAFTY BIZ/GET SCHOOLED: Tank grand opening party & sale (Sept. 27) and classes

Click here to enlarge

Tank is now open for business again after two long weeks of moving and renovations! There are still a few little details that are coming together, so don't forget to put a star beside Sept 27th and come by for our GRAND OPENING Party & Sale. Lots of deals, sweets treats, and new jewels!

Also Happening at TANK... Classes (see blog or website for more details)

Glass Beadmaking - Wed evenings starting Aug 20th - $285 all materials inc.

Playing with Fire, 3 hour Intro to Beadmaking - $95 all materials inc. Call for dates

International Guest Artist - Heather Trimlett - $400 + $50 materials kit (one space left)

For more info please contact us

Tank jewelry & beads
105, Bldg 74. 55 Mill St
The Distillery District
Toronto, ON. M5A 3C4
647-430-8589

amy_johnson@sympatico.ca

www.ehmeglass.com

www.tankstudio.blogspot.com

CRAFT SHOW/VENDOR CALL: Reclaimed Craft Market in Kitchener (September 6 &7)

ALL WEEKEND

Reclaimed Craft Market

Saturday September 6th + Sunday September 7th

@ Kitchener CITY HALL
200 King St West.
(parking in garage on Ontario St, or in open lot on King st.)

We have setup this urban market at the heart Kitchener's downtown block party, HYPE on KING (http://hypeonking.wordpress.com)

...surrounded by live music and retail shop demonstrations.

Down the street, break dance crews and skateboarders test out their skills to their own personal DJ.

Its the first year for HYPE but already the city is a buzz with excitement.

Get downtown. Feel the HYPE

** we have such a large space to fill we are keeping applications open for another week. Please see http://reclaimedcraft.wordpress.com to book your table ($45/day)

VENDOR CALL: 2008 Cabbagetown Festival (September 6th & 7th)

There are still a few spaces left for vendors at this popular show.....

The Cabbagetown Festival takes place Saturday September the 6th and Sunday the 7th.

It offers a variety of unique vendors, entertainment and food from around the world.

More information about the festival can be found at:www.cabbagetownfestival.blogspot.com

For information on how to become a vendor at the 2008 festival e-mail marianne@oldcabbagetown.com or call 416-921-0857.

GET SCHOOLED: Beginners enameling class at George Brown (Sept. 23-Nov 25)

Instructor Catherine Crow send along a notice for her beginners enameling class at George Brown which starts September 23rd and continues each Tuesday until the 25th of November from 6:30-9:30pm.

Here is the class description:

Jewellery Enamel I

Develop the basic skills and techniques used to apply and melt
powdered glass onto metal. Learn stenciling, dry dusting, sgraffito,
underglazing, overglazing and simple cloisonné. Complete three pieces
using demonstrated techniques as well as one cloisonné piece using
your own design.

More information is available here:
http://www.imagocorvi.com/class.htm

And interested parties can register here.

GET SCHOOLED: Fall Classes at Sew Be It Studio

PURLS OF WISDOM: BEGINNER KNITTING
Become a knitter in just one class! Learn how to cast on, knit, purl, and bind off. This workshop is for absolute beginners. You will learn the basic set of knitting skills: knitting and purling, casting on and off, increasing and decreasing. In this class, you'll complete your first simple project. We'll talk about how to read a pattern, how to shop for yarn and supplies, how to fix mistakes--in short, everything you need to know, so you won't throw down your needles in needless frustration halfway through a project!

Course runs over two weeks.
Date: September 13 & 20, Saturdays
Time: 2pm - 5pm

Date: October 1 & 8, Wednesdays
Time: 6pm - 9pm
Price: $65.00 + GST

Materials: Please bring 4.5mm or 5mm knitting needles and 4-6oz worsted weight yarn.

Sock Knitting 101

Who doesn't like a bit of near-instant gratification? Whether you're a novice knitter or a seasoned veteran, this class is for you! Come learn to knit two socks at once on one circular needle! We'll walk you through designing and knitting your own pair of custom-fit socks from start to finish. No circular knitting experience necessary! Beware though: Sock knitting is addictive!

You'll learn:
The Magic Loop method--no double pointed needles to lose!
Toe-up sock construction--never run out of yarn again!
Proper fitting
Short rows

Skills required:
Participants should already be comfortable with the knit stitch, purl stitch and binding off.
Students will need to bring their own knitting needles. Information will be given upon registration.

Date: November 18 & 25, Tuesdays
Time: 6pm – 9pm
Price: $75 + GST. Price includes yarn

Beginner Sewing

If you have never sewn before, never thread a needle or held a thimble, this is the class for you.

Master your fear of machines! In this course, you'll learn the fundamental stitches and the uses of needles, work on small projects to increase your level of comfort with the sewing machine and serger. Students will also learn different types of hand stitching and seam finishing. You will also learn how to use commercial patterns, how to take a full set of measurements, and about different types of fabric and their preparations.
Students will also learn basic zipper applications.
You will apply all these basic sewing techniques to your project. Ladies can create a SIMPLE SKIRT, PANTS, or SHORTS and gentlemen can create simple pants or shorts (or a skirt if you like!).
Our students also work on small starter projects, one of which is making beds for dogs and cats at The Toronto Humane Society.

No sewing skills required. Perfect for absolute beginners.

Each session runs for five weeks.

Date: September 7, Sundays
Time: 10am -1pm

Date: September 26, Fridays
Time: 10am -1pm

Date: October 7, Tuesdays
Time: 6pm -9pm

Date: October 22, Wednesdays
Time: 6pm -9pm

Date: November 21, Fridays
Time: 6pm -9pm

Date: December 2, Tuesdays
Time: 6pm -9pm

Date: December 3, Wednesdays
Time: 6pm -9pm

Price: $225.00 + GST

Now if you sign up for Intermediate Sewing following your Beginner Sewing Class, you will receive 15% off the course fee.
Please ask us for more details.

Introduction to Fashion Design for Teens

Do you have a dream of becoming a fashion designer? Ever wonder what it takes to be one? This is the opportunity for you to get a taste of the world of fashion design.

This is an intensive Fashion design training course. You will get an overview of fashion sketching, sewing techniques, fabrics, design concepts, creating a portfolio, and most of all designing a wardrobe! You will be challenged to take your design conception to make it into a reality.

Date: October 4, Saturdays
Time: 2pm - 4pm

Course is 8 weeks

Price: $240.00 + GST

Register for the above classes at:

Sew Be It Studio
2156 Yonge Street
Toronto ON M4S 2A8
416-481-7784
www.sewbeitstudio.com