happy holidays!

photo credit: myan print shop

It's been quiet.

Rob and I hopped onto a plane and took a few days to do nothing. I was not prepared to participate in 4 craft fairs (ending with One of a Kind) and do retail this year. It was a 1.5 person (0.5 being Rob who makes the teacup candles and fortune cookie cat nip toys) sweat shop over here. Plus, throw in a case of strep throat / virus due to stress, two visits to the medical clinic and the holidays. Needless to say, it was a hard month!

I'm slowly getting back into things. Hoping to wrap up a few points on the to-do list before the end of the year. My apologies for the delay, but better now than never I guess! We want to thank all the attendees, our vendors and sponsors in making the December 2010 Got Craft event, the best indie craft fair in Vancouver! It was a record breaking event, both in vendor sales and attendance numbers. Check out this post by Stitch Rabbit, this one by ars gratia artis or this post by Vancouver Portraits.

If you missed the holiday show, mark your calendars! Our next show will be on Sunday, May 8th, 2011. Interested in applying to be a vendor? Details can be found here.

A big thank you to all of our readers, fans and followers for your support. Got Craft would not exist without all of you. Happy holidays and we will continue our regular posts starting in the new year!

xo Andrea & Robert

things to do :: Shiny Fuzzy Muddy 11

The Shiny Fuzzy Muddy collective, named for descriptors of the media represented, was founded in 2003 by Kari Woo, Arleigh Wood, Astrosatchel, Frances Felt, and cul de sac design. The collective set out to promote the handmade movement and avoid the customary association of craft fairs with dollies by presenting a carefully curated selection of work. Now in it's 11th year, Shiny Fuzzy Muddy is proving to be shinier, fuzzier, and muddier than ever with 25 local designers showcasing their wares in the two day show.

If you missed them at Got Craft, don't forget to check out HeyDay Design, Locomotive Clothing and Hand & Shadow as well as past participants, Jessie Turner, Phaulet and Audra Neil

Event: Shiny Fuzzy Muddy 11

Date / Time:  Saturday, December 11th, 2010 - 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 12th, 2010 - 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Location: Heritage Hall - 3102 Main Street, Vancouver

swag bag winner + toque craft fair

Congratulations to Crislynne for winning two free passes to Got Craft and a swag bag full of goodies!  Thanks so much to everybody that entered. See you this Sunday!


Crislynne said...

I'm excited to see Kove Handmade at the fair, their knitted and crocheted items look so cozy and stylish!

Event: Got Craft?

Date / Time: Sunday, December 5th, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Location: Royal Canadian Legion - 2205 Commercial Drive @ East 6th Avenue 

Toque starts today at the Western Front, so don't forget to stop by and visit some Got Craft vendors including Wendy Oaksman, The Beautiful Project, Divesin and our friends Collage Collage, Arsenal Pulp Press, Thistle Town Studio and A Farmers Daughter.

Event: Toque

Date / Time: Friday, December 3rd from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 4th from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Location: Western Front - 303 East 8th Avenue, Vancouver

Click here for the facebook event page for more information.

things to do :: crafts for a cause

guest post by Sam Bradd

Event: Crafts for a Cause - 3rd annual craft fair to support social justice struggles
Date / Time: Saturday, December 4th, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Venue: Rhizome Café, 317 East Broadway, Vancouver
Cost: $2 admission

Who we are: Danielle, Sam, and Lisa from Rhizome Café
What is it: 3rd annual Crafts for a Cause event
What we’re doing: bringing together 15 organizations and artists for a craft fair that supports social justice struggles

Three years ago, Danielle and Lisa decided that the city needed a craft fair that would highlight the crafts and art in support of local social justice organizations. And where better to hold it than Rhizome Café on Broadway, since Rhizome hosts community meetings, fundraisers, events, and social events throughout the year.

On Saturday, December 4th Crafts for a Cause attendees can shop for tshirts, prints, posters, coffee, ethical textiles, buttons, and other crafts made by organizations and artists. To support the ongoing work of the participating organizations, partial proceeds from artists' sales are shared amongst the groups. If your significant other insists they’d rather wait outside than come into a craft fair, you can mention that Rhizome is a licensed establishment too.

*****************************

No One is Illegal, The Purple Thistle Centre, Redwire Native Youth Media, Leave Out Violence, The Organizing Centre for Social and Economic Justice / Defendamos Nuestra Tierra Artesanias, Prison Justice Day Committee, Indigenous Action Movement, Rhizome Café, Café Justicia, la mano ethical textiles, Favianna Rodriguez,, Jada-Gabrielle Pape, Sam Bradd Designs, Afuwa Granger, Danielle Gauld, fierce green creations

Kove Handmade - feature #44

Name: Kyla Leslie / Kove Handmade
Website links: Kove | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

What do you make?
kove is primarily a line of knit and crochet scarves, cowls, warmers and wraps. There are a few necklaces and clutches in the mix as well.

What or who inspires you?
The line is heavily influenced by the west coast. I love living by the mountains and next to the ocean, so those textures inspire my work. Versatility is important to me, so I strive to incorporate functional elements like hoods and double sided buttons into the designs.

How did you get started?
I would say it was a combination of time, obsession and curiosity that lead me to launch kove. Reconnecting with a craft I had learned as a youngster (crochet) and using it to create something contemporary and wearable was something that I wanted to put out in the world. I opened my Etsy shop on Valentine's day this year, and ended up realizing a dream I didn't know I had.



What are your favourite materials to work with?
I mostly use a chunky wool / acrylic blend of yarn, which is super soft to work with. I also love the contrast of incorporating hardware into my fibre jewelry.

What is the hardest and your most favourite part of crafting?
The biggest challenge is time - which I suppose is true of any small business owner. I wish there were more hours in the day to just sit and design. But the best part is seeing people enjoy what you've made, and make it their own.



List 5 of your favourite links and why you like them
Etsy: I've recently become addicted to buying vintage clothes on Etsy.
Twitter: To connect with others in the (virtual) handmade world.
Poppytalk: For design inspiration.
101 Cookbooks: For meal inspiration
ffffound.com: For all kinds of inspiration



Do you have any advice for those in the biz?
Love what you do, do your best work, and really get to know who your customers are.

Do you consider yourself an artist or a crafter?
Probably a crafter or designer.

(photo images courtesy of Kove)

If you are interested in being featured, please send us an email at info(at)gotcraft(dot)com.

Check out our past features...
Sam Bradd - feature #43
Katrinshine - feature #42
Penelope Brown - feature #41
Laura Bucci Handmade - feature #40
Track and Field Designs - feature #39
Irit Sorokin Designs - feature #38
Clockwork Fantastica - feature #37
Divesin - feature #36
Flight Path Designs - feature #35
Plantscapes - feature #34
Olive - feature #33
Uncle Phil / Flipside - feature #32
Kim Werker - feature #31
Haiiku - feature #30
Smidgebox Designs - feature #29
heyday design - feature #28
Smeeta - feature #27
ACageyBee - feature #26
Maked - feature #25
Firefly Notes - feature #24
Florence Ann - feature #23
Him Creations - feature #22
Jenny Hart - feature #21
district thirty - feature #20
tinywarbler designs - feature #19
telly designs - feature #18
Cabin + Cub - feature #17
Rachel Hobson - feature #16
Green Couch Designs - feature #15
Tanis Alexis - feature #14
Sweetie Pie Press - feature #13
Fibre Manipulator - feature #12
Sam Made - feature #11
All Things Paper - feature #10
Owl + Pussycat - feature #9
Bliss in a teacup - feature #8
It's Your Life - feature #7
Faythe Levine - feature #6
Coco Cake Cupcakes - feature #5
pomomama design - feature #4
GroovyGlassGirl - feature #3
Bueno Style - feature #2
The Beautiful Project - feature #1