Our Christmas Tree

Want to see our yummy handmade and vintage Christmas tree decorations? Check out my post over at my other blog - lotus events.

Crafty Wonderland

(I have been looking for bottle brush vintage Christmas trees everywhere and was lucky enough to pick some up for a really good price from Magpie Ethel at the fair.)

If there was a race between two of my favourite US cities, it would have to be San Francisco, CA and Portland, OR. It would probably be a tie. I just can't get enough of either one of them! A few days after Got Craft wrapped up, we took a road trip to Portland to help out with Crafty Wonderland and drop off some handmade goodies at TinyMeat. We have attended their holiday show for the past three years and have braved cold weather and snow blizzards for one of their 200 swag bags!


(line to get in)


In fact, this is where Got Craft's swag bag idea came from! 2100 people came through in the first hour and by the end of the day (11 to 7pm), 7500 people had stopped in. With 220 amazing vendors including Buy Olympia, Little Otsu, My Imaginary Boyfriend, Jill Bliss, Obsessive Consumption, Crafty Wonderland is the place to be. Mark your calendars for their Spring show on May 1st & 2nd, 2010!



We returned to Vancouver Sunday evening. Back at home for two days and then off to San Francisco for Renegade tomorrow morning! Will post photos soon.

Firefly Notes - feature #24

Name: Sandy Bahrich from Firefly Notes
Website links: Etsy Shop

What do you make?
Papercrafts, accessories and lots of wedding favors!!

What or who inspires you?
I am inspired by arts and artistic people, culture, vintage and history



How did you get started?
I have always been a crafty person who is drawn to the obscure but it really became a part of my daily being as I transitioned into motherhood and I needed a regular outlet for my own energy. Once the wee men are asleep, mama gets down to business.

What are your favourite materials to work with?
This can change with the weather but for now I seem to like resin and varnish. Anything you can coat on and have harden up is the bees knees for me... at the moment.



What is the hardest and most favourite part of crafting?
The most difficult thing for me is finding the time to do all of the things I want to do. Striking a balance between home life and crafting as a business is tough. My most favorite thing is the instant gratification that comes with selling something I made. I thought what I made was kinda cool, but it is really cool if you think so too!



List 5 of your favourite links and why you like them

Etsy: really needs no explination!! So much fun to shop and sell!

Stamp Diva: ahhhh!! Best stamps ever, reasonable prices , A+ shipping charges (actaully what it costs), great customer service.

Papier Valise: ohhh! Gems in a treasure chest. Based in Canada too!!

New York Public Library: Crazy database of images and text. Recomended by one of my customers on etsy!

Mother of a Deal: for the mom in me looking for a bargain. oh yea! I have scored some good deals from this site!



Do you have any advice for those in the biz?
Don't underestimate yourself and what you have to offer!



Do you consider yourself an artist or a crafter?
I do think that they are way different. I am a crafter for sure. I often use others art (with permission of course) to craft my designs. It's like rap vs. rock and roll really. ha!

(photo images courtesy of Firefly Notes)

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

Check out our past features...

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

Buy handmade in Portland

Hey! You can now find my handmade goods for sale at TinyMeat in Portland at 3808 N. Williams #132 behind Ristretto Roasters. If you live in Portland, stop by and cross some names off your holiday list!

For those in Vancouver, you can find me at Barefoot Contessa on Main Street, Kiddo, Collage Collage and Lucky Rooster on Commercial Drive.


(image courtesy of TinyMeat)

Got Craft? Spring 2010

Thank you to everybody that joined us at our holiday show on December 6th, 2009! We broke our attendance record and some of our vendors experienced record sales!

Congratulations to ML, CW & SW and AB & JM for winning a Yudu machine. I can't wait to see your fabulous creations. We also gave away a DIY button making kit to SW courtesy of Six Cent Press. Fun! Fun! Fun!

For those crafty folk that are interested in participating in our next show on Sunday, May 2nd, 2010, applications are now up! Click here to get started. Deadline is March 5th, 2010.

this weekend!

Don't forget to check out these shows this weekend!


Shiny Fuzzy Muddy
Saturday, December 12, 2009 - 11am - 9 pm
Sunday, December 13, 2009 -11am - 7 pm
Heritage Hall
3102 Main Street, Vancouver


Craftacular Christmas
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
11am - 4:30pm
Little Mountain Studios
195 East 26th Avenue

Portobello West
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Noon to 6pm
Rocky Mountaineer Station
1755 Cottrell Street


Liili'Q Cafe Christmas Gifts Sale
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
1268 Pacific Blvd, Yaletown

Florence Ann - feature #23

Name: Florence Ann by Erin Gibbs
Website links: florenceann.com, florenceann.etsy.com, twitter.com/Florence_Ann

What do you make?
Felted mittens, scarves, spats and collars from new and reclaimed wool
Machine-knitted scarves and hand-knitted accessories
Books, cards, and other papery things
Silk-screens and block prints on canvas bags, paper and fabric
Performance and installation works



What or who inspires you?
Local makers! The folks at the Gulf Islands Spinning Mill on Salt Spring Island are a great example of a local operation. I did a week-long work study with them to learn about what they do and I was so impressed with their tenacity and enthusiasm for keeping their small industry alive and thriving. They are involved with local wool producers and really build relationships with them, including visiting the farms where sheep and goats are raised.

All types of artists from actors to painters really get me excited! I am a member of the B:C:Clettes, a bike-inspired performance group who works as a collective; working with these strong women who are so focused on changing our world for the good helps me better myself.

How did you get started?
I completed a degree in graphic design (Emily Carr) and was working at a computer all day. I craved something more tactile in my non-work time and started participating in craft fairs. I had a lot of ideas but lacked the knowledge and resources to go further with my work, so I enrolled in the Textile Arts program at Capilano University. My two years there gave me a solid technical foundation for almost any textile technique imaginable, from block printing and natural dyeing to installation and performance art.



What are your favourite materials to work with?
Wool is a my favourite! It's versatile in that it can be used as fleece to create felt or as yarn to create knitted, crocheted and woven fabrics. It responds well to 2D and 3D applications, loves dye and can be sourced locally. I'm also getting into collage techniques that include wood, textiles and illustration.



What is the hardest and most favourite part of crafting?
The hardest part is staying focused. I get really distracted (and inspired!) by all of the amazing websites and blogs that are out there. I recently rented a studio which has helped me hunker down and get my work done without the distractions of working at home.

I also find it difficult to reconcile my feelings on waste/production of goods for sale. On one hand I feel good about creating things that are bought locally, on the other hand, I feel that there are more than enough 'things' in our world and I'm just another contributor to consumerism and waste. It's a tough nut to crack.

It's simple - the satisfaction of creating something useful and beautiful that people love.



List 5 of your favourite links and why you like them

Design Sponge: Well put-together design blog covering home decor and more

Apartment Therapy: All things small-home related with a bent for good design. Verges on OCD in some cases, but lovely photos, DIY ideas and more

saint verde digest: this blog is sort of finished, but it's an excellent resource for imagery and Neville Trickett artfully curates each post with inspiring visual combinations

the uniform project: Inspiring one-year project by Sheena, who is endeavouring to prove that fashion can be philanthropic and easy on the earth

Dots and Lines are Just Fine: great resource of repeat network textiles, most of which are vintage and oh, so delicious.



Do you have any advice for those in the biz?
Keep people around you who are creative and supportive. Encouragement to keep going when feeling frustrated can come from the people who you surround yourself with, who either by example of their amazing work, or through their lovely words help you stay focused and feeling good.

Get involved. Read papers, blogs and keep your eyes out for posters for local art and music events. Support other local artists by attending their events, volunteering and buying their work; this helps build a vibrant and healthy art, design, fashion and textile community. Let's keep our art, design and craft scene thriving, especially in light of the recent cuts to arts in BC.



Do you consider yourself an artist or a crafter?
Hmm...The Art vs, Craft discussion is an endless one, but for me, the terms are equal and not easily separated. So, I'm going to skip that and move onto artist/crafter terms. To me, a craftsperson is a skilled individual who dedicates their life to a technique, process and/or creation of a type of object. A crafter is a newer term, one that for me implies less formal training or apprenticing, with an approach to their work as fun and not necessarily a life-long career pursuit. The term artist is pretty loaded, so I'm not even going to try to define that one! I consider myself a designer-maker on most days.

(photo images courtesy of Erin Gibbs / Florence Ann)

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

Check out our past features...

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

Did I mention we have swag bags ?

Oh yes! Oh yes! The first 30 people through the door at Got Craft will receive a lovely Craft Stylish re-usable tote filled with goodies from all of our vendors including the Museum of Vancouver, Sublime Stitching, Portobello West, Funky Finds and Button Button.



(these 3 swag bag pictures show an assortment of what could be in your bag)

To say that these go quickly is an understatement. We had girls line up at 7:30am for an 11:00am opening last May and I hear that there's some competition this year. So get there bright and early!!


Umm... and yeah... We also had our first fight last year for one of these bags. So for the holiday show, we will be initiating a new system where the first 30 will receive a ticket which they would need to turn in to claim a bag. Please note that you must stay in line until opening (bathroom breaks / coffee runs are ok).

Jolly Holiday Sale

Hosted by the lovely ladies from Woven Agency, a beautiful 2,000 sq ft studio which houses some of my favourite local designers including Adhesif Clothing, Blithe & Bonny, Dru’s, Identity Tees, Little Houses, Love Bobbie, Penniless Fashionista, and Third Floor Design.

Where?
Woven Studios
1275 Venables Street (at Clark)

When?
Friday, December 4th to Sunday, December 6th, 2009
11am - 6pm

* first 15 each day receives a free gift!
* minutes from downtown
* free parking
* transit: bus #22 to Clark & Venables

Handmade Evolution

Launched in November, Handmade Evolution consists of four ladies sharing handmade goodness from three locations - Portland, Vancouver and Toronto. A one stop shop for all things fashion, decor and art in North America as well as a listing of local events.


A few lovely finds from Vancouver include this bag (picture above) from Ashley Watson, fantastic local designers such as Allison Wonderland with her famous Picnic Skirt (below) and local events such as this post on Got Craft? taking place on Sunday!


Follow Handmade Evolution on twitter or facebook for up to date news in all things handmade!