5/16/11

Printing Flyers.

flyer printing (1)b

Check it out, Citizens - I just got these awesome production shots from our brilliant friends at Kid Icarus. These are our annual call for submissions flyers (with a side order of business cards), this time designed by our 2011 designer extraordinare, Sandi Falconer of DEADWEIGHT. Aren't they filling you with a spooky interest in crafts?

After some slicing and dicing, these puppies will start to make their ways out into Toronto (and beyond). Word to the wise: they also have mostly blank backs and are rigid enough to mail as a postcard! Just sayin'.

You want something awesome screen printed? Kid Icarus can do that, too. Just ask 'em.

flyer printing (4)b

flyer printing (5)b

5/15/11

Spring Trunk Show Today!

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C'mon down! Free snacks for all and awesome craft wares, rummage and vintage.

City of Craft & the workroom present
Spring Trunk Show
Sunday May 15, 2011
Noon-5pm
the workroom
1340 Queen Street West
FREE Admission

5/14/11

More Peeks at the Spring Trunk Show.

Spring is springing, the rain is falling and everyone knows what that means - flowers are on their way to our fair city. We've even found them popping up in the crafts on offer at tomorrow's Spring Trunk Show. Check out these peeks and then c'mon down tomorrow!

pink embroidered needlebook
Needle book by needle book

Anchor Cup with Frog
Anchor cup with floral arrangement by rcboisjoli

florals
Florals buttons by Alec Thibodeau for the sweetie pie press

City of Craft & the workroom present
Spring Trunk Show
Sunday May 15, 2011
Noon-5pm
the workroom
1340 Queen Street West
FREE Admission

5/12/11

Fabric Sale at the workroom.

Spring Sale

Greetings, Citizens. As an added bonus to attendees of the Spring Trunk Show, the workroom will also be wrapping up an awesome fabric sale (details above). So you can check out the wares of a dozen local vendors and take advantage of fabric deals. What could be better?

City of Craft & the workroom present
Spring Trunk Show
Sunday May 15, 2011
Noon-5pm
the workroom
1340 Queen Street West
FREE Admission

5/10/11

5/8/11

Applications now open for City of Craft 2011.

2011 Vendor Flyer by Sandi Falconer

Boo! The online application is now up for our 2011 December show and will stay live until the end of August.

Want to apply? First, you should read through the 2011 Applications FAQ. Really, it is full of useful information. Then APPLY!

We can't wait to see what you have been up to, Toronto!

5/7/11

As Applications Approach - Some Tips.

city of craft meeting
2008 planning meeting with Jen and Leah

Applications for the 2011 show are currently in the works and, barring any calamity, should be up by the 15th - maybe even sooner! So this seemed like as good a time as any to share a few tips on submitting successful applications. Years of sitting on craft juries have taught me a lot about the art of application-making and it is time to share some of my insights with you.

First, I would like to share this excellent recent post on craft fair applications by the equally excellent crew at Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago. Although tastes differ from fair to fair, the basics they run down of professionalism and clarity are bang on.

I have little to add to their reflections except for specifics that pertain uniquely to City of Craft. Those (and a few key point that bear repeating) are submitted for your consideration:

1. Photographs
Our jury sits for up to eight long hours. We review the hundreds of submissions we get visually through a projected slide show. When thought of in those terms, the need for clear and striking images becomes obvious. There is also more than just your craft on display in a submitted image. Your styling and visual ability communicate a lot to the jury. After all, you are not submitting your work to a store, you are submitting to set up your own space at a group show. On the days of the event, you will be responsible for your own display and strong photographs do a lot to communicate your abilities to have a strong presence at the show. Product photographs are also a key way to subtly communicate your personality as a maker and that's a good thing!

2. Long Answers
The jury also employs readers to read out the written materials in the applications. At City of Craft, we like to curate a show that is more than just a sales-based event. Yes, helping vendors sell their wares is a central focus for us, but we also mandate the support of work that is thoughtful, reasoned and executed with quality. This is why we ask we questions about the process and reasoning behind the things you make. The best answers are short, clear and to the point. These questions offer a huge opportunity to let the jury into your studio practice and into your creative process. It is worth giving these answers some thought and then boiling your practice and rationale down to their essential elements.

3. Knowing us, knowing you
New to City of Craft and/or the indie craft fair circuit? If so, it will serve you well to do some research - see what kinds of vendors we tend to book and what sort of programming we run. Knowing our organization and events better will help you put together an application that is more likely to appeal to the jury. When it comes to spying on our past, you are in luck! City of Craft maintains an archive of all our past programs. You can check them all out here.

Now, back to pushing code and getting the applications up.

Happy crafting!

Becky
Ring Leader
City of Craft

5/6/11

Spring Trunk Show Sneak Peeks.

new gocco prints
Printed Cards by Petra C.

Horse Tails Texture Bird
Bird Vessel by rcboisjoli

City of Craft & the workroom present
Spring Trunk Show
Sunday May 15, 2011
Noon-5pm
the workroom
1340 Queen Street West
FREE Admission

5/5/11

Spring Trunk Show!

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Citizens,

It is time once again - dewy drops are collecting, buds are sprouting and the Spring Trunk Show is gearing up to unleash some awesome craft and vintage into Hogtown.

We here at City of Craft have been working tirelessly with Karyn and the staff at the workroom to bring you a small yet excellent sampling of home town goods. You can expect crochet, paper goods, ceramics, housewares, textiles, sewn goods, apparel and, of course, surprises. Plus, free snacks, as always.

Keep your eyes on this blog, too, for little sneak peeks at the goodies on offer at the show.

It's spring, let's get out and see each other!

City of Craft & the workroom present
Spring Trunk Show
Sunday May 15, 2011
Noon-5pm
the workroom
1340 Queen Street West


5/2/11

Outdoor Booth Tips from Renegade Craft in Chicago.


Here at City of Craft, we don't run outdoor shows (well, we haven't, anyway) but we know that a lot of your participate in them in one way or another. It is certainly the start of the outdoor season, too. That's why we wanted to share this great run-down of outdoor display tips from our friend at Chicago's Renegade Craft Fair/Renegade Handmade. Sure, some of these displays do set the bar awfully high, but good strategies to defy the elements are always a must no matter what level you or your business are at.

City of Craft looks forward to seeing you at one of Toronto's many outdoor shows this summer! Let's make those craft booths shine!

5/1/11

Free Plush to be Found Around Toronto.


Photo by glasco54

Hey, Citizens! Guess what. We have it on good authority that there are free orphaned plushes hidden around Toronto just waiting for you to find them. Then they will be yours!(Click the image for more details - but not much more).