Vendor Lovin' (Trunk Show : February 9th)

In 2 days, our annual Love & Rummage Show will be happening!

Here's a sneak peak of some of the vendors we'll be having, oh can't wait!!!

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SNAP + TUMBLE

Snap + Tumble is a letterpress line of small stationary goods designed and hand-printed by Tanya Roberts in her home-studio in Toronto, Ontario. Her specialty is printing original small-sized letterpress cards and artwork in short runs and also offers introductory tabletop letterpress workshops

website : snapandtumble.com
blog : snapandtumble.blogspot.com
shop : snapandtumbleletterpress.bigcartel.com

New cards will be debuting at the Love & Rummage 6 show and are all Valentine-inspired! The Pint-Size flat cards make the perfect hide-and-find love notes. There will also be the Black & Gold series of cards and the freshly printed Rock & Moon cards!

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NOBLE STREET ANTIQUES

Located in the heart of Parkdale, Noble Street Antiques are all pieces that are handpicked by treasure hunters : Joshua James and Vincent Luk.

website : noblestreetantiques.com
blog : noblestreetantiques.com/blog
instagram : @noblestreetantiques

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RCBOISJOLI

rcboisjoli is a small design shop in Toronto. Focused on domestic objects, we design function and form to fabricate handsome objects.
Every stage of production is created by us, in shop by hand, from our plaster models to our own silk screened decals, and hand printed textiles.
Inspired by low tech, the old, and by the everyday object we strive to create dynamic and modern wares.

website : www.rcboisjoli.com
shop : www.etsy.com/shop.rcboisjoli

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KID ICARUS

Kid Icarus is a screen print studio and retail shop located within Toronto's beautiful Kensington Market.
Aside the carefully curated selection of handmade items from local and international artists, Kid Icarus' screenprints their own line of greeting cards, gift wrap and original hand printed items. Each piece is designed and printed with quality in mind, resulting in a unique style that fits the aesthetic of the shop and appeals to a variety of customers.

website : kidicarus.ca
location : 205 Augusta Avenue, Toronto, ON
instagram : @kidicarus_store

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GOOD & BEST COOKIES

Good & Best Cookies are made of a mindfully selected group of organic, local and natural ingredients. They are thoughtfully made using a blend of organic sugar and flour, local farm fresh eggs, the award winning butter of Stirling Creamery, sea salt, and of course our special mix of premium chocolate-dark Callebaut and creamy milk. Our cookies are nut free, but not made in a nut or seed free facility.

website : goodandbestcookies.com

email : ask@goodandbestcookies.com

phone : 416-720-8273

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Portraits by ZEESY POWERS

Watercolour Portraits available live on site by Zeesy Powers. Zeesy Powers (known for projects like I Will Tell You Exactly What I Think of You) will paint your portrait in watercolour while-you-wait. The delayed gratification of waiting for the result is part of the fun, capturing you in a moment without the aid of a mechanical eye. 

website : zeesypowers.com

instagram : @zeesypowers

MORE VENDORS will be at the show, come show your love and support for local artists and handmade wares. Have a great weekend!!!!

Spring 2013 Look Book.

With City of Craft's second annual spring show just around the corner (Saturday, in fact), it is time to release our spring Look Book. Take a gander, browse a sampling of our vendors' work and start strategizing your weekend!

Huge thanks to Arounna Khounnoraj for doing the design, concept and layout and to Kirsten McCrea for her design for all of our spring materials. Now, get flippin' through those pages!

One More Week!

Just one more week until the big spring show. Can't wait? Why not start perusing our preview board on Pinterest?

Oh, and that poster? Designed by the ever-talented Kirsten McCrea.

Winter 2012 Look Book!

Open publication

Citizens, check this out. The amazing and lovely Arounna from Bookhou has once again created a dazzling look book to help you all get psyched for this weekend and plan your shopping. It is chock full of vendor images and wee profiles so you can get to know the crafts and the makers behind them just a little better.

I must say, I am blown away by the slickness of Arounna's design and, as always, the immense talent of our vendors. BE PREPARED FOR JOY. Oh, and click 'Expand' to full screen this puppy for EXTRA JOY.

City of Craft Spring 2012 Catalogue!

>> Open publication <<

Citizens, I have something very exciting to share! Arounna from Bookhou has created an absolutely stunning catalogue/look book for this Saturday's show! It features both vendor profiles and a couple of DIY projects (From Needle Book and Kid Icarus).

I hope this will not only get all you Torontonians excited for Saturday but will also serve as a way to show off our awesome vendors to folks from afar. Time to flip, friends!

Spring Youth Vendors: Lliam & Piper Booth.

Further on the Youth vendor tip, this Saturday's Spring show will also feature the brother and sister duo of Lliam and Piper Booth. The progeny of local super-maker duo, Bookhou, they certainly come by handmade practice honestly. In fact, both little ones have been kicking around the workshop and showroom since day one. Well, maybe not the wood workshop, but still...power tools may come in due time. For the time being, Piper is clocking in as our youngest vendor ever at three years old! Given that she is a toddler, it is anyone's guess as to what she might make, but Arounna reports that there have been lots of washi tape sculptures popping up around the studio. Five year old Lliam, on the other hand, is much more representational in his work and likes to draw quite a bit at the moment. Lucky for us, he also has access to Mom and Dad's supplies. Monster pins, anyone?

Again, with vendors this young, the collection of work on their table can't help but be a surprise. I, for one, I am really excited to see what they make!

City of Craft Spring
Saturday, April 21, 2012
11am-6pm
Trinity St. Paul's United Church
427 Bloor Street West (one block West of Spadina)
Toronto, ON
$1 (Kids 12 & Under FREE)

Spring Youth Vendor: Jeff Cane for Operation Sock Monkey.

Did you know that this Saturday's Spring show will see City of Craft's first Kids' Row - a mini vendor section exclusively for makers 14 and under. Everyone is so excited about this brand new initiative that I thought I would try to preview a couple of these upstart crafters over the course of today to share the love!

First up is twelve-year-old Jeff Cane. An Ottawa native, he became inspired in the fall to hop on board as a Youth Operative for Operation Sock Monkey. As such, he has taught DIY workshops in his school and contributed monkeys to OSM's donation drives. His story, in itself, is pretty inspiring, too.

Here is a little insight into what got Jeff going and why he chose OSM, in his own words:

I loved the idea of Operation Sock Monkey right away. I was already looking for something special that I could do to make a diffrence in the world. I want to help people. With OSM I can help people in far away places and I can help people right where I live at the same time.

I have always been lucky to be surrounded by love in my life. I have a bed to sleep in and I feel safe in my home. I wish that all children could feel safe and loved. I would like to raise money to help women and children in my home town to feel safe and have a safe place to get away from people who would hurt them. Abuse is wrong.

Jeff plans to donate all the money he raises to a womans shelter called The Naomi House in his home town.

For more information on Operation Sock Monkey and what they do, look here.

For information on their Youth Operatives, look here.

City of Craft Spring
Saturday, April 21, 2012
11am-6pm
Trinity St. Paul's United Church
427 Bloor Street West (one block West of Spadina)
Toronto, ON
$1 (Kids 12 & Under FREE)

Get Ready for Your New Year!

The big show may have come and gone, but we know that that does not mean your holiday shopping is done. And as we careen towards another apocalyptic year, I thought I would share some 2012 calendars from our vendors and friends. All available for purchase online!

First and foremost, I fear I would be run out of craft town if I didn't mention the mother of all handmade calendars - the annual Kid Icarus screen print opus that has become a cult phenomenon among local design lovers. Featuring twelve glorious pages designed by twelve distinct artists, the calendar is an art collection unto itself. It is also a one two punch for City of Craft fans; not only is it printed and curated by Kid Icarus, it also features City of Craft 2011 vendors Selena Wong, Reverend Aitor and Claire Louise Milne amid its artist ranks. At $80, it is less than $7 per hand-pulled, two-colour, 100% cotton, heavy-weight page - which is crazy. Available at Kid Icarus and other Toronto locations.

Feeling like a new year is just another twelve months lost at sea? Well you are not alone. Actually, you are, but you are alone in good company and this screen printed calendar by Jacob Rolfe is the perfect way to commemorate your endless drift.

You just can't take the cat out of Fieldguided's designs, can you? And who can blame them? Cats own the internet and our hearts. These dreamcats 2012 calendars, designed and screen printed by Geoff Piersol, are available in either mint or peach from their shop.

Claire Louise Milne's contribution to the next year takes a more DIY approach. She has designed an ingenious fabric through Spoonflower as her 2012 calendar. Order a fat quarter and you have one full calendar, order a yard and you have four! Just hem (or bind) the edges and you're done!

Finally, Laura George, who joined us all the way from Chicago this year has also created a multi-page 2012 calendar that expresses the joys of each month in her own inimitable style. Personally, I am partial to February's mix tape, and not just because I want the children of today to know what they are.

Guest Blogger Picks: Rosalyn Faustino.

i. bunny tote made by morico

ii. wooden sugar bowl made by offcut studio

iii. pins made by sweetie pie press + sarah mcneil

iv. mini blackboard pennant banner made by killside krafts

v. anchor pill bottle made by rcboisjoli

vi. rabbit outfit, mixed media made by selena wong

vii. uncorked, print made by laura george

Rosalyn R. Faustino is a maker and the lady behind art attic. She's been involved with the Toronto Craft Alert since 2008 and is always interested in connecting with local craft and design artists. if you don't find her at the workroom, she's either experimenting on textile explorations, eating and/or dancing.

Bird of a Feather.

Look what just flew into my inbox, mere days after the pom pom party, from 2011 vendor Claire Louise Milne. I was joking about the perfectionism of crafters at the party, but this takes the cake. Claire figured out how to make a chickadee pom pom! My mind is currently boggling. And it was a welcome surprise amid all the show details I am usually dealing with. Amazing.

Guest Blogger Picks: Hollie Pocsai.

The thing that is so great about craft shows is the tactile nature of them. The internet is a wonderful tool for being able to hunt down incredible works by incredible artists that you've never seen before, but there's nothing quite like actually being able to see those works in person, with your own eyes, holding the work in your own hands, and getting the chance to meet the maker behind the whole thing. I'm getting really excited about this year's City of Craft because there are so many local artists whose work I've admired for many years, and also those who I was introduced to through the jurying process this year. There's just so much g-d talent out there.

The Century Farm tea towel set by Bespoke Uprising has been on my wishlist forever. It should be on yours too. If you stop by the Bespoke Uprising booth, you'll be blown away by maker Roisin's undeniable charm.

Oak Savanna is just appearing on the crafting scene. City of Craft will be her second craft show ever! So show her some love, it's well deserved. Melissa comes up with all of the patterns for her knit shawls and kerchiefs herself, using antique patterns as inspiration. Made with superfine merino wool and/or silk, these delicate pieces are like nothing you've seen before.

Embroidery is a soft spot of mine. Especially when an artist can make it into a conceptual piece of art. I have long looked to Hillary Webb's work as inspiration, and I am very much looking forward to seeing these meticulous pieces in person.

I love Selena Wong's delicate imagery. Her work is exquisite, done in soft colours, and possessing a little bit of magical imagery, and a little bit of darker undertones.

I was recently introduced to Knitdown SVP when Jen (a City of Craft co-founder) pulled out her amazingly fun and whimsical keychain. I immediately coveted it, and am so happy that I'll be able to pick one up (and maybe a brooch, and maybe a necklace) for myself this December from the lovely Hazel Meyer herself.

And there are so many more makers that I am thrilled to check out. Gosh, I just can't wait. I'll be able to do the handmade pledge this holiday season no problem with the help of City of Craft. It's going to be SO good.

Hollie Pocsai is co-owner of White Elephant and a founding member of The Beehive Craft Collective in Hamilton, Ontario. Her hands are never idle and her heart is always bursting with love for the crafting community.

Guest Blogger Picks: Reva Quam.

For kids!

Broundoor

GEZELLIG

good night, day

Laura George

rc boisjoli

Stephanie Galea

Fidoodle

Reva Quam is a maker and teacher. Currently on hiatus from most creative endeavours, she crams in as much making and craft/design blog viewing as her almost 2 year old will let her. Formerly a costume designer, she most recently designed a line of sustainable men's accessories called mr. sköna. She teaches a variety of crafty classes at The Workroom.

Guest Blogger Picks: Marsya Maharani.

People say that art is a matter of personal taste. What someone gets from a piece is not necessarily the same as what another gets out of it. While the artist’s intention is always important, each viewer is free to add their own interpretation of the work. This is one of the reasons why I find art to be a gift that can very effectively carry a meaningful message that is personal between the giver and the receiver. This year’s City of Craft features quite a few wonderful artists who have printed multiples of their original works. Here are a few of my favourites, along with my thoughts on for whom they would make great gifts.

1. Katie Muth, winter morning by the lake, $120.

For those who need to be reminded of the beauty of winter before they can crawl out from under the covers.

2. Selena Wong, If you see a crow, eat its liver and eyes.

For those who see beauty in a little darkness.

3. Hillary Webb, Tree Study I.

For those who are soothed by the detail in nature.

4. Jacob Rolfe, A Dream, $65.

For the dreamers...

5. Tea towel by Gezellig and The Forest Guardian glow-in-the-dark tee by 1% Talent.

...for those who like their art more on the utilitarian side!

Together with Karen Carrillo and Jelena Pticek, Marsya runs Freedom Clothing Collective - a non-profit co-op that supports local artists and designers. She also curates monthly art exhibitions at Freedom, contributes to WORN Fashion Journal, and thinks that trees are really pretty.