Thursday 17 December 2009

Beach Sale Beached

In case anyone was planning to come to the last holiday craft sale I had booked, it's been cancelled.

Tuesday 15 December 2009

401 Redux















Well, it's all over. But it was great while it lasted.

The 401 Richmond Street Holiday Marketplace took place from last Thursday to last Sunday. The weather was quite kind, overall, and the traffic of visitors was excellent. Vendors are invited to participate by residents of the building. I felt very honoured to have been included.

I was pretty nervous about taking part in a sale that lasted four days straight. Long days, too, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on all but the last day, so no time or inclination to make more things for the next day. But as it was, I did have enough hats and smaller fare to last throughout, without having my display look sadly diminished at the end. Good thing I began preparing for the holiday season well in advance this year! Yay, brain! Sometimes it really functions well!

Did I mention that I helped decorate the joint, too? Because I did! Under the expert supervision of Carol Greaves, set dresser by vocation, awe-inspiring accessories creator (and vintage ephemera dealer) by avocation. It was a good way to get familiar with the somewhat convoluted main floor of the building, and to collect smiles and compliments. I'm a sucker for those, I admit it.

So here are some images of this wonderful sale. Make sure you watch for it for next year. It's a great shopping experience for anyone.

Pictured, from the top:
My table
Decorated railing
Carol's table
Our tribute to Cristo. (Just because it's wrapped, you know? Like he does?)
Janet Bike Girl, rocking her new rusty bucket hat
Mary-Ann Jelonek, jams and woolies wallah
Kathie Young, Phoenix Arts Group

Tuesday 8 December 2009

401 Traffic

Today I spent helping to decks the halls at 401 Richmond Street. Mercifully, Carol Greaves was "lead hand" on this one. She is a film set dresser as well as a creator of lovely cuffs she sews and embellishes, plus a dealer in nifty vintage items. Naturally, I forgot my camera.

It was pretty gratifying to have so many tenants of the building say complimentary things as they passed by. It helped take the edge off the time spent away from millining. (Yes, I know it's not a word.) But the place looks great, especially our pillar tribute to Cristo. So you should all come and see it. And shop like mad while you're at it.

Friday 4 December 2009

Holidays

I've been so busy making things for the holiday craft shows I'm participating in to blog. I'm so busy I've developed calloused thumbs.

I've got hats, blocked and sewn, soft caps, embellished hairbands, fascinators and lil' tree ornaments. (Handy hostess gifts for your hattier friends.)

Please come see the fruits of my labours at any (or all) of these shows:

Saturday, Dec. 5:
Artisans' Gift Fair, Tranzac Club, 282 Brunswick Avenue (Bloor & Brunswick), noon - 6 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 10 - Sunday, Dec. 13:
401 Richmond Street West Holiday Marketplace
401 Richmond W. at Spadina
Thurs., Fri. 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Sat., Sun. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.