Sunday 18 May 2014

Best Feet Forward

Finally began my season at St. Lawrence Market yesterday. I can't believe it's my sixth year there! Did I start last week, when the weather was so excruciatingly beautiful? No, because it was too nice to work. I was planting planters and playing in the dirt, instead. I do not regret that one bit.

But the universe tried its best to make me regret it, because it made yesterday's weather very cold, windy and gloomy. Very few vendors made the trip, but my core group of Market friends did, mostly. It was great to see Salome, Maria, Roberto and Stephen again, after so many months.

It was chilly and mostly overcast, but it did not actually rain! (Hallelujah! Major bonus points for withheld precipitation.) So there were people shopping, if not in hordes. Some of them chose to shop chez moi, I'm happy to report.

So without further ado, on with the show:


My table, this time at the west side of the park. But my tent is so fancy and new!


The view looking east from my table. Probably not a permanent location for me, but I won't be hard to find.


This week's busker. A clarinet is a nice change.


The first wet dog of the season! Quickly joined by....


.....the second wet dog of the season! They don't care how cold it was.



And while we're at it...


....the daily dog, Eli! He's a seven-year-old Shih Tzu/Pomeranian cross, who spreads the love by being a regular visitor to Bridgepoint Health. Here he is staging a sit-down strike because he was newly brushed and not allowed to go into the fountain.


Elizabeth, my first customer of the Market season! She chose the maximum shade option hat. Thanks so much, Elizabeth!


Kaitlin came by and admired this outré affair I'm calling Sinamay Mâché, so she kindly modelled it for me. She is lovely and the lipstick is perfect!

And speaking of outré, Maria's jewelry teacher, Eduardo, came by. He is dapper beyond all repair, always wearing a fabulous fedora and an intriguing lizard pin on his tie, which he probably made himself. He was wearing these awesome shoes, which reminded me of my own, so he kindly allowed himself to have this silly series of photos taken.


(BTW, I do not recommend these shoes for standing for hours on pavement. The cold seeped right through the soles and I'm still stiff and sore, and I keep pretty fit. Sheesh.)

Thank you for your patience. Moving on...


A highlight of the day was running into Jean and her daughter, Nan. Jean is a valued customer who has honoured me with several hat purchases. Nan chose a chartreuse trilby for herself last year, too. And much to my delight, they each chose another yesterday! I am so happy, proud and grateful to have such wonderful customers. They are what it's all about.


This is Mirka, a new friend I met yesterday. She was selling her artwork one tent over. She was charming company as we gossiped away the afternoon, intermittently rescuing our work from gusts of wind. She introduced me to a friend who liked my work, bought a piece, eschewing her photo op, and about whom I hope to have more to relate in the near future.


I was standing behind my table when this lady came by, smiling at my work. It made me so happy I asked if I could take her picture.


Roberto and Stephen, in their current location outside the south Market doors. Roberto is a photographer and at the Market he sells prints of iconic Toronto locations. He's really good, and his west end photography studio is really picking up steam. And Stephen, his right-hand man (okay, occasionally his left-hand man), has become fuzzier since I saw him last.


Walt's table is next to Roberto and Stephen's. He sells prints of his own architectural elevation-syle drawings of Toronto fire halls. We have one of our local Beach fire hall. They're very nice. Go get one of your own. Tell him I sent you.


Maria, on my left yesterday for a change, who wisely went back in and put on this coat before heading from home yesterday morning.


And finally, Salome, queen of our quadrant. She noted wryly that we aren't usually this bundled up mid-May. And, as usual, she was right.

So that's that! Another season off to a great start. If you would like to be kept informed about my St. Lawrence Market appearances, and other shows, please sign up for my newsletter. Just scroll up to the form on the right sidebar. Merci!






Tuesday 6 May 2014

Gatsby 2.0

I'm working on fascinators for a Gatsby-themed wedding right now. Although the Gatsby movie remake came out a year ago, the style hasn't faded away. We are still loving it, and I'm so happy about that. I love making jazz age-ish fascinators!

Just in time for Mother's Day, graduations, proms, showers, teas, weddings, garden parties, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, cabaret nights -- just some of the occasions when a foolish little beauty would be just the thing to top you off in style.

Each one is one of a kind. I made each jewel, too! (I have a newfound love for rhinestones. My inner showgirl is asserting herself.)

You can choose what I'm making for my collection, or I can create something with your colour requirements.

Here's my first batch of featherheads, modeled by the lovely and talented Lulu:

















And all by themselves:





















And another:


Phone me at 416-693-1295 or email me to arrange for purchase and pickup or delivery.