Holiday Craft Show Schedule

Mark your calendars, friends and customers: this season I will be participating in two holiday craft sales. I may have another to tell you about in between these two, so please keep checking in (or subscribe).

The first show is the Heintzman House's 39th (!!) Annual Craft Show and Sale, Saturday and Sunday November 13th & 14th, from 10:00am to 5:00pm at 135 Bay Thorn Drive, Thornhill. I'll be upstairs (I think), so please come find me there. This is my second time at this wonderful, historic property, but my first time at the holiday season show. If you're a history and/or architecture buff, you really should come see this place -- Ontario's first adobe house! You'd never guess!

The second show is the 18th Annual 401 Richmond Street Holiday Artisans' Marketplace from Thursday, December 9 to Sunday, December 12. Nice long hours for your shopping convenience: Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It's on the main floor of 401 Richmond Street at the corner of Spadina. It's a juried show, as is the one at Heintzman House. We're aiming for a good variety of high quality, original work of many types.

It's another interesting place -- a factory in 1899, due for demolition in 1994, but saved by the Zeidlers and re-created into a lovingly restored, environmentally friendly building full of artists and craftspeople, non-profits and other interesting enterprises. Many of the artists open their studios during the artisans' sale. I will post more information on this as it becomes available.

Buy-Buy

My last Saturday selling hats at the Market has come and gone. It was quite bittersweet, I must say. Weather was meh -- neither here nor there. My perennial tent neighbours, Judy Welch and Ian, were not there, so I couldn't say goodbye to them. Salome was, though, so that was comforting. She's such a blast -- funny, very kind and very talented. (Check her out: burfurtart)

As mentioned earlier, I decided to have a sale to go out in style (or perhaps so my customers could go out in style). Many hats found new homes with new customers -- people who have good heads on their shoulders. It was also great to see Gail again, who has bought two bespoke hats from me this season. She needed some fall hats, and scooped some great deals.

Next order of business is to work on new hats and head pieces for the holiday crafts shows. I'll be posting my schedule here soon. (Subscribe to my blog if you don't want to miss the announcement. See the sidebar at right.)

And without further ado, here's my photographic Market adieu:
Gail in one of her new acquisitions -- a coppery bucket with a wonderful aqua iridescence. It makes her complexion glow.


Joanna, looking very cute in her own new bucket hat, which she chose along with a feathered headpiece.




Anne Marie chose this floral tapestry piece. Another excellent, complexion-flattering choice made.







Salome in her new bespoke purple bucket. She dressed for it, too! She also looks awesome in her new, sage green fedora. I'm always so honoured when someone with talent like hers chooses to wear one of my hats, and to lend her practised eye to help a customer choose one.

Peter, a.k.a. "Daddy's Little Monster," rocking a baby-sized Ivy cap. I like a dapper baby, don't you?




See those leaves back there? They're not getting any greener, you'll notice.







Having taken possession of my please-pay-attention-to-my-sale balloons, Salome bids us a forlorn farewell.

Sale!

My last day at St. Lawrence Market for the season is this Saturday. To celebrate the end of a successful summer, I'm having a sale! Already low prices will be ridiculously so. Please come and make me not have to pack much up at the end of the day, while forcing me to make a whole lot of new things for the holiday season sales coming up.

Say you saw it here!

September Song

It was another good weather day at St. Lawrence Market this Saturday. Mild, no rain while we were at our table. Fewer craft vendors is the theme for September, weather notwithstanding. (Weather or not. Hee hee. Oh stop it, Anne.) Busloads of tourists are still being offloaded throughout the day and the homegrown shoppers are still in abundance. But there's no denying it -- this is the last weekend of official summer and the season is winding down.

A couple of musical buskers helped jolly up an otherwise dull day. One was a young girl, maybe ten years old, playing her violin. Scott (my indispensable one) told me that after her first number when no one paid much attention, she looked at her mum, shrugged, and started a new tune. What a little trouper! I think she made out okay, though. We certainly ponied up, as did some of the other vendors. She was very cute and pretty darn good, too. Later on a grownup with a guitar played many Can con hits that kept me bopping and singing along behind my grid screen. (It's like a car window. You feel kind of invisible behind it, even though you really aren't.)

Last week's "guardians" were still there this week, this time with young women to help them hand out posters. There were also young naval cadets selling tags, which became the vendors' accessory du jour. The cadet I spoke to had polished his boots so they looked like patent leather. He pointed out that these were only his work boots. At this rate I don't think I'd want to view his dress boots with the naked eye.

Pretty quiet at my table. Not a lot of visitors or customers. And then, to save the day, along came Denyse to buy my rakish fedora with the film strippy ribbon band. It's so wonderful when returning customers keep returning! It's very encouraging and motivating.

This was my second last Saturday at the Market. It sure was a fast four and a half months. Whatever shall I do with Saturdays at liberty? Make stuff to sell at Christmas, that's what! Stay tuned to this blog for news about the craft shows where I'll be selling my hats and accessories.

Pictured at the top of this post is Scott (another one, not my personal one) and Buddy, not his, but his frequent companion. Scott sells beautiful pashminas. Every time I see them together, Scott always says that Buddy almost killed him. I don't know if this is a recurring thing, or a one-off. Buddy almost kills me with cuteness, certainly.

And on with the show...
Audrey lending her grace to her new silk rose.
















Denyse always looks fantastic in the hats she chooses. Thanks, Denyse!








Ian, Judy Welch's indispensable one, modeling one of Judy's chunky stone necklaces. (I told you it was kind of a dull day.)

September 11, St. Lawrence Style

September 11 was as it should be -- a beautiful, peaceful day. It was mild and sunny while we were selling at St. Lawrence Market this past Saturday. More visitors were milling about, now that Labour Day weekend has come and gone and people return to the school year schedule.

Froshes were froshing (from Ryerson, I think), too. There was also another movie promotion going on. A Roman centurion named Alejandro was handing out free posters to little kids for something called "Legend of the Guardians". Owls are involved.

It was a much jollier Saturday than last week. Warmer weather, visits from friends who live or work nearby, and being regaled by descriptions of silly films my tent neighbour of the day, John, had made as a student. (He had an awesome hat on, too, which was unfortunately not made by me. A Sherlock Holmes-ian affair made of many fabric scraps.)

The big film festival, TIFF, is on, too. Sadly, no movie stars stopped by to try on my excellent black felt fedora with the film strip ribbon. (Which means you're still in luck!)

Lots more people did come by to try and/or buy. A couple of nice pooches, too. To wit:
Chimo. His name means "hello". I thought he was a Bouvier, but no -- he's a giant Shnauser. Giant-est one I ever met. And a real sweetie.

His counterpoint:











Lucy! A wiggly, wall-eyed cutie.








Michael tried on this green poorboy cap....











....but it was Keith who bought it.











My headpiece with the zipper, feathers and ribbon found a forever home with lovely Marlena.








Natalie snapped up my latest band with silk yo-yos and beads.








Froshery.










Tonya fell for my new cloche style. The feeling is mutual.

The Brrrr Months Begin

It's Labour Day weekend and the weather wants to make sure you know that summer's over. Not officially, of course, but to all intents and purposes. It was darn chilly and grey and occasionally rainy this Saturday at St. Lawrence Market. My poor neighbour was underdressed for the sudden drop in temperature, jumping up and down to keep warm in his shorts and T-shirt.

It was a very quiet day, with very little foot traffic. Quite the juxtaposition to last weekend's hot and crowded Buskerfest. There was one interesting event, though. Someone kept announcing that there would be a marriage-related event at 12:30 on Front Street and that we should all pay attention. At the appointed time, a crew of young men performed a spirited dance routine. One of them did a back flip. Then another young man with a bull horn told a young lady that he was ready to go the distance for her for the rest of his life, got down on one knee, and proposed. She accepted, and the crowd went wild.

Did I mention that all this took place in front of the movie theatre where they're playing "Going the Distance"? Because it did. So I don't know if this was real or if it was a creative, yet excessive, way of getting into the movie for free. If you know, leave a message. But it was an amusing performance in the middle of a drab day.

I took shaky pictures for you.


Here is pretty Erika in her new headband with vintage lace from my great-grandfather's lingerie factory.













Rick, looking quite dashing in an Ivy cap.














See the couple in left corner? They are as yet un-affianced.









She says yes.























She accepts congratulations from passersby.

Buskerfest 2010

The great festival of international street entertainers descended upon St. Lawrence Market this weekend. The hats and Scott and I were there on Saturday. And a fantastic day it was! The weather made a late-August resurgence into spectacularity* and we basked in sunny warmth. Nice change from last year's chill and rain.

Not surprisingly, there was a big crowd milling about on blocked-off Front Street. Families enjoying the free entertainment. I was mostly somewhat confined to my tent under the North Market eaves, so it was great that a steady stream of wandering buskers put on a variety of shows right in front of me. This was much more fun than last year, when the same entertainers put on the same shows in the same space several times a day. A Dado-like personage who "spoke" with a whistle amused and confounded with yo-yos, rope and juggling. A Japanese couple amused and confounded with unicycles. Pyromeo and Juliet played with love and fire. And so on.

What a day for my spare camera batteries to die. They had been recharged, really they had. Sadly, I only captured images of the first couple of acts.

On with the show!

Sue in her new sprigged grey chapeau. They make a lovely couple.













Nadia, truly a gilded lily in her new black and gold feathered band.












Kira, pretty in pink. And butterflies!
















My tent neighbour, the aptly named Jewel, modeling her new feathered band.











Jewel and her jewelry.
Maybe I should call myself Hattie?








The juggler!















Very funny unicyclist couple.















Ta-da!











*Desk dictionary says yes, spell check says no. I'm going old school.

Attention Shoppers: Market Exchange

Please note that I will not be at my St. Lawrence Market table this Saturday. My indispensable partner, Scott, is playing Hugh's Room that evening with his band, Kensington Market. (Scott plays bass.)

Maybe you heard them on CIUT's Take 5 this morning.

So come to see Kensington Market! They're really good! Of course, I would say that, wouldn't I? But I liked them on the radio before I knew any of them.

Neutrality Agreement

It was all about natural linen colour yesterday. Every hat I sold was that delicious shade. Chic, timeless, flattering, neutral, easy to wear, goes with everything. I love using that colour.

St. Lawrence Market was much nicer without all the wood smoke from last week, if you ask me. A quick survey of some of my textile crafting neighbours featured the word Febreeze as the common denominator. All is well, though; no lasting ill effects were bemoaned. All my hats needed to recuperate was a breath of fresh air in our back yard.

The weather was just great -- not too hot, which was a lovely surprise, given the infernal forecast. Of course, we tend to be lucky where we're situated, with the lake breezes wafting up Market Street. And the rain held off, too. Lots of foot traffic, sensibly taking advantage of the luscious bounty offered by the farmers of the North Market next door to us crafters. I bought some divine French haricots verts from the Handsome Farmer. (I can't tell you which one that is, because I don't want to hurt the feelings of the other farmers.) And peaches and strawberries and tomatoes and kale. And sexy, stinky, runny cheese from the South Market. Life is good. (I almost typed "Life is food." An apt Freudian slip.)

Lots of visitors came by, which is so great. I love having a regular gig at a regular spot, so people can drop by knowing you'll be there. Friends, family (bearing home-baked goodies! Thanks, Kathy!), returning customers. It's very gratifying and a good way to feel rich.

Herewith the weekly photo parade:

Lovely Lucie was the first to try on my new gambler-ish straw. No one looked better in it, either.














Gail models her new, bespoke linen bucket hat with the pleated details. She says she likes it even better than the coral linen one she bought earlier this season. Thanks, Gail!






Linda in her new wide-brimmed natural linen hat. And a new, bespoke Trilby will follow.








Anne (easy name to remember!) in her new linen bucket. Don't they look happy together?








Pretty Adria in her pretty, sprigged band. Excellent choice!









Looking ahead to fall/winter, Katrinka models her woolly bow band. It says Minnie Mouse, but in a good way.

Summer and Smoke

Yesterday there was a free corn roast at St. Lawrence Market. Gorgeous day for it, too. Last summer it took place only on the south side, and I never encountered it. This year they had it on both sides of Front Street. I was situated very close by.

They built a big, wood-burning fire next to the fountain, with no chimney. It produced a great deal of smoke. It smelled great for the first little while, until you noticed how much your eyes were stinging. It also produced a great deal of ash, which blew about in large chunks and settled everywhere.

The corn roast was very popular. There was a long lineup the whole time, which snaked right in front of my hat display. These folks were not hat customers. If there were any out there, they had a lot of people to wiggle through to get to my display. I guess that's why they didn't. It was also became pretty claustrophobic for us vendors, hemmed in by the press of humanity.

Sigh....

Fortunately, a kind universe favoured me with a very good day before the conflagration of the corn began. Herewith the photographic souvenirs:

Denise Dufour, a returning customer (my absolutely favourite kind), chose two new hats for herself. Here she is in a black and white gingham with zipper tape trim.
















A real hat fan, Michelle fell immediately in love with my Balenciaga-ish chapeau. Add why shouldn't she? It was a millinery class project that earned a very high mark. It's great to see it find such an appreciative new owner. My mother will miss it, though. It was her favourite.








People. Lots and lots of people. Lots and lots of waiting. Note the tarpaulin my best beloved, Scott, has rigged in a desperate bid to block out the smoke.












Samantha knows what she likes. She chose this hat to model while waiting in line with her dad, Darryl.











A rare, behind-the-gridwall view of the sea of humanity slowly filing by my display.