Art and "Waderlust"

First there were dogs, then came the strawberries, now art has descended on the park next to the farmers' market at St. Lawrence Market.  Of course, there always is on Saturdays, but yesterday there was a special contingent of canvasses.  The park was full of vendors of all kinds, and many beautiful paintings.  Lots of eye candy for the many visitors to enjoy.

Again, the weather was most co-operative.  After a three-day heat wave, the weather had changed to seasonally nice, instead of psycho-hot.  The sun was beaming on Saturday, but a nice breeze up Market Street provided relief. Of course, the pups and kids were happy to cool off in the fountain.  It's too tempting to join them, but I remain landlocked during my weekly display.  More's the pity...

Anyhoo.

I was barely set up before I made my first sale, a diskette fascinator in a shade I've named "Fred" -- half fuchsia and half red.  (I'm heavily into dyeing this season.  It's very addictive.)  So that was a nice way to start the day.

One of my fascinators is going to the Queen's Plate!  Of course, it had to be my all-time favourite, and to a lady who declined to have me take her picture.  But she kindly promised to email one of herself at the race.  Fingers crossed she remembers.  I will miss it, but I'm glad it has a grand occasion (and possibly last) to go to.  But I'm making a new one, but in red, for a special order for a very special customer.

Joanna Sipos was there!  She's the bella behind Belle Boutique.  This was the first time this season she brought down her lovely wire-wrapped jewelry and her signature bright pink display.  She's as nice as she is talented.  Salome and I are big fans.  Salome often gives Joanna a hand at the One of A Kind Shows, where Joanna has been doing great business every spring and fall.  I hope we'll get to see her again before too long.

Salome is doing out-of-town shows here and there this summer, contributing to my mounting sense of wanderlust .  (I just typed "waderlust" by mistake.  Thoughts, Dr. Freud?)  Katherine of Bumblebee Jewelry will be on the road a lot, too.  I'll see her on the last weekend of August in Amherstburg, on the Detroit River, as I did last summer.  But she'll be quite a few other summery places in the meantime, making me hanker for a tent and a billet and a more portable life in general.  Must work on that.

But I really wish I could be in two places at once.  I love Saturdays at the Market, seeing my friends, meeting new and returning customers, and breathing that farmers' market smell.

On with the show!

This is Amanda, who relieved me of the "Fred" diskette.  It looks especially awesome in her vibrantly dyed hair.















Nives in her red, white and blue fascinator.  (And my camera still works, thank you, Nives!)

Alina chose this band of straw braid disks.  Pretty and casual.

Linda Chamberlain is back!  The lady who loves pink chose this swirly sculpted straw hat, which she kept on.  She came back to tell me about the many compliments she and the hat were getting.  Music to my ears!

When I first met Linda, I knew she was something special, but I didn't know she was a hero.  Read all about her in this story by the Toronto Star's Catherine Porter.

Elaine in her new pleated and beaded aqua band, receiving moral support from her friends.

Art.  

 More art.

And, finaly, here is Susan.  Friends with Mary, who bought the pink Trilby last week, Susan emailed me to say how much she liked Mary's hat and made a point of coming down to meet me (walking Mary's dog, Marlowe) and choose this one for herself!  What a compliment! Thanks, Susan!  I hope to see you and Mary in your Hats by Anne, walking Marlowe again very soon!

Monkey War Berries Day

I played hooky last week.  It was supposed to rain all day, and it was Woofstock, which meant lots and lots of doggies and the people who love them, all concentrating on dogginess.  Bless them all, but as I've mentioned before, I do not make fascinators for dogs.  It also meant that we vendors would be squished under the overhang of the farmers' market building, which is a dank and gloomy location on rainy days.

So I called it.  And by all reports, it was a good thing to have done.  I slept in, which I haven't done in ages.  Sheer bliss!  Therapeutic, too  And then the indispensable Scott and I ventured to the annual Beach craft show, in our own neighbourhood, to see what we could see.  Rather hoping to encounter Jacqui Uza and her husband George, my peripatetic friends from Windsor, who were at the event last year selling Jacqui's gorgeous little knitted, beaded bags.  But they weren't there.  Probably in Bahrain or something.  Seriously, they do get around.

But I was back at the Market with bells on last Saturday.  Inside the south market the Strawberry Festival was happening, apparently, but outside it was the War of 1812.  Brave souls donned many layers of costume, including woolen coats for the men, and strolled about picturesquely. These two kindly posed with their sock monkey counterparts, the wonderful work of Aunt Lizzie's Needlework Company, my other tent neighbour.  They tell us we'll be seeing them throughout the summer (humans and sock monkeys), so for their sake, let's pray for moderate temperatures.

It was another lovely day, but not crazy hot as it is as I type this.  Not frabjous, as last year's Strawberry Festival was, but just fine, thank you.  I wore my strawberry fascinator to get into the spirit of the day.

 The fountain was back!  Dogs and kids were very happy about that. 

 The park was very full of visitors and vendors to visit.  The view from my tent.












Looking up from my tent.

Mary, first customer of the day, looking fab in her new linen Trilby.  I dyed the hat fabric myself.  (The madras print band, not so much.)

 Elyse, in her new organza rose band.  I'm loving me some organza this season, and I'm not alone.

Giselle Long, from the north market office, carrying  balloons to the south market, where the strawberry festivity was taking place.

Natasha, Katerina and Dimitria looking lovely for their photo op.

It was hot enough for my tent neighbour Mark to change into these awesome Chinese farmer's sandals.  How I want them.

So now imagine how hot these brave souls must be. Yet they smile and pose obligingly.  That's the kind of spirit that won us the war of 1812.

 This cool cat with the amazing eyes garnered his share of attention, out to take the air, calmly perched atop his person's shoulders.

Pat Campbell rocking her new grey linen bucket.

  Natsuko looking fresh and lovely in her wavy straw band.  

Iris visited my table earlier in the day, hemming and hawing between two linen wide brimmed hats, or the possibility of a custom made one.  She came back in time for Natsuko to help her decide on this gold one. The colour suits her so well and the wide brim keeps her pretty face out of the sun.

   The almost obligatory shot of Salome, here sporting the fascinator she chose before I had even put it on display. Just the thing to go with these particular specs, of which she has quite the wardrobe.

Seasonal Correction

I guess  the gorgeous weather couldn't last forever.  May ended in a very cranky mood, bringing wind, rain and chill, dragging the beginning of June down with it.  Saturday was dull and cool-ish, but at least the rain held off while we were selling hats and hair toys at St. Lawrence Market.  There were many vendor absences, and who could blame them?  The weather was not very promising.  The indispensable Scott and I have a policy of heading Market-wards on Saturdays unless it's actually raining when we wake up.

It paid off this weekend.  There were fewer people about than there were for the last two weekends, but that was okay.  Some very nice ones came to see me and my work, play dress up, say lovely things and sometimes make a purchase.  I was up very late the night before trying to get as much finished as possible for Saturday, and I was feeling rather tired.  (Actually, I felt hung over, and I wasn't.)  So a quieter day suited me just fine.

Next week is Woofstock.  Doggies in costumes and stark naked and the people who love them.  My table will be squished under the overhang of the North Market building.  No, I don't sell hats or fascinators for dogs.  Not even corgis.  (HRH reference for jubilant royal watchers.  Did you see the flotilla on the Thames today?  Awesome!)  So come on down and enjoy the poochy fun!

Not many people went for the photo op, so I just have two photos to share today:

Katelyn and Julie and their beautiful smiles in their new headbands -- raffia discs and an organza bow.

After much deliberation. Elizabeth chose this one and one other.  And excellent choices they were, too.  The colour really suits her.

A Memorable Memorial Weekend

Well, that was a fast month!  Already it's the last weekend in May, Memorial Day weekend for our American friends, many of whom visited St. Lawrence Market on Saturday.  The weather was as wonderfully obliging as it has been every Saturday this month  (praise be to a kind universe!).

Once again there was a dearth of buskers.  (Did I jinx them when I posted earlier this month that every day was Buskerfest at the Market? Maybe I don't know my own power...)  Someone said the Lemonbucket Orkestra has in fact busked their way to Romania now.  Godspeed to them.

There is also a dearth of water in the fountain.  The dogs, kids and even pigeons look quite forlorn about this.  I hope it will come back soon, and isn't a victim of municipal belt-tightening.  That would be sad.  I think I benefit from all the negative ions charging about when it's going.  I certainly love watching the pooches and kids cavorting in it.

But mostly it's all bounteous at the Market these days.  The farmers' market next to us is jammed with deliciousness.  Asparagus is in!  And strawberries are arriving in fits and starts.  Can't wait until the haricots verts get here.

I digress...

Many visitors graced my table on Saturday, played dress-up and left with a new hat or hair toy.  It's wedding season, after all.  I have a commission to make a fascinator for someone who is going to seven of them this summer, including her own!  But not everyone needs a special occasion to wear feathers in her hair.  I love that kind of joie de vivre. Sideeka finally decided she had to have the brown creased sinamay beret with the peacock trim that she modeled in last week's post.  They make a very attractive pair.

On with this week's fashion parade:

Shannon, right, in her new lacey fascinator, and a friend.

Holly looking lovely modeling this little number.

A bevy of American beauties:  Valorie, Natalie and Erin.  Erin bought the wide-brimmed linen hat she's wearing.

Becky in her new wide-brimmed linen chapeau, and Andrea.

Monique fell hard and fast for this sculpted creation, which has been patiently waiting for her to make it her own.  Which it now is.  Love that happy smile!

It's Charlotte!  She likes it!  But she needs to come back when she's a little bit less little.  What a cutie pie!

Liz looks lovely in her ethereal new beaded aqua band.  

Caroll put this on and exclaimed, "Oh, I love it!"  And why not?  Her new fascinator looks fabulous with those red framed glasses.  And she walked off wearing it.  My kind of gal!  Thanks, Caroll! 

Thank you one and all for another great weekend! 

 

Victorious Day

It's the Victoria Day long weekend here in Canada, the unofficial launch of summer.  The weather has been absolutely gorgeous, as if it was really getting into the spirit of the season!

St. Lawrence Market on Saturday was bustling.  Throngs of people strolling about, enjoying the scene.  Tour buses brought fresh recruits on a regular basis.  I don't know if I've ever seen it so busy, outside of Buskerfest or Woofstock, two crowd-pleasing events on the Market's summer schedule.

Strangely, it was busker-free this time, yet it took me half the day to notice this.  They're mostly quite enjoyable, but it was a pleasant change to not have to yell at people just to be heard above the playing.  Who knows, maybe the Lemonbucket Orkestra is on their way to Romania now.  (Two of my hats are going to be spending part of their year in Italy from now on.  Once again, my hats do more traveling than I do.  Sigh... )

Lots of lovely people came by my hat display, I'm happy to report, and many left with new chapeaux.  So on with the sheau!  (Yes, yes, Spellcheck, leave me alone...)

 Just look at them all!  These are views of the massed hordes from beside and through the tent I share with three other vendors.
















Caitlyn in her lovely new hair band.  She likes her some pink.

Helene tried a few hats, but kept coming back to this one.  We'll call it her starter hat and hope to see her again soon.

Lovely Mariana in her new organza cluster band and  a smile that could light up a room.

Pat admired the fascinator I was wearing and I admired her necklace.

Phyllis rocking her new straw braid band.  That's me reflected in her sunglasses taking her picture.

Rae in her new hat...

...and in her new cap.  Thanks, Rae! (If you see this, please email me.  I can't read your email address to send you these photos.)

Sideeka was admiring this sinamay piece last week and came by again.  Stay tuned!

I heard this man saying that his dog loves children and wants to protect them.  What a happy pooch, enjoying the love from his fans.

Still happy.

This adorable guy spent some time next to my table.  Very gentle and sweet.

Pretty

When I'm not making hats, I'm often admiring shoes.  Like this one.  Sigh...
Okay, I'd rather look at it than wear it.  My feet are not masochists.

HARRIET WILDE pumps

Spring Has Sprung And So Have I

The beginning of May means the tents are back up next to the North Market building, and so am I.  Thus beginneth my fourth season selling my hats outside St. Lawrence Market in downtown Toronto.  Did you know that National Geographic voted it the best farmers' market in the world?  Imagine that!  I am happy and proud to shamelessly latch onto whatever lustre proximity affords me, and to contribute my own, such as it is.

(Oif, what a sentence.  Please forgive me.)

The last two Saturdays have seen lovely weather.  Yesterday especially was simply gorgeous.  It's great to see my crafty friends again, like Salome, sassy queen of jewelry makers, and Roberto and Stephen, the photographers.  And Maria and France and Marjorie and Sky and Mark and on and on.

The season got off to an auspicious start.  It's always so encouraging to sell something right away, especially a new design.  Thanks to Kathy, I did just that.  The rest of the first day was fine, and the second Saturday was really great!  Let's hope the weather co-operates for the rest of the season.  Rather important when you work outside and your merchandise is textile.

On with the photos:

Salome looms large amongst craft vendors of the north Market.

Kathy, first customer of the year, in her new pink Trilby.  I dyed it myself.  I could dye for you, too.

The Lemonbucket Orkestra, klezmer-ing it up for money to travel to Romania.  Very fun and very loud.  

The Samba Squad, making their way east along Front Street.  Every day is Buskerfest at St. Lawrence Market.

See?

First wedding party photo of the season.  Such pretty colours!

Roberto in the hat I made for him.

Pat Taylor, first customer of May 12.

Christine, in one of her two new hats.

Leelee playing dressup.

And along came Linda Chamberlain, trainee clown, teacher of bongos to the young, and lover of pink.  I suggested she might like this pink organza hairband and she agreed.  I further suggested she might feel an affinity for this pink Trilby, and she further agreed.  Then she went in search of the lady clown pictured above.  I hope they found one another.  Thanks, Linda!