Vaughan of a Kind

The hats, the indispensable Scott and I made our first appearance at the annual Vaughan of a Kind art + craft show last Saturday.  It's been going on for a few years now.  The lovely and talented Yolanda Pang of Poetic Designs (modern vintage jewelry) recommended it.

It was a lovely day and the Vellore Village Community Centre was a bright, sunny place to spend it.  The new-ish centre (opened in 2005) certainly seems to be a community hub.  Lots of kids and parents coming and going to dance classes, swimming, karate and so on.  We had an adorable view of little girls in dance classes all day, right in front of our display.  How I wanted to dress their cute little heads..

Anyhoo.

The main floor was filled with crafters and artists of many ilks. The show is growing every year.  We each had a neat L-shaped space formed by two tables, which made a nice change from a single, long table.

It was also nice to be just around the corner from their wee snack bar.  A freshly baked pretzel with mustard hit the spot mid-morning.

The day started out quite slowly, with plenty of time to take a look at the other vendors.  It was delightful to run into Joanna of JET Designs, another jeweler I met at St.Lawrence Market when I was a newby there.  Joanna's so nice, and  her jewelry seems to be very popular.  She really gets around, too.   She's in shows all over the place, usually with her supportive mum helping her, as was the case Saturday.

Of course I saw Yolanda.  I love her pretty steampunky work.

I also saw someone whose name I did not catch, who makes vintage style porcelain dolls.  They are quite exquisite.  It's not just assembling parts;  she moulds the porcelain herself, and sews on the mohair wigs, and makes the costumes.  Quite the esoteric art!  She also teaches this craft.  How fun would that be?

She was right beside someone making equally exquisite Victorian style crazy quilt cushions and Christmas stockings.  I love crazy quilts.  I made myself a crazy quilt Christmas stocking a few years ago that still delights me when I hang it "by the chimney with care" each year.

Another vendor whose name I utterly neglected to catch makes adorable knitted caps.  Some were plain with simple decorations and others were like cute animals with ears.  She said that she knows David Dunkley, who I do some work for, and told me how he once bought a bunny cap with ears from her, for himself to wear to take his niece and nephew tobogganing one year!  That didn't surprise me.  Last time we worked together he was wearing his cheesy souvenir Will and Kate cuff links.  I love a milliner who doesn't take himself too seriously.

Our vendor neighbours was on our right was Suetables, a very nice couple, Pamela and Jesse, selling Pamela's beautiful silver jewelry.  They have three little kids at home, so her creations must be an important outlet for Pamela.  They were very helpful to one of my customers, offering insightful advice on making her selection.  Thanks again, guys!

Kendall loves peacock!  I thought she was all dolled up for a dance performance, but instead she was modeling tutus for one of the vendors.

Musicians in Victorian costumes.  Very pretty accompaniment to our show.  (No, I didn't make their hat and fascinator.)

Teresa was in Italy and could not find a hat she liked there.  She saw mine and loved it immediately.  So remember, if Italy can't help, contact me.

Sunder chose one of my cozy new toques, which she can tuck or pull down deep over her ears.

And this lady came by just at the very end to scoop up this jaunty poorboy cap.  I think she made a great choice.

And here endeth the tale.  I will post a new entry about the other shows I'll be doing this season.  And if I can make you anything special for your holiday occasions, please don't hesitate to ask!  I'd love to hear from you.

Sarah's Fascinator

I was scrolling through my email inbox in search of something when I came across one I had completely missed when it first arrived.  It was particularly vexing because I had been looking forward to it for months.  A client had promised to send me a photo of herself at her bridal shower, wearing the bespoke fascinator I had made for her.  It started with a blob of nail polish for colour matching, continued with a flurry of emails and photos of the work in progress, and this photo shows the result.

Here I was thinking she had forgotten all about it, when it was me who was the knucklehead.  Of course I apologized and thanked her as soon as I found this.  Here, I'll do it again:  Thanks again, Sarah, and sorry!

It was worth the wait.  I love this piece, and Sarah rocks it.

Last Market Absence Alert for 2012

This was supposed to me my last Saturday at St. Lawrence Market for the season.  Well, due to the bad weather, I won't be there today.  It's raining as I type this and the forecast for the day is not good. Hats being fibre and textile and feathers, they are not fond of damp weather, and people are not fond of trying on damp hats.  So that's that.

Stay tuned for further news like holiday craft sale dates and locations!

Apple Day

Yesterday was the day Scouts and their ilk sold apples to the St. Lawrence Market crowds, wherever they were.  They sure weren't hanging around the craft vendors.  I can't blame them.  It was cold and gloomy and threatening rain all day, before it really did mid-afternoon.  It was the post-Thanksgiving slump.  Also, the  traffic barricades were beginning to be put up for Sunday's Toronto Waterfront Marathon, which makes traffic stay away before it really has to.

Speaking of which, we saw the runner who is over 100 years old go by!  Fauja Singh, the Turbaned Tornado!  I guess he was getting in some last-minute training.  If that isn't inspiring, I don't know what is.

The farmers inside the north market seemed to be as busy as usual, so that was good.  Smart shoppers stuck to the indoors.

We craft vendors spent a lot of time visiting each other, commiserating and blowing on our fingers.  Did I mention it was cold?

Very quiet sales day.  Many vendors stayed home, which was a wise move.

I'm still glad I went, though.  It's still a high point of the week to see our friends and see what kind of reaction new creations get, from them and from visitors.  Very helpful.

My friend Janet came by, too!  I hadn't seen her in quite some time, and that was probably at the Market, too, when she said admiringly "Cool gig!"   A person of keen discernment.  She also has one of my hats, so she is also a person of taste.  (!)

And if I had stayed home, I wouldn't have met the nice people who came by my table and who don't live in Toronto.

Like Dianne, who liked my new tucked toque in creamy brocades so much that she decided to take it to live with her in New Jersey.  Just the thing to go with everything, especially this lovely lace jacket.  Thanks, Dianne!

 And Izzy, the almost five months old poodle/bichon mix, who was absolutely irresistible, as Salome's face will attest.  So friendly!  I had my own special moment with him too, I'm happy to report.

Did I mention it was a quiet day?  The park is practically a bowling alley.

Parker!  A very sweet, very trembly Yorkie.

With his "mom", Dana, and her new felt circles band.  I transferred the discs to a band to blend in with her hair.  I aim to please.

That's Roberto in the background in the grey felt I made him earlier this year.

Just after this it started to rain, which was a clear sign from the universe to pack it in already, go home and eat tomato soup.  So we did.

Thank you to all the brave souls who made it as far as my table Saturday!  I appreciate it very much.  Let's hope next Saturday's weather  is much better.

Second-last Saturday

The second-to-last Saturday of the season came and went.  Of course it was chilly and of course rained, but it was sunny first thing.  Just enough to make a few sales before we had to dive for cover for an initial cloud burst.  After that, it looked like it was going to be clear again, but the clouds came back and the rain with them.  We packed it up early and went to a movie studio wardrobe sale instead.  (I got some excellent unblocked hat bodies for a fabulous price!  Thanks, universe!)

Sachi in her cozy new tucked toque.

The Lemon Bucket Orkestre has bookended my Market season:  there at the beginning and again at the end; not so much in between.

The two members who came, and their lady clown.

A Schnauzer and his friend.

Another bearded terrier.

Hat by Anne, bling by Salome.

Rain on my iridescent tablecloth.  And so farewell.

Thanks, Thanksgiving!

It was my first Thanksgiving weekend selling at St. Lawrence Market last Saturday.  They tell me it's traditionally the busiest day of the year for the farmers and food sellers, even bigger than the festive season.  If it was, the extra crowds were sticking to the farmers' stalls, inside the building and outside, hidden around the corner from us.  Inside the north market building they had hung jolly banners from the ceiling, which gave the place a jolly holiday atmosphere.  Fall harvest was abundant, and there were still strawberries and haricots verts, which was fantastic.  How lucky we are to have such bounty to choose from for our Thanksgiving feasts.  Thank you, kind universe!

Outside it was darn chilly!  But you wouldn't know it from some of the people passing by, of which there were still a goodly number.  Sensible folk were wearing jackets and scarves and,yes, hats and caps, but there was a contingent wearing shorts and flip flops and T-shirts.  Even little kids!  Either they came from arctic regions, or they were in deep denial about the season.  Looking at them made me feel so much colder!  Brrrr....

Anyhoo, it was a really good day for me!  (Better than the photographic evidence would suggest.  Lots of my customers are camera shy.)  It was fun, too.  People were in a good mood.  That busker was back, and this time I made sure to get his card so I could mention his name, which is Jaffa.  He's from Haiti.  His real name is Dieufaite, which means, if my French isn't too rusty, God made.  Isn't that lovely?  We like his music, and he's a good sport, too.

I met another musician, who came by with a friend to admire my work.  He just looked like a musician.  His name is fiZ.  His name suits his pretty music.  Pop!  Bet he was sorry he chose that chilly weekend to be away from his steady gig oceanside in California.

It was a good day to eat pretzels from Oodles of Strudels, whose creations I can wholeheartedly endorse.  So I did, and shared them around.  They come in handy for harried moms who don't always get breakfast, like my vendor neighbour, Maria.

On with the show:

.My table in the pretty early morning light.

The banners inside the farmers' market building.

Julieta's family bought her this hat as an early Christmas present, and a bracelet from Salome, too.  They were so nice!  It was a great start to the day.  Thanks, everyone!

Here's a photo of all of us that Julieta's daughter Jaquie sent me afterwards.  Tha's their friend Becky on the right.

Just look at him!  What a sweetheart.

Jaffa, playing his recorder and giving his singing voice a rest....

...and later with an appreciative audience.

Elana, so pretty in her new felt disc band.

Revy, short for Revelstoke, waiting for his mom to stop talking to Salome.

Different dog, same story

Karena, looking fab in her new purple bucket.

One of a handful of wedding parties who came by.  Oh sure, it looks all warm and stuff, but no!  It was darn cold!  Every bride said through chattering teeth, "It's not so bad!"  Brave, deluded souls.

Lucy, in her new cap.  Very cozy!

Bring on the Brrr Months

They start with Septembrrrr and go on to Decembrrrr.  Of course, it was still summer at the beginning of the month, and the weather behaved accordingly, but by now we've needed to layer up a bit more as we work our outside displays at St. Lawrence Market.  Change of clothes, change of merchandise, change of displays.   Change change change.  The only constant.

It's been a spotty month for attendance for me.  The weather has kept me away twice in September, but last Saturday was really nice.  Sunny, mostly, temperate, and dry!  I hope it continues like this for Octobrrrr, because for the first time I will continue my Market Saturdays until the end of the month.  After that, the tents come down, and my spot goes away.  Sigh...  I wish they'd stay up until the holiday season is over..

My fall hats made their first appearance, and were kindly received by the Market visitors.  One was Dianne, who bought my personal favourite fascinator from me last June.  (This one.)

She needed it to wear to the Queen's Plate.  I asked her for a photo of herself wearing it at the grand event, and she came by to show one to me.  Too shy to let me share it with you, but I'm tickled that she took the time to let me see it.  It's the first time that I know of that anyone's worn something I've made to such an illustrious hatty occasion, so I was dead keen to see it deployed.  And, of course, Dianne looked lovely in it, and, more importantly, looked like she was having a great time.

On with the show....

Salome modeling a felt chapeau that goes with her ensemble du jour.  And her awesome necklace from her new Rock n' Roll line.  (See that big black button in the middle?  She lurrrrves it.)

The giveaway du jour was this yellow bag promoting Canarydistrict.com.  I love me some free bags!  And I love me some yellow!  And I am very sorry I never went to the Canary Restaurant, a funky old diner, after which the district is named.  It closed some years ago.

The lovely Yvonne  in her new equestrian cap, in which she looks very swell.  Her friend Shirley brought her by my table.  Shirley bought a similar cap earlier in the season, and she's a warm, jolly soul that warms the cockle of my heart.  It's a tonic to see her, and so flattering to have her bring her dear friend, Yvonne.  I'm beholden to both of you ladies!

Shirley, from last August.

Busker, taken last August.  He was here again last Saturday, and sings in French and English, and plays recorder as well as guitar.  His music is charming, and so is he.  (Must get his name sometime so I can give him full props.)

Jessica chose this raffia braid band, and I supported her in her decision.

Catherine, in one of the two caps she bought.  But will she wear them to church?  That's the big question.

Zoya, playing dress-up.  We learned that you can slip a hairband through the bobby pin loops and have another option for how to keep it on.  Dress-up can be educational.  I always suspected as much.

A face only a mother could love.  And me.  She is a very sweet pooch whose name I did not get.  Bad me.  No biscuit.

And finally, Salome's daughter, the awesome Ms. Adrian, rocking her Halloween bonnet..  No, I did not make it for her.  I dared her to wear it that night to Nuit Blanche, but she declined.  Chicken.

Her T-shirt days "gangster-ish."

Absence Alert

The weather report looks exceedingly dodgy for Saturday, so I will not be at my spot outside St. Lawrence Market tomorrow.  I should be back on Saturday, September 15, weather permitting.

Please, weather?  Please?

Summer Flames Out

It's good to be home again -- that is, back at my St. Lawrence Market table for the Saturday of Labour Day weekend.  It was gorgeous out again, sunny but not too hot, and the Market was bustling.  The atmosphere was charged with end-of-summer electricity.  People seemed to be very upbeat, enjoying the moment, not mourning the last of the school year's summer holiday.  Way to be, people!  I always feel a secret elation that I won't be going back to school with the rest of the hordes.  Decades later and I'm still thrilled to be free of that particular societal system.  Love learning, just not so much in classrooms, mmmmkay?

Dogs and kids abounded.  There was also the added attraction of the annual air show happening on the Island, which I love.  You don't have to be there to enjoy part of the show; they fly so far afield that I can see bits of the show from my home in the Beach.  St. Lawrence is much closer than that.  We saw Snowbirds or their American equivalents, and little yellow training planes.  Missed the Lancaster bomber, though, that massive presence with the bass hum that is quite thrilling to behold..  The indispensable Scott tells me it's not a given that it will make an appearance.  I always though it was.  Now I will appreciate it more whenever I do get to see it.

Sorry to say I missed the Morris dancers Scott tells me were performing in the Park.  I heard some of them in the ladies room afterwards, though, jingle-jangle-jingling.

It was a good day, made better by a late-season visit from one of my most loyal customers who has come to see me and pick up something new every year since I began selling my hats at St. Lawrence Market.  Having repeat customers, and have them refer their friends to me, is the best thing about selling my work.  It's elating and encouraging and makes me so proud and grateful.  A great way to end the summer holiday season.

On with the show!

Marianne found a cap in her favourite colour combination.  A former jewelry crafter herself, she now operates a food truck outside Mount Sinai Hospital.  Interesting reading.  So many of my customers have such intriguing stories.  I wish I knew more than only a fraction of them.

  The Market was abuzz with activity.

Denyse, my highly-valued loyal customer, looking uncharacteristically coy in one of her small number of new acquisitions.  Merci mille fois, Denyse!  A bientot, j'espere!

Laura looks pretty happy about her choice.  Her family helped her make it. Thank you, one and all!

Ashleigh, gracing her new silk disc band.

Adina and I have friends in common, and she comes to say hello when she's doing her Market shopping.  I asked her to model this for me...

....and this is the one she herself chose to model.

Once more with feeling!

Arthur, a very young Schnauzer, was the dog of the day.  So nice I snapped him thrice.

Chloe, a regular.

Chelsea!

And again, giving Arthur a run for his money in the cuteness department.

Borrowing my mirror to take a photo.  I volunteered, but no, they wanted it like this.

Look!  Up in the air!  Four little yellow planes, flying in formation!

Look!  Down on the ground!  Salome modeling the OMG hat!  And with her usual sass and style, I might add.

A teeny plane trailing smoke.

A dog waiting patiently for some wind to face into.

Why look who's coming.  It's... Sticky Toffee!

He has his own website, does Sticky Toffee.  (Sticky, to his friends.  But not, to be fair, to the touch.)

Emerging from a refreshing dip.

Monty, au naturel.

Finally, Mark's ingenious method of keeping his vase-less sunflowers fresh at work -- velcro strap and a repurposed coffee mug.