Branksome House and Heintzman Hall*

* Okay, Heintzman House and Branksome Hall. It's been a hectic week.










Gia, aglow in her new red sinamay fascinator.


















The indispensable Scott and my table

The holiday season is off to a rousing start with two back-to-back sales on consecutive weekends. First we made our second appearance at the Heintzman House Artisan Craft Sale, their 40th. I'd say it was pretty well established! We (the indispensable Scott and me) shared the second floor Heintzman Room once again with Wendy Emery, the fused glass wiz, and Janice, doll maker, and her pal, Luella. It was nice to see them all again. We make good roommates.

My display looked awesome, if I do say so myself. Wendy also had the great idea of angling my table at the far end, which looked really good and gave us more room to move behind it. Janice wisely made many more dolls this time, as they simply flew out of there last year. Wendy's display was once again by the window to allow the sunlight to play with her creations. It had grown, too, by at least a tree.








Wendy's table








Janice's table

Scott and I enjoyed seeing crafty old friends again, along with the lovely ladies of the Auxiliary who are so gracious and helpful, and some of whom do me the honour of becoming customers. It was another successful sale for us all. Yay!
Betty
















June













Marina














A bevy of Branksome beauties

The momentum continued with one more week of mad millining (yes, I know it's not a word) leading up to Plaid Tidings, the holiday season craft sale at Branksome Hall. It's a private girls' school in Rosedale. The sale was established about twenty years ago, and this was my first time there as a vendor. It's really beautifully done. The new gym is professionally outfitted with red carpets, draped booths and spot lighting so that it looks like a mini One of A Kind Show. And the vendors were all superb quality and had items at all price points. As at Heintzman House, there was a tea room with tasty treats to keep one "suffunctified" while browsing. The $10 admission was well worth it.








Good thing I brought extra lights!
I was next to my friend, Jacqui Uza, and her husband, George, my hosts last summer when I shared her tent at ART by the River in Amherstburg. Peripatetic to say the least, they travel the world, selling Jacqui's breathtaking beaded, vintage style purses as they go. It's great to see them as they cross my orbit, however briefly.

Friday evening was the opening gala, with a silent auction, wine and canapes -- and a piper, of course.








Piping in the season

As may be deduced from the name of the event, it's a very Scottish theme at Branksome Hall. Clans and kilts abound. Jacqui spent the evening swamped with admiring customers. I love it when people are smart enough to know gorgeousness when they see it, especially when it's the work of a friend.








Jacqui's busy table








A clearer view









Leslie looking lovely
















Lydia Levin, Communications Manager














Frances and Gwen









Amelia and Elizabeth












A & E again, international women of mystery








Mimi and Riannon








Riannon in her new poorboy cap

















Lauren














Daphne














Tanya














Lauren and Lexi

Saturday and Sunday were very good with lots of people shopping. On Sunday we were approached by a lady who was promoting a similar event at another school. She looked so familiar, and I finally figured out that she bore a striking resemblance to my high school art teacher. I was right! She was as tickled to run into an old (ancienne, not vieille, thank you) student as I was to run into her. We had a fun chat. Oy, such a small world!








Mary Lou













Caroline













Maggie













Maggie fascinating















Kathryn
















Various vendors:








Brave Brown Bag









Vendor neighbour Susan Cavanagh's Collectibles, all the way from New Liskeard




Julia McNeely's awesome animal art. I love them!








Weaver's Cabin. Beautiful, cozy woven woollies from Severn Bridge








Shane Lambert's gorgeous woodwork. The pepper mills! Oh, the pepper mills!








Willa Designs had an architect design their necklace displays.








Christy's Gourmet Gifts. Yum.



The staff, planning committee and girls were all lovely, and the customers were, too.
It all added up to a most successful sale. Thank you, Plaid Tidings! I hope to be there again next year.

And the season has just begun! Next up, it's the Artisans Gift Fair at the Tranzac Club, Saturday, December 3 and Saturday, December 17, noon to 6 p.m. Free admission! And on Friday, December 16, I will be at St. Lawrence Market once more, but this time inside the North Market (where the farmers are on Saturdays), for a holiday craft sale of St. Lawrence Market's craft vendors. I'll also be elfing somewhat. Stay tuned!

Plaid Tidings of Great Joy

Holiday Craft Show Schedule 2011

40th Annual Artisan Craft Sale
Heintzman House
135 Bay Thorn Drive, Thornhill
Saturday, November 12 & Sunday, November 13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission $2
A well-established annual event in a historic house, Ontario's first adobe structure, and named after its most prominent inhabitants, the piano-making Heintzmans. Proceeds benefit the house's upkeep.








Plaid Tidings
Branksome Hall
10 Elm Avenue, Toronto
Friday, November 18, 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, November 19 and Sunday, November 20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission $4.50
Since 1992, Plaid Tidings has offered a lovely selection of creative vendors for seasonal shopping, in support of this private girls' school's programs.This is my first year at Plaid Tidings. I visited the show last year. It's like a mini One of A Kind show, with the room professionally set up and lit. Wish me luck!








Artisans Gift Fair
Tranzac Club
292 Brunswick Avenue, Toronto
Saturday, December 3 and Saturday, December 17, noon to 6 p.m.
Free admission
For over twenty years a really nice, down-to-earth, family-friendly neighbourhood event in the Annex.

Last Saturday

Last Saturday was my last Saturday at St. Lawrence Market for the summer season, which starts in mid-spring and goes to early autumn. And what a gorgeous day it was! We were expecting all kinds of "meh" or worse weather, and instead were treated to warm and sunny. Lots of relieved-looking people were about, browsing and shopping.

Someone was giving away these cool burlap bags, so I nabbed one.

















This week's musicians noticed I was aiming my camera at them and obliging smiled for me.

Salome had the nerve to be absent for my last day. Instead, her lovely daughter, Adrian, filled in for her. We fed her big, soft pretzels, as was only fitting, as her mother usually shares hers with us and many others. (We get them at the farmers' market at Oodles of Strudels. You should, too.)

Steve was around again, so I put him to work as a hat model. Look for him in weekends to come, with his high-tech fabric active wear.











I had made some new hat pins, which were well received. Here's Marg, who plans on wearing hers on a scarf.















Raelene from Perth, Australia bought a hat. It's always extra flattering to have one of my pieces chosen by someone who lives in a millinery hotspot.















And speaking of travelers, here is Marlin, from the U.S.A., in his new poorboy cap.








And speaking of poorboy caps, Jill made an inspired choice with this one.









Charlie in a pink hairband.








Charlene in her new hat. Clearly, ladies whose names begin "Char" know how to flatter their outfits and complexions with headwear.

Roberto and Stephen pointed out their new "Open" sign, which was tres amusant.












A small child on a Winnie the Pooh leash came by, too cute to miss capturing.













This lady demonstrated why she looks good in headwear -- her head could have been the model for the ubiquitous styrofoam ones. And that girl can wear anything.


Three disparate examples of Market style. The bike looks like it belongs to a resident of Ward's Island. For non-Torontonians, Ward's is one of the islands in our harbour, and the last one with homes. There are no cars allowed, so the residents have these nifty, tricked-out bikes of impressive variety to do as much duty as possible, like lugging home groceries. And, apparently, tiny canoes, like on the back of this one.

















And, finally, the lovely Ms. Gail, who celebrated her birthday with a sinamay swirl and feathers. A career ballerina, she was also quite taken with a white feather fascinator she dubbed "Swan Lake". The one she chose didn't require pointe shoes, however.

Well, that's a season. And a glorious one it was, too, after the first few wet weeks. Lovely weather, people and sales. Thank you, one and all, and a big thank you to you, universe!

I'm now in major production mode, getting ready for my holiday season craft sales. So stay tuned for news about those.

Second-Last Saturday

Another pretty day at St. Lawrence Market was enjoyed by all last Saturday. Foot traffic wasn't what it could have been, but it had a lot to contend with -- the Don Valley Parkway was out of commission all weekend, as was the Yonge Street subway line. The traffic congestion that resulted was a thing to be reckoned with. I'm thinking maybe some people were staying close to home to avoid the mess. Ah, Toronto, such scheduling genius...

We were kept entertained by a guitarist on the sidewalk in front of us and a blue-ish grass duo behind us in the park. A large jelly bean was giving out freebies and getting his picture taken a lot. A large wedding party in a bus pulled up later in the afternoon looking for photo ops of their own. Steve hung out with us, Bluetooth in place, occasionally taking calls. He does things with limos during the week, but is looking for just the right thing to sell at the Market on weekends. He's around a lot, so maybe it will happen by osmosis.

Salome's sister was visiting from Vancouver. Roberto's son was visiting from home. His name is Severus and he was an internet sensation a few years ago, narrating (and making inadvertent appearances in) an adorable stop-motion video his dad made. He's quite modest for one so famous. He also likes hats and has a fedora, so he's one of my tribe.

Next Saturday is my last for the St. Lawrence Market season. The tents will be up until the end of October, I believe, and there are always vendors outside on the weekends, tents or not. Salome is among them. Well, not this very second...

But I will be posting my holiday show schedule here, so stay tuned!

Jessica test-driving the sinamay rose band.













Judy, who likes this hat. So do I. It was having a moment that day.








See what I mean? That's Steve with Salome. Don't call him Charles.








The blue-ish grass band. I am such a sucker for a banjo. So is the small child.














The guitar player. Another lovely instrument.















Cordeiros squared. Joao and Salome.












Lisa chose this little bow band. And I thank her for doing so once again.








The large wedding party and the large bus.








The littlest bridesmaid, living my childhood fantasy. How I longed to be dolled up as a tiny bride in a wedding party. But the universe thought otherwise and it was not to be. I'm sure it knew best.








Ruth, who came back and bought this two-tone cap. Many thanks, Ruth!

Grace Notes

Saturday was another gorgeous one at St. Lawrence Market. This time we were graced with a performance by a high school chamber quartet, who departed before I could take their picture. They were very pleasant company, however briefly.

Although the film festival was in full swing across town, no major movie stars stopped by. How like them...

It was a good day for sales, but almost no one wanted to have their picture taken, not even the young and very cute among my visitors. Go figure.

Anyhoo, that makes an extra big star this week of Deb, who bought a different band than the one she's modeling here, but this is the better photo.

There are only two more Saturdays in September, then I'm done at the Market for the season. Where does the time go? I'm thinking Newark. Don't ask me why.

Labour Daze

Labour Day weekend and I'm back at my post from my sojourn on the Detroit River. Saturday was the best weather of the weekend, which as I type is overcast and chilly. Mournful, even. As if sad and downcast over the prospect of school starting again tomorrow, the Ex closing for another year, summer being all but officially over. Pathetic fallacy for you English majors.

Despite the hoards cleaning out the farmers' stalls inside (note to self: buy haricots verts early to avoid disappointment), it was a slow day for me. The low vendor turnout should have been a clue. If I had checked last year's records in advance, I would have been reminded that it was the same this weekend last year. Just so long as I don't have to take it personally, I'm fine.

The highlight of the morning was the young bluegrass band that parked itself beside me, by the fountain, and played for too brief a time. They were really good! I'm sorry I didn't catch the band's name and I hope they'll be back soon.

A little dog at the fountain jumped repeatedly and exuberantly when his people splashed water on him, to the delight of all assembled. This photo doesn't really do him justice.









Karina took home a new hairband, but didn't want to try on the green sinamay disc hat, because it was "too weird." (Love!)










This feathered sinamay swirl
found a new home with this lovely lady.












I thought I'd use this lull to tell you a bit about my tent neighbours of the past several weeks. Roberto Riveros takes great photos of local landmarks and sells framed prints of them. Some of them include his friend Stephen Zaitsov, who helps him at the Market.








That's Stephen at Grossman's door.

Roberto is originally from Edmonton. He met Stephen, from Toronto, at a flop house in Vancouver. They don't seem very floppy these days. They've known each other for some twenty years now and have worked together before, like when Roberto ran a trucking business. They'd haul just about anything -- metal, fine furniture, computers, frozen goats, sometimes all at once. Roberto says he racked up almost a million miles, personally, during this time. Stephen adds that he himself got into some interesting accidents and hasn't driven since. Despite the memories that were sparked and the stories that poured forth too fast to record, neither misses this episode of their lives.


Stephen has fabulous style and a great love of hats. He has quite a collection, so I am honoured that he likes Mean Mr. Mustard, too.





For Roberto, photography is his hobby. He has a portfolio career; he does lots of things for a living, like building websites. Perhaps his most important job these days is taking care of his young son. With his wife at nursing school by night and working by day, Roberto's getting his little guy ready for his very first day of school tomorrow.

Roberto's photos,in black and white and colour, are attracting lots of close looks by lots of Market visitors. His framed prints are priced from $25 to $110. Take a look for yourself.

It's been (and still is) great having these guys sharing my tent this summer and I hope we'll get to do it again next season.