Creativity on the Loose

I feel so proud to be part of the beginning steps of a brave friends great new venture in Winnipegs exchange district. Tannis and a Pinch of Creativity is her business and she is going to be opening a bricks and mortar on McDermot in the exchange. Stay tuned...The link to see who is part of this great adventure so far....http://www.apinchofcreativity.com/our-artisans/.


Still a few more sales about 2 weeks of trying to keep healthy and producing before I can rest and put my Etsy shop on vacation. So hard to say no to things when we know that January will be a whole different ball of wax. This is  a shot from the Manitoba Crafts Museum and Library Festive Artisans Sale at the Hydro Building. Such a beautiful building in a great location. Sure loved loading in with no stairs and dollies available to us.  Met a young artist, Sarah Neville who had some beautiful hand drawn gift tags and cards, my kind of garden humour.  Her mom Marg was great too.  I was mighty grateful I had taken buttons with me as they paid for my costs. Without being overly critical, it seemed the show may have benefitted from a higher social media presence. Looked like I may have a lead on another retail outlet soon, but need to be patient.

Polar Bears for the great white North

Lots of ornaments having gone off to the Forks Trading Company, and they seem to be doing well, so that is a great help as I think more about palm trees, and push snow shovelling into the realm of denial.

Stars of all sizes

Manitoba's symbol the buffalo or bison

Fall is in the Air, time to get a sellin'

It's September so Etsy Made in Canada is just around the corner time to make Fall stuff!

the kiln should come out this afternoon with at least 3 or 4 Sunflower leaf plates. They will go off with me to Saskatchewan tomorrow to the Sunflower Festival of Arts and Crafts in Yorkton.

I hope they catch the beautiful colours of the sunflowers in my garden.  I guess I am seasonally inspired because these are the colours I want to use right now, beautiful rich oatmeal, golds, and rust.

More pictures to come from all the Festivals and shows, especially pumped to be here in Winnipeg at the Neeginan Centre (formerly known as the Aboriginal Centre)  at Main and Higgins for our MIC Etsy Made in Canada Sale in only two weeks and two days!  70 vendors, most of whom I know.  Hope to see a great crowd to rival last year's 3000!

Gray Days and Busy Sales

I don't know how it is for Christmas-Holiday craft sales in other places but here in Manitoba, Canada we know that things don't get busy until the snow flies.  Well the snow is flying as you see in these views of my backyard and my walk to work by the Manitoba Legislative Buildings. Cant really see the Golden Boy very well for the most of November.

Vineyard Sale was super busy and energizing yesterday, so I will hope to see much of the same energy next weekend with Makers Market, SCA Springs Christmas Craft Sale and the Norwood French Immersion Pre School Crafted by Hand Sale.  I still have lots of product, but making some wine tumblers today as they seem to be a hit again.

 

Inspiration and more for the Fall Line up

These beautiful bowls were featured in the Royal Ontario Museum Giftshop as part of the Mesopotamia exhibit.  Stunning, but I resisted bringing them home, the pictures will have to do. Such intricate handwork, to be admired.

 

I am adding one more sale to my line up.  The All Charities Wind Up is On November 1, from 11-2 at the Norquay Building 401 York.  It is open to the public and sounds like a fun little event.  Only 12 handpicked crafters! 

Back from Holidays

Even though it is only the beginning of the biggest production and sales season of the year, we have had a break.  A Family Celebration in Toronto took us away for 4 great days!  When I am away from the studio , etc....it always feels more like a break.

Here are a few highlights.  this is my Godmother, Zenovia.  She is a piece of my past and my foundation so it was great to have a few hours with her today, Mr. G took the pictures, and as you can see we ate heartily!

Ceramics inspired by Mesopotamia.

Gman and I in downtown Toronto after time at the ROM and the famous Gregs ice cream, gale force winds too!

We both want to call this one, Dont leave me hanging!

My little brother and I at the ROM

 

 

 

Well, bright and early tomorrow back to the wheel, and to transform the wonderful fall leaves I brought home into many wonders of clay!

Marathon, home srretch

Yup, the refining and tweaking of how to achieve balance continues.  I am on the fourth day, ône day for set up included of the biggest show of the year.  Biggest, in terms of vendors, and folks attending.

Well, first for the good news, some of my pots are going to have interesting lives with their new owners.  I always say that my pots need a home , other than mine.  One turquoise leaf plate is going to a woman who makes her own goat cheese, and by the way I used to work with her dad, but I didnèt find that out till half an hour into the conversation. That was fun.
It was not so fun, to try and complete two sales with last minutes customers, and have the lights turned out. I really didnt want to try and find my way out in the dark.

more stories to come, but I better put on my jacket, and get over there. Hoping to come home with shelves and empty boxes!!!

batter bowl

serving bowl in royal blue

yarn bowl

It is a crzy busy time of year.  Delivered stock to new stores in the Brandon area on Friday.   a great sale with the ETsy team, WEST on Saturday!   Throwing, firing, drying, glazing, moving pots from one  studio to another, designing custom pots for a friends business.  And I am still standing!

Still needing wanting to throw a lot before next weeks kiln, but the drying without exploding will be my biggest challenge!  Adrenalin is a highly underrated asset.

Another Sale to add to the Fall Season

You’re Invited to the Autumn Odyssey Craft Show!






Saturday, October 15, 2011



9:30am-3pm



#2-172 Lilac Street (Corner of McMillan)



All these crafters were hand picked, and it seems quite eclectic and interesting.  The hosts are using their own homes and are doing a lot of the work for us, so I am looking forward to it.  Just need childcare for that day,  how unususal to have that problem.  that in fact is my perennial problem, outside of Farmer's Market.  He is not big enough to be at home, and too big to be carted around.  Thank goodness he has lots of friends for playdates, both adult and child type.