Crafty Minions: The Handmade and Vintage Sale

I am sorry to miss this one.  We will be out at the lake.  I do hope it has a good turn out because it is one of my favourite craft sales!!  I love it because I can go and be out again in 15 mins with all my money spent on awesome stuff.  Here are the details I swiped from their Facebook page:

"Crafty Minions: The Handmade and Vintage Sale

Aqua Books

274 Garry Street

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Saturday, August 13 · 11:00am - 5:00pm

One of Winnipeg's biggest indie craft sales features the city's hottest established and emerging crafty superstars including Head in the Oven, Marathon 1981, Lady T. Tees, Julrei, Midkid, Papertrail Craft Co., Mrs. Glockenheimen, Bitchin’ Kitsch ‘n’ Kitchen, Lori’s Vintage Purseonalities, Swai Design, Sew Dandee, CJ Tennant, Boomerang 360, Periwinkle Designs, Monkeys, Monsters and More, Everything Is Ticketyboo, Blackbird Bazaar, Echo Creations, SeaCaps, Papergirl, and more. Banish all thoughts of rows and rows of crocheted slippers or washcloths or ponybead keychains...think, instead, vintage-inspired handmade dresses, leather and ribbon wrist corsets, funky jewelery made of vintage silverware, tiny ceramic apartment buildings and octopus tentacles, retro aprons hand-embroidered with sassy 80s pop lyrics, handmade natural skincare luxuries, wall-art created from bass strings and recycled children's books, silk-screened courier bags and babywear, weird and wonderful stuffed animal-ish creations of all sorts, and much more. This is the new world of gorgeous guerilla DIY craft, right here at Aqua Books.

It's never too early to begin your holiday shopping, it's never the wrong time to pick up something completely unique and beautiful for yourself, and it's always the right time to support local artisans and crafters, and maybe even become inspired yourself.

Admission is free."

Summer Holiday for Handmade in Manitoba

Hi Folks.  You may have noticed my writing petering out over the last month or so.  Life seems to get pretty busy around Spring and Summer and life seems to move away from the computer.  :)  Summer is here and I will be taking a writing break.  I will still write if I am heading to a craft sale, if someone emails me wanting to be on the blog, or if I see anything else that NEEDS to be written about.  Otherwise I am hoping to be out enjoying what Canada has to offer us.  If you email and do not hear back for a bit don't fret I will get back to you as soon as I can.  In the meantime, if you are looking for new handmade news and artisans keep Made in Manitoba and W.E.S.T. bookmarked or look back at my past posts.  There are many good artisans, artists, and local businesses that I have written about over the last year and a half.  I hope you all enjoy your summer.  Ciao!

New Gallery Feature at Zephaniah Gallery In The Exchange

Christian Worthington and Andrew Milne have a new art show at the Zephanian Gallery in the exchange district.  Christian Worthington is my husband's favourite local artist so we have already decided what piece we want once our house is painted and renos are done.  If it sells I am sure we will find a dozen more that we like.  :)  Have a peak at the video and below through the artists' webpages for more details.

Below is a video made by Tyler Funk about the event.


Representational Technologies: images for the end of an age from tyler funk on Vimeo.


Zephaniah Gallery
3-374 Donald Street
Winnipeg
Opening Night June 9th 2011 7:30 pm

christianworthington.com
andrewmilne.tumblr.com 


the initial testing of the Large Camera from Andrew Milne on Vimeo.

In Plain View Self Guided Tours This Weekend

Nancy Blokland asked if I would post this for this weekend. Another great chance to see artist's work in their own studios.  :)  Nancy's Venue is called Mud and Suds, Pottery, Photography and Soap.  Can you guess what she will have to show?  :)  I hope everyone has a great time and it is a busy weekend for the studios involved!!

Nancy Blokland Pottery, etc...
273 Enfield Crescent Winnipeg, Manitoba 233-9752

Handmade In Manitoba Vrs Handmade In Manitoba

Hi Folks.  I just wanted to do a post on who I am and who I am not.  My name is Jenn.  I live in Wolseley.  I have 2 little ones and a fabulous hubby.  I like to write and I love my community.  I actually do not craft....other than a little not so good sewing.  :) 

I have had a few people thinking I am Olivia from a brand new crafters list publication venture and Facebook page called Handmade In Manitoba.  I wrote about her new venture in an earlier post.  I just want all my readers and crafters whom I write about to know that I do this to help my community and because I like writing.  I do not have a business nor will I ever ask for money for advertising or reviews or give any information to anyone wanting to make money off the artisans I write about.  My mission is to get everyone to quit shopping at box stores for every little thing because there is so many awesome local artisans and artists.  Ideally I would like everyone to eat at local restaurants, buy food from local farmers and shops, and buy all they can locally.  Even supporting a small local store who sells worldly items is better than supporting the large box stores. 

I also have nothing against any of the new writers talking about local crafters.  I would love it if 100 people were because then that would mean that our local community is getting tighter and tighter.  The more free publicity the better.  I don't even have a problem with anyone making it a paid job to advertise local crafters.  Really, publicity is publicity but I just don't want anyone to think I have ulterior motives.  I am not connected with anyone.  It is just me.  :) 

Stella's Bakery Super Yummy Treats & Crafty Minions Likes

I have been looking for local brioche and I found it today at Stella's Bakery along with a loaf of marble rye.  I love living in Wolseley where it seems nearly everything is a bike ride away.  They have a showcase of all their delicious slices, cookies, and muffins and the window is filled with rustic looking loaves.  I bake bread in the winter but why do I when I have Stella's and Tall Grass minutes away?  I guess I am preparing in case we lose our mind and move to the suburbs.  ;)

I hope you are all having a great weekend!  I have had a fantastic weekend.  Firstly, the rain has pretty much stayed away.  Secondly,  I went to three church rummage sales yesterday sans kids.  Thirdly, I was the first person to walk into the Crafty Minions sale.  :)  I did buy my shirt from Lady Tees and ordered 2 more.  I bought Li (my girl) 3 pairs of earrings from Midkid: apples, birds, and hearts.  I also found a great vintage shirt for Li from Marathon 1981 or I should say her new Etsy shop named The Young Team, and a set of melmac plates for my deck from Bitchin' Kitsch'N'Kitchen.   Definitely a successful day.

This afternoon we biked to Stella's for bread and to Olmand's Creek to see if the lake has receded (it hasn't).  Tonight,  once our little mini ones are asleep, we get to sit on our deck and listen to the U2 concert.  :)  We have been hearing them practice and sound checks already.  Not a bad weekend I'd say.  Have a great week folks!!

Made In Manitoba Facebook Page & More Handmade Communities

I came across a Facebook page dedicated to handmade Manitoba goods.  Have a peak at it:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Made-In-Manitoba/159085844153878

I like that the handmade community is taking off.  The internet is such an awesome tool for finding and selling handmade things.  Pretty soon I will be obsolete since people love talking about our local treasures.  :) 

There is also a site that has started a pledge for those pumped about handmade things to only buy handmade goods for themselves and others and to also request to get only handmade gifts.  Along with the pledge everyone that has been commenting seems to have an Etsy site.  It may not be all local but if you can't find it in Manitoba I think it is still better to buy handmade off Etsy than shop for box store crud.  To learn more check it out here:

http://www.buyhandmade.org/

Of course there is also always my stand bye for new Manitoba made things:

http://www.etsy.com/teams/5032/west-winnipeg-etsy-street-team

If you know of any other good handmade community sites let me know and I will add them to the post.