Check Out Manitoban Authors & Bookstores

I know this isn't really about handmade items but if you HAVE to purchase something this holiday season how about supporting some local talent big and small and heading over to McNally Robinson, Aqua Books, Neighborhood Bookstore and Cafe, or any of the other local bookstores and pick up a good read for your loved one. Ask a customer service person at any bookstore for their Manitoba authors available. Some selections that have made news and best read lists are:

I often visit The Neighborhood Bookstore & Cafe in Wolseley for used books and delicious cakes. I have heard that they have recently upped their menu and it is good!!!

I have a friend that cannot stop talking about Aqua Books and their thousands of used titles for under $10. They also have an AMAZING restaurant Eat! Bistro attached that specializes in small portion desserts and other art worthy dishes. My hubby has visited it recently and thought it was my kind of a place so I guess I will have to stop in soon! I don't get out much because I am too busy blogging and the such. ;) If I do end up at Eat! Bistro then I will update this post with all the yummies I sample. I love food so much that I should be a food critic and get paid to eat. What a dream that would be.

Another good bookstore/cafe is Mondragon Bookstore & Coffee Shop. They have a completely vegan menu and their vegan chocolate cake is worth the trip alone. I used to spend a lot of time there eating pupusas and drinking tea.

If music is more your thing there are so many talented musicians in Manitoba. I am not even going to try to list them all so you will have to do the hunting on that one. I do not have enough time in the day to list all the Manitoba music that is there for the taking.

Patchwork Dress by The Button Jar

I have been following a blog here on blogger called The Button Jar. Michelle is a talented seamstress who makes, amongst many other items, beautiful quilted dresses. I have ordered one for my 2 1/2 year old for Christmas. The top is made out of a man's dress shirt and the bottom is put together like a patchwork quilt. It looks like it would be hours of work and is so neat because it also reuses old fabrics. If anyone knows me they know that I love freecycle and reusing old items. This is a beautiful way to incorporate something old into something new. The designs she uses for her little toddler & baby dresses are very classic and the fabric she chooses are very light and feminine. Perfect for any little girl. Check out her blog:


http://thebuttonjargirl.blogspot.com/


She also makes pencil crayon rolls, bibs, bags and other neat handmade items. Check her out and order something cute for a little friend of yours for Christmas.

Wolseley Craft Sale: Nov 14-15th

It seems there is a lot to do this November with lots of local artisans and crafters making good gifts for Christmas. Check out the R.A.Steen Community Centre Craft Sale. It is free admission and open Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm. There is all sorts of stuff and usually yummy treats to eat. Last time I was there local Suchots Kitchen had their super yummy pumpkin cookies. There is usually a pretty neat spread of handmade cards, clothes, knitwear, soaps, wood work, art, photography, and a mix match of other artisans. It is worth the trip out! See you there.

Robert Steen Community Centre
980 Palmerston Ave at Ruby
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Winnipeg Centre Vineyard: Christmas Craft Sale

This will be a great place to shop local items of all sorts. If you have a Facebook account the event is listed here with lots of pictures of items that will be available.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=154109265765

If you don't have Facebook here is a little information I cut from the listing.

"You don't want to miss this sale! This fantastic event will be showcasing local artists right here in our community. You'll be sure to find the perfect Christmas gift for friends and family, or just come out and shop for yourself. Spread the word!!!

Proceeds from the tables will be going to a Women's co-op in Nepal and to supporting local Winnipeg artists in the WCV community.

Date:
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Time:
10:00am - 4:00pm
Location:
Winnipeg Centre Vineyard
Street:
782 Main St
City/Town:
Winnipeg, MB"

Weebejammin Old School Jammies

Everyone has to remember those cozy flannel jammies from the 80's. Grandmas, Nanas, Omas, and Babas all over the world made these for their grandkids for every Christmas and birthday. Well, if you don't have a Grandma, Nana, Oma, or Baba to sew jammies take a look at local Winkler trio Weebejammin. They are making them with warm winter flannel and cool summer cottons.





They also have just added the ever so popular baby sleep sack with one cool addition, full sleeves. I feel like I am stealing from them when I order my kids jammies. Handmade pajamas are around $20 and the sleep sacks $10-$15. How do they do it???? I am sure you can't even get a sleep sack at one of the disgusting box stores for less than $25. This is another have to buy for shower gifts, Christmas, birthdays, heck for $10 you don't need a holiday to buy them. I have 8 sleep sacks on order for baby to be gifts and Christmas gifts. I have also bought a few pairs of jammies for my 2 1/2 yr old. I LOVE them!!

Take a look at their blog with some more pictures and ordering information:

http://weebejammin.blogspot.com

Lily Pad & Friends Fall Open House

Lily Pad is a pair of stay home moms that sew like mad women. They make beautiful baby bibs, smocks, blankets, slings, and so much more. I have a toddler and an infant and i have no idea how either of them have the time to make so much stuff. They are a little crazy with finding awesome fabrics so everything looks so unique. I went to their open house a couple weeks ago and I wish I had gone with more money. Often when I go to these things I tend to bring a $20 or something because I LOVE handmade items and if I bring $100 I will spend $100. I am sure if I brought $1000 I would find a way to use every last cent. There were so many beautiful items. They had a group of other friends who were selling their goods along with the two of them and I SO wanted another $40-$50 to spend. I of course ordered a couple bibs to go along with the one I bought for $12. My daughter is a very messy eater at 2 1/2 so I had to get one of their pocket bibs. I intend to buy all the new babies in my life gifts handmade by the artisans at Lily Pad, Corinna Silvestri and Jaimee Loewen.

If you want to have a look at their adorable items they have an etsy site:

www.lilypadshop.etsy.com

I totally recommend skipping the gift registry at one of the department stores and buy something unique and help out your community by buying local.

Crystal and the Animal Hoods

I love the Assiniboine Farmers Market. St.Norbert's Market has nothing on it in my mind. There is parking, farmers, and a couple craft tables. Isn't that what you need?? I hate walking a mile to stand in line for veggies. I don't care about most of the crafty things...I want food....that is why I go to the market. I can get in and out of the Assiniboine Farmers Market in about 20 minutes with my daughter in tow. This is where I met Crystal. I believe she is someones wonderful Oma. She has this table where she sells all these knit animal slippers. She also knits beautiful baby and toddler hoodies. At one visit I asked if she could make me a black kitty hoodie for my daughter to match the slippers I bought her and she did. It is adorable and I have been buying all sorts of little animal hoodies for our friends.