Challenge is Complete

It was so much easier than I thought to feature 30 local artisans and businesses in 30 days. It was fun researching and visiting the local craft fairs in search of talented Manitobans. I will continue with this blog because I still have many people researched to feature and review not to mention many new ones to find. There are still a few craft fairs I am planning on visiting and I have artisans emailing me with their introductions. If you are an artisan or small business owner in Manitoba I would love to take a look at you. Email me at handmadeinmanitoba@gmail.com. I know it is titled "handmade" but I am interested in looking at Manitoba's local market for all sorts of Manitoba made and grown companies. I have a few farmers to feature, restaurants, and many more local artisans. They just keep popping up and I am excited at what I am finding.

Other additions to this blog will be that I plan to review or feature specific local products instead of the artisan behind them. I also will be learning how to make hand made items and posting online tutorials so you can do it yourself too. It should be a fun place to keep checking back to.

My main goal for this blog is to show all my viewers that you do not need to shop at the major box stores. There is so much local goodness in Manitoba that you should be able to most items at small local stores or made by local Manitobans. Community support is so important in this world. We need to get out of our box and concentrate on how we can help the people that live in our neighborhood whether it is a local grocery, local farmers, our community shelters, and your even your neighbors. It is amazing how a meal made for a sick or grieving neighbor can change their spirit. You never know who needs you if do not get out and greet the people in your neighborhood.

My public statement is done today. ;) I feel a little Mr.Rogers like.

Have a good night!!

Southern Manitoba's tlp photography

Tiffany Payment contacted me a little while ago to tell me about her photography. She is from Gretna, Manitoba. I love photography and will probably have many posts in the future featuring the talented people behind the cameras that Manitoba has to offer us. One thing that I really like about Tiffany, which I have seen in other talented artisans, is her passion. She was not trained to be a photographer and then got a job taking photos. She loved capturing her children in candid shots and as she got her first digital camera she began to learn more and more and loved capturing other people's moments too. Tiffany now has a large portfolio of family, maternity, newborns, babies, and much much more.

I want to feature family photos today since that is what started Tiffany on this path. With Christmas up and coming families are excitedly planning for gatherings and getting gifts together. This is one moment when I think a good photographer can make a difference. At this time of year families are booking their family photo, to send along with their Christmas cards. Most often these are at one of the box stores. I have complained about this industry before when I featured another photographer. Tiffany will bring out your inner sparkle that a photographer in a sterile mini studio cannot. You will not be instructed to have to hold an unnatural "cute" or "loving family" pose and smile in unison to get that one good shot. Tiffany looks past the stiff posed pictures to the fun in everyone. As you play with your children she will be snapping memories. She will find someplace beautiful, whether it be your own home or outside, and let you make the memories while she looks into YOUR world. Do not book your family into a little studio with different coloured backdrops. Let a photographer like Tiffany into your life and make real memories.

Tiffany has a beautiful website and a blog you can follow.

www.tlpphotography.com

www.tlpphotography.com/blog

Vineyard Craft Sale a Success!!

I had a nice morning out at the Christmas Craft Sale. It was very busy and so many wonderful things to see. I actually only went with $10 and do not need any more Christmas gifts but I was still looking around for birthday, shower gifts, and other things for our family. I like taking it all in and then going home and thinking about what we need. If I go with $100 I will find things to buy. This craft show had some amazing artisans. A couple I reviewed here like The Cotton Cupcake Shoppe and Oldhat...both have things I NEED to buy for my children very soon. They both have early Spring birthdays so I can start putting things away after Christmas.

One artisan stood out above all in my books. She did not have a card so I am hoping that I have the name right because I wrote notes in a few places and now I have to rely on my terrible memory on which person sold which item. I believe it was Joy Eidse's beautiful quilts. I have sent her a message to be able to feature here soon and I will hopefully be able to share some photos of her amazing craft! She had this amazing quilt of the prairies where the wheat hand stitched just so that it stood out from the quilt and looked as though it could sway in the wind. The skies were had patterns stitched into it similar to Van Gogh's Starry Night. She hand died the fabrics and it looked like so much work.

I am a stickler for hand made kid things and knit wear so I was amazed at what was very happy at the booths. I am sure this sounds like a broken record but there were so many nice things. A few that I took notes on were:

Sweet Words
3trikes
Dick & Jane
My Clementine
Natasha Boone Illustration
Annie's Knit Toddler Booties
Oma Mary & Etsy site
Heike Eidse Rags and Regalia
Bethany Miller's Crocheting
Jill Zurzolo Handmade Bags

Other Artists, Musicians, and Photographers:
Julia Mark & Jewels and Ghouls Etsy site
Chandra Kremski LA.KAI Design
Janelle Loewen
Ali Tataryn Jewelry
Matthew James Zylstra Sawatzky & Hope and Humanity in the Former Transkei Book
Robin Fehr
Kalyn Falk & Jase Falk - Vash Industry Leather Workers

There were many others and I apologize that I didn't get to mention everyone. I was a little under the weather today so I didn't have my 100% to give today. If I missed anyone or if you would like to be featured here feel free to email me a handmadeinmanitoba@gmail.com.

I am pooped so that is all from me today. Goodnight everyone!!!

Remember Craft Fair at the Winnipeg Centre Vineyard

There are going to be quiet a few talented people at this sale including some that I have featured this month so you DON'T want to miss it!!! Proceeds from the renting of the artisan tables will be going to a Women's co-op in Nepal and to supporting local Winnipeg artists in the WCV community.

There is more information & photos of some of the artisan's work here:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=154109265765&index=1

"CHRISTMAS CRAFT SALE Sat Nov 28 10am - 4pm @Winnipeg Centre Vineyard: 782 Main St... corner of Sutherland and Main (it's right beside the BIG YELLOW WAREHOUSE) You don't want to miss this sale! This fantastic event will be show casing 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!!! We have OVER 50 amazing local talent at this sale. Whether you are Christmas shopping or looking for something for your place, you don't want to miss this event. A taste of what you'll find at the sale: paintings, prints, baby items, photography, quilts/knitting, wood burning/carving, stained glass, pottery, music cd's, jewelry, baking, apparel, paper art, greeting cards, fabric art etc. While you shop, enjoy awesome busking talent and a bite to eat at the cafe. Door Prize to be won. $2 admission, kids FREE."

100% Calorie Free Cupcakes!!!!

Now that I got your attention!! I would like to introduce the most diet friendly cupcake around....The Cotton Cupcake Shoppe. Starting when I was pregnant and ever since I have had uncontrollable sweet cravings. I am guessing that is why moms are so addicted to buying their little babes so sickly sweet newborn clothes. ;) That is the premise behind The Cotton Cupcake Shoppe. Amber's designs are sweet and adorable. She is the mother of 3 little girls so she has had her share of PINK around. That is how she came upon the idea for her cupcake apparel.

While I was at the Lilypad and Friends Craft Show I took in Ambers designs and they are soooo sweet. She can personalize any item so there are BIG BROTHER or BIG SISTER t-shirts with the child's initial or name. My friend Corinna and co-owner of Lily Pad had 2 BIG BROTHER shirts ready for her 2 boys because she was expecting number 3. She just had her little girl last week and I am sure she will be buying cupcakes, butterflies, and the cutest little tweet embroidered birds from The Cotton Cupcake Shoppe. A lot of time goes into making each of these little birdies! For every single one she makes a design, chooses the fabric with great care, and then she embroiders each one. These shirts, onsies, hats, and towels are all made with love.




The Cotton Cupcake Shoppe has had such an overwhelming response to her monogrammed shirts for older kids that she has started mini-monogrammed infant shirts and onsies. They are adorable!! Again I am in awe of how a mother of 3 could have enough time to design and create so much variety. She must drink 100 cups of coffee a day to keep up with all the work she does. I am lucky if the dishes get done. ;)

Keep The Cotton Cupcake Shoppe in your mind for Christmas gift ideas this year. There are so many awesome designs and if you get it in it time she can custom make for any child. If you are looking for stockings or Santa hats Amber custom monograms them so that each child can have an individual look.



I am down to the part where I tell you where to find her. Like Michelle from Revelations, Amber seems to be a crazy computer person who can be found EVERYWHERE. Take a look at her Etsy site, Blog, or Facebook page. She often can be found at Southern Manitoba & Winnipeg craft Fairs and will be next found at the Winnipeg Centre Vineyard Craft & Artisan Show this Saturday. So Check her out there. This will be her last craft fair before Christmas. You can still place an order with her (cottoncupcake@gmail.com) and mention you saw The Cotton Cupcake Shoppe here and she will give you FREE SHIPPING!!!

www.cottoncupcakegallery.blogspot.com

www.cottoncupcakeshoppe.etsy.com

www.facebook.com/CottonCupcake

Oldhat

Nathan Dueck is probably know best as the hat guy at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. I had not heard of Oldhat before this summer. My friend, her husband, and their children all got new/old hats at the festival. Old because 99% of his hats are made from recycled or second hand material. Nathan and Oldhat visited a couple festivals this summer to sell his wares and now has taken it a bit more down key do to schooling.

Nathan & Oldhat will be at the Winnipeg Centre Vineyard Craft Sale this weekend or you can purchase his hats at either The Haberdashery at 84 Albert St or Local Shop Awesome at 106B Osborne Village. Maybe we will be lucky to see him at 2010's Winnipeg Folk Festival too!!



http://oldhat.ca

Revelations North Creations

Michelle Mathews is the creator of Revelations North. She is an artist, designer, creator and has been entirely self taught. She lives in a The Pas, Manitoba which is a small, isolated town of 10,000. She can walk out her door and be swallowed by nature. I believe that nature and the quiet isolation must have been her inspiration for her work. Michelle started by working with wire and through trial and error she has became a creator of beautiful, wearable art.


Michelle says of her art:
"When I make my jewelry I do it peacefully. It's a form of meditation for me. I sit quietly and go away for a while into my beads and wire. I work in sterling silver or copper wire and have found they both have their own unique personality. I'm a rock hound as well and I believe in the power of rocks and minerals, so working with gemstones is like working with old friends.


My pieces are created entirely by hand using techniques of weaving and forging. Many feet of wire are bound and wrapped together to create an intricate design. Oxidization and hand polishing enhance the depth and texture of the weaving. Since every step is completed by hand, each piece created is truly one-of-a-kind, a work of art."

Michelle may be out in the middle of the wilderness but she is not hard to find. She is available online at:


http://revelateirl.blogspot.com

http://revelationsnorth.blogspot.com

http://www.etsy.com/shop/revelate

http://www.revelationsnorth.com







Michelle, with her Revelations North creations, can be visited next at The Pas Arts Council Christmas sale on Nov 28th.

I have chosen my favorite pieces to showcase but she has so many beautiful hand crafted, forest and lake inspired jewelry I recommend you have a peak at her art right away and choose the one of a kind piece that speaks to you!!