First Chance Craft Show

The First Chance Craft Show in Sidney (Mary Winspear Centre) was a great success.  A big thank y all that visited me at my Zia Joey booth!  A shout out to my sweet sister that flew in from Toronto to help me this weekend!  Here are some photos:

Wooly Critters galore

Angled view of my booth

Me and my booth

My sister Mirella

I hope you will come to visit me at the Coast Collective for the Gift and Wishes Show which starts on November 15 and runs through December 23rd (Wed through Sunday, 11 am to 5pm).  See you there and come early and often for the best selection.

Christmas Craft Shows

 It has been awhile since my last post as I have been crazy busy getting ready for two craft shows.  The first is just over and it was a success!  I featured my christmas ornaments and my "Wooly Critters" as well as my Owl backpacks at the "Gifts for Myself and Others" show at the Da Vinci Centre in Victoria, BC.  

The "Wooly Critters" were a huge success as were my ornaments.  I sold my three backpacks as well.  It is very rewarding watching people walk by and break into a huge smile.  I knew then that I had done a good job in bringing my whimsy to life.

My Christmas bunnies sold out as did my backpacks. They were so much fun to make and I will make the bunnies again for the next holiday season.  Here are just a sampling:

As you can see they are about 7" or so to the tip of their ears.
Once I finished with the wee bunny girls I decided to alter the jacket pattern and create some bunny boys:

In addition to the bunnies I also made some snowmen and angel ornaments as well as some foxes and raccoons but the bunnies were the favourites, I think due to my "over the top" embroidery on the front and back of the coats and jackets.  Here are a few of the back of the pieces:

Well now on to the next show which starts on Wednesday, November 23rd at the Coast Collective Art Centre in Colwood BC, the "Gift and Wishes" show.  Luckily I saved some special ornaments and critters for this show as well!  

That is all for now and I hope that you remember to support your local artists and buy local this holiday season!  It is not the quantity but the quality of the gift that matters.  Everyone appreciates a special hand made gift from a local artisan, I know I do!

Spiral Cafe Show

I love living in Vic West.  It is such a funky, fun place to live and so close to downtown Victoria that I can walk along the waterfront and be downtown in less than 35minutes.

Our local cafe, the "Spiral Cafe" is a vibrant coffee shop that becomes a local gathering place. The shop is open from early in the morning to late in the evening with live music on weekends. The Spiral Cafe is a great place to meet friends, have a cup of a hot liquid, a bite to eat, and read a good book, or just do some people watching while taking in the colourful wall art.

The Spiral Cafe always have art work up on the wall from local artists.  I was very excited when Pam, the owner,  asked if I would like to feature my art dolls up at the Spiral Cafe.  I said yes immediately and just finished hanging my dolls this past Sunday.  My dolls will be up for the entire month.

I am pleased to say that my art dolls are being well received and I was so thrilled to see that people are actually buying my art dolls.  So far (and they have only been up 3 days), I have sold five pieces!

I am not a very good photographer but I am including some photos.  I tried to display my dolls in groupings.  I put fairy dolls together, fantasy diva dolls together, Alice in Wonderland dolls together, cats together and my wooly critters throughout.

Part of the cat grouping

My Alice in Wonderland grouping

My Diva Fantasy ladies grouping

A section of my Fairyland dolls

I would invite anyone in the greater Victoria area to check out the Spiral Cafe (they serve fresh homebred goods, coffees, teas, fresh homemade soups and great breads).  If you visit before March you will see my dolls up on the wall!

Top Shelf Show at Coast Collective

I am very happy to report that I was invited to be part of the "Top Shelf" show at the Coast Collective Gallery here in Victoria, BC.  The show opened on Wednesday, June 11th and runs through Sunday, June 22nd.

The display is amazing.  The artists included in the show represent a variety of art work: pottery, jewellery, paintings, photography, clothing, woollens and of course my art dolls.

I do hope that everyone in the area gets a chance to visit the Coast Collective as the setting and the historic home alone are worth a visit.  Admission is free and so is the tea and cookies!

Puyallup Sewing Expo

This past week my friends and I (four ladies in a van) visited the Sewing and Stichery Expo in Puyallup, Washington (just south of Seattle).  It was my first visit to this iconic sewing show and it did not disappoint.  Since all of us that went are doll makers we were most excited to hit the booths that sold trims, embellishments, and doll patterns!  My favourite booths were Treasures of the Gypsy for the sheer volume of doll inspiration, doll patterns and colourful materials, and Barbara Willis and Betts Vidal's booth for pure romantic, european, old world charm!  Other notables were money was well spent include Reets' Rags to Stitches, Mary Jo Hiney Designs, Wooden Spool Designs, and i-Bead to name but a few.

Needless to say too much money was spent, too much fun was had, and yes, we would do it again in a heartbeat!

Flat Dolls by Barbara Willis for Sale

One of three new patterns by Barbara Willis,  "Prilly"

"Monique"

Final new pattern called "Prudence"

Betts Vidal new paper doll, so enchanting and fun.

Betts new doll, called "Twig" a back to nature girl