Gift and Wishes at the Coast Collective

One month before Christmas!  I do love the holiday season, the lights the special displays in all the stores, the smiles, the gifts, the festivities and the creative artisan craft shows.  The "Gift for Myself and Others" show is almost over (only one more day) and another artisan show that I am in is set to open on Wednesday, November 25th exactly one month before that most holy, special day.  

Every year I say that I should not enter artisan shows as they are so much work and you never know just how much you will sell.  Will you recover the cost of your booth and the supplies?  Will the time spent planning and arranging and getting ready for the show be worthwhile?  Then there is the hassle of packing all of your wares in the car, unpacking and setting up, not to mention dismantling and packing back up in the dark!

Once I actually do take the time to plan and arrange to be in a show though, I love it!  There is a special pleasure in watching people smile as they pass your booth.  I delight in watching someone take great care in choosing their special doll or "critter" and hearing them tell you how talented you are.  It makes all the time worthwhile and validates your art.  I love the connection with people that you meet and who love your work.  They stop and chat and tell you where that gift is going, or how they remember your last show.  It is so much fun to tell them about your work and share the joy of creating.

So I am here to tell you that I will have a couple of special larger pieces in the "Gift and Wishes" show that is set to open at noon on Wednesday, November 25th at the Coast Collective:

I have a special dragon and a fun Santa, riding a Canada goose no less!  Here is a glimpse of these creations:

This will be our last show at the current location as in the New Year we are moving so please come out and enjoy Pendray House and the scenic grounds but especially the very special art and creations of over 100 Vancouver Island artisans!

Wooly Critters Explosion

I cannot believe that November is here!  Halloween has come and gone and now the stores are displaying Christmas items.  It is a reminder of how quickly time can get away from us.  It is a reminder that life is precious and fleeting and must be lived to the fullest.

Well, on that vein I have been madly crafting my Wooly Critters for the first artisan craft show that I will be in this season, "Gifts for Myself and Others":

This show is always lovely and features artisans from southern Vancouver Island.  I will be displaying some of my art dolls and I will be featuring my "Wooly Critters":

Meet the sweet black and white kitties.

Cat Buglars ready to steal your heart.

A Scottish Kat that is kooky and fun.

The ever lovable Bandits.

The bunnies begin to appear,

and they come in sunny yellow,

and they come in soft florals,

Are they not the cutest thing ever?

Finally one last set of cats to tempt you to visit the show.  I have many, many more including a pride of lions! (photos in my next post).

The wee blue cats hope you will come back soon, bye for now!

More Wooly Critters

As many of you know, I have been making what I call "Wooly Critters" from felted thrift store sweaters.  This November and December I will be in a couple of local craft shows so I have to get busy and make, make, make.  I do love creating!

I thought you might like to see my newest creations of critters:

This wee white kitten is made from a cashmere sweater and oh so soft!

Meet "Wild Thing" made from a "Spanner cotton, acrylic and fur sweater

Showing their cute back sides

Midnight is spoken for and going to a good home here in Victoria.

Midnight's brother "Spook" is made from the same chenille black and gold sweater as "Midnight"

Wee Spunky is made from a Merino navy blue sweater with added cashmere details

I just had to add a bunch of hearts down his backside

Love Monster

Daisy Mae

Meet Rosie, she is going to a fine home in Duncan

Rosie was made from a cotton sweater and has a cashmere face!

This is Susie's older sister, Candy.

Candy is a very special girl

This is Dapper Dan.  He loves bowties

This is Rascal bidding you farewell for now! He too has a good home.

Hallabaloo

A couple of weeks ago five women in a SUV travelled from Victoria, BC to Redmond, Washington to see Halloween art dolls.  Of course we could not travel south of the border without shopping both on the way down and then on the way back up!

The name of the event is Hallowbaloo and it was fabulous!  This was only the second year for this one day only event and we hope that it continues as we want to make this an annual trip.  Redmond is a suburb of Seattle Washington and the home of Microsoft.  A lovely town, very green with great shopping including a Saturday market.

We got into the Halloween spirit by dressing up for the show.  We each had a bright witch's hat and wore sweaters that matched our hats.  We did not confer and yet we managed to have five different looks, a lime green witch (me), a purple witch, a red witch, a black witch, and a blue-gray witch.  What fun!  Here is just the first table: artist Kimberly Kingsley-Griffinwyse

But wait there is more: artist Kat Anderson

Are you excited yet?  We were overwhelmed with excitement.  Here is yet another table you may have seen her creations in the latest Prims magazine:

Now another: David Bruce of Acorn Cottage:

Now here is Sheryl Parsons and her magical pumpkins:

and now Pam Pontious and her bears: in this case lab rats

What can we say but that we loved the Zombienose creations:

Finally there is the talented Grim Grinz artwork:

There were more talented artists and we loved them all!  Needless to say, all five of us made one or two or three special purchases and who would blame us!

We also shopped at Joanne Fabrics, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Pacific Fabrics and the outlet stores not to mention the duty free, whew!  We also visited a bargain book shop and the local Saturday market as well as some of the awesome stores in Redmond Town Centre.

Only 300+ days to go for our next Halloween shopping/fun extravaganza.