New show time!

The show has a new time and will be from 1-5:30. See you there!

Sunday meet-up

We all got together this past Sunday at Insomnia (except for Robin who's sick -- feel better soon!) to go over some details and to put together gift bags for the press. I was glad to meet everyone in person. After weeks of communicating over e-mail, I had started thinking of people by their business name instead of their real name!

When we all pulled out our samples for the gift bags, I was blown away by everyone's work. It's one thing to see a photo of Sarah's truffle magnets, but quite another to see up-close the detail of the tiny nuts on top of the peanut truffle. I was instantly smitten by Laura's tiny rabbits wearing scarves, and I'm already calculating how much pocket money I'll need to have on the day of the show for Julie's journals. Since the holiday season is just around the corner, Lynda's gorgeous jewelry would be perfect for my mother-in-law, Jessica's funky purses would be great for my sister, and Barbara's pillows for my friend's new apartment. Jeni's handmade cards would be a million times better than a mass-produced card that is sent to a thousand other people. I'm looking forward to putting Robin's handmade, all-natural soaps for guests to wash up before being seated at dinner with Nadia's beautifully letterpressed, holiday place cards. As for me? I hope to sell enough letterpress cards and handbound books so I can buy from the other vendors!

I had gone into the meeting feeling kind of blah, what with a bachelorette party the night before and the cold, grey weather. When I left, I felt so energized and full of renewed creative energy. The diversity and quality of the work was truly inspiring, and I can't wait for the 29th!

Artists at the Artisan's Market

	laurajean: a gal who makes things Laura graduated from York University with her BFA in 2003, specializing in sculpture and print-making. Since graduation she has focused her efforts primarily on linoleum reduction prints, one of them being featured on the cover of a book of poems, This Woman Alphabetical, published by Pedlar Press in 2006. She also makes doll-houses, fabric animals, home-spun wool, wooden sculptures, and limited edition hand-bound books. She currently lives in Toronto.
	Beat Black Originally from the town of North Pelham I packed up and moved out in 2004 to pursue a program in fashion business. Since graduation I’ve been busy creating Beat Black, an online shop that caters to both the dark and light hearted. Candy and body parts are just a couple of the more prominent themes available for purchase.
	Krecklo Designs KRECKLO DESIGNS features one-of-a-kind sewn pieces that are quirky, eco-friendly and unique. A firm believer in the 3 R's, Jessica Krecklo creates purses, pouches and accessories out of second-hand and vintage materials. In her other life Jessica studies urban planning, reads comic books and drinks too much coffee.
	Petunia Soap First and foremost, I’m a mom of two girls. After a university degree and a few years of the working world under my belt, I was ready to live my dream of owning my own unique boutique. As a result of becoming a small business owner, and due to circumstance, I had the opportunity to try my hand at soapmaking. Well, I fell in love! I truly enjoy the creative process of making natural soap and other quality, eco-friendly body products. This endeavor has become a family affair as I recruit my kids, husband and pets as test subjects. I think I have the cleanest kids around!
	That Jewelry Place Lynda has been an ‘artistic’ person her entire life. From the time she first picked up a crayon she has worked with her hands and mind to create everything from pictures to fashions and ceramics. Her portfolio includes cross-stitching, knitting, crocheting and quilt-making. And now her passion has turned to jewellery-making and its endless possibilities.
	Paper Snails Jeni Pavlovic, the face behind paper snails, grew up in a tiny picturesque village on the coast of Croatia. It is this tiny village and its centuries of tradition of making quality items by hand as well as her growing consciousness of mass production and our machine reliant world that inspired her to create paper snails, a small home based business specializing in handmade greeting cards, invitations and scrapbooking toppers. All her items are lovingly made in Canada using wooden dies that are either exclusive to her or limited to a few crafters in the world.
	papeterie delice Jessica has always had an attraction to paper (those that have lived with her would call it an addiction). In university during exam week, you could find her creating a diorama or making party invitations instead of studying. She finally gave in to the allure of bookbinding and letterpress printing, and is much happier for it.
	Sari ka style Designer Barbara Adhiya missed having the colourful flow of saris in her life - a daily presence in the family home of her youth. She now cuts saris of brilliant colours and patterns and fashions them into cushions and table coverings for the home.
	Ink Petals Ink Petals Press is a small letterpress studio owned and operated by me, Nadia Puntillo. It all started to escape from my day job. Hopefully sometime soon I will be happily spend my days with my three old presses printing, scoring, and folding, one piece of paper at a time. Everything I design and print have been inspired by something or someone.
	Dreaming Tree Paper I enjoy everything creative. I have dabbled in ceramics, sculpture, soapstone, collage, and painting, and also shown fine art photography in a few galleries. I am currently training to be an Art Therapist and love finding ways that bring art and healing together. I am always interested in creative playing, trying new things and stretching the limits of my imagination and potential. My most recent project has been focused on making writing journals out of old hardcover books.

Vendor list complete!

Whew! What a task that was--reviewing applications, looking at fantastic work, and the worst part: declining. Good thing I had lots of leftover Hallowe'en candy to get me through it.

But the good thing is that we have 10 exciting vendors, each doing something a little different. I'll have the list up soon, along with final details of our show!

Special thanks to the Toronto Craft Alert blog for running the blog and putting out our call!

First post! Redux

Okay, I've finally got this whole blogger thing down (I think). Here we go again with the "first" post!

The Creative Spirits Co-Op is a group of artists and crafters in the GTA who get together and share information and inspiration on starting, maintaining, and growing a creative business. Our goal is to create an environment for creative people to share ideas, discuss problems, give product feedback, and generate solutions as we help each other with our businesses.

We are in the midst of organizing our first annual Artisan's Market, a show and sale of our work. It is on Saturday, November 29 from 2-7 pm at Trinity St. Paul's Centre (427 Bloor St West, at Spadina). There will be local artists and crafters with lino prints, original jewelry, home decor, letterpress greeting cards, and more! First 20 visitors get a gift bag packed with goodies, so come say hi!