A Handmade Nation Evening!

A huge thank you to Andrea and Rob of Got Craft for bringing out Faythe Levine and her documentary, Handmade Nation to Vancouver last night! The event was a huge success from our viewpoint, as my friend Alex and I thoroughly enjoyed the thoughtful and even poignant film on the indie craft movement. I don't think I was alone in thinking how empowering it was. If you are at all thinking about the possibility of selling your craft/art, interested in supporting the handmade community perhaps by opening your own gallery, or perhaps even blogging about the handmade world, this is the Karate Kid (documentary style) of the craft world. The film gathers pieces of interviews from different artists, designers, gallery owners and retailers who talk about their experiences, thoughts and committment to the d.i.y. world. From how the artists make their wares, how they started, what curators believe is happening with the handmade movement, and where it may be going.

What I took from it were a few things. Although I see it here online and with our market, there was just something empowering about seeing people making it in the handmade community and seeing it in film. The film shows the wonderful supporting community in these circles, and people that are making it happen. There's a message that we are in control of the handmade future. The handmade world is a movement to be reckoned with no matter if or how larger corporations do or could take over the handmade concept, the message is that the d.i.y. punk movement will also eventually reinvent itself if that ever did happen and it won't go away. That was very empowering for me, and a huge thank you to Faythe for delivering this message. What a huge gift to give to an artist or person wishing to support the arts by empowering them with a film like this.

It was also a thrill of course to meet Faythe. She also told us this evening that if you happen to not be able to make it to any of the showings of her film, or wish to purchase the film, that the documentary will be available on dvd and digital download through the folks from Buy Olympia this fall. So keep your eyes open for that!



Also I was really touched when I received a very special cupcake from Lyndsay of Coco Cupcakes! A very delicious lemony treat, that was presented in such a sweet and adorable box! Thank you Lyndsay (and Rich)! It was awesome to see you again! Also it was fun to meet some artists I have only had online contact with and to see their wares in real life. Colleen Baran was there with her beautiful rings and necklaces, and Heather from Dalhaus who is a Poppytalk Handmade participant. And was also cool to meet Becka and her husband, Richard from Bliss in a Teacup who will be joining our "Home Sweet Home" market next month! I can't forget to also mention the sweet hairband I bought from Love Bobbie!

It was an awesome night! And a definite must-see if it comes your way! A huge thanks to my friend Alex for tagging along!

Lighting by Helen Rawlinson

Fun lighting from UK designer, Helen Rawlinson. Perfect for a children's room/playroom, the shade is screenprinted by hand and is individually stitched. See more of Helen's modern lighting designs here.

helenrawlinson.bigcartel.com

Tea Party

Some more fun coming out of Emily Carr this summer from grads, Ginger Ngo and Chloe Lan and their new shop, Tea Party! We got an email from their fellow student Alanna Scott telling us about their new studio they started up where they are making handbound books and journals. They are also taking custom orders for binding and have an etsy shop as well.

teapartydesign.com
teapartydesign.etsy.com