February 22, 2010

I always love receiving emails from Vancouverites who have Etsy shops – but I was especially excited last week when I heard from Kyla of Kove. She’s got a brand new Etsy shop featuring handmade crochet and knit accessories – with cowls, infinity scarves and more. I know what you might be thinking, have you seen the sunshine lately? But you know like I do it’s only a matter of time before it’s rainy and cold and you’ll be happy to have one of these to grab as you head out the door! No doubt we’ll be seeing lots of Kyla and Kove in the months to come – you can visit her Etsy shop here.

~Posted by: Amy

Category: Indie Fashion, Vancouver | Comments Off
Tags: kove, scarf, Vancouver

January 22, 2010

My two favorite words right now, in no particular order, 1). weekend and 2). spring! I can’t complain too much though, we’re having a lot of very seasonable weather lately in Vancouver and that’s been great…

I hope everybody has at least one fun thing planned this weekend! I’ve been daydreaming all week about the weekend and I’ve got a few fun things planned and some to-do’s to take care of too.

One of my funnest to-do’s – must get my Valentine’s cards ordered – here are a few of my favorites from Etsy:

1). fookaDESIGNS 2). Eva Juliet 3). rachel Ink

Saturday night is date night – I heard about “The Main Event” from a friend and it looks great. Lots of restaurants in and around Main Street are participating. They’re all offering set menus of 3 or 4 courses with set prices ($25 – $35 – $45) so we may take the opportunity to try out a new restaurant as there are some really fun choices. All the details and links to the restaurants websites can be found here.

Otherwise I plan to spend some time reading and I’m sure a cup of tea won’t be too far away. Funnily enough, I only “discovered” tea a few months ago, but now I’m so hooked. I don’t have my favorite flavors/brands picked out yet and am considering this shop on Etsy. Such beautiful packaging and the shop’s owner notes that she is a practicing master herbalist… I like how all the health benefits are noted for each of the different teas.

Hope your weekend’s fun!

~Amy

Category: Events, Uncategorized, Vancouver | 3 Comments »
Tags: the main event, valentine, valentines, Vancouver

January 20, 2010

Here’s a post for all you artists, designers and creators – I got word from the folks at Vancouver’s One of a Kind Show that the early bird deadline for their December 2010 show is quickly approaching… If you book by Feb. 3rd – you’ll save $75 off your booth fee. If you’re not able to make the February deadline, you’ve got until April 30th to reserve your booth. This is one of “the” events of the Christmas season for buyers and sellers – every year it features a wonderful array of very talented artisans. For more details visit: One of a Kind Vancouver or email: vancouver@oneofakindshow.com

Category: Events | 2 Comments »
Tags: early bird deadline, one of a kind show, ooak vancouver, Vancouver

January 19, 2010

Here at Handmade Evolution it’s important to us to feature local artists and events when we can (from the 3 cities where we have writers – Portland, Toronto, and Vancouver) as well as creators who go that extra mile to create goods that are eco-friendly. I was very pleased this last week when a friend recommended the work of talented Vancouver local, Laura Bucci, to me. Her work is playful yet functional, eco-friendly, and available on Etsy as well as at many stores throughout the Lower Mainland and in the US too. For more on Laura, visit her website here.

~Posted by: Amy

Category: Indie Fashion, Vancouver | 2 Comments »
Tags: accessories, Eco Friendly, handmade, laura bucci, Vancouver

January 14, 2010

I had the opportunity to attend the opening of the exciting new exhibit at the Museum of Vancouver, Art of Craft, last night and I’m excited to give you a preview of the show!

Art of Craft showcases 173 spectacular fine craft works in three parts:

Unity & Diversity: Selected Works – 75 pieces from across Canada recently on display at the 2009 Cheongju International Craft Biennale in the Republic of Korea.

By Hand/BC and Yukon – 51 pieces from Canada’s West Coast with a focus on the artists’ creative processes and studio environments.

Craft from the Republic of Korea – 47 pieces demonstrating the excellence of traditional and contemporary crafts.

The exhibition is an amazing representation of the creativity and skill of these artisans. I know from time to time over the years there has been some question if craft is indeed an “art”, but after seeing this exhibition you cannot deny that craft is a vital and legitimate art form.

Of the many talented artists from Canada and Korea, a few really stood out for me – Marina Dempster’s work blew me away, I love the intricacy of her work and the unexpected form and mixture of materials. Malcolm Zander’s Heart Series, spectacular wooden art – his pieces are so delicate and beautiful. Aaron Lowe’s Horizon, Alex Anagnostou’s Seeding Clouds, and Jane Kanyon’s Crevice were also at the top of my list.

I urge you to head to the MOV to take a look at these pieces and check out the other artists as well. The Art of Craft is on now through April 11th.

~Posted by: Christine

Category: Events, art | 2 Comments »
Tags: art of craft, mov, museum of vancouver, Vancouver

January 10, 2010

Lately I’ve found myself very inspired by a group of talented photographers. It’s made me think more about photography than I have in a while. As a web designer I have to look at how an image tells a story and how it fits into the brand image of the business I’m working for. But lately I’ve returned to looking at photography in it’s purest form, as art unto itself and the positive impact it can have in our lives. I know for me a beautiful photo gives me the freedom to dream about what’s possible. It connects me with emotions that I have neglected or forgotten for some reason or another and motivates me to try new things – or even just reminds me to get away from the computer and to explore the great outdoors!

I’ve included some favorite shots from 3 wonderful photographers whose work I’ve come across recently below, with a little bit about each of them – please feel free to comment and share some of your favorite photographers or what inspires you.

The Alphabet Project
I was excited when local Vancouver photographer Erin Gilmore wrote to let me know about her new Etsy shop. At strike a pose you’ll find ‘The Alphabet Project’ – a fresh, modern take on the traditional A-Z illustrative alphabet. No longer does the letter ‘E’ only stand for ‘elephant’, but also for eyelash. ‘B’ isn’t just for bear anymore, instead it’s represented by a textural red brick wall. Using stunning photographic images, a kid’s room is instantly cool instead of cutesy. Even if you don’t have a child, the art is sophisticated enough for any adult space. You can get the whole alphabet (imagine how amazing that would look framed and arranged on a wall), or just one letter, either way the art stands out with it’s striking colours and imaginative subjects.

Johnna Lafaith
Lately all I seem to do is dream of spring. When I came across Johnna’s photos on flickr recently the winter beauty she has captured reminded me that winter has it’s own magic – to be enjoyed while it’s here.

Simply Hue
I was so happy to stumble upon Simply Hue Designs on Flickr and to “meet” the very kind and friendly Vicki Dvorak of Seattle, who also has an Etsy shop. She has the uncanny ability to make the very simple look fresh and beautiful, transforming vintage objects like radios, typewriters and birdcages into works of art. Many images feel of gentler times and places. For me, her soft, pretty photographs are like a dessert for the senses. Can’t get enough? Check out Vicki’s blog Simply Hue and be inspired!

~ Posted by: Amy

Category: Home Decor, Vancouver, art | 3 Comments »
Tags: art, Home Decor, Photography, Vancouver

January 5, 2010

Our series on New Years Resolutions continues with some thoughts on taking risks.

It’s great when everything is working in life, things are ticking along at a predictable pace and everything is falling into place. You know what to expect from day to day for the most part and things are going well. Until one day you wake up and realize that you’re bored. That’s not to say we shouldn’t be thankful for everything we have in life (definitely an antidote to boredom) – but I’ve come to realize that if we don’t take enough risks in chasing our dreams and ambitions we will eventually find ourselves bored. We all need new experiences and things that challenge us to keep life fresh and full of zest.

I’ve been inspired by a number of folks who are taking their photography a bit more seriously this year, amongst them the very talented and friendly Vancouver local, Becka Brittain (you may have seen her lovely Etsy shop, Bliss in a Teacup or read her blog) – who has decided to take a photo a day for the rest of the year. I personally am not taking this on, but I know it wouldn’t hurt to try my hand at photography (again, for the 4th or 5th time) to see what progress I might make, and the images I can capture! I’ve included a couple shots above from Becka’s etsy shop as well as my favourite recent picture from her Flickr stream – it’s soo Vancouver.

What resolutions have you made, or better yet, what risks are you planning to take this year?

~ Posted by: Amy

Category: Home Decor, Lifestyle, Vancouver | Comments Off
Tags: bliss in a teacup, new years resolutions, Vancouver

December 29, 2009

Vancouver-based designer Shelley Penner is a leader in sustainable, modern design. She started designing with legos as a kid and still seems to have that same passion for her work. Shelley runs the Penner + Associates design house, which has recently introduced the p+a furniture line that is available online and in their Vancouver store.

I first heard about Shelley in BC Home magazine, and I love how clearly items are labelled on her furniture website. You can easily tell where things are made and why they are eco-friendly, which makes shopping for sustainable products simple. I’d love to use the Domestic Aesthetic spice block and Dinah Coops tablemats and coasters for my next dinner party.

Posted by: Amy

Category: Home Decor, Vancouver | Comments Off
Tags: furniture, p+a, Vancouver

December 18, 2009

The W2 Community Media Arts Centre in Vancouver’s DTES will be open by spring 2010, and I can’t wait to check out some of their daily activities and workshops. It will be located in the Woodward’s redevelopment area and the Centre should be a great addition to the area’s revitalization. They’ll have a wide range of art and community service organizations with a focus on cross-cultural sharing, and artistic and social outcomes. You can read more about their objectives in this article, and if you’re excited about the Centre you can stay up to date on the latest news via their facebook page.

~Posted by: Amy

Category: Lifestyle, Vancouver | Comments Off
Tags: art, Vancouver, W2, w2 community media arts center