it's that time of year and we are receiving many emails about craft fairs that are happening about right now. So we thought we'd do a post on all of them right here and hopefully we haven't overlooked any. if you did send something and it's not here, it's because of email overload, but feel free to add your fair in the comments and i will try my best to update.

Toque
Friday, November 30th 6 - 9
Saturday, December 1st 11 - 4
In the Luxe at the Western Front
303 East 8th Avenue
Vancouver, B.C.
front.bc.ca

Holiday Heap by Charm City Craft Mafia
Saturday, December 1st from 10am to 5pm
2640 Saint Paul Street , Baltimore , MD 21218

City of Craft
60+ craft vendors, community groups, installation artists & workshop leaders
Saturday December 1, 2007, 11am-8pm
Theatre Centre, located at 1087 Queen Street West at Dovercourt, Toronto, Ontario

Urban Craft Uprising
December 1st and 2nd
11 am - 5 pm
Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, Seattle, WA

Shiny Fuzzy Muddy 8
astrosatchel, frances felt, laura mckibbon, kari woo & arleigh wood, jill allan, ulla clark, holly cruise, caroline miller, audra neil, patina designs & jasna sokolovic
Friday, December 7th, 5-10
Saturday, December 8th 11-12
Sunday, December 9th 12-5pm
at Video Studios, 1965 Main Street, Vancouver, B.C.
(between 3rd & 4th on the west side of the street)


Firebelly Holiday Art Market
Saturday, December 15, 2007, 11am–5pm
2701 W Thomas, 2nd Floor, Chicago IL 60622
(located on the Southwest corner of Thomas St and Washtenaw Ave in Humboldt Park
near CTA Bus: 70 Division or 49 Western)


Holiday Shop

Art, Paper Goods, t-shirts & totes, plants and various other miscellany will be for sale at a Holiday Shop I'm participating in with Lynn Beldner, Andrea Brewster, Steve Briscoe, Macy Chadwick / In Cahoots Press, Candice Gold, David Maxim, and Mayra Nieves-Bekele.
Friday December 7, from 2-7pm or
Saturday December 8 from 10am - 4pm
5528 Dover Street - please enter on 56th street
Oakland, CA 94609
(visit underdog ink!)

Holidayland Gift Sale
December 7 - 17th
Blankspace
6608 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland, California 94608
510.547.6608

Craftland
December 1-22, 2007 (wed-sun 11-6, open late thursdays and saturdays 11-8)
235 Westminster Street
Providence, RI

Bust Magazine's Craftacular
Saturday, December 8, 2007 from 10 am to 8 pm
The Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City, 125 West 18th Street
www.bust.com/craftacular

i've been thinking about making a few shadowboxes this weekend as christmas presents and have been combing around for a bit of inspiration. canada's style at home magazine had these ones (above) featured this month with a few ideas on how to assemble. antique items (mini vespas & wedgwood jasperware) were hot-glued, while the brooches and vintage barbie clothes were pinned to foam backing that was included with the frames. black keepsake collector box - coffee bean, martha stewart crafts, $17.99 and ribba white frames, ikea, $12.99.

i also found this craft punch glossary project (image below) on martha's site where you can download printable step-by-step instructions which can be placed in a shadowbox frame.



as well as a photo family tree tutorial (image below):




and other inspirations here: dreaming of better days and national, lisa congdon (below).




customised diorama with deer, hills and polkadot sky by lynelle:

horses notebook, $5.50

i stumbled across field & sea's etsy shop this past week while just trying out etsy's geolocator. i selected the dots closest to vancouver and it was so cool to find a shop i hadn't seen before with such high quality products. a little diamond in the mine.

green swirly notebook

black knotted chain, $15

mini pillow boxes, $5

brainy lady; i'm so jealous of people who can knit mittens!

jon and shea'la of tiny showcase have the best art online and the most entertaining newsletters announcing their latest limited run of prints which i look forward to reading weekly and that is why they are one of my favorite online indie shops. here's just a taste of some favorites i've dished up for my mini indie shop holiday gift guide. (above print called "dress'm up by jen corace, $20)

oceans don't freeze, jen corace, $30


late bloomer by ryan jacob smith, $30

belly of bears, evan b. harris, $30

the above image is taken from december's canadian house and home magazine which is featuring canadian design this month. i recently purchased a digital subscription from them after finding it frustrating either not being able to find the magazine when it's supposed to be out or in the past having the regular subscription not ever showing up in my mailbox. hopefully too, i'll get it much faster than before. i'm looking forward to sharing some favorites here as soon as i read it over from their feature on stylemakers to what they think canadian style exemplifies. in the meantime, a few lovely shots from their archives they featured as "visions of canada". also they have a cute little video showing how they put the december cover together.

tartan is a great holiday pattern and not too kitcshy (or just enough) i think. i'm rather liking these mugs, (set of 6), from plasticland. hot chocolate would taste so good in them. comes with a unique metal rack to hold them all in one place, $36.

the phonofone by canadian designer, tristan zimmermann for science and sons is constructed entirely from ceramic and is "inherently rigid and resonant", lending itself well to the application of music player. just hook up your mp3 player + earplugs up to the phonofone and their trebly buzzing is instantly transformed into a warm, rich and resonant sound. no power needed.



they also make these park planters (pending release in spring 2008) , drawing inspiration from the bonsai to elevate the common household plant to the status of full grown tree. it also becomes the backdrop for an urban park scene.

julie from handmaid (an october phm participant) has some new prints in her shop this week which are as beautiful as ever. one of my favorite collage/illustrators, her work always surprises and delights.

handmaid etsy shop

i must say it's so nice to have such a lovely canadian online shop like uppercase! janine has amazing taste and not only picks out the best things for her shop, she also creates some amazing designs and books herself. so many to talk about, so worth the visit and why i'm mentioning uppercase in my indie shop holiday gift guide.

sukie new leaf notebook, $18

draw your tomorrow book by mmmg, $26

patterned russell & hazel binders, $16

books from graphic design to craft

i love this idea patricia from a little hut has for a calendar. not only is it a recycling project, it's a downloadable template for sale, so you can get it instantly if you like! if you're interested, just email her at info@alittlehut.com for all the details. and if d.i.y. isn't your thing, she's featured this month at phm here where you can purchase some of her beautiful hand cut paper art.

sitting pretty print by yumiyumi, $20


in sight by ditazol, $20


coffee print by dallas shaw, $20



carmen print by tsktsk, $20


snail mail by jodie hurt, $50


ginko print by cedar seven, $40


flying fish by jill dryer, $35


hoodies by creative thursday, $65


p.j. butterfly by save the butterflies, $38


tropical bird print by sugarloop, $12


rats etching by 3 P-3, $50


hello may by ashleyg, $20


field guide, dolan geiman, $45


bookhou wall art, bookhou design, $50

continuing on the indie shop holiday gift guide, the next shop on the list, modishoppe run by jena coray out of reno, nevada. i always find something i want there and she's such a great supporter of the indie community! each day this week i'll be featuring a favorite online indie shop, so stay tuned for more handmade goodies!

sunflower painting - fuschia, dolan geiman, $45

rectangular necklaces by lussterbunny, $30

lime taffy ring by underdog ink, $10

uptown pillow cover by jenna rose, $40