A wave divider

Author: Valerie

  • A look ahead at 2025 and some changes!

    A look ahead at 2025 and some changes!

    Dear Maker Community,

    We want to share an important update about our February 8th Maker Supply Market and reflect on how our maker community has grown.

    Our Journey

    In 2022, we identified a unique opportunity in our maker community. We saw the need for a specialized market where makers could offer their samples, seconds, off-prints, and clearance items. This concept filled an important niche in our community, providing both makers and shoppers with a dedicated space for these specialty items.

    How Things Have Evolved

    As our BC maker community has grown and evolved, we’ve seen this niche flourish. What began as a unique concept has now become an established part of our maker ecosystem. This natural evolution has given us the opportunity to pause and reimagine our February 8th Maker Supply Market.

    Why We’re Pivoting

    The maker supply market format is distinctive because:

    • It relies on specific inventory types (samples, seconds, off-prints)
    • These items are naturally limited in quantity for each maker
    • Vendors need adequate time to accumulate these special items
    • The market for these items has matured since our 2022 launch

    With this maturity comes the opportunity to innovate once again. Just as we identified this niche in 2022, we’re excited to explore new ways to serve our community’s evolving needs.

    What This Means

    For our vendors:

    • The February 8th date is currently under review
    • We’ll be reaching out personally to registered vendors
    • Full refunds will be processed promptly
    • We welcome your input as we develop our next innovative concept

    For our shoppers:

    • Stay tuned for updates about our revised plans
    • All other 2025 market dates remain unchanged
    • We’re exploring new ways to bring unique value to our community

    Looking Forward

    As pioneers of the maker supply market concept in our community, we’re proud to have played a role in establishing this vital market niche. Now, we’re excited to channel that same innovative spirit into creating something new.

    We remain committed to:

    • Supporting our local maker community
    • Creating sustainable opportunities for vendors
    • Identifying and filling new market needs
    • Developing events that truly serve our community

    What’s Next

    We’re taking time to:

    • Evaluate emerging opportunities in our maker community
    • Consider new formats that address unmet needs
    • Explore ways to innovate within the market space
    • Gather input from our maker community


    Stay Connected

    • Follow our social media for the latest updates
    • Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed
    • Share your thoughts and suggestions with us

    Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Just as you trusted us to introduce the maker supply concept in 2022, we ask for your continued trust as we evolve to meet our community’s changing needs.

  • Giving Back – Charity Choices for 2024

    Giving Back – Charity Choices for 2024

    Giving back is important to us. Having both worked in not-for-profits for most of our working careers, we know first hand the impact of financial donations on a charity’s success.

    We believe our role as market organizers, is not only limited to supporting the crafting community, but our local community at large. From the beginning of our partnership, we have committed to donating half of the proceeds from ticket sales at our pop ups charity. Each year, Anita and I choose a charity we’d like to support.

    Since 2022, we have donated over $18,000 through this initiative.

    2022 Charity Choices – Dress for Success Vancouver & BC SPCA
    2023 Charity Choices – BC Children’s Hospital Foundation & Greater Vancouver Food Bank

    We are excited to announce the charities we are supporting for 2024.

    Baby Go Round and Make A Wish Foundation

  • What is Maker Supply?

    What is Maker Supply?

    In 2022, Anita and I got to planning. After wrapping up our first couple in person shows, we were excited to plan what 2023 could look like.

    We had no intention of hosting a gazillion shows. We pour out so much for each event in terms of planning and promotion for our vendors that it wouldn’t be sustainable nor beneficial for everyone. So we settled on four.

    Our goal was to give our vendors an opportunity to offload their older inventory, not-quite-perfects, display and crafting materials sustainably! Anita had so much wool from Make More Happy and I had loads of fabric and older inventory of scarves from Veespoke – we figured other crafters had it too! So Maker Supply was born!

    So what is Maker Supply?

    Think sample sale. Think warehouse sale. But for local goods. But not just that, you can find crafting materials, displays and more.

    Listing of all items you can find at Maker Supply

    In March 2023, we held our first Maker Supply and were blown away but the support from the local community. This is a smaller market than our others, only 40 vendors and held at Heritage Hall on Main St. in Vancouver.

    We will be back again on February 24, 2024 from 10-6pm. Admission is FREE to this event, but RSVP here and let us know you are coming. Every 100 RSVPs will trigger a draw for Market Cash to spend that day!

    Also the first 50 in line at opening will receive a special treat (to be announced!) in addition to market cash.

    Can’t wait to see you there!

  • Vancouver Etsy Co Holiday Pop UP 2023

    Vancouver Etsy Co Holiday Pop UP 2023

    Join us at our annual Holiday Pop Up Market on Saturday, November 25, and Sunday, November 26, 2023.

     

    Shop from over 105 local makers, designers, creatives, and artists. Explore a range of items, including ceramics, home goods, delicious food and drinks, apparel, jewelry, body care, and more.

     

    For the first time ever, we will have a KIDS ZONE area!

    UBC Geering Up will be on-site with fun and interactive STEAM activities (Saturday only).

    We’re thrilled to host 12 Mini Makers! These budding young entrepreneurs, aged 7 to 14, are taking their first steps into the craft show world. They’re showcasing their incredible crafts, including bracelets, bath bombs, soap, crocheted goodies, Perler bead magnets/ornaments, earrings, and much more.

     

    Our 2023 choice charities:

     

    We are donating 50% of ticket sales to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Last year, we raised over $9,000 for Dress for Success Vancouver and BC SPCA.

    Tickets

    $5 (kids 12 and under are free) and valid for both days!
    Also, the venue is pet-friendly!
    Perks of pre-purchasing your ticket:
    • Skip the line at the door; have your QR code ready, and you’ll be a VIP!
    • Every ticket purchased will be entered to win market cash (a draw is triggered for every 100 tickets sold).

    Event Details:

    Vancouver Etsy Co – Holiday Pop Up Market
    the Pipe Shop, 115 Victory Ship Way, North Van
    Sat, Nov 25 + Sun, Nov 26
    11 am to 6 pm
    $5 for the weekend. Kids 12 and under are free. (50% of proceeds go to @bcchf and @vanfoodbank)
  • What is The Etsy Market?

    What is The Etsy Market?

    The Etsy Market is series of virtual shopping events created by Etsy that pop up across different cities around the world. Over the past 2 years, with Etsy’s help, Vancouver Etsy Co has hosted 4 virtual markets!

    This year, #theetsymarket will look a bit different. It will span over the course of 2 weeks instead of 2 days and will focus on the lookbook rather than a separate event page as the jump off point for shopping!

    The Etsy Market 2022 Dates

    • May 6 to 20 (applications close April 15)
    • July 15 to 29 (applications close June 1)
    • November 11 to 26 (applications close Oct 1)

    Some of the benefits of participating in the Etsy Virtual Market

    A virtual market is not only about sales, it is also a huge marketing opportunity, which has ripple effects long after the market closes.

    • Participate in the virtual market concurrently with other markets
    • Etsy is trusted & well known for quality sellers/products
    • There has been a substantial increase in Canadians shopping online since the onset of the pandemic that is expected to continue
    • Exposure to a new customer base – concentrated locally (but also to a wider audience)
    • Boost in SEO from published vendor lists and look book that remain online
    • Participation in Lookbook (The holiday and spring look book had 33,000 and 23,000 impressions respectively)
    • Motivation to take a fresh look at your shop by investing energy in your shop listings, photos and marketing
    • Build traction on your Etsy shop (increases in visits, sales and reviews will help you rank higher in the Etsy search algorithm)
    • Promotion from Etsy Corporate (market listing on their site, localized email sent to customers)
    • VEC promotion through blog, FB and IG advertising and newsletter distribution

    Applications are now OPEN for the Etsy Market. You can apply for all three markets with one applications*.

    *Acceptance to one market does not indicate acceptance to all markets – shops must be in good standing and compliant with all policies set by Etsy.

    Apply Now!

  • The Etsy Market Maker: Amara of Lonely Mountain Embroidery

    The Etsy Market Maker: Amara of Lonely Mountain Embroidery

    Hello! My name is Amara and I am the creator behind Lonely Mountain Embroidery.

    My grandmother taught me basic embroidery skills when I was a wee child, and I took the hobby back up in my teens. I mostly embroider while watching TV or films (It’s hard for me to sit still) and am at my happiest working with all sorts of colours and styles. I live with my wife and our chunky orange cat and spend a decent amount of time in the kitchen.

    How do you stay creative?

    It can definitely be a challenge to feel creative! I find a lot of inspiration from pop culture as well as embroidery patterns from the 50’s and 60’s that my grandmother has given me. I do go through slumps where I don’t feel creative or motivated to work on anything, and I have learned to embrace those times instead of dread them.

    Is this your full time gig? If not, what is your day job?

    By day I work in a city public library system as a library technician. Most of my job revolves around researching information on all sorts of topics, providing community resources, and assisting with hands-on technology help. Of course, I also do readers advisory and try to push graphic novels on as many patrons as I can.

    Were you born and raised in the Vancouver area or do you come from afar?

    I was born in Vancouver and spent a lot of my childhood moving around the Lower Mainland. I work in Vancouver but call New Westminster home.

    Tell us about your favorite customer?

    My favourite customer, really, is anyone who is interested in and loves what I make. It does make it easier when a customer has a general idea of what they want, but leaves me with some wiggle room to be creative with their idea.

    Tell us about how your product is made. What is your favourite part?

    My favourite part of the embroidery process is when I can get down to stitching. Once I can get my needle threaded and start sewing, that is the best part.

    What’s the most challenging part of your business?

    My least favourite part of the process is creating patterns and putting them onto the fabric. It can be tedious, time consuming, and doesn’t always work out the way I want it to.

    What do you wish customers knew about you or your business?

    There are times where I really wish expectations of me and my skills can be managed better. As much as it pains me to admit, there are some things that I can’t do. Whether it be because I don’t have the skills or something just cannot be done, sometimes the idea in your head can’t be exactly brought out onto the fabric and thread. I will always work with an idea and make the best of it, but some things won’t work out.

    Is your workshop / creative space neat & tidy or a beautiful mess?

    My materials are all neat and tidy! Everything has a specific box or drawer. I need to be especially careful with stray threads and a cat who might try to gobble them up.

     

  • Meet the Creative series: West Coast Leslie Designs

    Meet the Creative series: West Coast Leslie Designs

    Leslie, from West Coast Leslie Designs is one of our favs. Why? Have a read below and we bet she’ll have you smiling . . .

    We want to hear all about you . . .

    Hi There! I’m Leslie and I’m the owner + designer of West Coast Leslie Designs. WCLD is a women’s knitwear brand that focuses on making high quality, modern knitwear accessories including scarves, mittens, toques, and even scrunchies! WCLD is celebrating its 6th year in business with a shift toward more sustainable & natural fabrics, chic European styles, with timeless lines + colours. 90% of the WCLD product line is made from all natural, sustainable, renewable and biodegradable fibres, like Merino wool, alpaca, or Pima cotton, and when possible we opt for organic and/or locally/naturally dyed options. We are passionate about making beautiful, easy to wear products for busy modern women – because no one has time style themselves head to toe each morning. Our products are intended to fit seamlessly into your existing wardrobe, adding the perfect finishing touch to any outfit so you can step out looking + feeling amazing.

     

    How do you stay creative?

    Music really drives me. I’ve got playlists for almost every mood. Even when I’m working at the computer sometimes a song comes on and I just have to stop and have a little dance party…even if I don’t leave my chair. I throw my hands in the air like I just don’t care! What songs get me grooving? I’m SO GLAD you asked…
    Juice – Lizzo – if this song doesn’t make you wanna bust a move…I just…I don’t think we can’t be friends – just kidding…
    September – Tauren Wells
    Mr Fahrenheit – Queen
    Sunday Candy – Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment
    Anything by Chance The Rapper – seriously he can do no wrong!
    Do It – Tuxedo

     

    Are you a Creative full-time? If not, what’s your day job?

    I am a full time creative, because I am VERY lucky that my “day” job is also in the creative field. By day…or rather, by night I am a dance teacher to student’s aged 3-18!. During my day I work on West Coast Leslie Designs and in the afternoon and evening I teach dance. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts from SFU in Dance (legit!), and primarily teach jazz, contemporary and musical theatre, but have taught everything from ballet, to beginner tap, to hip hop. Jazz is my love and I’m pretty proud that I can still rock a high kick and a triple pirouette on a good day 😉 I’ve danced since my childhood and performed with the Alberta Ballet in the Nutcracker when I was a student. I also trained + performed with the Nu-West Dance Company in Saskatoon Saskatchewan. In university I had the opportunity to work with A LOT of amazing Canadian dance icons like Brian Webb, Wen Wei Wang, Barbara Bourget (Kokoro Dance), Day Helesic (MovEnt), Gerry Morita (Mile Zero Dance). My self-portrait choreography “Broken (God Said No)” was selected + performed at the Vancouver International Dance Festival in 2007. My choreography and students have been awarded by multiple festivals and competitions over the past 10 years and several of my former students have studied (and are studying) at SFU and Capilano College. Talk about full circle!

     

    What’s your favourite place to hang out on the Westcoast?

    Since I grew up in Saskatchewan I love hanging out ANYWHERE on the West Coast. White Rock is one of my go to places, because it’s so close to my house. In 15 or 20 minutes I can be at the beach and that never gets old. Even in the winter, I like going to the beach. My favourite coffee shop, Ever Bean Cafe, is in South Surrey and I love spending time answering emails in the cafe. They have the BEST coffee on this side of the Fraser.

    Will you have any new products or designs at this year’s Etsy: Made In Canada Market?

    ooh! Yes! I’m expanding the Piya Shawl range, which was new last season. They were SO popular last year at the market, so I’m making sure to have a lot more ready and in more colours! They’ll be available in pima cotton as well as merino/alpaca blends this season. I’ll also have a new toque style with faux fur pom pom AND full finger mittens!!! Last year we only carried fingerless gloves, and this year I knew I’d have to make proper mittens. So we’ll have BOTH options for shoppers. We’re also expanding the Nordic Scarf line, which is a big, fluffy oversized scarf made from 100% Peruvian wool. Our 2019 f/w introduces the Nordic Scarf’s little sister, the City Scarf, which has the same pattern as the Nordic Scarf but is less bulky, so it’s a little more manageable for everyday wear and primarily made from 100% merino wool! I’m VERY excited for shoppers to see all the new goodies for Fall/Winter 2019!

    Tell us about your all-time favourite customer . . .

    oh yay! My favourite customer is Lauren! I met Lauren several years ago at Make It. She was just like any customer that season, I think she bought just one scarf for herself. But then I saw her again the next year…that’s when she told me she was so glad she found me and that she had come to the market just for me! (whoa – talk about feeling special) She told me how much she loved her scarf she bought last year, which I hear a lot. So I assumed she was just being nice and was gonna leave my booth after chatting. NOPE! Lauren continued shopping, picking up about 5 scarves for her aunties and bought herself a pair of boot cuffs, as she’d regretted not getting some last year. Well I just about fell over!!! I couldn’t believe I had a returning customer who truly loved my stuff. Fast forward to last year, Lauren came by AGAIN to say hello! We chatted, and she told me that she’d been to a few other markets, but always resists buying anyone else’s scarves because, (and I quote) “I just know they’re not gonna be as good as Leslie’s”. Well that made my heart burst into about 50 million pieces! Then she tried on a OOAK Piya shawl made in grey, cream + purple with merino + alpaca and she wouldn’t take it off <3 While I was ringing her up, she told me she has a drawer full of my products, so she can pull out whatever she needs to match that day. Lauren is such a sweetheart + she is one of the reasons I’m offering full mittens this year; that was her suggestion, and how could I say no?

     

    Were you born and raised in the Vancouver area or do you come from afar?

    Is anyone born + raised in Vancouver? lol And if you are you are a unicorn! No, I was born in Calgary AB, and moved to a small town outside Saskatoon SK when I was 8 years old. So i spent the majority of my childhood in Saskatchewan. Growing up in SK allowed me to be close to my grandparents and my mum’s side of the family which I look back on now as a HUGE blessing. I’m still very close with my grandparents, aunties, uncles, + cousins. Small town living was fun for a while; I biked or walked everywhere, slurpees cost $1 at the corner store, and knew pretty much everyone in town. But my city girl roots ran deep, and I knew small town Saskatchewan was not my future. So in 2005 my boyfriend (now husband) packed up and moved to Burnaby so I could finish school at SFU, and the rest is history. My Dad has family scattered throughout the Lower Mainland + BC so I have a connection to British Columbia as well. It didn’t take long for Vancouver to feel like home. This Prairie Girl can’t imagine NOT living close to the ocean ever again. Part of me is still surprised that I feel so at home in the Lower Mainland + how much I really LOVE my adopted province. Also compared to Saskatchewan it feels kinda fancy to live in Vancouver 😉 And who doesn’t want to feel a bit fancy? Lol

     

    Pineapple on pizza – yay or nay?

    Always pineapple on pizza!!! I mean you can’t put pineapple on any old pizza, it can only be on Hawaiian. Don’t just throw pineapple on a Deluxe, that’s just crazy talk. And we’re talking about North American pizza, because if you’re getting a “proper” Neapolitan pizza, then I’d have to say no. There’s definitely no pineapple on “real” pizza – or at least I haven’t encountered it in my travels. But there’s something magical about the combination of ham + pineapple. The fat and salt of the ham NEEDS the acidity and brightness of the pineapple, that’s why it works. You’ve got two opposing flavours balancing out the palate, with the sauce and the chewiness of the crust. It all works together. Didn’t expect that food analysis did ya? lol Personally I also like to add mushrooms to my Hawaiian pizza for extra veggies so I don’t feel so bad about eating pizza

  • Jurying isn’t easy . . .

    Jurying isn’t easy . . .

    Each year we see an overwhelming number of applications flood in to participate in the Vancouver Etsy Made In Canada market. Although we are humbled and astonished at the response, we have to be honest here . . . jurying applications is the HARDEST part of our job. Yes, it’s comparable to getting up at 4am to set up vendor tables and electricity but we still think jurying takes the cake.

    Why is it so hard?

    It’s not JUST the sheer amount of applications we receive, it’s also the quality. Creative’s are constantly evolving through our creative outlets and this reflects in applications each year. Some vendors have been with us from the start and we’ve been lucky enough to watch as their work develops beyond simply “crafting” to pieces that very easily outshine anything mass produced. Creative’s aren’t JUST advancing in their craft but also in their ability to showcase their work. This means literally HOURS spent figuring out how the heck to take high res photos, meticulously planning their booth set up and developing their copy writing skills to try to convey just what their art means to the public. Don’t forget learning to keep their Etsy Shop’s and website’s up to date, pricing their products appropriately and getting confident at chatting with shoppers. Thoughtfulness and effort are poured into the applications and, as a Jury member, it doesn’t make our job easy.

    We are Creative’s ourselves and empathize with learning skills on the fly but, as Jury members, we do our best to curate a memorable Etsy market each year, trying to ensure there’s ‘something for everyone’. As applications start to come in, we begin the lengthy process and start to reflect on each potential vendor.

    • Is this Creative new or a past vendor?
    • Does their community voice reflect the positive foundation Vancouver Etsy Collective wishes to create?
    • Are they Media Ready?
    • Is their Art, Craft or Design outstanding, relative, interesting and one-of-a-kind?
    • Will they interact with Etsy Market attendees in a relatable way?
    • Have their pieces evolved or is there a new product line?
    • Is there category over-saturated?
    • Are they active on social media and ready to support the event?
    • Are their price points reasonable?
    • Would they benefit from being a part of the VEC community?
    • How do they fit into the Etsy Market as a whole?
    • Is there Etsy Shop and/or website up to date?
    • Do they have both product and lifestyle images that are accessible?

    These are only the first few points that come to mind but so many other factors contribute towards the jury process and it’s enough to make anyone’s head explode! That being said, after all the hard work and late nights digging deep into applications, the end result is something we are so very proud to share with the Vancouver community.

    And with that (drumroll please), we’d like to announce the outstanding Creatives that have been curated for the 2019 Vancouver Etsy Made In Canada market!

    Find our VENDOR LIST HERE

  • Meet the Creative Series: Modern Imagination

    Meet the Creative Series: Modern Imagination

    Brigitte and Geoff, owners and Creatives behind Modern Imagination, will be debuting at her very first  Etsy: Made In Canada market in Vancouver on September 28th at Robson Square.

    Introduce yourself and your business

    My husband and I started Modern Imagination because I saw all plastic one-time-use toys in our house and I wanted a system of play that would be environmental and educating yet so much fun kids wouldn’t realize they were developing a skill. It literally started with one bear that I drew and then Geoff cut out. We wanted to raise bear management awareness to tourists in our area and also to our children. One bear lead to another, and then Geoff tried balancing several of them – and the rest grew from there. Every toy must have more than one way to be played with and spark imaginative play, or it doesn’t go further than the shop. Luckily, we have the best test group of munchkins: our own.

     

    How do you stay creative?

    Ha, being creative is never a problem for me. Curtailing the explosion of ideas – now there’s the challenge. My list of toy ideas is about 3 dozen deep, and I’m constantly interfering with my own production plan with sudden ideas that I must. Make. Right. Now.

     

    Is your workshop / creative space neat & tidy or a beautiful mess?

    A wonderful and frustrating reflection of the cosmic ideas that rattle around my head.

     

    Tell us about how your product is made. What is your favourite part?

    I get almost giddy with creating, so when an idea hits, I just grab a piece of paper to sketch it out, and then play with it for a while before I give it to Geoff to cut out. Usually he makes edits by reminding me wood can only be cut so thin before it snaps, or that having a toy that takes him 5 hours to cut out doesn’t make sense. We re-jig it together and then he makes Mark 1. We have to make anywhere from 3 to 15 versions before we’re happy that it won’t break or be a choking hazard, and that it will still look modern and inviting.

     

    What’s the most challenging part of your business?

    Trying to do it with two screen-free munchkins at my ankles! I have had to get very creative with my “office hours” and the activities I invite the kiddos to do so that I can print shipping labels. My 4.5 year old helps me package the toys so I have to allow extra time for her work, and sometimes it’s so frustrating – especially when I’m watching the clock tick to the cut-off time for the post office.

     

    Are you a Creative full-time? If not, what’s your day job?

    This is our side hustle, and I’m a freelance writer and mom during the day (I just don’t sleep at night); Geoff is a carpenter.

     

    What do you wish customers knew about you or your business?

    That wood is from Nature and Nature isn’t perfect, no matter how hard we can cut, sand, carve, and paint it. And that it takes a long time to make one item because we’re doing it by hand. A learning tower, for instance, takes 2 days because we cut it out, sand it down, finish it, assemble it, and then disassemble it for shipping.

     

    What is your favorite place to hang on the West Coast?

    Oh, that’s a tough one since I’m a PNW girl through and through. Tofo is where we were married and calls for our return each year but I also love climbing in Squamish. You just can’t beat our granite.

     

    Will you have any new products or designs at this year’s Made In Canada market?

    I recently made some colour matching snails for my daughter’s birthday and I only intended them to be for her, but since posting them on Instagram and sharing the reason for making them, I have had a number of requests for them to be in our shop, so I’ll be bringing a few sets of those to the market.

     

    Born and raised in the Vancouver area or do you come from afar?

    We live in Squamish but I was born in Vancouver and Geoff lived in Whistler since he was 3.

     

    Pineapple on pizza – yay or nay?

    Oh 100% YAY, baby! Why wouldn’t you want sweet deliciousness that reminds you of Hawaii on your pizza?
  • Meet the Creative series: Chu Chu Ceramics

    Meet the Creative series: Chu Chu Ceramics

    Are you a First Time Vendor at the Etsy: Made In Canada market?

    Yes

     

    Introduce yourself and your business

    Originally from Toronto, I moved here 10 years ago and fell in love with the city and mountains! As a visual artist, I’ve always dabbled in various media but only discovered pottery here in Vancouver. With a background in graphic design, I’m greatly influenced by contemporary aesthetics, home decor, street art and modern art. My ceramics are functional and I try to incorporate interesting techniques to enhance contrast. Whether it be glossy versus matte, textured versus smooth, or black versus white, I like to play with these themes to create something quite unique yet cohesive.

     

    How do you stay creative?

    I am fortunate to be in a shared studio with many great minds and we collaborate often. In every day life, I try and be observant to my surroundings and draw inspiration from my daily travels. Attending art events keeps the ideas flowing as you discover how other artists create their own mark on the city.

     

    Is your creative space neat & tidy or a beautiful mess?

    Depends what day of the week it is! My studio space is a slice of my personality. It can be chaotic when I’m in the middle of production and have many projects on the go, but the state of order always comes in the next wave. There is a dedicated section that resembles a mini living room for guests to come visit. It is decorated with accents of a contemporary home with geometric textiles and even a beta fish!

     


    Tell us about how your product / designs are made. What is your favourite part?

    To keep progressing, every year I design a new line to keep the styles fresh. From conception to production, there is a lot of trial and error before a line is released. I am always up for a new challenge and try different techniques from other creative mediums and try and work them into ceramics like silkscreening, airbrushing, carving and marbling. My favourite part is putting in months of testing and coming up with a style that is unique, is streamline to produce and has great traction with the public. The most meditative part of pottery for me is carving, the worst is making handles for mugs!

     

    What’s the most challenging part of your business?

    Ceramics is a tough category to sell, it’s labour intensive taking hours on end before an item can actually be complete. There are several stages of pottery with drying stages in between, this affects the value of the item as you can not necessarily see the time that went into it. There is no such thing as making a mug in just a few days, it’s a slow art.
    If you have an appreciation for hand made pottery, you will not treat a mug like a mug, you will cherish it as it was made by hand all the way through and doesn’t compare to a factory made Ikea mug.

     

    Are you a Creative full-time? If not, what’s your day job?

    I have another job doing web design for a professional photography and videography company, this takes up the better part of the day and then most days I go straight to the studio to do a few hours of work with my hands.
    Both are creative in it’s own right, one is based on technology, the other is more hands on.

     

    What do you wish customers knew about you or your business?

    The price tag is reflective of how much time and energy I put into every piece. Each item I’ve turned over in my hands dozens of times, moved from wheel to table to shelf to kiln and back again. All the surface design is done while it’s cradled in one hand and applied with the other. It really is a labour of love or else I wouldn’t be doing it!
    I am the only person making all the product, marketing, setting up online presence, social media, displays, sales, , shipping, taxes….the list goes on!

     

    What is your favourite place to hang on the West Coast?

    I’m very much half mountainy and half city. We don’t have mountains in Toronto and even after 10 years I am still amazed by the view and the ease of access. The beaches here are stunning, the views are incredible everywhere and I still think it’s incredibly picturesque being able to see the North Shore mountains through the city’s skyscrapers.

     

    Vancouver is growing as an art community with very cool urban outdoor spaces, murals, great events and artists creating amazing things.

    Will you have any new products or designs at this year’s Made In Canada market?

    Yes! Besides my signature Geometric Mountain series, I will be featuring the Marble Metamorphic series along with some golden spoons, larger platters and some jewellery.

     

    What makes the Etsy: Made In Canada market special or unique?

    It recognizes truly handmade local makers and is curated with some very unique vendors that have a high level of products. It gives customers a chance to meet their makers and put a face to the awesome wares they are selling. Seeing it online is one thing but seeing it in person is next level.

    Tell us about your all time favourite customer!

    I have two 🙂 One is a repeat customer from when I first started and she’s been slowly collecting all my work, she is a very cool eclectic woman with great fashion sense and likes to order custom work as well. The other is another maker I met during another market, she promotes me, supports my ideas, gives me advice and is also slowly collecting my pottery. She even brought me hand warmers when she saw on IG that I was doing a market in her part of town where there was no heat, such a sweetheart!

     

    Time to get mushy – how did you feel when you made your very first sale?

    To be honest, I can’t remember when that was! I remember when I was first taking pottery classes I used my friends as guinea pigs and made them various items. One friend has a very early version of my geometric mountain design and to me now it is so ugly but he uses it every day and displays it on his kitchen counter!

     

    Born and raised in the Vancouver area or do you come from afar?

    Not too afar but Toronto. I gave myself 2 years to see what this city was all about and I’ve been here for 10!


    Pineapple on pizza – yay or nay?

    Super yay! Purist need not share with me!