T.E.S.T.'s 3rd Annual Handmade "Spring" Marketplace

We'd like to share some photos from our Marketplace last weekend! Here are some of the great displays and lovely sellers at the event. We didn't capture every table - some were too crowded when we tried to gather photos! (Let us know if you too have photos to share - we would love to add them). Remember to vote for your favorite seller! VOTING WILL CLOSE THIS FRIDAY, so don't miss your chance.

TEST's "Spring" Handmade Market & Covet Garden Contest

In honour of the Toronto Etsy Street Team's 3^rd Annual "Spring" Handmade Marketplace, we're partnering with the lovely on-line magazine Covet Garden who are sponsoring a contest! Whichever of our awesome vendors gets the most votes will receive one month free advertising in Covet Garden!

A little about them:

Covet Garden is for folks who are curious about real spaces. We take a peek into the homes and lives of some of the city’s most interesting people—spaces that have not been styled by interior decorators. Covet Garden is inspirational, not aspirational.

Check out our vendors and VOTE!:

minouette	landfilldesigns	thunderpeep	CandiWareJewelry
SimonesRoseBoutique	Jacarandadesigns	Jewelust	Quacked
	Sahetah	aTanaDesigns	sproutspressdesigns
LWDress	ariannelim		NailKandy
sarawen perfume	sexonastitch	thepolishedpenny
Zippster	girlcancreate	jackandwilladesigns	maartjejewels

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

T.E.S.T. 3rd Annual "Spring" Handmade Market!

CLICK here for the awesome line up of vendors!

This SATURDAY!!

July 21st from 11 AM to 5 PM!

The Toronto Etsy Street Team's 3rd Anual "Spring" Handmade Market (& cocktail party)

Come for the crafts, stay for the cocktails.

Check our Facebook page for party details and remember to RSVP here!

A little press: Etsy Short Stories

T.E.S.T.'s own minouette's linocut portrait of Mme. Wu, and her experiment are the subject of the Etsy blog Short Stories today. Ele of minouette uses her background in physics to explain the background behind this brilliant physicist, her beautiful experiment and its shocking results.

Craft news: Learnapalooza, Brampton, July 21

Learnapalooza in Brampton, next weekend will have arts, crafts and music, including T.E.S.T.'s own JungleJewelry.

T.E.S.T. Interview: Maybe Made

We hope to introduce you to all the great etsy sellers to be found right here in Toronto. Here at the T.E.S.T. blog, we plan to interview them all. This is the 32^nd in our series with Jessica of MAYBE MADE



What inspired you to create an etsy shop?

There is something so special about purchasing handmade goods. There is a connection there that is truly exceptional. You can actually contact the maker, speak to them, and learn more about them and their process. You can feel their personality in every piece that they design. Etsy has created an environment where this connection is possible!

I started to create when I was very young because I wanted an alternative to what could be found at the big box stores in the small town where I grew up. I wanted to be different and I wanted to stand out, so I would spend the hours between school and supper sewing up crazy party dresses and making my own accessories. I believe that I have always known that I would eventually create a shop of my own. It just took me a while settle on that one brilliant idea that I would sell - until I had a lightbulb moment! When I figured that out, I felt that it was time to finally become a part of the Etsy seller community :)

What do you believe is the significance of a pouch in an average persons life?

Have you ever bolted out of the house and arrived at your destination only to realize that you left your favourite lip gloss in your OTHER purse? Yeah, me too. The pouch idea started because I felt the need to make one for my own forgetful self! Then I realized, "Hey, wait a minute.. maybe other people have this same problem and I could provide them with a stylish solution!" That's how MAYBE MADE was born.

What/who are your designs inspired by?

I'm so inspired by all of the cute, quirky ladies that I see around my city. Toronto is filled with smart, bold, confident women who aren't afraid to show their individuality. They sport pieces that are fresh, functional AND fun! That's the type of design I strive to create.

I'm also inspired by the myriad of prints and fabrics I stumble across around the city and online. My pouches are made to showcase those fun prints that I choose. I keep the design simple so that the print doesn't get lost in the shuffle.


As a part of T.E.S.T, what do you believe your shop brings to the team?

On a personal level, I'm really looking forward to meeting other sellers and learning from their experiences. I think that I will be able to offer some of my own thoughts and ideas, as well! It's really important for small business owners and crafty folk to stick together. Generally, we're all in it for the same reasons and we can learn so much from each other.

What can we expect in the future for "MAYBE MADE"?

My shop is still relatively new, so I feel like the sky is the limit! I plan on continuing to create the simple yet sturdy classic pouch design, but I would also like to expand my vision and create some fancier pieces for special occasions. I'm also really excited to create some items for the cyclists out there. I'm an avid cyclist myself and I'm always looking for cute bike stuff to show off my own style. Look out for that in the near future!

Check out the other items available from Jessica in her MAYBE MADE Etsy Shop!. You can find more of her work on her MAYBEMADE website and blog, the MAYBEMADE Facebook page and followe MAYBE_MADE on twitter.

Interviewed by Raechel from DaisyandBoss in July, 2012, in Toronto.

Call for Artist: Join Collective with Studio at Bloor & Spadina

CALL | NEW COLLECTIVE IN AFFORDABLE CENTRAL SPACE FOR RENT

Join a new artist collective for affordable studio space at Bloor & Spadina! Variable rates TBD based on number of artists (max. 14)

Opportunity to join new collective at ground level. Looking for committed, responsible, professional artists to share unique space in the Annex.

Bloor and Spadina brick house/commercial space next to the JCC, built for a family with two floors of rooms and open spaces. Bonus 400sf deck ideal for potluck BBQ dinners or varnishing work in warmer months. 2 bathrooms, dishwasher, sink, security code, parking, ttc across street, art supply store 3blocks away.  Tons of cafes, restaurants, pubs.

Total space is 2600sf, to be divided amongst 11 -14 artists for work space only. Rooms / wall spaces vary and their prices too, accordingly. Ample cupboard, shelf and storage space for supplies. Best suited for painters, drawers, collagers, mixed media, textile artists, and the Iike.

Looking for serious participants who want to work In a friendly, communal space, with possibility of quarterly open house studio tour and sale, plus applying for grants as a collective to help with rent and other projects. Possibility of sharing a teaching space on second floor, with desks, easels, rags, chairs, brushes provided. Paints, supports, mediums - each teacher responsible for those.

Major perk is the incredibly central location at street level and the unique layout of the house. Perfect for a family of artists. The village collective. The collective family. Name to be decided, ideas welcome!

Viewing and informal meeting at the space later this week. 

If interested, please email Sarah at collectiveinhouse@gmail.com.

T.E.S.T. interview: aTanaDesigns

We hope to introduce you to all the great etsy sellers to be found right here in Toronto. Here at the T.E.S.T. blog, we plan to interview them all. This is the 31^st in our series with Wendy of aTanaDesigns

Please introduce yourself and your work.

Hello, my name is Wendy and my shop is called aTana Designs!! “Atana” is a Sanskrit word meaning “Wandering” and that sums me up…I’m a daydreamer and I LOVE to travel! My love of art began early in my life as I always looked forward to art class in High School, and then I continued my love affair by graduating with a Bachelor in Fine Arts. I currently teach wonderfully talented students at an Arts School just outside of Toronto. I found my way into working with Precious Metal Clay and creating jewelry almost by fluke! I have always loved jewelry (much to the disappointment of my bank account and probably to my husband), and when the opportunity came up to “play” with this clay I was ecstatic. Ever since then I couldn’t get enough! I started by designing and making jewelry for myself and then for friends that were interested and then it lead me to the great universe of Etsy!

Tell us about your creative process?

It begins with inspiration I find in nature, travelling, art, and those who I surround myself with. It also begins with me wondering what I would want to wear! If I am taking a walk, or a run through the park, I notice the little things and wonder “hmmm, could this look good as wearable art?” Nature seems to be the most talented artist of them all! I keep my sketchbook close at hand and I always draw out potential designs before I get to work with my silver. I suppose my background as a visual artist has influenced my approach and the skills I have acquired as a “drawist” and painter have transcended into my creative work as a jewelry artist.

What has been your scariest experience?

With my jewelry making or with life?! I don’t know if I would deem an experience as scary with my Etsy business, but I do know that my experience with Canada Post may have been the most annoying. On my very first sale I thought my package was lost as it took over 2 weeks to ship something from the North end of Toronto to the West end! Thankfully it was shipping to a customer who was very understanding, and it eventually arrived!! Grrr…yes, Canada Post is my most frustrating experience!

With life…scariest must be realizing that as you get older you understand that your parents are always right!!

What memorable responses have you had to your work?

I always appreciate hearing feedback from customers and hearing the story of who they are buying jewelry for. I really like knowing if one of my pieces is intended for an anniversary, or a birthday, etc… I was very honoured in being mentioned in Roger's Digital Media, Sweetspot.ca, alongside some major names like Banana Republic, Swarovski, and Aldo as they featured one of my pendants as a holiday gem.

Perhaps my most recent gratifying moment is being able to donate my profits from my Silver Bunny Charm to the charity Rabbit Rescue. I have a bunny named Audrey, and I have a soft spot for these great animals so it was wonderful to be able to sell a product to customers and in turn be able to give back to a charity that is doing such fantastic work for animals! Check it out: www.etsy.com/listing/96542791/fine-silver-bunny-charm-all-profits-go

What’s your goal (professional and/or personal)?

As a jewelry artist my goal is to become a known name in Toronto. To have people recognize my jewelry and to see people walking down the street wearing my art! Personally, one of my goals is to be able to do a yoga hand balancing pose called the crow…my sense of balance gets the better of me! Oh, and my other goal is to travel the world!

If given a superpower, what would it be and why?

Hands down I would want to be able to fly!! I think this stems back to when I saw Disney’s Peter Pan and realized that I had the same name as Wendy, and I wondered why I didn’t have fairy dust from Tinkerbell too! Imagine being able to fly…I could then easily accomplish the goal of seeing the world, and I would laugh at all the cars stuck on the 401 as I soared to and from work!!

You can find more of Wendy's work in her etsy shop and you can 'like' the aTana Designs Facebook page. Interviewed in Toronto by Arianne of Ariannelim in May, 2012.