Cyclops and Owl: Ladies of Mystery Show

Tomorrow, Friday, August 20, 8 pm to 11 pm, T.E.S.T. member Ron Caddigan of Cyclops and Owl, has a solo art show at Tabula Rasa:
745 BROADVIEW AVE
(1 block south of Broadview Station)
TORONTO, ON M4K 2P6

Come on out and meet Ron and his partner in crime & fellow T.E.S.T. member Amarina of hibouaccessories. You can check the Cyclops and Owl Blog for more details.

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Father's Day is June 20th. Looking for some gift ideas for Dad? T.E.S.T. can help. Right here in Toronto, you can get a thoughtful handmade and vintage gifts, including this DAD Banner Screenprinted Card by genevievejodouin

We've got great gifts for young, new, Dads, older, experienced Dads & Dads of all sorts.
The BEER COZIE -Number 1 Dad - Beige and Gray by knitrovert is perfect Father's Day gift.





Fine art, like the Original Fine Art Painting - The Train by artbyarlenebabad is always a great gift.


Dad might love an original Fine Art acrylic landscape painting titled Golden Tributary by Gwen Duda GwensArtDreamscape



Is Dad into architecture and design? Consider the Toronto Building Cocktail Napkins by avrillorei




The Original Block Print - Flyover by magprint has the sculptural look of elevated highways, flyovers and overpasses.



Or how about the Distillery and Roots fine art print by ezhillin?





There's Facade 1 Morges - Fine Art Print 5x7 by jpet too.





What could be more 'Father's Day' than a tie? How about a Vintage Christian Dior Tie--Numbered 18 of 24 from dervish



For the science or history nerd, there's Louis Pasteur - Linocut,1st Edition by minouette




Maybe Dad is young, hip with surrealist tendencies? Try cyclopsandowl's Intermission - PRINT



For the cowboy Dad there's Vintage Calgary Theme Belt Buckle from HibouAccessories




How about the
Blue and Black- Fused Glass Belt Buckle by urbanfusions?




The green specks cuff links - FREE shipping sale by shannellesmith are a twist on a traditional Father's Day favorite.



Check out the Vintage Bike Ad Woodburned Box by SixthAndElm





For the bookworm, or photography collector, there's
Stacked and Sorted - 8x10 matted print by tanjatiziana

T.E.S.T. items for Earth Day

April 22nd is Earth Day. According to EarthDay Canada, "More than 6 million Canadians join 1 billion people in over 170 countries in staging events and projects to address local environmental issues. Nearly every school child in Canada takes part in an Earth Day activity." Follow the link to find events across Canada.

Etsy is part of a larger handmade movement in society. People are reclaiming the right to have handmade objects with meaning, and work with their hands. A great way to tread more lightly on our Earth is to avoid mass consumerism. When I buy things, I try to buy responsibly, locally and handmade. Buying vintage goods is another great option; re-use and re-interpret what is already there, to get something both unique and with less environmental impact.

Check out some of the great local Toronto etsians have on offer. Start with the recycle pinback button by zippster and follow that by perusing some of the amazing up-cylced items on offer.

Cocoboudoir has up-cycled a vintage find to make her one of a kind Ensoleille dress.




Coverstories re-imagined an old book cover to make the Large Vintage Book Journal 'All About Animals and Their Young'



Using found acorn caps, and stone customcrafter created her Acorn Earrings.




The unique scrappy circles brooch-black currant charlotte by dervish is made with 100% linen scraps and vintage buttons!



Using vintage supplies and materials foundlingsvintage made la dame jolie bicycle blouse -- available in S/M.




hdunstan encorporated vintage elements to make the Not that Kind of Gal one-of-a-kind necklace




HibouAccesories quiky designs combine different antique and vintage metal components in the The Cowgirl - Mix Metal Bracelet.



A vintage tie is reborn in the vintage inspired hair piece - upcycled and reconstructed tie by tweek




LittleDenim up-cycles denim to make her Girls' Lightning Screenprint Upcycled Denim Dress - 9 Months

Chinese New Year: Year of the Tiger

Gong hei fat choi! 恭喜发财! "Congratulations and be prosperous" is a traditional new year greeting for the Chinese, lunar, new year, which will be celebrated this February 14th, and usher in the Year of the Tiger. Chinese new year is a major holiday celebrated in Chinese and other asian cultures around the world and certainly here in Toronto.

Today we share T.E.S.T. items inpsired by or associated with the 3rd animal in the Chinese zodiac, the tiger, like minouette's 'Hu: The Tiger' lino block print. If you are in Toronto, you can see this print and others from around the world at the 9th International Print Exhibition and Exchange Celebrating The Chinese Year of the Tiger 2010 from February 10 to March 6th (with Opening, Sunday, February 14th from 2-4), at the PROOF Gallery in the Distillery District (55 Mill Street, Building #74, Studio 104).

Show your tiger spirit by wearing the tiger-striped Sunset Stripes. A fused glass pendant necklace. 150. by ellecools



Red is the colour of Chinese new year celebrations. Celebrate the Year of the Tiger with the Stripey Red Cat by bombuslane



Lure the big cats with the Here Kitty Kitty Charm Necklace by HibouAccessories




Hip urban tigers wear The Urbanite - Fused Glass Belt Buckle by urbanfusions




Orange and black Starling - Limited Edition Fine Art Print - 8 x 10 by GirlCanCreate reminds us of the tiger hunting.



Cat people wear the Cat silhouette pinback button by zippster





Favour the subtle blends of tiger colours with the Burnt orange enamel id braceletby TorchedStudio




Send tiger-coloured greeting with the Ribbon Rose Greeting Card - Awesome- in pumpkin orange by kiwipunch



Be cat-like with another striking silhouette Perfectly Imperfect Pendant- Here Kitty Kitty by herprettybird



Wear all natural tiger-striped stone with the Striped Rock Necklace by slashpile




Carry your good fortune in the MOO BUSINESS CREDIT CARD HOLDER MINI PURSE - Red Floral Fan by LMCreations



The Chrysanthemum is a popular new year floral decoration, because it symbolizes longevity. Wish longevity when you give the gift of the Tiny Chrysanthemum Clip Kanzashi by magpiecanada

For the tigress in your life, it's the SLING IT BACK - hand-embroidered wall decor by thegirlinyellow




Wear this tiger-coloured Screenprinted Wooden Chickadee Brooch by genevievejodouin




For celebrating this year's tiger babies, you can use a suitably orange
Happy Birthday Invitation - Digital Photo File (MOD1) by FostenDesigns



Send thanks and more with the tiger-coloured flower cards by papierbellerose




Wear a tiger-striped tie pin with the silk tie brooch by ilovetweek

TESTy People & Places

There's a huge variety of amazing handmade goods to be found on Etsy made right here in Toronto. This week we bring you goods about people and places

Consider this Rosette Sorbet by cocoboudoir.

Indulge your nostalgia for the Toronto-which-was with this water colour of Sam the Record Man by ezhilin



This print of a multimedia piece evokes both the library and the Librarians Limited Edition Fine Art Print by GirlCanCreate



This Courting with Flowers Brooch by HibouAccessories is about people from another time.




To the Sacred Heart of Paris Fine Art Print 8 x 10 by jpet is one of the many places his photos can take you.




Traces of people are illustrated in Fingerprint - linocut greeting cards - set of two by kiwipunchdesigns




In this shop it's all about the little fashionable people - Blythe dolls that is. SALE - Cotton shift dress for Blythe by kltrocks



Keep mother and baby warm this winter with
Now in Polar Fleece Sling-o-Jacket Size M,L Babywearing AND Maternity and Nursing Wear - Ultimate Fall Winter Garment For Mama and Baby by LiliesOValley

The ECO WRISTLET - Blessings by LMcreations will remind you of home.





Scents can bring you places, like
Smells Like A Day At The Beach Lotion by mythicalmatters




Local pirates should check out the Toronto Pirate Hat by robotnista





The photography here will take you all sorts of places, including this evocative print of the streetcar graveyard Blowing in the Wind... - 8x8 Resin-Coated Metallic Print by tanjatiziana

We've even got favorite imaginary people with Dr. Ross from E.R. in Resuscitate me, Mr Clooney by
TheGirlinYellow



Maybe he could revive the Vivisected Man - White on Black by TorchedStudio ?




Disguise your people with Mustache Handkerchiefs - Pop Of Color - Set of 4 by avrilloreti




Go downtown wearing your new downtown cowl - tube scarf by knitrovert