Meet the Crafters: Anne Pryde

Today's Crafter is Anne Pryde, a volunteer organizer who has been with Crafters since its early days at the Khyber.

What do you make? Wheel thrown and hand built utilitarian pottery

What is your process? Most of my work begins on the pottery wheel where it is thrown and altered. Many pieces are thrown in two or three parts and assembled. All of my glazes are food safe, dishwasher durable, and microwave friendly. I design my glazes in the studio wearing a big lab coat, respirator and gloves. When pieces are decorated and glazed they are fired to cone 6 in an electric kiln.

Why do you do what you do? I do what I do, because I can't imagine doing anything else. I'm fully addicted to clay.


What is your background/How did you get started? I studied Ceramics at NSCAD University then went on to apprentice with two local potters before starting my own full time business in 2006.

When you're not selling at Crafters markets, where can I find your work? Love, Me Boutique on Birmingham street in Halifax and Linens for Life in Chester NS

What is your involvement in organizing the show involvement? This time around I had the task of CKDU Liaison, coffee finder , and meeting catering

How long have you been involved with Halifax Crafters? since February 2005

What makes Halifax Crafters different from other shows? It is organized by a group of volunteers so costs are kept low for participants and no entry fee is charged. There is live music, a fantastic view from the balcony and it is small enough to be comfortable but big enough to see lots of super art.

What are you excited about seeing at the Holiday market? I'm excited to eat yummy things, and do all the Christmas shopping for my family in one place.


Where do you do your work? In an converted basement rec room in my house. There is a lovely tropical beach scene mural taking up all the walls painted by the previous owners kids

What kind of music do you listen to while you work? Mostly folk and indie rock.

A place you love? My Great Grandmother's homestead in Tatamagouche NS

What inspires you? Everything

Something you can't live without? music

An artwork or artist you love? There is so much great work coming out of Halifax Crafters members, but if I had to just pick one body of work it would be Rilla Marshall's crop and pesticide statistical weavings.

Favourite time of the year? August (I'm a Leo)

Three things you need in order to create? time, tea, and sunshine

What's your favourite way to procrastinate? cooking, baking and canning food.

Meet the Crafters: Joanna Close art in fibre

Less than a week until the show! Today's Crafter is Joanna Close of art in fibre.

What do you make? I make hand dyed and hand woven blankets and scarves. I also make hand drawn and painted cards.

What is your process? For the woven pieces I start with a landscape and begin preparing and dyeing yarns. Then I proceed with weaving the piece on the loom, working as I go to create a landscape.


How long have you been a crafter? ...for as long as I can remember! I was the kid who did craft projects at my birthday parties!

Why do you do what you do? I have always made things so I think it's just a habit. I need to do things with my hands to feel content.

What is your background/How did you get started? It started as a hobby when I was young. Then I did an undergraduate degree in Textiles and continued with a masters degree in textiles and fibre art.
When you're not selling at Crafters markets, where can I find your work? you can find it at Seeds Gallery, love,me boutique, my own studio - North Pocket Studio (send me an e-mail if you are interested in visiting) and Handworks Gallery (Saint John, NB).




How long have you been involved with Halifax Crafters? Since 2008
What makes Halifax Crafters different from other shows? I think the variety of work and the fact that everything is made locally and by the individual selling it.

What are you excited about seeing at the Holiday market? I'm excited for Kat Miller's newest work! and Caitlin Purcell too.


Where do you do your work? At my house and studio

What kind of music do you listen to while you work? usually cbc radio 1 and 2

A place you love? the forest where i am from in new brunswick

What inspires you? landscapes and delicious food

Something you can't live without? my quilts that my grandmother made


An artwork or artist you love? anna von mertens, ink and spindle
Favourite time of the year? tricky, december or july

Three things you need in order to create? pen, yarn, dye

A film or book you love? the trouble with harry

What's your favourite way to procrastinate? snacking

Meet the Crafters: Kyla Francis

Today we're going to meet Kyla Francis, the Crafter behind some of Halifax's favourite glassware.


What do you make? Hand printed glasses

What is your process? I screen print ceramic ink as a flat decal which I apply to the glasses and fire in my kiln just to the melting point of the glass so the colour is incorporated.

How long have you been a crafter? I started my own studio up 2 years after I graduated from NSCAD

Why do you do what you do? (oh dear! I don't know! existential crisis!)

What is your background? I took screenprinting and ceramics at NSCAD which gave me the background in the technology to start experimenting with glass in my own studio practice. Glass wasn't taught at that university so most of my process has been self taught.

When you're not selling at Crafters markets, where can I find your work? I sell at Argyle Fine Art and Love, Me Boutique here in Halifax and I also sell online, through my website, www.kylafrancis.com, and through a Pittsburgh online retailer, ModCloth.



How long have you been involved with Halifax Crafters? The first show I did was December '06 at the Khyber (the first show ever was Dec 05)

What makes Halifax Crafters different from other shows? Large tradeshows require pretty hefty investments that can stop emerging artists in their tracks. We wanted to create a space which was juried for the highest quality but that still allowed artists working with smaller runs to step in to craft show marketing, and that would be affordable enough to allow our artists to risk their wilder ideas. We always look for artists who are inventing their own processes and styles over those working in familiar traditions and as the group has grown we really have become the premier venue to find fresh new craft because of that mandate.


What are you excited about seeing at the Holiday market?
I'll be doing my holiday shopping of course! There's so many different things offered at the show so I can usually find something even for hard to shop for types. I'll stock up on cards because I think receiving warm thoughts from someone dear is the best holiday decoration. Next on the shopping list will probably be soaps (osha mae), glasses (kyla francis - shameless self promo) and dishtowels (bespoke uprising) because everyone I know bathes, drinks a beverage and does dishes on a regular basis, and they all deserve a little extra luxury while they're at it.




Where do you do your work? I have a studio in Lower Prospect.

What kind of music do you listen to while you work? I listen to CBC radio a lot in my studio; I like hearing talk when I work and relaxing to music afterward.

A place you love?
Mason's cabin at Kejimkujik National Park. You can ski, snowshoe, hike, bike or canoe the 20km to get there. Winter is my favorite time to visit; even a lay-person like me can see how full of wildlife the quiet park is when their tracks are all over the snow.

Favourite way to procrastinate? watching Boardwalk Empire

Meet the Crafters: Roisin Fagan of Bespoke Uprising

Starting today, we're going to feature a series of interviews with some of the Crafters who will be at our Winter Carnival Holiday Market on Dec. 4 and 5. Today's Crafter is Roisin of Bespoke Uprising.

What do you make? all sorts of textile goods, hand dyed and screenprinted things like wallets, teatowels, aprons, purses, and fabrics for others to make things out of.

What is your process? drawing pictures, burning them onto silkscreens, printing yardage. then I draft a pattern and make something out of my fabric.

How long have you been a crafter? I remember being involved with a lot of glitter and pipecleaners and beads with my best friend, Sarah, when we were small.

Why do you do what you do? because I like afternoon naps, and also because I think that beautiful, thoughtful and interesting functional objects make life better.

What is your background/How did you get started? Crafting, along with reading, were my hobbies as an introverted little girl, and then I took a specialized art program in Highschool, and then came out to Halifax to attend NSCAD.

When you're not selling at Crafters markets, where can I find your work? on Etsy! bespokeuprising.etsy.com

How long have you been involved with Halifax Crafters? Since the beginning, when we were ten people at the Khyber for an afternoon. I was heavily involved with organizing, promoting and general running when I lived in Halifax, but now that I'm in Ontario, I mostly take care of Facebook group and event duties.

What makes Halifax Crafters different from other shows? It is a show for both experienced and new artists and crafters, and it is entirely volunteer-run. None of the organizers get paid, which keeps the cost to participate very low.

What are you excited about seeing at the Holiday market? My friends in Halifax! Everyone that I know in the city attends the show, so it is a great way to see them all, without any running around.

Where do you do your work? I have a studio in my house. Rent in London, Ontario is very cheap, thankfully!

What kind of music do you listen to while you work? The CBC Radio One station is always on, but if I am tired or feeling unmotivated, anything to keep me moving. I am prone to procrastination since I work at home, so plenty of Tom Waits.

A place you love? Halifax!

Favourite time of the year? Spring. I love watching the garden come back to life.

Three things you need in order to create? coffee, chocolate, CBC

A favourite quote? "Not all those who wander are lost"

What's your favourite way to procrastinate? oh cripes - the internet. In fact, I am procrastinating right now by writing this.

Our winter market is coming up soon!
See you at the Olympic Centre - 2034 Hunter Street
December 5th & 6th 11am-6pm