Meet the Crafters: Hillary Webb

 Less than one week to go! Can you believe it? While the Crafters are busy working overtime to get ready for Saturday, here's another Crafter you'll find at the show this weekend. Today's Crafter is Hillary Webb, whose crafting story is full of love and adventure.

I’ve been making and selling hand embroidered art since completing my degree in textiles at the Ontario College of Art and Design in 2004. The process I developed includes making natural dyes from scratch, staining my dyed cotton fabric with beeswax, and drawing on the fabric with pencil and thread. 

Recently I’ve begun using vintage pillowcases and table linens as the base fabric. My work is inspired by imagery found in nature like trees, birds, animals and patterns. My latest body of work has started to steer away from that and includes imagery of fire and buildings. I’ve also started stitching words and patterns into vintage postcards. Last spring I joined forces with my creative partner, David, and we started creating items like tiny ceramic necklaces and screen-printed pendant flags.

I can’t stop making things. When my hands aren’t busy I get restless. As far as I can tell, making things is in my blood.

 

When I’m not selling at the Halifax Crafters market you can find my work on my website and on the Gold Fools Etsy shop. I’ve also had the pleasure of showing my work at Love, me, and have a show planned at the Heartwood on Quinpool in January. On December 10 and 11,  I will be selling my work at the City of Craft show in Toronto.

I’ve had a booth at the Halifax Crafters Market for the past two years (this upcoming show will be my fifth!). When I moved to Halifax to complete a master’s degree in 2009, I was fortunate enough to stop by the autumn market at the North Street Church within my first month of being in the city. I knew right away that I wanted to be involved.

Halifax Crafters is one of the best shows that I’ve ever participated in. Since the first time I attended, I was blown away by the caliber of work presented there. I do all my Christmas shopping there and proudly bring the locally made goodies back to Ontario to share with my loved ones. There is so much care taken in decorating the hall and the food is always amazing.

At the first Halifax Crafters market I participated in, I was placed next to a very talented painter and crafter named David Figueroa. Two years later I am proud to call him my partner, both personally and creatively. 

This past summer David and I combined our creative power and toured the States for two months, selling our art under the name Gold Fools. We did three Renegade Craft Shows in Brooklyn, San Francisco and Los Angeles, immersing ourselves, and our work, into the craft scenes in those amazing cities. 

We created for ourselves the rare opportunity to show alongside those whose work we have long admired and followed. We met amazing likeminded people that invited us into their homes, studios, and introduced us to their cities. The support we found as travellers and creators was enormous. It was an adventure of a lifetime!

David and I are proud to announce that our trip will be featured in an upcoming issue of UPPERCASE magazine about creative adventures.

For those who don’t know, Renegade is the largest independent craft show in the States. They have annual shows in Chicago, Austin, Vegas, San Francisco, LA, and Brooklyn (and recently started a show in London, England). The people that sell work at these shows are the ones whose work is drool worthy, and featured all over the best crafty blogs.  We were honoured that they included us and have been trying to convince them to start a show in Canada!

Meet the Crafters: Alissa & Chantal

Meet Alissa: one half of the masterful team behind this year's winter market poster. She shares a little bit about collaborating and gives us all a sneak behind the scenes with some beautiful photos of the printing process.

Chantal and I have collaborated on a few projects now. It's always nice to have another person around to bounce ideas off of and another set of eyes. We were thinking of things we associated with winter while trying to stay away from any religious subject matter. There are so many great winter activites to do (many of them that I haven't tried yet but am very eager too) like dogsledding, skating and of course snow shoeing. We both had really liked the idea of snow shoes and we also were taken with the wonder posters made for the Renegade Craft fairs - I find they always do a good job of making the text interesting. I illustrated the various elements for the posters and than we both sat down and played around with it in photoshop until we got something we liked. Many of the posters you'll see around town were hand silk screened by Chantal and I in my studio here in Halifax. 

Thanks to all their hard work you can see the posters pop up all around town reminding us that the Yule Tide Cheer Winter Market is just around the corner!

Meet the Crafters: Gillian Hyde

We're back with another round of Meet the Crafters! This a chance for us to introduce you to the Crafters behind the tables. To get us started, meet Gillian Hyde of Pip Robins Accessories

Hi! I’m Gillian, owner and operator of Pip Robins Accessories, a tiny company with a big heart.  I create sewn cowls made primarily from reclaimed textiles, which means I shop for discarded yardage year-round from thrift stores, take them home, give them a good wash and then slowly piece them together.  Sourcing these fabrics lowers the environmental impact of having to create new textiles and creates wonderful, limited-edition and one-of-a-kind pieces for both men and women.  Cowls are the anti-scarf: a scarf that you easily slip over your head with no looping, tying or wrapping, but offers the same amount of warmth and style as a traditional scarf.


How long have you been a crafter?

Crafting didn’t really come naturally to me.  My sister, Ambera Wellmann was always the artist in the family and so it was never something that I focused on.  I’m completely self-taught and didn’t know any crafty people until my late twenties. Through the power of internet tutorials and a lot of perseverance I learned some basics and after running Pip Robins for nearly three years I have mastered the art of the cowl.

What is your background/How did you get started?

I’m a bit of a vagabond, a wanderer, and spent about ten years travelling and living around the world.  I’ve called the Caribbean, West Africa, Mexico and Europe my home, and have lived in a few provinces across Canada.  I am a trained Web Developer and that’s what my “career” was focused on for most of my twenties, but I am happy to be out of the IT industry now and focused on my own fashion accessories business. 

I started Pip Robins after seeing a guy with a bandana over his nose and mouth one bitterly cold day in the North End of Halifax. I loved the look of something pulled up over his face but knew that there had to be a better way to keep warm if you didn’t want to wear a scarf. I worked on a few prototypes and eventually settled on a design and started selling them on Etsy. They took off immediately, much to my delight, and it hasn’t slowed down.  I consistently see men’s bare necks in the winter and want to run up to them with my business card and tell them that there is another option! They don’t need to be cold! Let me save you! Women love them too of course, but they’re a lot easier to convince because women often like to wear accessories and they see how diverse cowls are. 


Why do you do what you do?

Pip Robins is my full time job right now. I left my job this summer in part so that I could focus on Pip.  I’ve always operated Pip because I love it: I love the treasure hunt and the thrill of finding a really great piece of fabric, I love how it allows me to tap into creativity I didn’t know I had. I love sending my product all over the world (fashion capitals Paris, France and New York, NY are the top international destinations). I love knowing that I’m operating my business ethically and as environmentally as I can.  I love working for myself and I love having full control over every aspect of my business and what I send out into the world. I also love the crafting community, the kinship that comes with selling your wares.  It makes up for spending so much time alone with a sewing machine and computer.

When you're not selling at Crafters markets, where can I find your work?

This year I started wholesaling my cowls, so I’m carried in about 20 stores across Canada. In Nova Scotia you can find them at Biscuit General Store, Love, Me Boutique, the lovely little new store Dots and Loops in Lunenburg and Flow Boutique in Amherst.  I also have a booth at the Halifax Seaport Market every Saturday where you can find the best selection of cowls in the city. I do most of my business on Etsy and through my own website.


How long have you been involved with Halifax Crafters?

This is only my second show; I was involved in last year’s winter show and had amazing feedback and fabulous customers.


What makes Halifax Crafters different from other shows?

Halifax Crafters is the only show I’ve ever done or attended! But, as a stickler for money, I LOVE that there is no admission fee. You can attract so many more people of varying backgrounds by not charging a dime to get in. Second, I love that it is volunteer based. I can’t even imagine all of the work that needs to go into organizing this event, so I really appreciate every single person that works their tail off to make it happen.  It’s all done for the love of craft, which is totally inspiring and admirable.

What inspires you?

My easiest source of inspiration is from the fabric itself. As soon as I see something while thrifting I envision it as a cowl and can hardly wait to get it home and start sewing.  Once I am finished, I quickly take a few shots of it on myself, put it online and wait for feedback.  Who isn’t a sucker for compliments?

My favorite website for inspiration is pinterest. So many good ideas, so many images and tutorials I never would have come across any other way.

Because Pip is my only job I’ve been able to put a lot more time, effort and creativity into each piece this year, so I’ve started incorporating embellishments like reclaimed leather, studs, wool braids, appliqués and more. This month I was featured in The Coast’s ShopTalk in an article that highlighted my mustache cowls, a fan favorite! I vow to donate 10% of November mustache cowl sales to prostate cancer research.

Three things you need in order to create?

My industrial Janome sewing machine, Padraig slippers and my chiropractor.

What's your favourite way to procrastinate?

Soy chai latte in the morning, a nap in the afternoon, sweet white wine in the evening, loud laughter as often as possible.

Coming to a phone pole near you!

Or a bulletin board near you. Or anywhere we can legally post a poster. It's yet another one of our amazing posters designed by our amazing crafters. This year, the design is by Alissa Kloet and Chantal Doak. They'll be screen printing a limited number of these by hand (please wait until after the show to steal one. We understand why you take them...but we also need them to tell folks about the show).

Stay tuned for some "meet the crafters" interviews we'll be posting in the next couple of weeks.

Some tips on applying to Halifax Crafters

Hey Crafters!

I know we've had some bugs with the online application. It's our first time trying this, so there's a bit of a learning curve on our end. A few things that we find are helping with the application are:

• If you do not have a website, just enter ours www.halifaxcrafters.ca
• Make sure your photo sizes are not too big.
• You must enter all fields in order to submit your application, be sure to do so.
• If the address section doesn't work with your address, just spread it out as best you can.

And now for some tips on and info about the applications:

• Clear photos! We can't stress this enough. Etsy has a great guide to taking photos. We're not asking you to have the world's best camera. We're just asking you to give us a clear shot of what it is you make. You want your photos to represent you when a room full of strangers is trying to figure out what's what. Make sure they're clear, in focus, and not surrounded by clutter (a messy desk, your pet, your kid - unless they're demonstrating how to use the item, they shouldn't be in the photo)

• Clear & simple descriptions. What do you make? How do you make it? Keep this as simple as possible. If we're not familiar with your work, this is all we have to go by.

• Cheques only, please: We don't take cash because there's no accounting for it. And it's hard for us to return it if you're not accepted. The same goes for money orders - they're the same as cash. Cheques are easy for us to track as we cash them and easy for us to destroy if we're unable to accept your application (they hit the shredder - for your security). We recommend putting your business name in the memo section of the cheque.

• Tables: There aren't enough 8ft tables for everyone. This sucks. We really wish there were, but we're limited to what's available at the Olympic Centre. That's why we ask if you have your own table, please bring it along. So if you have one and have the means to transport it to the show, that'd be awesome.

• Special requests: Electricity is something that's in short supply - there's no way everyone can get access to the outlets. If you request electricity, our floor planners will do everything they can to make sure you get it - but we can't promise you will. In some cases, they can only get you near-ish to an outlet. Plan for this and bring an extension cord (we don't provide these). If the request is to be in a certain area or near a friend, we'll take it into consideration, but we can't make promises.

• Can I apply with a friend to save money on a table? Yes and no. You can apply as a pair or collective, but only if it makes sense that your work is together. The floor plan is based on what you make. So, if you make cupcakes and your friend makes jewelery, well, your work isn't really cohesive and probably shouldn't be on the same table (unless, maybe, your friend makes cupcake jewelery).

We hope this helps! And we're looking forward to seeing all the applications.

Time to apply!

Did you love being a part of previous shows and can't wait to be part of it again? Do you wish you had been a part of this awesomeness? Well now's your chance to apply to be a Crafter at the winter show on December 3 and 4!

We know. You're still trying to enjoy what little bit of summer we've had and you're not thinking about December yet. We understand. But we're starting to think snow and crafts because now is the time to start planning.

This year is the first year we have an online application. The trick is, we don't have an online payment system yet. So, cheques must be recieved by midnight on September 23 or we won't consider your application. Cheques only - please do not give us cash.

We'll notify successful applicants in early October, after the jury meets. If you've applied in the past, we encourage you to apply again - we get more applications than there is available space. At some point in our history, just about every juror walks away from a meeting feeling like they had to turn down work they liked. So get your photos together and try again - this might be your year.

In the next few weeks, we'll have some posts with tips and tricks of how to put together a successful application and what goes into a jury meeting.

Good luck and happy crafting!

Meet the Crafters: Lyndsay Hubley

Meet Lyndsay of LouLouBell:

What do you make?

LouLouBell sews handmade clutches, bags, pouches and cases. We also do hairpins and accessories and custom bridal work.

What is your process?

The flower blossoms which embellish many of my pieces are made out of a combination of organza, chiffon, satins and other fabrics and have become a bit of a signature for LouLouBell work. They are created by cutting the fabric into petals, singing them on a flame which makes them crinkle and give them each their unique shape. They are then layered and hand sewn
together and topped with glass and seed beads.

How long have you been a crafter?

I grew up watching generations of women in my family sewing, knitting, embroidering and crocheting. Besides a couple home-ec classes in school, I never did any serious sewing. In 2006 I bought a machine and began to teach myself. It had been a hobby for me until 2009 when I had my first child and decided to leave a full time job to stay home with him and try and grow my hobby into a business.

Why do you do what you do?

I do what I do because it got to the point that I would be daydreaming about creating while trying to pay attention to 'real life' and laying awake at night sewing seams in my head, dreaming up new pieces to try. And creating makes me happy.





When you're not selling at Crafters markets, where can I find your work?

Boutique Joliette in downtown Halifax carries many new pieces, from headbands and hairpins to formal clutches. I also have two online shops at louloubell.etsy.com and louloubellbaby.etsy.com. You can also find me at the following places:
www.louloubell.ca
www.louloubellblog.blogspot.com
Facebook
Twitter

How long have you been involved with Halifax Crafters?

My first show with the Halifax Crafters was Christmas 2009 and it was so much fun! What a great group of folks and talent! Plus I got all my christmas shopping done in one place that weekend :) It continues to be my favorite place for finding gifts.


What makes Halifax Crafters different from other shows?

I think Halifax Crafters markets are different from other shows because you can feel the energy, from the crafters and creators themselves, and from the visitors who come through the market there, it's energizing. I always leave with a renewed sense of community. It's so nice to see folks coming out to support small business and local artists.

What are you excited about seeing at the spring market?

I'm especially excited this year for cupcakes from Gateaux Rose - YUM!

Searching out some one of a kind coffee mugs, new vendors, and new work from returning members. It's always nice to see what everyone's been busy with...



Where do you do your work?

I work from my home studio, in Upper Tantallon, not far from the Peggy's Cove Road.

Three things you need in order to create?

1. Peppermint tea
2. A headband
3. Good lighting (sunlight preferred)

A favourite quote?

In the hopes of reaching the moon men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet.
~ Albert Schweitzer

What's your favourite way to procrastinate?

Fabric shopping! (Which I suppose I need to do anyways for my craft, but I could probably do this 99% of the time, but then I wouldn't get much sewing done) I love to see what new collections and colors my favorite fabric designers are coming out with next!