Vancouver Etsy Co. presents Maker Supply on Saturday March 11th at the Heritage Hall. Expect to find over 40 local small businesses including designers, artists, makers and creatives. You can expect to find jewellery, body care, fashion, pet accessories, cards, items for the wee ones along with edible items. Some of the makers on hand include East Van Jam, Kaaj Artisan Chocolates, East Van Bees, The Salt Dispensary and Portside Cakes. Makers will have products available as well as packaging supplies, displays, crafting material and more. This is a one day event on Saturday, March 11th at the Heritage Hall and goes from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Admission is FREE and dogs are welcome. Donations to BC Children’s Hospital and/or the Vancouver Food Bank are also welcome. You can RSVP at Eventbrite for a chance to win Market Cash to spend at the event.
Shopping local has taken on greater meaning during the pandemic for a number reasons and people are embracing it wholeheartedly which is great to see. There are so many great opportunities to support local with gift giving this holiday season. We are highlighting below some of our great local finds under $75 which are perfect for gift giving this holiday season.
Swiss Bakery, 143 East 3rd Avenue, is a beloved Mount Pleasant destination and long standing business in the community. This year they are offering a Santa Stops Here Gift Box that includes:
1 Stollen (without marzipan) 2 Gingerbread Man and Woman 1 Just Tea Tin 1 Christmas Cookies Pack
Attending Christmas dinner where someone else is doing all the cooking? What a perfect hostess gift to bring. Visit Swiss Bakery to order online. Curbside pick up and delivery is available.
If you are looking for a unique sustainable gift that will last for years to come, consider these wooden lit stars handcrafted by Johnny Defazio of Roman & Ash Design. This star pictured is $60 with lights included. Should you wish a different design or shape say a Christmas tree, Johnny does custom work as well. Feel free to contact him directly via Instagram @johnny_defazio.
Local distiller Odd Society Spirits is offering a number of delectable cocktail kits perfect for gift giving this holiday season. Some of the selection includes Old Fashioned Cocktail Kit for $50 using their Commodore Single Malt Whiskey, or there’s the Thornton Park Cocktail Kit using their Wallflower Gin and Crème de Cassis for $58 as well as the Modern Hound Kit using their East Van Vodka for $34. These are just a few, to see all the cocktail kits, visit them at Odd Society Spirits. Curbside pick up is available.
Have a cheese lover in your life? If so, check out the Classic Cheesemonger Gift Box from les amis du FROMAGE which includes 3 pieces of cheese, a Divina Orange Fig preserve and Carr’s crackers. You have the option to add more cheese and characuterie if you wish. Visit them only to place your order to see all the delish options.
We would be remiss if we didn’t include our ILiveInEastVan totes in the mix. Available online for delivery or curbside pick up. Prices range from $30 – $35. You can visit our Etsy Shop online and while there, check out the new ILiveInEastVan reflective patches that can be sewn on or ironed on to whatever you choose for $12.50. They make a great stocking stuffer.
We love East Van Jam anytime of the year for their more love, less sugar frame of mind. We are also big fans of edible gifts and what a perfect hostess or holiday gift this season than a mini set of delish spreads with a variety of flavours and unique names. Made locally with BC produce, how much more local can you get? This set is available online from a favourite gift shop, Plenty + Spare in Hastings Sunrise.
The 7th Annual City Crow Calendar 2022 Edition by June Hunter is now available for sale online for $25. Not only does one get the crow photographs, but also 12 months of crow stories, crow facts and smaller crow photos tucked in among spaces between dates in the calendar. Each month reveals new little crow surprises. Heads up this does sell out every year, so if interested in picking this item up, best be quick.
Christmas is around the corner, and luckily craft shows are back to ease the stress of finding that perfect gift. We are hearing that Vancouverites are especially excited to finally be able to shop in person at some of their favourite markets, Circle Craft Market being one of them. Although this event is held outside of East Van at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre, it is worthy to note who will be there. With over 180 artisans showcasing their work this week, The Social Refinery has put together a great list of 5 East Van artisans you will want to be sure to visit if you are heading to Circle Craft this week.
Local glassblowing favourite, Cameron Dougherty uses traditional glassblowing techniques to elevate your home. Find mid-century modern bud vases and classic thumb divot glasses at booth # H14
Amara Blue Designs – Gold & Sterling Jewelry Artisan Kassandra Taylor creates fine gold and silver pieces using ethically sourced metals meant to be cherished and worn for more than just a season. Find her personalizing jewelry on site at booth #D12
Sweet, and always delicious! Artisan Natalie Ferrari-Morton has perfected the art of a great jam. Find her low sugar (and delectable!) jams at booth N07
Fusing traditional Japanese techniques with modern Canadian fashion, artisan Minori Takagi creates unique statement jewelry pieces that will catch any eye. Find her all glass “chain” necklaces miniature fruit earrings at booth #G09
Inspired by the beauty of the West Coast, artisan Matthew Freed experiments with unique glazes and textures with his pottery pieces. Find his mugs inspired by favourite locations around Vancouver, and stately dinnerware at booth #D14
If you are attending Circle Craft this year, it is suggested that you prepurchase your ticket online, as this year Circle Craft is releasing timed tickets for the duration of the event being November 10 – 14, 2021.
Have a favourite artisan that is not on the list? Tell us who you’re visiting at Circle Craft in the comments below.
The Eastside Flea is back at the Wise Hall, 1882 Adanac Street, December 19th & 20th with their Last Dash Holiday Bash. There will be over 60+ local vendors on hand selling an array of items new and used. You can expect to find collectibles, gift cards, handcrafted and vintage jewellery, vinyl records, succulents and plants and a whole host of gift items for the last minute holiday shopper. The Salt Dispensary will be on hand with Gourmet Blended Salts under the $10 mark. Also Noble & Co will be on hand with handmade natural beeswax candles and our personal favourite East Van Jam. To keep you warm, Kahve & Chai will be on hand with an indoor concession serving up chai, coffee and tea. Tacofino will be stationed outside all day serving what they do best, tacos. Admission is $3.00 and $2.00 with a non-perishable food donation. Eastside Flea runs from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm both Saturday and Sunday.
You are invited to come out and support TOQUE. This is an annual fundraiser for the Western Front which is one of Canada’s leading artist-run-centers for contemporary art and new music. Proceeds from TOQUE support the year round art and music programs at Western Front. The now 3 day event will be held in the Luxe Hall at Western Front, 303 E. 8th Avenue, and features a selection of talented artists, designers and artisans. Some of the items you can expect to find include books, cards, jewellery, textiles and ceramics as well as one-of-a-kind objects and delectable treats. Vendors participating in this year’s event include Fable Naturals, 1UP Caramels, East Van Jam, Draw Me A Lion, Made by Kin, Maggie Boyd Ceramics, Simply Read Books, Strathcona Stockings, WarmAndDrift, Woodlot and many more. This event runs Friday, December 4th from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm and Saturday, December 5th and Sunday, December 6th from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission is by donation.
We love featuring local businesses and with the gift giving season soon approaching, we would like to introduce you to a great East Van business – By Broken Arrow. Sami Wall is the creative talent behind this business that creates beautiful gift boxes packed with local product much of it from East Van. Sami is a self described ‘mompreneur’ who started her business 1 ½ years ago. Wanting to work from home to be there for her young children, she came up with the idea and created a gift box for a friend. She posted a photo of the gift box on Instagram and a business was born. Sami’s background is in interior design and home staging which shows in her gift boxes. We, of course, love that they are packed with local East Van products. Some of the businesses she features in her gift boxes include East Van Jam, Candid Confectioner, Fable Naturals,Marsh & Mallow and Noble & Co. to name a few. Many of her gift boxes include fresh flowers from the Flower Factory on Main Street. The gift boxes can be customized for wedding or baby showers, birthdays, house warming or that the foodie in your life. All you need to do is give Sami a bit of background information on the recipient and she’ll put together the perfect gift box. If you wish to order a gift box from By Broken Arrow, the lead time is 2 days, but Sami can accommodate some rush orders. Shipping is a flat rate of $25. We invite you to check these elegant gift boxes that make the perfect gift and at the same time support local. UPDATE: By Broken Arrow now offering online shop featuring some of the great items by local makers. We invite you to check what some of our local makers have to offer.
Studio 126 at 126 East Pender Street is a very cool studio with a variety of locally made goods including reclaimed furniture, handmade items by local artisans including Brand & Iron, Woodlot, Hobo Woodworks, Sue Griese Ceramics, LISSU Linen and East Van Jam. Studio 126 also holds workshops throughout the month and on Tuesday, September 22nd the master of jam, Natalie Ferrari-Morton will be on hand. Natalie is the woman behind East Van Jam and will teach you how to make preserves for this year’s Thanksgiving and Christmas season. Natalie will also teach you the basics of safety and canning as well as how to create delicious pear and cranberry preserves. Come with an apron and go home with your own jar of homemade preserves. The workshop runs from 6:30 to 9:30 pm on Tuesday, September 22nd. To register, visit Studio 126.
You are invited to the 4th Annual Strathcona Winter Craft Fair. This event will take place at the Strathcona Community Centre, 601 Keefer Street from 10:00 am –4:00 pm this Saturday, November 29th. There will be many great local artisans including Andrea Hooge, a Vancouver based artist who will be showcasing her original works, City Creations with puppets galore including finger puppets, East Van Jam with fun gourmet jam using locally sourced ingredients, Fable Naturals with a line of fair trade certified bath and body products. Be sure to check out their lip balms in biodegradable cardboard tubes. Also on hand will be Missy So with handmade cards and Tessa Manu Photography. Tessa is a self-taught photographer that is fascinated by intricate details, bright colours, crumbling paint and brick walls, be sure to check out her unique pics. For a full rundown of all the vendors this Saturday, visit Vendors 2014. Admission for the Strathcona Craft Fair is $2.00, children under 12 are free.
Les amis du FROMAGE is hosting another delicious Pop Up Shop during the weekend of the Eastside Culture Crawl. Their East Van location at 843 East Hastings is a hop, skip and jump from many of the artist studios participating in the Eastside Culture Crawl on November 22nd and 23rd. We encourage you to stop by les amis du Fromage between Noon and 4:00 pm to check out one of these great local vendors. On hand will be The Salty Cookie Company which is the brainchild of Meredith Kaufman who has been a pastry chef for many years and The Lemon Square which make delicious handmade lemon squares with fresh lemons, butter and a dusting of coconut. Very addictive speaking from experience. Natalie Ferrari-Morton brings you her locally made East Van Jams. Natalie is all about “more love, less sugar”. Unlike conventional jams, East Van Jam is made with a 4:1 fruit to sugar ratio. That means four cups of real fruit (not juice from concentrate) to one cup of sugar and using 95% BC grown fruit (organic as often as possible and some straight from East Van backyards). You can bet there will be lots of samples on hand. Les amis du fromage will be open from 10:00 am- 6:00 pm during the weekend of the Eastside Culture Crawl (November 22nd & 23rd). Come out and support these budding entrepreneurs and, of course, the artists participating in the Eastside Culture Crawl!
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