Tag Archives: Kat McPhee

East Van Entrepreneurs Launch Vintage & Branded Clothing Line – Mister, We Are The Weirdos

28 Jan

mwatw-blacktIn case you haven’t noticed, vintage is in vogue. Not only is it sustainable, many of the items you will find are of better quality than some of the flimsy and disposable pieces produced these days. There are some very cool items available to purchase if you know where to look.  So we wish to point you in the direction of one spot that’s come to our attention. We introduce you to two enterprising young ladies who recently launched a new vintage and branded line of clothing Mister, We Are The Weirdos.

Mister, We Are The Weirdos is the brainchild of Niki Maretta and Kat McPhee, Niki originally hails from Toronto and is a published writer, professional server of alcoholic beverages and more recently a trained yoga teacher.  Kat McPhee is a portrait artist with an eclectic sense of style and she owns it. When Kat is not working in her studio, you will find her doing circles around the ice in her Ringette squad.  Kat and Niki’s love of fashion and pre-owned clothing, of the eclectic variety and cocktails, sparked the idea of Mister, We Are The Weirdos.

The name is a play on an iconic line from the film The Craft. In the film, four outcast teenage girls pursue withcraft and through the experiences create a unique bond, much like Niki and Kat have working together at a downtown pub. They bonded not on their similarities, but on their differences and oddities. They feel they are weird magnificent misfits, a title they were proud to wear.

Niki and Kat are devoted fans of the 90’s grunge scene and offer a selection of secondhand clothing with unique pieces that represent the quirkiness they find inspiring. What we love most about this brand is what it represents. Mister, We Are The Weirdos, makes the statement that being different and being yourself is what makes each person beautiful. It is their mission to create a brand that encourages creativity and individuality, while building a community that celebrates diversity.  We are totally on board with that.  To see what curated pieces are available, visit Mister, We Are The Weirdos. You can also check them out on Etsy, or follow along on Instagram or Facebook.

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Tugboat Landing Artisan Market Saturday December 8, 2018 In SE Vancouver

3 Dec

ChristmasTreePurpleWallThis weekend you are invited down to the Fraser River in SE Vancouver at the foot of Victoria Drive to an area called Tugboat Landing.   If you aren’t familiar with the area, it once housed just that a landing for tugboats on the Fraser River. It is now home to a community of condos and townhomes enjoying river front living at the foot of Victoria Drive and East Kent Avenue.  This area is located on a public walkway and cycle path just steps away from Gladstone Park and less than a mile West of the new River District development.

This Saturday, you will find the 3rd Annual Tugboat Landing Artisan Market happening at 2010 East Kent Avenue. This is a smaller curated artisan market with just over 20 vendors offering a wide range of items including handmade artisan chocolates by Ladner Artisan Chocolates , brioche donuts by Royal City Donuts, dog wear from ScouterWear, jewellery by Cord & Stone and Sole Tibi Studio.  Cookbook author Brad Hill will be on hand to sign his recently released Plant Based Foodie Cookbook. If you are looking to get your home ready for Christmas, Urban Farm Girl will be on hand with live floral arrangements to make your home festive and Mary Anne Dragan will have a selection of table arrangements. Also on hand will be a great line up of artisans featuring wood work from Toso Wood Gallery, beautiful ceramics by Pottery Works as well as gifts for the wee ones by Guava Jelly and Tigrelys. There will be art work by local resident Sandy Vogt as well as Tigrelys, Kat McPhee and Kassandra of Smudge Goods with stunning encaustic work. And if that’s not enough, yours truly editor of ILiveInEastVan will be on site with a full selection of ILiveInEastVan tote bags, cushions, t-shirts, toques and more.  If you had your eye on those Art of East Van canvas tote bags featuring the art of Kat McPhee, there will be a selection of those on hand.  Stop by and say hello. Admission is free. The fireplace will be roaring and the coffee, tea and sweets for nibbling while you shop will be ready. All by donation with all proceeds going to the Vancouver BC SPCA.  Event happens from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.

 

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Art Of East Van By ILIEV Designs Featuring Artist Kat McPhee

15 Nov

KatMcPheeWe are big fans of the amazing artistic talent we have in East Vancouver. Whether it’s behind the studio walls or in the alley way.  We decided that we wanted to blend our love of the environment, using less plastic and at the same time showcase East Van art.   ILiveInEastVan is partnering with East Van artists to showcase their art work on canvas tote bags.

Today we are excited to launch the Art Of East Van by ILIEV Designs featuring our first artist Kat McPhee. We’ve been following Kat for a few years and love her edgy work that has a definite street vibe. Kat is a self-taught artist that creates vibrant portraits and mixed media prints using elements of graffiti and animation as inspiration.  We have created 3 tote bags featuring Kat’s portraits. As you can see from the photo below, we have totes featuring the stunning Audrey Hepburn, the larger than life Anthony Bourdain and the make my day Clint Eastwood.  These totes are now available for sale at Kat’s studio which is located in the Arts Factory, 281 Industrial Avenue (near Main & Terminal) along with 20 other artists. Their studios are now open for the Eastside Culture Crawl.  We invite to stop by and check out her work during The Crawl happening November 15th & 16th from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm and November 17th & 18th from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.

ArtOfEastVanKatMcPheeNovember15,2018

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Eastside Cultural Crawl November 15 – 18, 2018

5 Nov

EastsideCultureCrawl2018The Eastside Culture Crawl is back for 4 days starting Thursday, November 15th.  This 4 day arts extravaganza is now its 22nd year and features over 480 artists in and around East Vancouver.  If you aren’t already familiar with this event, artists from a variety of mediums open their studio doors so you can see firsthand their working space, their creative process and their work.  The artists themselves will of course be on hand to discuss any aspect of their work. During the Eastside Culture Crawl, you will find painters, jewelers, sculptors, textile artists, furniture makers, weavers, potters, printmakers, wood carvers, photographers and much more. The event grows each year and now comprises over 80 buildings from Main Street to Victoria Drive and First Avenue to Powell Street.

If time is not on your side and you want to take in as many artists in one fell swoop, 1000 Parker Street and the Mergatroid are your spots to hit and definitely a hub of action which includes some food trucks for those that get hungry. The Mergatroid, 975 Vernon Drive has glass blowing demonstrations on view at the main level, but be sure to check out the other studio spaces within the building.  Note, this part of The Crawl can get busy on the weekends, so if that’s not your thing, there are many other options.  Organizers prepare an amazing online map that sets out all the studios.  We invite you to check it out.  If you are unsure where you wish to start, check out the Program Guide for more information.

Each year, we try and tackle a new area/artists we haven’t visited before. This year we are heading to The Arts Factory to check out a young artist we’ve been following for a few years now, Kat McPhee. Her work applies elements of graffiti, is edgy and has the feel of street art.

Also, on our list this year is the artist, L.J. Throstle. Lucy creates beautiful works using single use stencils and acrylic spray paint. Her subjects are generally people and animals. If you can find les amis du fromage’s East van location (843 East Hastings), you can find Lucy’s studio, it is below ground at 841 East Hastings.  She captures subjects in a unique way.

If it’s woodworking you wish to see, you need to check out Jesse Toso and the Toso Wood Works in Parker Studios at 1000 Parker Street.  His items are made for salvaged wood are beautiful and unique.  If you can’t make The Crawl which showcase his larger pieces, you can also visit his gallery at 3567 Commercial Street before or after The Crawl.

What we love about the Eastside Culture Crawl is that you have 4 days to stop in and check out the artists at your own pace.  You go where you want on The Crawl for as long as you want.  Adding to the event, is many great spots to stop for a bite or refreshment along the way. Whether you are in Strathcona, off the Drive, Railtown, Hastings Sunrise, Downtown Eastside or off the growing stretch off Clark Drive, there are countless options for coffee, beer, food and wine.

To help guide you through some of the art available, the Eastside Culture Crawl has a great rundown of all the artists on their website including a great downloadable map to help you find your way. Don’t miss this opportunity to check out the amazing talent in this City. The Crawl runs November 15th and 16th from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 17th  and Sunday, November 18th from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. See you on the Crawl.

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