Holiday Market Haul

I’ve been trying to do my seasonal shopping outside of the malls this year. And I like to feed my art addiction by checking out the handmade objects available at the local Christmas craft markets. So without any further adieu, I present my holiday haul.

Pictured above are two posters from the Every Day is Political show at No Foundation Gallery. And they were free!

I tried to limit the damage to my savings account by researching vendors before I went to the shows. For example, I went to City of Craft with the express intention of getting something tiger-y from Jen Collins and Shayna Stevenson. Somehow I still managed to get a lion as well.

I’ve been hankering for a porcelain ring holder by ceramicist Grace Lee for about six months now. Because its sculptural and useful. And I’ve been saving up my pennies and patiently waiting for the One of a Kind show to get me this gold-toothed guy. Another rule for restraint: only one acquisition per show.

There were also all sorts of pop up shops featuring local artisans. I got this knitted plant by Shannon Gerard at an installation at the Artists Newstand at Chester Station. I have named him Chester Chesthair.

It’s nice to shop local. ARTiculations and SMASH Salvage — two of my favourite neighbourhood shops — hosted a vintage pen show and sale. I got this free woodblock print from Free North Press and a 1990s New Old Stock Waterman student pen (to replace my old Waterman which coworker swiped many years ago.