Saturday 15 December 2012

Only 10 days remain to pick up that special gift!


We haven't had snow yet but you could feel the holiday spirit in the air today.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Claus were busy drawing crowds in at the corner of Brunswick and Bloor and within the Tranzac beautiful Christmas tunes played while shoppers perused.

Once again, we had another group of new exhibitors to check out.  Some of which I will showcase.

Delicious pickles anyone?  A vast assortment of different types and flavours of pickles were offered by 'Alchemy Pickle Company' and you couldn't beat the prices, ranging from $5 - $10.

This was a great selection of apparel and wallets by 'Claire Williams'.  Specializing in props, costumes, replicas and original designs, Claire seems to do it all.  She had a great selection at the show today of contemporary shirts and retro wallets that emulated cassette players. Prices ranged from $10 - $25.

And I positively love this booth.  Every year this group sells wonderful cat toys that support the 'Annex Cat Rescue' charity.  I picked up one of their small catnip pillows today, presented it to my two cats and after 3 hours of non-stop playing and licking, it's a bit wet but boy are they happy!  I'm picking up two more tomorrow.  Their prices range from $3 - $20.

Today's show had quite a variety of items and as usual, an amazing assortment of jewelry.  This booth from 'Black Currant Jewelry' was quite impressive.  The colours on the pendants really jumped out at you.  Prices ranged from $5 - $85, so certainly many items were extremely affordable.

Speaking of colour jumping out, check out the wine glasses from 'The Wine Glass Boutique'.  These hand painted one-of-a-kind designs were truly incredible and a perfect addition to a formal place setting. There were two prices - $19.99 and $24.99.

The theme of elegance continues with these exquisite candles designed by 'Candelure'.  At today's show they had a Christmas colour scheme; however if you visit their website you can see the breadth of colours and shapes they come in.  Each piece looks like a porcelain sculpture.  Prices ranged from $5 - $30.

This booth was interesting as it was the work of two ladies.  I guess that saying 'two heads are better than one' is applicable in this case.  They had a great selection of Christmas ornaments and decorations for windows such as stain glass decor. In addition to the festive selection, they had an assortment of jewelry to select from as well.  Designed by Lidia Cortez and Lillian Maldonado, prices ranged from $1 - $200.

Beautiful shades of reds, blues and various earth tones were certainly evident in the pieces provided by 'E & A Custom Jewelry'.  These lovely necklaces would look great with your favourite holiday outfit.  Prices ranged from $5 - $60.

A favourite amongst the kids and adolescents, 'Gillian Douglas' had a wonderful selection of backpacks and messenger style bags.  Depicting favourite cartoon characters or trendy and popular designs, prices ranged from $25 - $35.


If you're seeking a delicate glass figurine for your bookshelf or nightstand, or for your china cabinet, this is the booth for you.  'Layton Creations' had a huge selection of glass animal sculptures in the form of ornaments, sculptures, and jewelry.  Prices ranged from $5 - $10.

Still decorating your house for the holidays? If so, this is the booth for you!  This is only a portion of the large selection of stain glass decals found in 'Maggie Groves' collection.  Prices ranged from $4 - $45.

Although still 'Maggie', this collection belonged to 'Maggie Mae Jewellery'.  These items were lovely with an iridescent quality to the delicate stones and beads.  These beautiful pieces were stylish and affordable with prices ranging from $5 - $50.

A picture just does not do these items justice.  Their soft or vibrant tones really stood out and captured the essence of a true Parisian style.  There was a vast array of pouches, catnip toys, and handbags.  Designed by 'Nathalie Sanschagrin', prices ranged from $5 - $60.

If you like pepper than this was the spot for you!  This selection of hot tasty sauces is the perfect addition to you meal and cannot be found anywhere else.  Developed to fill a void in the available choices of store brand pepper sauces, these 3 sauces are a must have.  Developed by 'Pepper Brew', prices ranged from $10 - $30.

The name of the company says it all - 'Revamped'.  A great assortment of clothing created from recycled fabrics and 'revamped' to incorporate style.  Items consisted of touques, scarves, bags, and other items suitable for the winter months.  Prices ranged from $0.50 - $40.

After a long day of work, people need to rest their feet, their legs, their entire bodies and...their eyes.  Introducing the eye pillow!  Designed by 'Soothing Slumber', these beautiful pillows are an enhancement to the traditional eye mask.  Prices ranged from $15 - $20.

This booth from 'Stitch & Spoke' had too much to capture with just one picture.  A fantastic array of pillows, bags and shirts were available with simplistic designs stitched into beautiful muted or saturated tones of high quality fabrics.  The end result was either a funky fashion statement or, perhaps a perfect compliment to outfit your home decor.  Prices ranged from $18 - $60.

And continuing the theme of fashion, these amazing bags competed with many high end popular brands we've become familiar with.  The geometric patterns on the black and white bags in particular were very fashion forward. Designed by 'Taska', these works of art ranged from $19 - $100.

So December 15th ended on a high note and was a great day for everyone. It seems to get better and better as we approach the holidays.  I'm looking forward to what tomorrow brings!


Photos provided by Battey-Pratt Designs

Sunday 9 December 2012

The 'wrap-up' to the 2nd weekend!

Forgive the cheesy pun for the heading to this entry - couldn't resist :).

Today's show offered a lot of familiar faces - vendor wise, which was great to see and once again, a great selection of new vendors and products to choose from as well.

And not to repeat myself to death, but please note that this post does not include all of the vendors.  Please come by to see the extensive selection.

Let's start with the tasty goods! Who can resist delicious desserts?! The mint chocolate fudge bars from 'Templeton Fine Chocolates' are simply devine.  At $3 these are a steal!

This booth of goods was quite interesting and unusual and I say that in a very positive light.  I positively love the delicate designs on the clothing such as these owls.  These pieces designed by 'Amie Scott' are a combination of fashionable and 'avant garde'.  An affordable price range of goods from around $13 - $25.

And aren't these knitted characters cute? You name it, 'Cliff's Sister' will have a knitted product for any purpose - scarves, bags, pillows, tea cozies, hot water bottle covers, etc. Prices range from $8 - $25.

And here you may think you're looking at a fantastic array of sik scarves but no, not this time.  These are luxury wine bags designed by 'Clare Rebello'.  Not only are these the perfect final touch when presenting a great bottle of wine to a loved one, but they're eco-friendly too! At $10 each, they're a steal.


'Seirene' had some of the most unique designs I've ever come across with jewelry.  A picture just doesn't do it justice.  The colours and selection were extremely diverse.  A must see for sure!  Prices ranged from $10 - $50.

A show is just not complete without items such as what was available at 'Torched Studio's' booth.  These gorgeous dishes were one-of-a-kind and offered such rich colours.  A perfect display piece to a dining area or kitchen.  'Torched Studio' also designed jewelry that had  similar vibrant colours.  Prices ranged from $20 - $120.

And on the note of a perfect display piece for the home, these pepper mills were stunning. Believe it or not, the ornate patterns in the wood were originally placed there by nature.  These distinct etchings truly make each piece unique.  Prices ranged from $100 - $120.

'I.M.Wyred' had a wonderful selection of jewelry with exquisite hues.  These wonderful earthy shades caught my eye.  A perfect compliment to most outfits and can easily be dressed up or worn casually.  Prices ranged from around $10 - $70.

What child (or adult for that matter) can resist this booth?!  These marshmallow wands at $2 each were impossible to pass up.  The taste and presentation was top notch.  'Templeton's Fine Chocolates' had an average price range of $2 - $5 for tasty items such as fudge and chocolate novelties.

Finally, the work of 'ARTBYGAM' really caught my eye.  A delightful array of images that exude a playful quality.  The colours were wonderful!  And before you think 'original art? oh that's out of my budget', think again. Prices were intentionally set so that the average person can afford to enjoy them, ranging from $10 - $100.

This weekend ended on yet another high note.  It's hard to believe but there's only 2 more weekends remaining!  If you haven't come by the show yet, please do so soon before it's too late.  You have nothing to lose with a free entry to get in :).

Photos provided by Andy Vincent

Saturday 8 December 2012

A very festive start to the weekend!

It's only the 8th but it was quite apparent that a holiday buzz and excitement was in the air.  With a steady flow of traffic, along with a band playing in the background, the setting was ideal for shopping.

As usual, there were far too many wonderful products for sale to capture them all on this post.  I've highlighted a number though that I thought may be of interest.  

To begin, who can resist the essence of Vanilla.  A timeless scent that continually ranks within the top 5 of favoured smells.  'Very Vanilla' had a great selection of vanilla edible delights.  Prices ranged from $6 - $25.


Jewelry always stands out at this show and 'Creations by Anna' is no exception.  Modern pieces that are perfect to wear casually or for a formal event.  An average price of $25 makes these beautiful items extremely affordable.


Who can resist treats?! This booth from 'Sugar Temptations' had a creative selection of holiday goodies.  And no room for waste..even the cards can be eaten!  Their next mission should be to create edible wrapping paper, then it's the whole package - quite literally. 


There was a great selection of apparel this weekend.  In particular, 'Electropura.ca' had a large selection of shirts with great statements and fashionable patterns.  Shirts consist of recycled materials for a more environmentally sensitive approach. A great gift for your stylish child! Prices average around $45.


'Pikay Creations' had exquisite shades and shapes with their jewelry.  A beautiful balance between metallics and solid colours.  Prices ranged from $20 - $100.

'Beauty' as a descriptor certainly extended toward other products as well, in particular, the greeting cards.  'Laffin the Dark' had a wonderful selection of photographic cards that displayed a true talent for capturing nature at its best.  There was also a selection of other interesting items such as fly swatter clocks.  Prices ranged from $3 - $25.  

These dolls from 'Patricia McGregor' were amazing!  This one in particular attracted me - reminiscent of Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, yet the female version :).  Unique and colourful, a fantastic gift for a collector or child.  

And last but not least, this was a great booth from 'Earth Wine & Barrel'.  They produce amazing products from wine barrels and corks.  Each piece is a work of art, suitable for anyone who wishes to include upscale decor within their homes without paying 'upscale' prices.  Prices range from $6 - $250.

Many vendors were on-site from last weekend as well so if you missed out, there's perhaps still a chance to purchase that hot item you saw on this blog.

Photos provided by Laffin the Dark

Sunday 2 December 2012

Dec 2 and Day 2!

The weather, although rainy, has not dampened the arrival of people coming through to check out today's splendid selection.  Quite a few vendors were at the show yesterday but a large number came only for today, and perhaps might return for another day, but you'll have to come by and check out the show to be certain!

Once again, there are far too many goodies to capture in this post but I've highlighted quite a few to showcase the diversity yet again.

These jewelry pieces really stood out for their uniquely stylish yet rugid quality.  Some of the colours appeared electric - in particular the green earnings.  This jewelry is designed by 'Clockwork Zero' with prices ranging from $15 - $100.

I found these pendants and hair clips to be particularly charming and colourful!  Bright colours are very popular right now so these are right on trend.  Designed by  'dandytiger', the prices are really affordable from $2 - $20.

I thought these items were quite unique.  If you're tired of mass production tree ornaments that lack imagination, then look no further.  'Sam-Urai' offers Zombie Ghost ornaments, and glass balls with beautiful origami shapes and colours inside.  Prices range from $3 - $30.

I absolutely love these mugs!  Place one of these on your desk at work for a great conversation starter.  The clocks were quite magnificent as well. Designed by 'Rosa's Butterfly', they had a diverse range of items that were priced from $5 - $200.

These beautiful indigenous handmade leather bags and makeup cases were exquisite.  Made by 'My Maasai', prices were affordable ranging from $5 - $75.

Ok this booth was unlike any other I've seen yet at the Artisans' Gift Fair.  Designed by an engineer, you could purchase jewelry with embedded coloured lights that flashed based off of your heartbeat or pulse.  In addition, one can purchase bands that vibrate based off of the direction you're heading - ie. north.  These are very practical for hikers. Designed by 'Sensebridge', prices range from $29 - $199.

'With an Indian Touch' had a charming booth, consisting of beautiful stationary booklets and bookmarks.  These pieces appeared as though they were for royalty and definitely an appropriate gift for someone extra special.  Prices ranged from $3 - $45.

This display really caught my eye.  'Patu' had a beautiful arrangement of painted glass and paper art ornaments.


















A very contemporary look with a range of sizes.  Prices were from $7 - $30.

If you like colour then you need to check out Joseph Sagaj's work.  These original watercolour paintings and bookmarks were eye-popping.  Prices range from $10 - $150.

And speaking of colour, this booth was positively charming with a multitude of coffee sleeves.  A great idea! Who knew that holding a hot cup of coffee or tea could look so stylish and fun.  A 'Made By Marian Harriet' design with prices ranging from $5 - $35.

Yet another charming booth in which colour and style were prevalent.    These beautiful pieces were crayon holders!  A great idea for your kids, especially when traveling.  Designed by 'Green Carbon Living', prices were very affordable from $5 - $15.

I got a kick out of this booth.  'Green Bean' had the funniest and charming cards.  Come by and take a peek to read the cute or amusing messages.  They also develop bookmarks, art prints and more.  Prices range from $4 - $22.

This was a popular booth, in particular the facial scrub.  When was the last time you heard of a 100% natural product that was well priced?!  You could obtain a jar for only $4.99!  Needless to say, they were going fast.  All of these natural products ranged from $4.99 - $19.99.

A picture does not do these cute and rather large stuffed monkeys justice.  Designed by 'Curious Monkey', these knitted monkeys were extremely plush, soft and full of vibrant colours.  I doubt any child would want to put one of these guys down.  Each one sells for $100 and no two are identical.

Another great selection of contemporary fashionable looks.  Fitted t-shirts and scarves with unique imprints were to be found at the booth of 'E.E.L. Apparel'.  Each item was $10.

Charming is the best word to describe the knitted tops at the 'Teenie Knits' booth.  The colours were lovely and the sweaters were so soft!  A great gift for a newborn up to a 4 year old. Prices ranged from $20 - $40.

So this weekend wrapped up on a high with many satisfied customers.  Be sure to come by next weekend and check us out! Remember, there will be a new selection of goodies to see!

Photos provided by Battey-Pratt Designs

Saturday 1 December 2012

December 1st - Day one of the show

The first day of the Artisans' Gift Fair doesn't disappoint.  The selection of gifts is wonderful.  Here are some images and prices that are only a sampling of what there is to see.

Suburban Sweetheart

These delicious baked goods are provided from 'Suburban Sweetheart', with prices ranging from $5 - $7

Joy-see
On the note of yummy treats, this company - 'Joy-see' is offering a fine selection of oils - 3 for $20 or 1 for $7.  I believe there's a show special too!

Weir's Lane
Another booth that really stood out and  certainly appealed to the senses was 'Weir's Lane'.  This booth had a great selection of lavender, scented, edible, you name it, they had it when it came to lavender.

Prices ranged from around $5 - $20.

The Mischievous Marriage
At this time of the year, with the winter finally upon us, the warmth apparel was popular such as this very stylish hat company - 'The Mischievous Marriage'.  These custom made hats range from $150 - $350

Stilllife Home
Everything at the show was lovely but these really stood out.  Sarah Richardson would die for these in her next house reno! Designed by 'Stilllife Home'.  The prices were really reasonable too, averaging $25.

CGMonsters
If your little one has every toy they can possibly think of, these cute little characters might just be the missing ingredient - designed by 'CGMonsters'.  The prices average around $25.

Jewelry Creations
Jewelry at the Artisans' Gift Fair really stands out with respect to having an unique and contemporary look.  This chunky necklace really caught my eye.  Designed by 'Jewelry Creations', prices range from $15 - $65.

Gridley's
This booth from 'Gridley's' had a constant crowd around it and not surprisingly.  A vast array of body soaps and treatments with remarkable pricing ranging from $5 - $65.  The scents were lovely.

Needles To Say
If you love colour then you need to check out 'Needles To Say'.  These beautiful knitted touques, sweaters and many other items average in price from $30 - $40.

Hearts and Bones
And don't forget to treat your canine companion!  These tasty treats come in a selection of 'doggy bags'.  'Hearts and Bones' offers them for a steal at $7 a bag.

Studio No 9
In a world where a round comical bird - namely an 'Angry Bird' stuffed toy is one of the most favoured of all, I find these little guys to fall right in line with that trend.  These awesome little characters are developed by 'Studio No 9' with prices ranging from $15 - $20.

The Spadina Diner
If you're looking for delicious gluten free tasty desserts and recipes, then check out 'The Spadina Diner'.  Today's show special included the low fee of $10 for the recipe book, normally $20. Prices range from $2 - $20.

The Jupiter Tribe
If you're looking to accessorize with a unique style, 'The Jupiter Tribe' is possibly a great spot to check out.  Prices were reasonable with ranges from $35 - $85.

There was a vast array of jewelry and such beautiful designs.  I didn't have the opportunity to capture it all but below is an example of an interesting display from 'Designs in Demand' with lovely bracelets adorning trees.  As shown below, the price was $25 for one.






Please come and check us out on the 2nd as there will be another wonderful group of vendors to check out.  Each day differs.  Above is only a sample of what was on display.

Happy shopping!!


Photos provided by Battey-Pratt Designs