We know it's winter when...

... kittehs cannot see beyond the piled-high balcony. My poor Chibi was confused - alas, it doesn't take much to confuse her... Second dumping of snow coming this week-end, but hopefully it will hold off until the end of Sunday, since I'm doing my last craft show of the season:


We'll be 70 sellers strong at St-Michael's Church on the corner of St-Urbain and St-Viateur! Lots of wonderful local talent, great eats, and unique handmade gifts for your friends and family. From 11am to 6pm both Saturday December 11 and Sunday December 12.

Onsight there will be collection boxes for Dans la Rue (meal-type canned goods) and CTV's The Spirit of Giving campaign(lightly used clothing, toys, non-perishable foods), so please bring what you can to make someone else's holiday season a little more merry and bright (^_^).
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The show in Edmonton, Make It Edmonton!, was great! Well organized, well attended (despite the Grey Cup parade on Saturday and the game on Sunday) and lots of fun. Tons of amazing artists with beautiful stuff, made some good purchases and trades! Had a super visit with my sister (aka Nancy, my sales associate) and her family too - icing on the cake! Thanks to everyone in Edmonton who came out to the show!_____________________________________________________________

Change is a comin'... I'm starting an outside the studio/house job next Tuesday!!! It's a temporary position until May next year which is perfect since the winter months are pretty scant for me as an artisan. I got a call a couple of weeks ago - out of the blue - to go in for an interview, so I didn't have time to freak out too much, phew!

And well, here I am, ready to start in a few days. I am nervous as heck, but really looking forward to it at the same time. I'll let you know how it all unfolds...

Holiday shows - already!

I'm a bad blogger. I feel better now that that's out of the way.

Some fresh sushi platters...

You can find these, my other jewellery lines and my greeting cards at my upcoming craft shows! Here's my line-up for this holiday season:

Friday November 19: 11am to 9pm
Saturday November 20: 10am to 5pm
Art Etc. Exhibition and Sale
50, Westminster Ave S., at Avon Road, Montreal West
(Bus 90, 123, 105 from metro Vendome; bus 162 from metro Villa-Maria)

Thursday November 25: 4pm to 9pm
Friday November 26: noon to 9pm
Saturday November 27: 10am to 5pm
Sunday November 28: 11am to 5pm
Make It Edmonton!
Alberta Aviation Museum, 11410 Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton AB

Sunday November 28: 1 to 4pm
Craft & Bake Sale
Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre of Montreal, 8155 rue Rousselot, Montreal
(Bus 193 from metro Jarry, or bus 45 north from Fabre - 15 minute walk from either metro)
*I will be in Edmonton at this time, but my husband, Jean-François, and my good friend, Yukari, will be at this show to get you whatever you need (^_^) As with all events at the JCCCM, you'll find LOTS of great eats too!

Saturday December 11: 11am to 6pm
Sunday December 12: 11am to 6pm
Holiday Bazaar presented by Old Skool Crafts
Eglise St-Michel, 105 St-Viateur W., corner St-Urbain, Montreal

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Can't forget about my kitties, it IS Friday after all! So for Friday Cat Blogging, here's my Chibi (aka Cheeb, la Chibette, Chicken Sally, Cheechee, Chili con chibi) having a snooze. Look at that face.

I tell ya', if I did not have my two cats, I would be a cranky, nasty, smelly (Chibi grooms me), crafty person with crazy high blood pressure. Well, cranki-ER and nasti-ER, my smelliness would stay about the same since I would then resort to grooming myself. Anyway, they can make me smile even on a horribly stressful day.

OK, to the studio. Now.

Um, NOW.

McGill's Farmers' Market!

September always whizzes by, a month of changes and the start of autumn crispness in the air. Love it!

This Wednesday September 22nd, I'll be at the McGill Farmers' Market, on the main campus of McGill University in downtown Montreal. I'll be there from 11am to 6pm at Three Bares Park (not a typo), along with Norma of CaraCarmina and the wonderful fresh produce of our local farmers of course! Looking forward to bringing home some fruits and veggies, as well as organic tofu, raw milk cheese and chocolate, mmmmm... Full list of this year's farmers is here.

I won't bring ALL my stuff since the tables are small, but I'll have a little of everything. Worked on some cards today... doo dee doo ♪ ♫ ♪

New (ish) cabinet for my workshop!

My bro-in-law, Chris, was in town last week to help his mom clean out their basement and garage in anticipation of her moving in the next couple months. Sixty years of accumulated stuff - I was impressed with how organized everything was; goodness knows I'd just be living in a heap of a mess if I ever lived anywhere that long (remember I have that hoarding gene).

Chris' late dad had a wonderful woodworking and repair workshop (I think he was an auto mechanic or an electrician); most the of the well-maintained tools and equipment - ie, all of it! - had been given away, but this amazing metal cabinet that his smaller pieces were kept in, was still sitting in the basement. The drawers are wide and flat, perfect for larger paper pieces - I was thrilled when they said I could have it!


My enthusiasm was quelled somewhat when I realized just how grimey it was once we got it home. It didn't seem to matter how many times I washed it, there was always another layer of black that could be wiped off; it IS metal after all ... Jean-François suggested lining the inside of the drawers, but I was thinking more of the quick and painless route. A little online research and I decided to paint it. Krylon "Outdoor Spaces" in a can had become our toxic friend.

Here's JF finishing up the main part of the cabinet.

Before and after of the drawers...

Friday cat interlude: Chibi had to test the spot where the cabinet would go. She hates looking at the camera.

Tadaaaaah! Raise your hand if you love mossy green!

Thank you, Mr. & Mrs. O.! This cabinet will serve me well and will hopefully help to clear up some of my table space. Three tables in this room and I still can't manage to get rid of the clutter... I have the hoarding gene AND the clutter gene.

Will be writing more, had a great summer and have a busy season coming up! Happy week-end everyone!

Saturday - La Récré! Recess!

I'll be back at the Marché la Récré (French for "recess") outdoor market in Montreal's Mile End this coming Saturday, August 21st. You'll find me in the schoolyard of Ecole Lambert-Closse, corner of St-Urbain and Bernard, from 10am to 5pm.

This is one of a several neighbourhood outdoor markets that have been popping up in our fair city this summer; you can find artisan-made creations, vintage treasures and great eats all in the same schoolyard, under the summer sun! Lots of good stuff to be found, see a partial list of the sellers on the website. Thanks to Dana and Guerlain for all their hard work and big smiles (^_^)

Some new sushi platters for ya! Litte surprise gift with any sushi purchase !

Matsuri Japon - Japanese festival in Montreal!

Come and see me at Matsuri Japon in the Old Port this Saturday, August 14th, from 2 to 10pm! Lots of new jewellery designs to show you!
Venez me voir au Matsuri Japon dans le Vieux-Port, le samedi 14 aout, de 14h à 22h! J’ai des nouveaux designs de bijoux à vous montrer!

(*this shot is from 2008)

I will also be featuring cards & prints with real flowers, by Jackie Bassett of PetalPop Designs.
Je vais aussi présenter les superbes cartes & imprimés avec des vraies fleurs, par Jackie Bassett de PetalPop Designs.

This year’s edition of the matsuri will be along the water, just below Rue de la Commune between Blvd St-Laurent and Place Jacques-Cartier. Taiko drumming, Japanese dancing (odori), martial arts demonstrations and great food throughout the day – you can even wear a traditional yukata! Easily accessible by either metro Champ de Mars or metro Place d’Armes. For a map, and a schedule of the day’s activities, http://www.festivaljapon.com/.

Cette année le matsuri aura lieu au bord de l’eau, juste au sud de Rue de la Commune entre Boul St-Laurent et la Place Jacques-Cartier. Tambours taiko, la danse japonaise (odori), démonstrations d’arts martiaux et la bonne bouffe japonaise toute au long de la journée – vous pourriez même porter un yukata traditionel! Accessible en métro, soit la station Champ de Mars ou Place d’Armes. Pour une carte et un horaire des activités de la journée, http://www.festivaljapon.com/.

Looking forward to seeing you all there! Au plaisir de vous y voir!

Powell Street Festival July 31 - August 1!

It's that time of year again, yaaay!

I'll be in Vancouver's newly renovated Oppenheimer Park, for the 34th annual Powell Street Festival. Come on down for lots of great Japanese food and a schedule packed with amazing entertainment! Lots of music, dancing and taiko (Japanese drumming), both traditional and contemporary. Complete schedule of both days can be found by clicking here.

I'll be in great company as usual, among the many wonderful artisans selling accessories, glass, pottery, soap and lots more. For the list of sellers and a complete programme of the festival week-end, click here.

News...

Finally, photos of some pieces I've been working on! I'll have some of these at Powell Street in Vancouver, as well as at Montreal's Matsuri Japon on August 14th in the Old Port. Other new stuff as well, including these long 'n skinny pendants and earrings, plus a different sushi platter that I'll keep as a surprise... (^_^)