Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy New Year from WEST!

Whether you celebrate tonight with glamour,

Jynxx 

or cozy up under your favorite quilt
TawnyBee 
 
Or have other projects in the works
sewdandee 
 
HAPPY HANDMADE NEW YEAR from your Friends at WEST!

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Where WESTies Create: Episode 1, PeriwinkleDzyns

WEST is happy to introduce a new regular blog feature - Where WESTies create!

How regular you ask?

About as regular as the odd spaces we will be featuring! Every once in a while we will be popping in to feature the unique creative spaces where WEST members bend over hacked up work benches and work their fingers to the bone to mold beautiful objects just for you, our wonderful fans!

Are these spaces going to be worthy of those glossy magazines or make that denizen of glitz and glamour proud? Probably not. Will we have a few chuckles and enjoy seeing where real people create? ABSOLUTELY!

Our first volunteer,conscript, is the crazy lady that stepped up to execute this idea! It's our wise WESTie leader, Ruth of PeriwinkleDzyns. Ok, confession time, she's also the one writing this, so let's just say she's wise in her own mind and leave it at that! And besides that, I'm the only one foolish enough to lay it all out there! Or am I? You'll have to stay tuned to find out!


Welcome to my studio! We thought we would start off with the only 3 square feet of empty floor space. Nestled in the heart of old St James, this hardwood floored studio is a former play room that used to house Lego and Groovy Girls. Now it is both working and storage space for my eco friendly jewellery line.

And that extension cord? That's so I can use my dremel; somehow I lost track of where the plug ins are in the studio, or maybe I just can't get to them any more... heehee, your choice in that scenario!


These pictures caught me in between holiday craft sales. Piles of stock, working trays, and just lots of stuff greet you as you enter this inner sanctum of upcycling. It's not always a glamorous business involving manicures and spotless colour co-ordinated work places with lots of painted surfaces and accents--this is real baby!


Here's where it all happens, the work bench aka salvaged 70's office table. It's got lots of flat surface and plenty of task lighting - both necessary ingredients for the fine detailed work I do!


I call it my studio because it makes a much more impressive moniker than "room where I shove all my sh**t." I love to label my storage containers but often find that my good intentions are out-weighed by the reality of keeping a home, day job and small business afloat. Mostly I remember what's in all those bags and boxes, kinda...


I've always been a less than stellar home maker (did I ever mention I really don't get that recent obsession with mid century house wifery some of you gals have? No? going on record here and now!), and cleaning has never been much of a priority. Life is too short to even once consider that you'll be worried about those dust bunnies when all is said and done!

This virtual tour shows you how I think and create in the real world! A lot of chaos, but mostly with a huge sense of humour and a speck of patience. I hope you loved the tour as much as I enjoyed sharing my real space, where a real woman creates!

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Squidee at the WEST Handmade and Vintage Holiday Shop

A little known fact about Squidee to start off this post.  Squidee is a huge procrastinator.

So it was no surprise that it's December 22nd and poor Squidee had yet to shop for his 18 brothers and sisters.

Oh Squidee....

But Squidee was in luck.  WEST was holding their handmade and vintage holiday shop today.  Phew!

He could get all his shopping done in one place and still come out looking like an awesome brother who is very observant and buys just the right gift for everyone on his list (just like all the other Winnipeggers who came to shop today).

It was a whirlwind shopping spree.



For Squidette he stopped at Tawny Bee and bought a diaper stacker. Squidette is going to need it! She just had 47 babies!


For Squider he bought some lip balm from Just the Goods.  It's amazing how dry a squid's lips can get.  Who even knew that Squids had lips?!!



For Squidina he admired the metal work and decided on a bracelet for one of her tentacles - from Aelios Design.


And then Squidee got hungry as young squids often do and stopped by the treat table for some goodies.

Then back to shopping!


Nancy from Nancy Blokland Pottery was the only one who would agree to pose with Squidee for a photo. Woot Woot for Nancy!  Squidee bought a lovely mug for his brother Squidoo.



Then he popped over to Bitchin Kitsch n' Kitchen where he purchased some Tiki mugs for his brother Squidly.


Over at Smash Knits Squidee chose a beanie hat for Squidbert.


An infinity scarf for Squidana over at Blue Star Studios. (Squidee was being a naughty little squid and just had to play around in the model's cleavage for awhile.  Tsk Tsk Squidee!)



For Squidelly he chose an original art print from Mary and Maude Studio.



A beautiful handcrafted frame clutch from Hoshii Designs for Squidalina.


And of course for Squidward he had to pick up a Sponge Bob felted soap from Flatlanders Soap Co.


Then it was time for another rest. Squidee worked at filling the door prize box with only entries that said his name on them.  But he forgot to leave his phone number and couldn't be reached when he won. D'Oh! I guess some other lucky shopper is going to take home all the fantastic prizes.



On with the shopping!

For Squidsal, he chose an apron from Pure Paper Extract.  That Squidsal is a messy cook just like Squidee.


Squidesa is going to be the proud recipient of some pretty baubles from Sheppards Hook.


Once again Squidee wanted to eat all the lovely soaps at SoGa Soaps, but instead he chose some pretty enough to eat bars for Squidnee.



Vintage really appeals to Squidee's sister Squidmelanie so he chose some beautiful gloves from Lady Likeness for her.


Delicate glass earrings from Burning Bee Glass were the perfect gift for Squidera.


Where in the world is Squidee?  Squidee jumped and played in all of the map buttons at Periwinkle Dzyns.  Then he chose a necklace made out of a diode, or friode, or ziode or something for his computer geek brother Squidiam.


Squidee thought about taking a little nap in the soft cozy moccasins at Selkie Design shop, but then decided they would be a perfect gift for Squidbob.  Do they come in sets of 8?


And finally for the most hard to shop for brother - the very badass Squidster, he found a gorgeous skull ring to fit right over that troublemaker's tentacle from Warped Metal.  Awesome!

Friday, December 21, 2012

Tomorrow! Last Chance to Shop Local Etsy Goodness!

Still hunting for last minute gifts? WEST to the rescue!

18 WESTies will be bringing you some last minute gifting goodness:
December 22, 2012
11 am to 5 pm
Frame Arts Warehouse
318 Ross Avenue

Free Coffee and Free Gift Wrapping will be available!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

WEST Holiday Sale - Make Your List Part 2

More Goodies to be found at our Pop Up Shop this Saturday! 

Just The Goods 

Lady Likeness 

Mary and Maude Studio 

Nancy Blokland Pottery 

Periwinkle Designs 

Pure Paper Extract

Saturday, December 15, 2012

WEST Holiday Sale - Make Your List Part 1

AeliosDesign 

BlueStarStudios

BitchnKitschnKitchen 

BurningBeeGlass 

FlatlanderSoapCo 

HoshiiDesigns 

Join us December 22 to last minute shop, or get a start on New Year gifts! Frame Arts Warehouse, 318 Ross Avenue, 11am to 5pm

Thursday, December 13, 2012

St. Eustache -- WEST is there!

St. Eustache Community Club Sale
December 15, 9-2

WEST members at the St. Eustache Sale:
SecretJewelry

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

WEST Holiday Sale!

Still hunting for last minute gifts? WEST to the rescue!
18 WESTies will be bringing you some last minute gifting goodness
December 22, 2012
11 am to 5 pm
Frame Arts Warehouse
318 Ross Avenue
Coffee and Gift Wrapping will be available!




Saturday, December 8, 2012

Last Chance Craft Sale--WEST is there!


Last Chance Craft Sale
December 9 (11-5)
Canad Inn Club Regent
1415 Regent Ave. 
Admission is $2 

WEST members at the Last Chance Craft Sale:
monkeybusinesscardco
SmashLyn
Magination
PrairieWireDesigns
BlueStarStudios

Friday, December 7, 2012

The Edge--WEST will be there!

The Edge Urban Art Centre 
Holiday Craft Sale

Friday, December 7, 12pm-10pm
Saturday, December 8, 12pm-7pm


WEST members at the Edge sale:
Sew Dandee (December 8)
BlueStarStudios

Reaching Across Borders -- WEST is there!

Reaching Across Borders 
Christmas Market and Craft Sale
College Jeanne-Sauve
1128 Dakota St.
December 8, 2012, 10-3

WEST members at the Reaching Across Borders sale:
Loracdesigns22
LuxBerryTea

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Holidaze Craft Show - WEST is There!


WEST members at the Holidaze Craft Show:
PrairiePeasant/PrairieThreads
aeliosdesign
hoshiidesigns
FlatlandersSoapCo