WEST Fall Market Wrap Up

On a gorgeous fall day WEST held their annual Fall market at Holy Cross Gymnasium in the lovely neighborhood of St Boniface in Winnipeg Manitoba.

Many thanks to our customers who make our events special! Over 1700 of you patiently stood in line or shopped our VIP event to support our makers and curators! Thank You for Shopping Local.

And wow did you come to shop!

So many wonderful WESTies

With amazing products!

These are some of the people that make up WEST, a volunteer group that helps local Etsy sellers!

Many thanks to Rebecca of Bixipix Photography for the stellar snaps!


Completed your holiday shopping?
You have one last chance with WEST!

Pre shop our amazing vendors here - https://www.etsy.com/ca/local/event/48780932883/holiday-2016-west-etsy-market-december-17

WEST Etsy Market 2016 Round-Up : 2 / 4

Hello! Welcome to WEST's second weekly installment of our Fall Market 2016 vendor list. Here we will showcase just one of many lovely handcrafted or vintage curated items from your favourite WESTies, who will be oh-so thrilled to see you at 290 Dubuc, just 3 weeks away! Find our event info here, please RSVP and say hi with a pal or two!

Create your own glamourous version of this classic 1952 dress using this true vintage re-issued Vogue pattern from remaintresource.

Count on Real Swanky to always provide you with hand stitched floral needlepoint (and some salty sayings, too!) using your Nan's timeless techniques.

Etched stainless steel World Tree Necklace symbolizes interconnection & affinity by quicksilverhalo/tigersanddragons.

Trendy, waterproof bibdana in buffalo plaid and burly beaver prints, by playfulpeanut.

PeriwinkleDzyns' upcycled obsolete maps from small Manitoba towns into wearable declarations of small town love pins.

Peep these handmade eco-friendly holiday ornaments made from all natural, vegan ingredients, handmade with love my PeachyGreenEco!

Say hello to NorthCityGrowlers and take a gander at their custom designed and etched amber glass beer growler. Pick your own design, to boot!

Last but not least, mosaicpendantsplus and her handcrafted mosaic pendant (using vintage china and stained glass) will be there with a great selection, as always!

***

Doesn't this look like a thrill? View the complete event info here, and come on down to say hi, and grab a little something for someone great!

Stay tuned for Round 3 next week!

Find Local Etsy Vintage Vendors at the Manitoba Antique Association Spring Sale on Sunday, March 13, 2016!

You do not want to miss out on the fantastic antiques and treasures Lisa Boland from Bitchin' Kitsch 'n' Kitchen and Kali Martin from Atomic Age Vintage Shop will be bringing to the Manitoba Antique Association Spring Sale this Sunday, March 13!

The sale runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Viscount Gort, 1670 Portage Avenue in Winnipeg. Admission is $5, with no charge for children under 12.

There will be free parking and door prizes drawn every hour! See you there!

Do You Want to Learn How to Sell Online?

Interested in selling online but don't know where to start? Have a great idea but don't know how to market it? Boggled by the many options for shipping?

Then consider signing up for one of two upcoming workshops on Selling Online, hosted by the Women's Enterprise Centre and Local Etsy Entrepreneurs.  Choose from two dates: February 9 in Morris, Manitoba and February 10 in Morden.  At only $10 per workshop, this is a fantastic opportunity!


Sell the poster below for more information.

Panelists  from WEST will include:
Ashley of Country Stitched
Amanda of Silvermoosearts
Kari-Ann and Amanda of Playful Peanut
and Heidi of Heidiandseekboutique

WESTie Wednesday ft. Hilori of Hilori's Magical Yarnorium

Welcome to WESTie Wednesday, where each week we get to know a proud WEST member and their Etsy shop! Learn about Hilori and her Etsy shop Hilori's Magical Yarnorium!

 ( Source )

'I am a stay at home mother of two young, beautiful and inspiring girls. I hatched the idea of starting my own business while I was on maternity leave for my second babe and housebound in one of Winnipeg's most brutal winters in a century. Having a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a background in design, paint and photography, I wanted to use my skills to build a career using my creativity in a field I feel very passionate about: wool.'

 ( Source )

'All of the items in my shop are made by me, in my spare time in my studio which I call "The Yarnorium." It is a small room in my home that is full of yarn, fibre, fabric and anything crafty. All of my colourways are named after things in my life that have left a lasting impression, from nostalgia to pop culture to general sci-fi nerdiness. 

All of my materials are Canadian sourced and/or purchased from Canadian suppliers in an effort to keep it Canada local and boost our terrific economy. I'm proud of where I live and the incredible resources we have!'

 ( Source )

'I sell hand dyed gradient yarns and fibres, as well has hand crafted top whorl spindles and hand sewn boxy project bags. My demographic is young and young-at-heart knitters, crocheters, websters (weavers), spinsters (spinners) and crafters in general. There is something in store that appeals to all ages.

 ( Source )

I have an Etsy shop so I can live the dream of staying home with my two girls and still provide for my family in an enriching, creative way.'

Want to see more? Be sure to check out Hilori on social media!

Facebook

Etsy Craft Party

It's that time of year again, and what is that time??  The Etsy Craft Party!  The theme has been decided and we're ready to rock!

Your official invitation to the Etsy Craft Party:

Who is invited: YOU! and anyone you want to bring!

What is happening: We are creating art together using paper to make new pictures

Where is it held: Wildwood Rose Vintage Market-Old Market Square

When: Friday, June 5th from 5:00pm-9:00pm

Click here to join the event on Facebook and for more information and ideas.  

For more ideas, here's a great tutorial from the Etsy blog on how to make this Woven Paper art project:

If you have any questions, feel free to ask them on our Facebook Page.  Looking forward to crafting with you!  

Customer Service Sunday with Nancy Blokland--Honesty is the Best Policy

In running a small handmade pottery business, there are so many things that can go wrong from the beginning of an Etsy order to the end.

I have begun to do more and more custom and personalized work, but even what I think are realistic time lines, aren't so realistic when I get to the post office and the line up is half a mile long and I need to get to the daycare. One of the policies I follow is to be honest with customers when screw ups happen. There have been times when it is just too cold to fire my kiln, or something has broken on a custom order, etc...

This was a day where it was waaaay too cold to fire.

When I have one of these glitches, I immediately reach out to the customer, politely explain my problem and nine times out of  ten they send something back saying they know sh.... happens. I am always very quick and grateful in my responses, and will add in a little treasure, such as buttons with a yarn bowl order and a note on the back of my business cards. Hopefully our customers realize they are dealing with makers and curators with double lives, real jobs, families, etc...and that our creative lives are only a fraction of what we all do.

They seem to appreciate knowing they are dealing with a real person and that you are really doing your best to give them the best product possible that will arrive safely in their hands in a timely fashion.

Visit NancyBloklandPottery

Customer Service Sunday

Customer Service Sundays • How WESTies go the extra mile for you makes all the difference! • A new installment to WESTs posts, look forward to learning about the care that goes into each handmade or curated item from your favourite WESTies. 

Did You Know? Caitlin of Real Swanky hand writes a personalized thank-you note for each order, carefully bubble wrapping each embroidered piece with 3 of her snappy business cards? Parcels are wrapped with cute upcycled/thrifted kraft paper, to boot. Custom orders are happily welcomed with a turnover rate of ~5 days! Rest easy knowing your orders from Real Swanky will find you poste-haste in one piece!

Visit Real Swanky on..

Instagram • Twitter • Etsy • Facebook

WEST Sale VI Vendor List Part 5 of 5

WEST's annual holiday sale will be packed with handmade and vintage sellers. With free admission, free parking and a free “make it” table, plus coffee, snacks, live music, it's an event you can't miss.

The more than 45 Manitoba-based vendors will be selling everything from burlap wreaths to comedic holiday cards to steampunk goggles to collapsible hula hoops. Here are a few of those vendors and their items, although the specific items pictured here may not be available on November 8.

Join us at the Holy Cross Gymnasium at 290 Dubuc Street between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm and visit these great vendors: (this is part 4 of a 5 part series, so don't forget to keep checking back here for a preview of all the vendors).

 

Nancy Blokland Pottery

mugs, bowls, teapots, leaf plates , yarn bowls, jewellery, buttons,in porcelain clay and stoneware

Of Course You Can!
Zines, Buttons and Patches

Periwinkle Dzyns

Recycled Upcycled Computer Part Jewelry and Book Button

Playful Peanut

Handmade for Mom and Baby

SoGa Artisan Soaperie

Vegan, gluten-free soaps and other products

TBL Boutique

The Bag Ladies Boutique

This and That By Jane

Jewelry and Fun Gifts for You and Everyone on Your List

Willowcat Studio

Small editions and paper goodies

WEST Sale VI Vendor List Part 4 of 5

WEST's annual holiday sale will be packed with handmade and vintage sellers. With free admission, free parking and a free “make it” table, plus coffee, snacks, live music, it's an event you can't miss.

The more than 45 Manitoba-based vendors will be selling everything from burlap wreaths to comedic holiday cards to steampunk goggles to collapsible hula hoops. Here are a few of those vendors and their items, although the specific items pictured here may not be available on November 8.

Join us at the Holy Cross Gymnasium at 290 Dubuc Street between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm and visit these great vendors: (this is part 4 of a 5 part series, so don't forget to keep checking back here for a preview of all the vendors).

                      

M-agnination 

Creating special gifts with a modern twist by Marlene 

                       

 

Nettie + Min

Vintage clothing for the modern woman

                   

 
Sew Dandee

Funny handmade greeting cards & silk screened goodies

                         

 

The Vintage Saint

Vintage treasures for him

                     

Prairie Peasant

Ecofriendly journals, cards and envelopes

                    

We Are Bound Together

Handsewn books and card sleeves - bound with a purpose

                 

Secret Jewelry

Ear cuffs, pendants, rings and more!

             

Real Swanky

Top-notch subversive embroidery to help horrify your guests

                        

Sweet Pea Knits

Knit treasures for you sweet pea

                       

Oui Bijoux

Jewelry made of natural, eco-friendly materials

                       

Mosaic Pendants Plus

Handmade mosaic jewelry