Vendor Profile: Ashryla Boutique

Using quality materials like leather, silk, cotton and metal hardware, Tammy of Ashryla Boutique designs and sews all of her handbags and clutches with a great attention to detail. Some of her items include hand drawn artwork, feathers, rhinestones, and you will find cute prints inside each bag. Many of her products are one of a kind creations, and all products are Tammy's own unique designs. Matching clutch sets are available, with the option of adding a personal message inside--a very popular choice for bridesmaid gifts! 

Look at some of her designs on her Etsy Shop and follow her on Facebook and Instagram!

vendor profile: Made By Andi

As a full-time business educator over at The Dream Job Shop, one of my favourite passions is to be able to create jewelry and accessories with my own two hands.

Originally I started my creative journey making handbags full-time from vintage leather jackets. But after sewing over 2,000 bags, my motivation level decided that it might be time to try something new.

At that point, I began to play with jewelry and instantly fell in love. I love the idea of creating pieces that delicately enhance the wearer, versus take all the attention away from them - for that reason my designs focus on simplicity. I'm also really inspired by the colour turquoise and how it compliments brass so nicely - I'm ever exploring new ways that this pairing can help me express my ideas.

I don't think I'll ever fully get away from sewing and textiles. I like to think it's in my blood at this point and makes up the core of who I am. I really love to create simple clutches with bold pattern choices and leather accents. These are easy for women to carry as an accent at parties, or throw in a bigger bag to help organize their stuff.

Having the ability to create jewelry and accessories helps me to explore my passion and balance everything out. And although I now spend my days over at The Dream Job shop helping other creative business owners learn the business side of things, I'll never be able to put away the creative side of my own journey.

:)


www.thedreamjobshop.com

Springtime Handmade Market Vendor Profile: Majesty Industries

Majesty Industries is designed by Julie Morrison. Julie has a B.A of Intercultural Studies that has led her to design a line of vegan travel accessories that make life easier. Made from Naugahyde Vinyl and silkscreened by hand in her Edmonton studio- they are eye-catching and eye-candy! Luggage tags, Dopp kits, carry on luggage and travel wallets are favorite items you will find in a myriad of designs and colours. 

www.majestyindustries.etsy.com

www.majestyindustries.com

Springtime Handmade Market Vendor Profile: Made By Andi

Andi creates one of a kind handmade clutches and jewelry with a bohemian feel. Navajo prints, leather, brass, and hand stamping are all details used to create the line. It is important for Andi that each piece represents a personal experience for the customer, which is why quotes, and meaningful stones are used. "There is no reason not to follow your heart" and "Back the the Gypsy that I was" (Fleetwood Mac, anyone?) are two of her personal favourites.

She also spends her time blogging and helping other small business owners with business tips and trainings through her blog, www.madebyandi.com


www.madebyandi.com
www.madebyandi.com/jewelery-and-clutches/

Winter Wonders Artisan Profile: Hoakon + Helga

I have a love for the past and its romanticism. Because of this I named Hoakon + Helga after my Norwegian Grandparents.

Hoakon + Helga creates one of a kind handmade handbags using vintage leather jackets. No two will ever be the same. We carefully hand select jackets at local thrift stores based on their leather quality, color, shape and pocket detail. The process of creating your bag is a meticulous one, a lot of love and care goes in to each step.

Though the bag silhouettes are similar, each one takes on its own set of visual characteristics due to the nature of the initial recycled vintage jacket. Each one is different in color, shape and pocket design. The result is a bag that each owner can call one of a kind.

WHO IS THE HOAKON + HELGA GIRL?

We like to think of her as the modern day bohemian. One who loves the idea of combining vintage and new items in her wardrobe. She listens to old records, rides her bike wherever she can, loves to enjoy the simple pleasures in life like tea on a sunny morning, and the smell of cookies baking in the oven. She is one that knows who she is and that beauty lies in all facets of her and her life.




ABOUT ANDI

Andi grew up spending lots of time in her mother’s antique store. This gave her a love of the past and an interest in collecting vintage. She started going to thrift stores at an early age hunting for clothes, and as soon as she was able to move out on her own, her apartment quickly became furnished with treasures she’d collect on her thrifting adventures.

Andi started designing bags while she was in art school achieving her Fine Arts degree. Andi majored in textiles and quickly developed a passion for dyeing fabrics, screenprinting and sewing the materials she’d create in to handbags.
Shortly after graduating, she opened up her first online store on Etsy showcasing her one of a kind creations. This shop quickly became her full time job as her bags developed a following. An extensive amount of repeat customers covet and collect her bags based on quality and style that she offers.

Now, nearly 5 years later, Andi has a downtown studio space outside of her apartment with the most amazing daylight. From her humble beginnings of selling bags in art school to now, the passion and excitement still resides. Her latest passion Made By Andi, is her business blog – Here she shares with other handmade business owners tips and tricks that she’s learned along the way. She is incredibly passionate about teaching the extensive knowledge that she has learned and is dedicated in doing so through her blog. Visit her there at www.madebyandi.com.

When she’s not working in the studio or blogging, you can find her at thrift stores looking for old kitchen items and brass deer ornaments. She’s a bike rider, tea drinker, beet juice maker, and lover of old Hitchcock movies.



website: www.hoakonhelga.com
online shop: www.hoakonhelga.etsy.com
blog: www.madebyandi.com

Spring Market Vendor Profile: Natalie Gerber

NATALIE GERBER began her studies in 1995 at The Natal Technikon, in the Fashion Design program, Durban (South Africa). After immigrating to Canada her interests in textiles and design developed while studying classical tailoring and couture design under Calgary designer Mithè de Fontenay. Enrolling at the Alberta College of Art & Design, Natalie earned a BFA Degree (with Distinction) in Fibre/Textiles in 2003, and later in 2007, a post-graduate Certificate in Creative Pattern Cutting for the Fashion Industry, from the London College of Fashion in London (England).

Natalie currently maintains a full time studio practice in Calgary and is represented in boutiques and galleries across Canada.

NATALIE GERBER

C. (403) 619.2519

w. www.nataliegerber.ca

fb. Natalie Gerber

blog. N.G. Studio

Spring Market Vendor Profile: Like a Fox Creations

I love fabrics and combining new and old in interesting ways. I started sewing handbags and wallets for friends and family to fund raise for a children's home I was involved with in South Africa in 2005 and have continued since then experimenting with different ideas and patterns, always donating the proceeds of my hobby to one charity or another. Some of my fabrics are brought back with me from my travels to various countries, some are repurposed vintage clothing or linens. Turning something discarded into something new, beautiful, and functional strikes me as a great representation of the way God works in the lives of the people these crafts.

Artist Profile: Ricki Skoretz aka Sidecar Creations

You've probably seen the amazingness known only as sidecar creations around town lately. Most of flock and gather collective had the pleasure of meeting her at last year's CFCR Craft Sale. We can't wait to see what she has in store for the April f&g market!!


Ricki Skoretz is a crafty kitten originally hailing from Edmonton, Alberta. She moved to Saskatoon about 5 years ago. She is working hard to become an Arts and Crafts maven, and is apprenticing as an upholsterer, because the things you sit on should be beautiful. She is rarely seen without a smile, and shares her life with her fiancee Tyler and adorable dog, Neko. All of her creations are made with much love and care, and are inspired by the world around her.