Made by Hand is Saturday

We talked about the upcoming Made by Hand show this Saturday (April 21) here in the blog a couple of weeks ago, but just wanted to re-post another gentle reminder. And of course there will be several 100 Mile Finds vendors there. Here are a couple more that were not mentioned in the previous blog:

Wendy of Tiny Brushstrokes creates memorable gifts/artwork for your nursery or children's space. Browse through her gallery or commission a painting. Ordering a custom painting is an easy process that will suit any budget. Go take a closer look on Saturday and discuss your options.

Jack and Willa Designs and Mistura Time Pieces have recently joined our site, but are not quite set up yet. Probably busy getting ready for the show, so we will see them there.
Albertine Dawn makes beautiful accent pillows for the home. We always enjoy talking to Dawn when we see her.
C&L Creations create beautiful jewellery that can be previewed through our site.

We are looking forward to saying hi to all our vendors there and spotting a few more 'Finds' to join the site. Hope you can make it.

Adornments

Nancy Lismer of Adornments has been involved with 100 Mile Finds for quite a while now and we are so glad to have met her. Her work is extraordinary, and she is always coming up with new ideas. "Inspiration is drawn from all things Nancy finds aesthetically pleasing including flowers, rocks & shells, wrought iron work, and many forms of art. The materials used include sterling silver, handmade Italian glass beads (that she lampworks), Swarovski crystal and semi-precious stones".

Nancy is always thinking about new ways to promote her gorgeous wares. She wanted everyone to know about o Adornments jewellery website and facebook page, the "Gallery of the Adorned", a showcase devoted to the wearers of Adornments jewellery. If you would like to be part of the permanent gallery send a digital photo of yourself wearing any of your Adornments jewellery to nancy@adornments.ca, the jewellery must be visible!

Nancy will be featured at the spring Made by Hand show this Saturday (April 21), booth 144, and would love to say hi. She has a link on her blog for a $1 off coupon for admission too - http://www.adornments.ca/blog.html (kids are free by the way).

More (Purple) Finds........

Earlier this week we highlighted some of the work by two of our talented artisans, and I wanted to bring to your attention a couple more.

For some reason purple is my new favourite colour. Not sure why we gravitate to certain colours at different times of our lives - if anyone has any answer to that question, let me know. I.M. Wyred has created this contemporary gun metal necklace with purple agate. I thought of painting our front hall purple, but this would suit my latest fixation better.

And there is another wee trinket that I have been eying. Michelle Prosek Glass' purple OM pendant. These little darlings are made from kiln-formed recycled glass and feature a sterling silver bail and 18" sterling silver chain.


Maybe this hand dyed silk scarf by Silk Designs by Jane best fits the bill - runs the gamut from mauve to violet. But I would hate to have to pick........
Thanks to all for their take on 'The Colour Purple'. Isn't there something else that goes by that handle?

Finds

When we first came up with the idea of a website featuring locally made cool things, we of course had to come up with a name for it. The '100 Mile' concept is pretty straight forward, but the word 'Finds' came about because we wanted a word that would reflect the 'hidden gem' component that we see in so many of our artisans. This week the blog is devoted to a few real 'Finds'.

This turquose stone necklace by JOS Originals is beautiful. The turquoise itself has so much colour and detail. The string of stones includes wooden agate, grass turquoise and turquoise. Several large links at the back of this necklace enable the wearer to shorten or lengthen the piece.

Every time I walk into our powder room I am reminded of Soap Utopia Naturals. This delightful soap has a beautiful natural fragrance that fills the room without overpowering it. Made from a blend of 100% biodegradable olive oil, coconut oil, palm (sustainably farmed), soy/canola, heaps of fair trade shea butter, and castor bean oil. These bars are infused with pure essential oil or bodysafe, phthalate-free fragrance oil. Its' luscious lathers are naturally free of added harsh detergents, phosphates, sulfates (SLS), and synthetic color.

We feel fortunate here at 100 Mile Finds to be a part of finding these unique items to share with you.

Bunny Charm Necklace by aTana Designs

Looking for a different Easter treat this year? Instead of (or in addition too) buying Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies that will only temporarily satisfy your taste buds, why don’t you consider supporting the well-being of REAL bunnies? Just in time for Easter, aTana Designs has created a sweet little silver Bunny Charm Necklace in which all profits will be donated to Rabbit Rescue. This charm is hand crafted out of Fine Silver from Precious Metal Clay, and it comes ready to wear on a silver plated chain!  
My love of bunnies originated in high school when I got my first rabbit, Velvet, and realized how intelligent, curious, and sweet these furry friends are. I now have Audrey who is almost seven years old, and she is so affectionate and has quite the personality!

 

People don’t often realize that the irresistibly cute bunnies found in many pet stores grow up and become a lifelong commitment and this is one of the unfortunate reasons why “Rabbit Rescue” was founded. “Rabbit Rescue” is a registered charity that has been dedicated to helping domestic unwanted rabbits since 2001. Rabbit Rescue was the first rabbit charity in Ontario, and it is now the largest rabbit rescue in Canada. What makes this charity stand out is that it is a NO KILL shelter and they offer medical care and they spay/neuter all of their rabbits. As you can guess, veterinary care doesn’t come cheap and this is why it is so important to help out this worthy charity. With the money raised from this necklace, that sells for $35, I intend to sponsor bunnies through Rabbit Rescue and you can check out my Facebook page for updates and to see the furry friends you are helping to support. Please consider purchasing this Bunny Charm Necklace or visit Rabbit Rescue to donate directly.

Made By Hand Spring Show 2012

DeniMural

The Made by Hand Spring Show is coming to the International Centre on Saturday April 21, 2012. It will run from 11am until 5pm. Come early because there will be free swag bags for the first 150 shoppers. If last year’s show is any indication people will be lined up out the door first thing in the morning.

Blissful Sew

This is a one-stop shopping experience that shouldn’t be missed. With over 3,000 ft of selling space for over 150 handmade exhibitors there is something for everyone. The different categories include Clothing & Accessories, Home Decor, Food, Jewellery, Art, Baby/Toys to name but a few.

Adornments

Jacqueline Hunter, the show’s organizer, has taken great pains to make sure this show is another huge success. With face-painting, crafts and balloon animals going on it shouldn’t be hard to keep the little ones in line. Just let your little princesses know that Cinderella will be making an appearance from 2-5pm, that should give you some quality shopping time!

There are also door prizes and raffles running throughout the day too!

A Knot Above

Some really fantastic artisans will be participating in the show. Erin from A Knot Above creates unique pieces from luxury wool and high grade cotton, upcycled/repurposed fabrics and metal. Her accessories are romantic, eclectic and striking. You definitely want to stop by her booth.

Thunderpeep Designs

Another 100 mile finds favourite is Thunderpeep Designs.  This is a great opportunity to pick up a stash of cards so you’ve got some great options on hand.

Details By Donna

If you are looking for jewellery you’ve got to stop by Adornments  and Details By Donna, you won’t want to miss either of these booths.

BLISSFULsew is another great booth to check out if you are looking for gorgeous items for Mom and baby.

You’ve got to stop by  DeniMural a one of a kind artisan that can’t be missed.
Mark April 21, 2012 on your calendar, this is a show you don't want to miss.
 

Spring has Sprung

I love September, but nothing quite compares to the sweet arrival of spring. We may not have had much of a winter, but I did not see any leaves on the trees in February. And now that the time has changed, our lengthening evenings are a treasure.
So here are are a couple of 100 Mile Finds vendors with a touch of spring expressed in their creations:

Chocolate is really an all-seasons kind of product, but these tattooed bunnies and hand painted eggs by COCO Crafted Organic Chocolate are a spring treat I am looking forward to.

Sockbun has been featured in the blog lately, but I could not resist another mention since there is nothing that says Easter or Spring more than a bunny. Lois here (at right) is rocking some spring colours and I am sure would love to be adopted this April.

And finally, the piece at left by Designed by Craig Ewing is called 'Spring Garden of Flowers'. You can wear this little touch of spring all year long.

Happy Spring!