creativ festival

I went the the Creativ Festival this weekend in Toronto (and no, I don't know why there is no 'e', either). Its a giant convention centre room filled to the brim with booths from quilt stores and fabric shops and yarn makers and pattern drafters. As one of the members of my quilt guild put it, "Its a giant room full of goodness that makes the money fly out of your pockets" I'll say. 

Anyhow I won't make this a long post about booths and vendors and fabric you could buy, but there were two things that seemed blog worthy and ironically neither of them had anything at all to do with fabric. There was more beading and jewelry and fashion stuff this year, and these were two that seemed to stand out among the rest.

First of all, check out this necklace. You see a LOT of beading and beaded things at these sort of events and it all looks rather tired after a point. But this necklace blew my MIND. The beads are made of dyed tigers eye, which is how you get that gorgeous sheen. But I just adore the crazy colours. Normally I'm all blacks and greys, and I love my earth tones and semi-precious stone jewelry like the liberal quasi-neo-hippie that I am, but this is just so different from all the rest and I think its smashing. I didn't shell out for it on the spot, because frankly I set myself a cash budget at these sort of events and once its gone, its gone. And it was gone by the time I saw this. But she is on etsy, so maybe this will be a Christmas present for me. (though I couldn't find her shop, but I'll update that when I locate her)

This is the lady who made it, Jackie Halstead, jewelry maker extraordinaire.  

It was pretty busy in there. And I took these pictures quite quickly since its not really an atmosphere that encourages lingering, but it kills me how that lady in the background appears to be giving me the stink-eye.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, material-wise was this booth of wooden stuff made by a duo known as The Woodlot.

I was severly tempted by these earings as well, but as I mentioned before I'd already used up all my cash on imported sashiko thread, quilt fabric and hard to find sewing notions. (I now have a magnetized bobbin holder and I don't know how I've lived without this long).

These are the two pairs I would've chosen from if I'd had any money left. This seller is on etsy too, so I supposed I could go get a pair when my bank account has recovered. 

Comments

[Marcia Van Drunen]

Just quick: glad hubs' hand is not critical! And I love the wooden earrings. Dangly earrings are pretty much the only jewelry I wear beyond a few rings. Gonna check out a few of your links and head to bed. Enjoy your company!