PIN PALS

Last Night

A friendly get-together to open the Souk@SAT. I couldn't resist a glass of wine!




My neighbor Angie's beautiful work


Then, we walked a few blocks in the snowy cold for some delicious Chinese food



We gobbled it up!



Posted by: Sam

Souk@SAT and City of Craft = Double Trouble (in a good way)

Just a quick post to say that Sam is going to be selling our wares at the Société des Arts Technologiques this weekend for Souk@SAT (1195 saint-laurent blvd).  So, stop by and get your drink on. But, if you you live in Toronto instead of Montreal...

I'll be representing the Pin Pals in the 416 at the Theatre Centre (1087 Queen Street West) for the City of Craft

Yay Toronto!

Posted by: Sara

Double the Pal : Week 1

Well, so far so good. We managed to make it through the first weekend of duo craft fairs, and we're happy to report, although a little worn, we did it! 

Let's start from the beginning. I mentioned in the last post that we were living off of peanut butter and coffee, I wasn't joking. In fact I took pictures! Along with the state of our studio before this past weekend.







This is our mock craft fair table, it's a set-up made from rubbermaid bins and strips of wood.



Needless to say, things are a little hectic! But in a good way, like we don't have time to make sure everything is neat in place because we're busy being elves. Also, it's so much more rewarding to clean up a bigger mess right?

I stayed in the cutest house in Ottawa Friday night, hosted by two very gracious hosts, including two very charming cats, and snapped a couple of pics of the pre-show label cutting and pricing.







A highlight of the evening was digging through the cutest fabric collection I've seen, and being lucky enough to take home some quarter's to be made into bows. I was doing everything I could to keep my composure (and maturity) at the sight of each one!













So Great! 

The next day was the Tarts''n' Craft fair which was a real success, and busy from beginning to end. 









After a long day and a good meal, myself and my fellow Montreal crafters headed back home, and I got the best sleep I could in order to get up and join Sara at the Bazar de Noël Puces POP & Rusty Plum sale. 





We decided to take full advantage of the Polish food being cooked in the kitchen of the church basement, by ordering the $7 Polish plate, and expressed our fondness of the sauerkraut, sausage, and perogies by taking portraits.  







Combined with a good coffee, we couldn't have asked for anything better!

So that wraps up the first of two duo fair weekends for us, the next starting Thursday night with the opening of the Souk@SAT, in Montreal where I'll be selling our wares, followed on Saturday by City of Craft where Sara will be representing us in Toronto. The Double Pal saga continues...

Time to get back to work! 

Posted by: Sam

Two of a Kind

Sara and I are stretching our two person industry this weekend, and attending two craft fairs! It's the first time the Pin Pals will be in two cities simultaneously, so if you find yourself in the Montreal area over the weekend, please drop in to see Sara at the Bazaar de Noel / Christmas Bazaar Rusty Plum & Puces Pop



There will be great handmade items sure to appease those Holiday needs, as well as perogies! The show is also accepting money and food to be donated to Herstreet, a community-based organization committed to its mission of helping homeless women and women in difficulty.
 
I'm heading to Ottawa this weekend to attend Tarts 'n' Crafts at the Jack Purcell Community Centre. It's a first for us, attending this sale during the Holidays, so I imagine it will be the same enthusiastic crowds, and unique Canadian vendors, except with "Buy Handmade for your loved ones" in mind. 



We've been busy elves getting ready for both of these shows, working late and eating treats from the bakery across from our studio. Peanut butter, coffee, baked goods, and golden oldies radio is what has been giving us the stamina we need!

We have a couple of new products that we will definitely take pictures of over the course of the weekend..let's just say magic can happen when you put beaus on a bear!


Posted by: Sam

Starting December 3rd I'll be a part of a craft inspired exhibition at Cream Tangerine Café in Toronto that's being put on in conjunction with City of Craft.  I wish I could be in town for the opening this Friday but I'll have to wait and see it when I visit my hometown for the City of Craft fair on December 12th.  If you're in the area on Friday, stop by the opening and let me know what you think
.
Here is a little copy & paste about the show taken from the City of Craft website:

In conjunction with regular City of Craft programming, our ambitious (or possibly crazy) new installation co-ordinator, Tara Bursey, has taken the expanses of blank wall space offered in the Great Hall's cafe space as an invitation to curate a ten day art show around the stretching concepts of 'home'. The themes within come from themes overwhelmingly present in the installation programming (mostly selected from submissions).

Opening Reception:
Friday, December 4th. 7-11pm
Exhibition runs December 3-13, 2009
(on facebook)

Location:
Cream Tangerine Café
At the Great Hall
1087 Queen Street West, Toronto

Artists:
Lizz Aston, Fiona Bailey, Amy Borkwood, Leah Buckareff, Marta Chudolinska, Heather Fagan, Meags Fitzgerald, Sara Guindon, Melinda Josie, Genevieve Jodouin, Serena McCarroll and Tyler Brett, Laurie McGregor, The Misanthrope Specialty Co., Jen Spinner, Gillian Wilson and more.

The Exhibition:
Craft processes and acts of making have a way of rooting people to their surroundings. People make or purchase craft items to enhance their domestic spaces and make themselves “at home.” Alternately, people take comfort in craft and art making when they find themselves in unfamiliar territory or when situated in transitional spaces such as on planes and buses and in waiting rooms. Home and Away (and In-Between) is an exhibition that strives to explore how the act of making enables us to relate to where we are.
Home and Away (and In-Between) is a thematic group exhibition of selected vendors, organizers and installation artists involved with this year’s City of Craft event. The exhibition also includes a few invited special guests artists. Home and Away will serve as a pre-fair party as well as a public preview of the wares in store at this year’s City of Craft. Please join us in celebrating our third awesome year!


City of Craft on Facebook


Home & Away (& In-Between) on Facebook


Posted by: Sara

Drawing, cutting, printing, sewing, coffee, coffee, coffee

Yikes, it's that time of year.  Starting this weekend, Sam and I will be entering Craft and Design sale insanity.

 
This weekend we're very excited to be a part of the Smart Design Mart, a curated showcase of over 50 designers put together by super talented designers from, Headquarters,Norwegian Wood, Supayana, Roadkill, Broundoor, andFurni.  Not only will there be amazing fashion, art and design, there will also be beer.  So, come one, come all! 

 
Here is a peek of some drawings that I will be printing for this show and upcoming fairs.

 
 This geometric tree and sweater clad cad are to be printed on T-shirts and tote bags.  I'm trying to hold myself back from filling everything in with mesmerizing psychedelic geometric patterns and wood prints. 

We'll be sure to post some photos of how it went after this weekend.:-)

Sara 

A Pin Pal has a Birthday!

Happy Birthday Sara!



To the funniest, most talented girl I know
Love, your pal, Sam

In Stitches

I was overjoyed to be a participant in an upcoming Spotlight Series at the Renegade Handmade store in Chicago starting next weekend. The show is called, The In Stitches Showcase, and features the Cross Stitch and Embroidery work of 14 amazing stitcher's!

Here is just a sample of the participants:



Miniature Rhino



Chez Sucre Chez


Moxiedoll


Atlantic Tree Fox


Mummysam


 I packed and shipped my bundle of goods last week, with finger's crossed that everything makes it there safe and sound. I half wish I could have packed myself, for I'm sure it will be an amazing and inspiring show!

As part of the opening night, beloved stitcher, Jenny Heart from Sublime Stitching  will be there signing copies of her new book, Embroidered Effects, what a treat of a day.



My piece is titled, The Night Choir, and I was able to snap a few pics, along with some smaller pieces before they flew to the Windy City.












If you find yourself in Chicago over the holiday season, I highly recommend seeing the show. I am certain it will give a new appreciation to the time and skill that goes into a hand-stitched piece of art. If cross stitches were pennies, I'd be there with bells on!

Jenny Hart book signing for Embroidered Effects and workshop
Saturday, Nov. 21st 4pm - 7pm

Opening Reception for the show
Saturday, Nov. 21st 6pm - 8pm

Renegade Handmade
1924 W. Division St.
Chicago, IL

Posted by: Sam

Expozine this weekend!

EXPOZINE 2009, MONTREAL’S EIGHTH ANNUAL SMALL PRESS, COMIC AND ZINE FAIR! We're going to be there this weekend (today and tomorrow) from 12 to 6. come by and see me at 5035 St-Dominique (Église Saint-Enfant Jésus, between St-Joseph and Laurier, near Laurier Métro). Free admission. I'm going to be selling the above painting as a print. See you there:-o

Posted by: Sara

Where have we been?

Well, we've been super busy! We're getting ready for 4 craft fairs (potentially more) so Sara and I have been glued to our desks to say the least. We are also working on some other projects which we will reveal very soon, but in the meantime, please enjoy some children's art from one of the gem books I found at the McGill book sale.













 Posted by: Sam