Bancroft Art and Craft Show August 4th & 5th

a section of the show with the bandstand in the back

The Bancroft Art and Craft Guild is holding their 31st annual art and craft show this week-end at Millennium Park in Bancroft.  The show is a nice size--lots of variety but not overwhelming.  The setting is lovely, the show is free to attend and there is live music/entertainment throughout the two day show.  It is open Saturday, Aug. 4th from 10 am til 6 pm and again on Sunday, Aug. 5th from 10 am til 4 pm.

As usual, the Art and Craft show dates coincide with the well-known Bancroft Rockhound Gemboree, which apparently brings upwards of 40,000 visitors to town each year!  As a young camper and later camp staffer in the area, I remember visiting some of the abandoned mines in the area.  I believe visits are still possible to these sites.

I will have a good selection of older pots along which I've marked down in price.  They are all functional pots, but for one reason or another, don't quite match what I'm making now.  Perfect pieces for the cottage!

my booth at last year's sale

Herbfest this Sunday

The 17th Annual Ottawa Valley Midsummer Herbfest takes place this Sunday, July 29th from 9:00 a.m. til 5:00 p.m. at the Herb Garden , 3840 Old Almonte Road.  This is a big event for those interested in herbs, gardening, cooking and living a healthy lifestyle.  Interested?  Check out their website www.herbfest.ca

This year's outdoor market has over 100 vendors, including many selling handcrafted items and yummy specialty foods.  There are cooking demonstrations throughout the day, along with chef cook-offs, educational talks, music and dance, tea sampling, face painting, etc.  Lots of variety in a lovely countryside setting.

This is a wonderful show to participate in (and to attend) and I'm looking forward to being part of it once again.  Following are a few photos from the outdoor market area of last year's show.

Hintonburg Pottery

Ottawa has a new pottery shop, just one block from the Parkdale Market!  The grand opening is tonight, to coincide with Hintonburg's first Thursday Gallery walks.  Called Hintonburg Pottery, it's located at 78 Hinton Street North, in a space shared with Credible Edibles.  I've just taken some of my pots there and am thrilled to have joined many other potters whose work is on display in this neighbourhood shop.  Ginger will be opening the store Monday to Saturday from 12-6 p.m. during the summer.

Many years ago I used to sell to a store called Crossroads, on Wellingston Street near Holland.  It had a wonderful assortment of handcrafted items including lots of pottery.  The space is now occupied by Collected Works, a wonderful independent book store and coffee shop.  They have expanded their space considerably and are renovating it to accommodate the many events that happen there in addition to selling books.  I'm happy to say they are currently selling a selection of my pottery too.  Somehow, coffee cups and teapots and wine goblets seem to be a nice compliment to books!

Handmade Here in Westboro

On June 16th, I'll be joining these 4 talented artists/artisans for a one day open house sale at Kim's home in Westboro.  Kim makes amazing silver jewellery that sells quickly!  Her cousin Gwen knits & felts bags and purses that are truly unique.  Lise's rich, textured paintings brighten up any room and the ladies at Flo Glassblowing transform glass into luminescent forms.  If you haven't already discovered it, Flo Glassblowing offers lessons and glass blowing group parties at their studio on Gladstone Ave.  Check them out at www.floglassblowing.ca

I'll have some new items like snack trays and soap dishes along.  If you're looking for a teacher gift, you might consider a mug, a small condiment pot, or even an egg separator!  I'll have larger landscape platters, bowls, sets of goblets and baking dishes if you're looking for a wedding gift.

Browsers and shoppers alike are welcome to come and enjoy the day with us.

Handmade Harvest craft show

This Saturday is the spring 2012 edition of the Handmade Harvest craft show, held in the Almonte agricultural hall at the fair grounds.  If you are one of the first 50 customers to gain entry when the show opens at 10 a.m., you will receive a complimentary swag bag, full of assorted crafty items made by some of the vendors.    Guaranteed to be line ups for the swag, so get there early!  The $2 admission makes you eligible for the gift basket door prize which contains products donated by each of the 53 vendors (a $500 value).  Sounds like these gals know how to organize a fun show.  I'll be there with my colourful pots--lots of small items including new soap dishes and snack trays--and old favourites like egg separators, egg cups, wee bowls, French butter dishes, mugs, etc.  Check out this web site for more details about the show.  www.handmadeharvest.com

Ottawa Guild of Potters Spring Sale and Exhibition

new soap dishes with lotus pattern

The Guild's exhibition and sale begins this Thursday at 6 p.m. with a vernissage and continues throughout the week-end.  Everything is exhibited in the spacious foyer of the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orleans.  See details below.

I've been busy trying out some new ideas, some of which will be at the Guild sale, including the following.

Large vase with stamped lotus pattern on two sides

Snack trays with lotus pattern

Snack trays with grapevine pattern

Thanks to Westend Pottery Lovers!

A bird's eye view of half of the venue

Here's the group of us post-sale

Thanks to everyone who made it out to The Westend Pottery Sale.  It was a great week-end, despite some rain and cool weather on Sunday.  This sale has potential to grow as it becomes known in the neighbourhood.  Lots of spectacular pots made by some pretty talented people.  It's wonderful to be a part of this community of potters.