handmade

Ma and Pa WoodArt in Edmonton’s Art World Expo!

by Monika Blichar

Being self taught and starting a business is never easy but there are many people who do this. One of those is Ma and Pa WoodArt who will be joining us at our show on April 12 at the Muttart. I caught up to the duo today and wanted to learn more about what inspires the duo to follow their passion and what they do.

What inspired you to start your business? 

Terry is self taught from a young age and has always loved working with wood.


You make a variety of items. Do you have one in particular that is your personal favourite in your line?  

Although Terry makes different items, his favourite is the scroll saw art.

 

Are you currently selling in any locations in Edmonton or beyond? Where can people purchase your works?

Ma and Pa WoodArt products can be found at the St. Albert Farmers Market and 124 Grand Market.

This is your first time in an Art World Expo event. What would you like guests to know most about you and your craft?

Terry creates items that are one of a kind and uses the natural beauty of the wood as a decorative item or for practical use.

 

Will you have any show specials or never before seen work at this event? 

We have 5 unique scroll saw art items that are one of a kind and limited.

 

Just for fun! If you won the lottery tomorrow and was awarded a million dollars, what would you do?

If we won a million dollars, we would love to travel more!

Ma and Pa WoodArt was created to offer unique and innovative designs in cutting boards / serving platters / home decor.  Experience a delicious and appetizing moment when presenting your edibles on these beautiful works of art.  Our unique WoodArt is made to be a decorative item or for practical use.  Display these items as art on the wall or use it as a serving tray or charcuterie board while entertaining.

To see more, visit their FACEBOOK PAGE or INSTGRAM! Be sure to get your tickets to the show today and find the owners of Ma and Pa WoodArt Corinne & Terry Olinek at the event! April 12, 2019 at the Muttart Conservatory.

Knitter Kritter at Art World Expo Edmonton
by Monika Blichar
I’ve always been interested in knitting. There’s something really special about; it brings back memories of childhood and adds a really warm touch whenever you get a pair of knitted gloves or a tuque. Today, I caught up with Kelsey Koon from The Knitter Kritter in Edmonton and chatted about her work, her inspiration and her process.
What is The Knitter Kritter?
The Knitter Kritter is kind of my business persona; I chose the name so the shop’s initials would match my own: KK. I like to think of it as the type of boutique storefront where you could find something really special and unique, knowing for sure that it was made by the person you’re buying it from. Everything I sell is handmade by me, and it is all limited-edition and one-of-a-kind! I try to rotate in a few new designs or products every few months or so, so there will always be something new and interesting on offer. I specialize in high-quality knitted accessories and embroidery art, though I am always experimenting with new techniques, new products, and new designs. I also try to use or reuse as much of my materials as possible: many of my items are made with remnants and remainders, since I just can’t bring myself to waste anything. Coming up with the perfect project for my little bits and pieces is kind of like a fun puzzle for me. I really take my tagline, “fine handmade gifts”, to heart!
What is it about creating that inspires you?
I am really inspired by seeing the item progress. I always have a picture in my head of what it will look like when it is finished, but seeing it take shape is always a magical experience. Sometimes my craft surprises me! It’s always very fulfilling to see the finished object at the end of the process, regardless of how well it matches up to that pre-imagined picture. I think anyone who has made something in their life will relate to the little warm-fuzzy feeling of accomplishment in the finished project, and no matter how many items I make, I still get that little thrill from seeing it come to life and being involved in that process.
What are your favourite things to make?
My favourite items would have to be my one-of-a-kind lacework knitted scarves. I really get a kick out of matching up the colorways of the hand-painted yarns to the intricate lace patterns I use, and seeing the color patterning complement the pattern. Blocking the lace (setting the pattern by dampening the finished product and allowing it to dry flat) is always the best part, because up until that point, it can be a little hard to get a full sense of how the finished piece will look. After blocking, though, you can really see the lacework open up and the yarn bloom and it makes the whole piece really pop!
As far as a business owner of a crafts company, what are your goals for your brand this year?
I’d really like to find some new selling venues (either in-person or online) to market my products in. It always makes me so happy to have one of my items go home with someone who loves it, and I would like to find opportunities for all of my products to connect with people who love them! I’ve also been enjoying making some more connections on social media, so I would like to continue to expand in that arena as well. Being able to spend more time on creating is also an aspiration of mine, so one goal is to set aside time to spend on crafting new, unique handmade products.
Will you have any show specials at this year’s Art World Expo in Edmonton?
I’m planning on bringing at least one surprise show-stopper for the Expo! This will be a brand new handmade product that I haven’t yet offered for sale on the shop, so the attendees at the Art World Expo will get first crack at it!
What would you tell an aspiring crafts person about starting a handmade business?
I think my biggest piece of advice would be to enjoy your process. When I started out, I was very worried about the end result of my crafting, i.e., whether or not the item would sell. But as things went on, I learned that the process of creating is really the most important thing. It’s nice if you are able to share your work with someone who appreciates it, but ultimately, your art and your process is a reflection of you, and it’s important to love that as well. Enjoy seeing your work take shape as you make it!
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Georgia Belle-Organic Soaps for the Organics Lover
It’s no secret that we are fans of handmade products! At Art World Expo, we also love to promote, use and refer products and services that are helpful and safe for people and the environment too. When I came across Georgia Belle in a Facebook group I belong to, I couldn’t help but become excited that she was interested in joining our Vancouver event in May 2018. I LOVE organic everything. From food to gardening, to organic body scrubs, shampoos and even household cleaners, I have become increasingly aware of what I am using and how that not only affects my body, but also my environment. I caught up with Sarah from Georgia Belle to ask her about what motivates and inspires her about her organic soap business!
 
1-What inspired you to start making soaps?

In 2002, I started learning about the chemicals, animal byproducts and other horrible things that were going into beauty products that I was using every day. Even the testing of products on animals was horrifying to me, as I have been a long time animal rights activist and couldn’t understand why these companies wouldn’t test on people, as we are the ones using them! It all started with deodorant, and then I kept on experimenting with all kinds of products from there! When I started making soaps, I was just in Heaven! I was able to make these great little soaps with extra butters to moisturize my skin, sugars and salts to exfoliate and even charcoal and clay to purify. I had not seen anything else like this anywhere, and I knew I had stumbled on to something great!

 

2-Your attention to the environment is an obvious factor into your decision into starting this business. Can you tell us about some of the ingredients in products that people should watch out for?

Yes, one big thing that I tell people to look out for in the summer months is any type of essential oil being used in things like bug sprays and sunscreens. Even in lotions you must be aware. Essential oils when applied directly to the skin can cause severe chemical burns, whether you are in the sun or a tanning booth. Other people can also develop skin discoloration that can last up to 8 weeks. We do not use any type of essential oils in these products for that reason. Also be aware of products that are made with regular zinc oxide. Our sunscreen for example is made with non-nano zinc oxide, whereas store bought sunscreens contain regular zinc oxide. A nano particle will enter the bloodstream, but a non-nano will not. Chemical sunscreens will enter the bloodstream and that is why DNA altering ingredients like oxybenzone have gotten such bad press lately.
 

3-What is your favorite ingredient to use?

I have a few that I love! Shea butter is very moisturizing, and I use organic fair trade Shea butter in a lot of products! Our soaps, bath candies and lotion bars all contain Shea butter. I use Vitamin E in every skin product for it’s skin repair effects and preservation. I also love charcoal! It purges and purifies pores, helps to remove toxins and metals and leaves your skin feeling very refreshed. It is also used in our Charcoal toothpaste for amazing teeth whitening from the very first time used! It’s just great!
 

4-How do you come up with so many ideas for products?

Over the last 15 years, I have come up with many ideas for skincare etc as it was something that I was needing at the time. If I needed a good toning shampoo, I made a recipe tried and perfected it. If my hair wasn’t growing fast, I researched and made a recipe. There are also so many things that I was coming up with that I had never seen anywhere else, such as sugar soaps and underarm detox for examples. I have several books of tried and tested recipes, and I thought if this is something that I need and use, there must be more people out there who need this too! Since my daughter Isabella (who by the way is ‘Georgia Belle’ 🙂 ) I have discovered that I could make all natural products for her too! She even helps me name some of our products! Frozen bath bombs for example, this is a custom scent that I made as per her request!
 

5-Are you going to have a special product for Art World attendees?

Yes we are! I will be making special soaps for the occasion, bath bombs, all natural mineral makeup and other goodies too! We will also have a great big gift basket that can be won through a product purchase draw.

6-Where would you like to see your business in 2-3 years?

I would like to see us with store fronts in and around Vancouver, and in Canada and the International market as well! I would love to see us grow and expand, have some of our products showcased in other boutiques and maybe some good health stores too.Our goal is to get people off of the chemical store bought products and help people transition to all natural ones. It is another reason why we keep our prices down too, is we want everyone to be able to afford Organic skincare and products for the home. For us it isn’t about making a sale, it is about raising awareness and forcing change to a market that is in desperate need of change. When my daughter is all grown up, I would like for her to live in a world where she and others are not bombarded with chemicals coming at them from every direction. I want them to live in a world where they can use truly great products that are helpful to them, not harmful. It is why I named the company after her! Isabella Georgia Grace has now also become Georgia Belle. This keeps me very hopeful for the future!

If you would like to attend the 8th Annual Art World Expo in Vancouver, please purchase your tickets here.

Interview with Oh La La Cosmetics

by Monika Blichar

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Art World Expo is an annual event that happens in Vancouver each May and bi-annually in Toronto in October. This year, we are pleased to interview some of our vendors and share with you some of their insight into why they do what they do! 

One of our favourite vendors this year is Sena from Oh La La Cosmetics. The products are so good and are all made with quality and care. The best part is that Sena can make custom orders for clients and takes great care and pride in her work. We asked Sena a few questions about her line!

1-What makes your product stand out from other beauty products?

We make every Oh La La product by hand to ensure the very finest quality. This also means we can give a personal touch to every client and to every order; which we believe is important in this age of mass production. We take care to use the highest-quality ingredients, including organically-grown herbs and ingredients in all our products.

2-How has your background influenced your work?

I was born and raised in an eclectic environment, with origins from Europe, South America, and Africa; a rich multicultural background. Since childhood I have been deeply interested in the arts and crafts of these cultures, from beauty, to food, to music. My grandparents who were herborists and Naturopaths deeply influenced me.

3-How do you market your work?

We market my products via direct sales like at different shows and farmers markets. We find that this is where customers have the opportunity to try products and go home with samples if they want to try out our products first.  We also carry some of our line in various retail stores, sell via our website and promote via Instagram and Facebook. Our website is www.ohlalacosmetics.ca

On Facebook and Instagram we are “ohlalacosmeticscanda”.
4-What are your long term goals for Oh La La Cosmetics?

We are a growth-minded business, the rest of the world is our oyster!  We intend to enter the global marketplace and expand the business to find new markets. Our goal is also to create a foundation to help women in Africa spread their wings and succeed.

We are looking forward to featuring you and other handmade artisan vendors at the 7th annual event on May 12 at Science World. If you are in the Vancouver area, this event can’t be missed. More information is up at www.theartworldexpo.com For more information about Oh La La Cosmetics, visit  www.ohlalacosmetics.ca

2016 Christmas Arts & Craft Fair-CALL FOR ARTISANS

We are pleased to be co-producing the first Christmas Arts & Crafts Fair in partnership with the Belweder North Shore Polish Association. The wonderful Pipe Shop Building on North Vancouver’s waterfront is our venue!

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We are looking for amazing vendors to participate in the event this year on November 20! Show runs from 12-7pm and we encourage all kinds of arts and crafters to join just in time for the holiday shopping season!

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A spot is $60 and includes a table and chair! If you would like to participate, please send an email to artists@theartworldexpo.com for the submission form or call 604 999 6177.