Local Love: 'Tis the Season!

The thing I love the most about this time of year is all the festive events that roll around, enticing all of us to leave our cozy homes, brave the cold for a second or two, and spend time with the people with love at the places we love. My schedule this week is filled to the brim with fantastic events and I wanted to share a few of them with you!

Flowers Talk Open House
Join the folks at Flowers Talk for an evening of special discounts, festive treats, and holiday styling tips for your home. Flowers Talk & Splendid Events are hooking you up with the most adorable cake pops you've ever seen, thanks to our talented friends at Bake Mob. We'll also have a gourmet hot cocoa station where you can create the perfect cup of hot cocoa, whether your favourite flavour is peppermint chocolate, rich milk chocolate, or even cinnamon. And of course we'll have plenty of marshmallows for the perfect garnish. Browse Flowers Talk's cozy and inviting boutique, mug in hand, and enjoy 15% off all purchases and special orders made during the event.

Cake pops by Bake Mob!

 

 

[the deets]

Cost: Free to all!
What: Flowers Talk Holiday Open House
Where: Flowers Talk, 1305 Wellington West
When: Wednesday December 5, 6pm-8pm
Why: To bring holiday cheer to your home and to give warmth to neighbours in need.




Here We Go Again: Renée Yoxon & Mark Ferguson's CD Release

Talented local jazz singer Renée Yoxon & Mark Ferguson are excited to release their first collaboration together! Join Mark, Renée, Joel Kerr, Jeff Asselin, Craig Pedersen, and Frank Lozano for an unforgettable evening of original music at the NAC's Fourth Stage this Friday!

[the deets]

When: Friday, December 7, 2012, 7:30pm
Where: NAC Fourth Stage, 53 Elgin Street
Tickets: $25. Click here to find out how to get tickets: http://www.reneeyoxon.com/how-to-get-tickets-to-the-here-we-go-again-ottawa-cd-release-december-7/

For more info about the event: http://nac-cna.ca/en/community/event/4538

 

 

Craftalicious Craft Fair!

If you're looking to finish off your holiday shopping, we've got an awesome craft show coming up in the Glebe on Saturday. Craftalicious has been running for four years now, and is a fantastic local show that you must check out! What do they have planned for you?

Gourmet Goodies & Treats + Prints & Cards + Glass Works + Ceramics + Knits + Jewellery
Photography & Art + Baby & Children’s Items + Hockey Art + Magnets & Pins + Ornaments + Bath  & Body Products + Fabric Masterpieces + Tarot Reader & Live Piano Music!

[the deets]
Saturday, December 8th, 2012
10am-4:30pm
St. Matthew’s Church Hall
217 First Avenue
Admission is free!

Locavore Artisan Food Fair
The folks over at Auntie Loo's made a spot on comment this morning. They mentioned that the chilly weather seems to bring out their appetites. I couldn't agree more! If your tummy seems to be rumbling a little extra this time of year, you *must* check out LAFF! This show, which has become a standard on Ottawa's food scene, is full of talented gourmet food makers who will have gifts for your tummy and those on your your Christmas list, too!

[the deets]

Cost: Free!
What: Locavore Artisan Food Fair
Where: Memorial Hall of Crichton Cultural Community Centre, 39 Dufferin Road (at Avon Lane) in New Edinburgh
When: Sunday December 9, 10am-3pm
Why: Yummy yummy food! Need I say more!?
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/159391614207466

Purple Urchin: Watching Ottawa's Indie Businesses Grow Up!

 As organizers of craft shows here in Ottawa, one of the coolest things we get to do is see the amazing range of talent that resides in this city as it comes across our desktops each month. We're introduced to the coolest, most creative people and things and it's sincerely so inspiring to see what people are creating with their own two hands.

The second coolest thing is to watch these companies that we work with grow from month to month and year to year. And every once in a while, we get to see a company grow leaps and bounds and exceed our expectations.

In July of 2010 we ran a show in the Byward Market called Capital Craft Market. It was our first proper craft show (even though we had run Wed By Hand, our handmade & DIY wedding show earlier that year). One of our very first vendors that signed on was Purple Urchin--and boy are we so glad that they did! Purple Urchin has participated in nearly every craft show that we've put on, and they are one of our lovely permanent Urban Craft vendors, too!

Run by two lovely ladies named Sarah and Rebecca, Purple Urchin is a handmade bath & body company that has literally made me a convert when it comes to handmade soaps. I bought one of Purple Urchin's soaps a couple years back and haven't gone back since. Their products are inventive, fun, smell great and work even better.

So when Sarah told me in the fall of last year that they were opening a shop in Chinatown, I was both excited and surprised. You see, it takes a lot for a small handmade company to grow to the point where they can open a shop--but Sarah and Rebecca have completely pulled it off. Not only is their brand new store at the corner of Preston & Somerset warm and inviting, but it also smells damn good (of course).

We are so proud of them and how their company has grown. They were also gracious enough to donate a gift package (above) for Urban Craft January door prize--which a lovely lady named Michelle has won!

Our Amazing Partner, Victoire. + Win A $50 Gift Certificate!

When we first moved to Ottawa and was searching for businesses that really celebrated all the things I loved--independent design, holistic business practices, celebrating community and helping other small businesses, I was overjoyed when I stumbled upon Dalhousie Street. Home to the ever-inspirational Workshop Boutique, Milk and Canteen (R.I.P.), I immediately fell in love with so many stores on this street.

{Gorgeous displays at Victoire. Image Property of Victoire}
From the beginning, one of the stores that struck me as doing things so right in this town was Victoire. The store--owned by two lovely ladies named Katie and Regine--had developed a store that contained so many great designs in the form of fashion and accessories. Not only that, Katie and Regine and developed a store with such a strong identity and aesthetic. I have long admired these two ladies and what they have done.

{The Victoire ladies celebrating their 5th Anniversary! Image Property of Victoire}
This past February we had our first opportunity to work with the ladies of Victoire when they came on board to showcase their vintage cocktail dresses at our indie wedding show, Wed By Hand. We loved that they brought such an interesting vintage component to the show -and- that they were so supportive of our endeavors.

Leave it to the ladies of Victoire to step up to the plate once again for us by becoming one of our partners for Urban Craft. Ever supportive, we're so thankful for them. That's all fine and great, you say--but what does that mean for me?

Well get this: the ladies of Victoire are offering up a $50 Gift Certificate for one Urban Craft attendee! That's right, ladies and gents! All you have to do to get in on the action is to check in to Urban Craft on Facebook between 10am and 2pm this Saturday, September 3rd. One lucky winner will be selected from all of those who check in to receive this awesome little gift!