Etsy: Visions of Spring

Although all the fashion magazines are packed with SPRING collections and colors, the snow in Toronto just won't let up! Warm weather clothes and strappy footwear in bright hues and monocramatic shades, the trends of the upcoming season, decorate shop windows - while we continue to bundle up in heavy coats and salt-stained boots:(
Etsy, the uber-shopping site for global crafters, is a fabulous spot for some inspirational sunshine and great deals on new accessories and clothing for every season!

These are some fun local finds. All items are one-of-a-kind originals so its essential to check back often!

1. Charlene Serdan Designs
Beads, beautiful rocks and jewels crafted into timeless accessories. Shown: A cluster of czech glass beads and turquoise on sterling earwires. Length of the dangle 1.6". $22

2. Picnicbybarbfeldman.etsy.com
Fun, affordable polymer clay shaped into lemon pie, birthday cake and salmon and lox! Brunch plate brooch, 1 1/4" $14.

3. Elizaveta Yankelovich a.k.a. Kameleon
Eye-catching, eccentric necklaces made-up of toys, lego, sunglasses and hair rollers...! Elizaveta will be showcasing at [FAT]. BoBBLes neckwear $34 plus $6 shipping

Franken-Jewellery : Do it youself!

Review by Daniel Wilson

I will admit that crafting, as a movement, frightens me a little. I just don’t feel I have it in me to be one of those people that can create fabulous ‘wearables’ out of flotsam and broken scraps. Apparently I was wrong.

Last week I arrived at Keep Six Contemporary art gallery (938 Bathurst St) somewhat apprehensively, but armed with a bag of broken jewels and an open mind for the meet-up of The Franken-Jewellery Swap.

This is the 3rd swap of the growing group of handy-hands that organizes itself through Facebook and word-of-mouth. “We still like to keep it casual here, but clearly this is catching on,” said organizer Julia Burton. As Uffie and The Teenagers played from the computer behind the desk, I sat down and found my own neon green plastic plate to serve as operating table. I gathered broken limbs of necklaces and bracelets that had been sent to the grave long ago.

The idea here is that everyone comes to the swap armed with bits and scraps they have either collected from second-hand shops or things they have saved when clasps broke or chains snapped. There is a warm communal spirit in the air. Slowly I started to get the hang of things. A former ESA teacher near me explained I could just help myself to the tools and the lady on the other side showed me how to bend tiny metal jump rings to attach things to each other.

I realized I had the beginnings of an amazing necklace on my hands. I took a Denis Gagnon pendant that I got from the opening of his Montreal boutique and I added a Hell’s Angels style earring, a strand of pearls and a black crystal chandelier pendant.

A couple hours after arriving at The Franken-Jewellery Swap I had, not only a terrific new necklace, but a changed opinion of crafters in general. These people are not anyone to be frightened of, but warm helpful people that if you embrace you can come away with the knowledge of creation.

The next swap is tentatively set for Feb 13th 7-10pm. $5 donation to participate please.
For confirmation of that date, join the Facebook group: The Franken-Jewellery Swap found at link http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6120589686