In no particular order, here’s a quick sneak peak at the other artists selling at the Handmade Market August 22 @ Britannia Centre. I’ll have a bunch of new items making their debut at the show, alongside all this fab stuff. Check it out, come down and give your dollars directly to the artists (we’re worth it, and our work is worth it too!!)

Casserole Dish by CUL DE SAC

Broach by ERIN DOLMAN

Lucky Cat Infant T-shirt by SUMIYA CLOTHING

Eco Cup Cosy by LAURA BUCCI HANDMADE

Sock Monkey by AMRITA DESIGNS

Inspiration Board by BLISS IN A TEACUP

Artwork by ASAMI TSUKADA

Stuffed Giraffe by AUDRA NEIL

Tank top and jewelry by URBAN DAMES

It always seems like there’s so much more to do in the summer, so I apologize for slacking in the blog department. Lately I’d much rather be wandering around and checking stuff out than being at the studio….. but I’ve managed to get a bunch of stuff out in between siestas and cervesas, including two new shops. Check it out:

Twigs Home and Garden in Sisters, OR

Treehouse in Berkeley, CA

Karmavore in New Westminster, BC  (congrats on 1 year guys!!!)

I’m also really proud to announce my first show for the year, August 22nd at Britania Center here in Vancouver. It should be really fun, with a great lineup of other makers selling their wares and art. Mark your calendars, we’ll be setup 12-5. I should have some Fall items ready by then, so I guess I won’t be slacking off so much after all this summer. See you there!! Janna

It’s almost time for Shiny Fuzzy Muddy 10, then our “last chance” open studio, and that’s it for 2009…. I must admit I feel like a sixth grader at the beginning of June with Summer Holidays in sight, with some obvious exceptions: it’s the coldest week of the year and I’m not in sixth grade anymore….. but the sentiment is there!! I love what I do, I meet great people and it’s lots of fun, but I really don’t want to work for a bit, it’s been a long journey, with lots of bags to show for it!!

So bundle yourself up, grab a coffee to go and get yourself to Heritage Hall on Main Street this weekend, December 12+13th….. 24 super talented artists and makers, selling their own high calibre work. Hours are 11-9 Saturday, Sunday we’re 11-5. What could be better?? Check our lineup for this year: shinyfuzzymuddy.com

I’ll have lots of stuff in tow, perfect for gift giving, including extra cozy recycled cashmere hot water bottle covers, arm warmers and scarves, as well as all your favorites….. See you soon!! XO Janna

It’s a good news, bad news situation: the bad news being that Main Street has lost even more independent business to the huge fire that happened a couple weeks ago. A few years ago a huge fire wiped out most of the east side of the 2500 block Main Street, and now the same has happened on the west side of the street. 

I worked on that block for years, and met many friends there for the first time. Everybody loved the neighbourhood on that particular strip of Main Street, and all supported one another. Hopefully Slickety Jim’s and the other businesses will find other locations elsewhere, but it will be really hard to top the magic that the area had. I’ve also lost my accountant, Tom, who’s business was also destroyed in the fire….. hopefully he’s up and running elsewhere soon too.

But the good news, if there is any, is that Militant Penguin has come through the fire with only smoke and water damage….. While the store is being reno’d, Lawrence has relocated to his previous Pleasant Girl location and set up a sale shop, so you can still get your Astrosatchel fix on the block, at 2541 Main Street.

Also on Main Street, I’ll be participating in Shiny Fuzzy Muddy 10 December 12+13 at Heritage Hall….. More reasons to catch the #3 Bus….. See you soon!! Janna

You don’t always have to be in a rush to get someplace, particularly this weekend!! The 13th Annual Eastside Culture Crawl kicks off Friday night at 5pm, and ends at 6pm Sunday, so there’s plenty of time to make it to the studio. I’ve been putting out new stock and tidying things up so it’s looking pretty good around here these days….. See you soon, whenever you get here is fine!! XO Janna

Lately I’m just trying to hang in there……Things are pretty busy at the studio right now, with lots of late nights and early mornings (which really are not my thing)…. but it’s all for a good cause: the 13th Annual Eastside Culture Crawl is coming up fast, and there’s a ton of stuff for me to get ready…..

Mark your calendars, and come on down: 

Friday November 20 from 5-10, Saturday+Sunday November 21+22 from 11-6 at the studio: 339 Railway Street, studio #208. Also showing their work are Melissa Wong and Ryan Amadore in 203, Jeremy Green, Marc Paris and Sean Mills in 206 and Galen Felde and Nadine Stefan in 209. To preview artists’ work, check out the event website: eastsideculturecrawl.com

This is the 5th time participating in the Crawl, and it gets better every year. Look for our pullout section in the Georgia Straight coming out the 19th. I’ll have a couple more events before the holidays, but if you want to get your gift shopping started early, there’s lots of stuff to choose from right now, and still enough time to special order items….. See you soon, it’s back to work for me!! XO Janna