I absolutely love scouting out handmade finds on Etsy. Consider it my glass of red after a hard day’s work. So of course I was delighted to grab a couple girlfriends and head down to Portobello West Fashion & Art Market at the Big Four this past weekend—and pour over artisan wares live.
While I have tried to somewhat curb my Etsy spending as of late, walking into a warehouse-type space with tables upon tables of jewellery, apparel, and art, was like lacing the entire place with Kryptonite—I was powerless to resist my capitalist compulsions. (No one can say I’m not doing my part for the economy.)
That being said, I walked away with a new leather cuff, fool’s gold ring, glass pendant and black feather hair accessory—think Carrie a la Sex and the City wedding.
Here are some of this year’s purchase-worthy vendors:
elroy
A line of sustainable fashion, made with the planet and social consciousness in mind. The beautifully crafted dresses, blazers, and skirts had us wishing it had not snowed
this week.
even design
Absolutely fell in love with this line of exquisitely crafted contemporary jewellery. The cheeky slug ring with blue sapphire eyes screamed to go home with me, but it was the level ring (yes, an actual miniature level) that inevitably found a home with my friend.
Oladesign
Beautiful and whimsical prints, it was a glass Twilight-esque tree pendant (an actual miniature print of artist Olga Cuttell’s work) that came home with me.
Shi Studio
Cory Judge’s rainbow pendant table was a hard one to resist. Beautiful fabrics housed behind glass in every size, shape and colour. The problem? Being able to choose just one. A large sea blue floral brocade tear-drop pendant wound up on the neck of girlfriend #2.