Buying major brands from major chains is an everyday kind of thing, but there is something inherently special about supporting the independent little guy. Promotions like Crave in Buranby Heights epitomize that sort of thing for eating out. And Got Craft? gives Vancouverites the opportunities to celebrate the unique, the upcycled and the handmade.
We had the chance to check out the Holiday Edition of Got Craft last December. Understandably, that event had more of a festive theme to it with an array of Christmas ornaments and gift items. The Spring Edition, held this past weekend at the Maritime Labour Centre in East Vancouver, was more general in its approach. If you enjoy the charm and personality of Etsy, you would’ve loved Got Craft.
Indeed, many of the vendors at the event also have their own online stores (including on Etsy) where you can pick up some handicrafts, artisan food, health and beauty products and more. It’s one thing to see a photo on the Internet; it’s another thing to check out the cute animal figures from C Yarn Hut (above) in person, for example.
Here is Adalynn modeling her purchase from Got Craft. It’s a handmade leather bib from Mally Designs. As you can imagine, we go through a lot of bibs and keeping them clean can be a challenge. The leather on this bib is much easier to wipe clean, it’s tough enough to stand up to abuse, and the magnetic snaps on the back are very convenient.
The “upcycle” movement was alive and well at Got Craft. These crafty folk take something that may have otherwise ended up in the trash and repurpose them. The wood coasters from Reclaimed Print Co. feature some great Canadian-inspired art, while the notebooks from Paperbacknote use real book covers (like those from Archie comics). Pretty nifty!
They may not be green mushrooms, but the caramels from 1UP Caramels are quite tasty. And if you’re looking for a functional piece of desk art, the retro-style bulbs on blocks of wood from East Van Light are quite illuminating.
Find more photos from the 2015 Spring Edition of Got Craft? in my Flickr photostream. I fully expect to see Got Craft return for another holiday edition this winter, so stay tuned for that.
And remember to support your local artists, artisans and handicrafters! And yes, freelance writers are “local artists” too. 🙂
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