You might not think the tail end of summer is craft show season, but local interest in handmade goods is strong enough to justify just that.
More than 40 Hamilton-area artisans are set to sell their products at Craftadian's Made in Hamilton show on Saturday, Aug. 27.
One thing you might not think you'd spot at a craft show: skateboards.
Hamilton landscaper-turned-artisan Dave Archer started Archerboards about two years ago after hearing his son complain about how expensive good skateboards were.
"I thought, 'We can do better, let's try,'" says Archer, who taught himself how to make skateboards, gluing together layers of Canadian maple veneer and forming them using moulds.
He produces mini-decks, skateboards and longboards, which he then decorates with hand-painted landscapes and graphics — another thing he taught himself how to do.
Archer says his work is very popular as wall decoration, although he does also stock hardware for customers who plan on actually riding their new skateboards. Archer is also a regular at Art Crawls and was selected as a vendor for Supercrawl in September.
Local jewelry designer Kat Shura of Curious Oddities transforms found objects and vintage metal pieces into wearable art, and also works with laser-cut glass and gemstones to create accessories that echo the interwar period.
"I'm a huge, huge nut for anything from the '20s. I love Art Deco and Art Nouveau," says Shura.
She recently scooped up a bunch of vintage wearable mechanical pencils (the kind worn on a long chain), and plans to apply different finishes to turn them into unique necklaces.
Graphic artist Jaime Drayer has turned her love of felines and fermented grapes into a successful part-time business called Kitties and Cabernet and she's been busy for months at shows in the region.
"Cats and wine is basically who I am as a person," says Drayer, who designs wine-inspired prints with clever sayings like "You had me at merlot" and whose cat-inspired, hand-painted mugs — one of them declares "There's probably fur in this" — are her biggest sellers.
Her venture initially started out as a fundraiser for a cat rescue. Drayer has retained the charitable aspect, and donates 10 per cent of her proceeds to local cat shelters.
The show also features handmade stuffed toys in whimsical shapes, all-natural cleaning supplies and candles, children's aprons and locally farmed honey.
A portion of the show's admission proceeds will be donated to Hamilton Food Share.
Correction Published: 20160823 - A fact box was omitted from a story about Craftadian in Friday's GO section. Here is the information; Craftadian's Made in Hamilton show takes place Sat., Aug. 27, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at McMaster Innovation Park, 175 Longwood Rd. S. For more details go to craftadian.ca/made-in-hamiton. The Spectator regrets the error.
905-526-3375 | @bfantoni
You might not think the tail end of summer is craft show season, but local interest in handmade goods is strong enough to justify just that.
More than 40 Hamilton-area artisans are set to sell their products at Craftadian's Made in Hamilton show on Saturday, Aug. 27.
One thing you might not think you'd spot at a craft show: skateboards.
Hamilton landscaper-turned-artisan Dave Archer started Archerboards about two years ago after hearing his son complain about how expensive good skateboards were.
"I thought, 'We can do better, let's try,'" says Archer, who taught himself how to make skateboards, gluing together layers of Canadian maple veneer and forming them using moulds.
He produces mini-decks, skateboards and longboards, which he then decorates with hand-painted landscapes and graphics — another thing he taught himself how to do.
Archer says his work is very popular as wall decoration, although he does also stock hardware for customers who plan on actually riding their new skateboards. Archer is also a regular at Art Crawls and was selected as a vendor for Supercrawl in September.
Local jewelry designer Kat Shura of Curious Oddities transforms found objects and vintage metal pieces into wearable art, and also works with laser-cut glass and gemstones to create accessories that echo the interwar period.
"I'm a huge, huge nut for anything from the '20s. I love Art Deco and Art Nouveau," says Shura.
She recently scooped up a bunch of vintage wearable mechanical pencils (the kind worn on a long chain), and plans to apply different finishes to turn them into unique necklaces.
Graphic artist Jaime Drayer has turned her love of felines and fermented grapes into a successful part-time business called Kitties and Cabernet and she's been busy for months at shows in the region.
"Cats and wine is basically who I am as a person," says Drayer, who designs wine-inspired prints with clever sayings like "You had me at merlot" and whose cat-inspired, hand-painted mugs — one of them declares "There's probably fur in this" — are her biggest sellers.
Her venture initially started out as a fundraiser for a cat rescue. Drayer has retained the charitable aspect, and donates 10 per cent of her proceeds to local cat shelters.
The show also features handmade stuffed toys in whimsical shapes, all-natural cleaning supplies and candles, children's aprons and locally farmed honey.
A portion of the show's admission proceeds will be donated to Hamilton Food Share.
Correction Published: 20160823 - A fact box was omitted from a story about Craftadian in Friday's GO section. Here is the information; Craftadian's Made in Hamilton show takes place Sat., Aug. 27, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at McMaster Innovation Park, 175 Longwood Rd. S. For more details go to craftadian.ca/made-in-hamiton. The Spectator regrets the error.
905-526-3375 | @bfantoni
You might not think the tail end of summer is craft show season, but local interest in handmade goods is strong enough to justify just that.
More than 40 Hamilton-area artisans are set to sell their products at Craftadian's Made in Hamilton show on Saturday, Aug. 27.
One thing you might not think you'd spot at a craft show: skateboards.
Hamilton landscaper-turned-artisan Dave Archer started Archerboards about two years ago after hearing his son complain about how expensive good skateboards were.
"I thought, 'We can do better, let's try,'" says Archer, who taught himself how to make skateboards, gluing together layers of Canadian maple veneer and forming them using moulds.
He produces mini-decks, skateboards and longboards, which he then decorates with hand-painted landscapes and graphics — another thing he taught himself how to do.
Archer says his work is very popular as wall decoration, although he does also stock hardware for customers who plan on actually riding their new skateboards. Archer is also a regular at Art Crawls and was selected as a vendor for Supercrawl in September.
Local jewelry designer Kat Shura of Curious Oddities transforms found objects and vintage metal pieces into wearable art, and also works with laser-cut glass and gemstones to create accessories that echo the interwar period.
"I'm a huge, huge nut for anything from the '20s. I love Art Deco and Art Nouveau," says Shura.
She recently scooped up a bunch of vintage wearable mechanical pencils (the kind worn on a long chain), and plans to apply different finishes to turn them into unique necklaces.
Graphic artist Jaime Drayer has turned her love of felines and fermented grapes into a successful part-time business called Kitties and Cabernet and she's been busy for months at shows in the region.
"Cats and wine is basically who I am as a person," says Drayer, who designs wine-inspired prints with clever sayings like "You had me at merlot" and whose cat-inspired, hand-painted mugs — one of them declares "There's probably fur in this" — are her biggest sellers.
Her venture initially started out as a fundraiser for a cat rescue. Drayer has retained the charitable aspect, and donates 10 per cent of her proceeds to local cat shelters.
The show also features handmade stuffed toys in whimsical shapes, all-natural cleaning supplies and candles, children's aprons and locally farmed honey.
A portion of the show's admission proceeds will be donated to Hamilton Food Share.
Correction Published: 20160823 - A fact box was omitted from a story about Craftadian in Friday's GO section. Here is the information; Craftadian's Made in Hamilton show takes place Sat., Aug. 27, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at McMaster Innovation Park, 175 Longwood Rd. S. For more details go to craftadian.ca/made-in-hamiton. The Spectator regrets the error.
905-526-3375 | @bfantoni