Vancouver Event - Renfrew Community Craft Fair

National Blog Posting Month in November

#NaBloPoMo Day 5 - Renfrew Community Craft Fair

Everyone has different holiday traditions and one of mine is participating in a local community craft fair.  It is a way to bring handmade jewellery and crafts to life by giving them a new home to someone who falls in love with what I make.  Renfrew Community Craft Fair has been home to my craft fair goods every year.  I invite everyone I know and it is also a way for me to catch up with friends and have mini reunions with everyone as they shop for local handmade Christmas presents.  

It is a good time to get away from the pushy malls and instead take a look at crafts that people have made with love in a local community.  I find the community is friendly and often I find customers who recognize my table from previous years.  That is what happens with traditions!  People know how to find me and my earrings.  

This year I've invited my friend Taslim to share my table and I'm looking forward to see what craft uniqueness she will bring.  Plus I have an opportunity to spend the day with a long lost friend.  

Save the date!  Saturday, November 26th from 10am - 3pm at Renfrew Park Community Centre in Vancouver, BC.  

Sign up on Facebook (Admission is FREE) - https://www.facebook.com/events/333621707014959/

Earrings are my specialty and you can find some of the pearl, skull, coin earrings below.  I'll also have painted gift boxes, felt cutlery stockings, and more!  Still have 3 more weeks to prepare so there may be a few surprises.

Social Venture: Better Alternatives for Girl Survivors (B.A.G.S)

Hi Vancity Girlfriends,

Last week I was invited to attend SFU's Diwali Gala to celebrate this festive cultural event that is celebrated in India and raise money for the SFU students to volunteer and work in cities in India.

The story of Christine who worked with the charity Destiny Reflections moved me so much that after the event, I searched to see how I could support them.  The non-profit worked with getting Indian women off the streets and teaching them skills in the handicrafts so they can earn a living wage without being a sex slave.  Human trafficking is prevalent in India and many of the girls start at a young age.  As Destiny Reflections grow and expand, they can get more women off the streets.   

Better Alternatives for Girl Survivors (B.A.G.S) is the social venture that works with Destiny Reflections to import the products and sell them to Canadian consumers.  My small contribution to Destiny Reflections is to support them through buying their products and sharing their story with the community.  

The Destiny Reflections products including yoga bags, sari bags, scarves, blankets and more are being sold at local university craft fairs and flea markets.  

1.  UBC Flea Market at the Student Union Building (6138 Student Union Blvd

     November 12 & 13 from 10am - 5pm

2.  SFU Winter Craft Fair at the Academic Quandrangle (AQ) 

     Nov 17, 18, 24 and 27th.

Destiny Reflections Website:  http://destinyreflection.org/

Better Alternative for Girl Survivors (B.A.G.S) Website:  http://www.bagsproject.com/

Social Shopper Coupon: Make It! Vancouver The Handmade Revolution

Hello Vancity Girlfriends,
This is a merry time of year with lots of Christmas Craft fairs in Vancouver to choose from.  It's hard to determine which craft fair will give you best bang for your buck so to speak.  It's an event to check out local crafts that may be suitable for your Christmas list but also as something to do with your girlfriends.  I'm a holiday craft fair browser myself.  I like browsing and getting ideas and sometimes if something catches my eye, I may buy.  For the hesitant shopper like myself, the Make It! Vancouver (The Handmade Revolution) is a good craft fair because the ticket is good for the whole weekend.

That's exactly why I'll go on opening day and then I will have until Sunday to decide whether or not to return to pick up any items.  This year the Make It! Vancouver has changed to a larger venue at the PNE Forum so this is quite exciting.  I'm not a big fan of crowds so the PNE will easily have enough space to browse leisurely at the 250 exhibitors.  I have my fingers crossed that they have some food options as well.  I'll let you know in my review after I attend on Thursday night.  

Best deal on tickets is to get the Social Shopper 2 for 1 coupon!  

It's $7 for two 4-day admission to Make It! Vancouver.

Click on "Today's Deal" and scroll down looking at the right hand side for the one for the Make It! fair.  

If that's too complicated you can always go to Make It Vancouver and buy the early bird ticket for $4 each.  You only have a few days left since the fair begins on Thursday!  Come back to see my review of Make It! Vancouver 2013.