3 ARTISANS TO WATCH
Cute planters, birdhouses and paper blooms stand out in One of a Kind Show at Etsy Marketplace
The One of a Kind spring show is back just in time for last-minute Easter shopping (it’s a thing) and Mother’s Day.
The popular Etsy Marketplace returns for its fourth season with a lineup of 45 emerging sellers.
“It is one of the most anticipated sections at our event,” says show director Patti Stewart.
“We love the idea of working with a team that also shares our commitment to support small, local handmade businesses.”
Here are three Etsy artisans to look for at this weekend’s show. Lily Guild Flowers Paper blooms are making quite a splash this year, whether it’s in a bridal bouquet, on a wall (think giant paper blooms) or topping a cake, there is something so joyful about these delicate floras bursting with spring colour.
Dominika Solan, a trained florist, fell in love with the paper version and decided to pursue it full time, hoping to become Toronto’s first paper florist.
“I decided to participate in OOAKS16 because I was ready to take the first big step in making a living from my work,” says Solan, whose hand-dyed paper flowers start at $35. Hinkleville Stylish pottery for precious plants is gaining ground. If a plain pot won’t do for your prized succulents, look to these adorable mini planters by Toronto-based artist Janet Hinkle .
“I am participating in OOAKS16 because I was the lucky winner of the Etsy: Made in Canada contest. I am very excited about this amazing opportunity,” Hinkle says.
Hinkle’s tiny (roughly five centimetres tall and wide) playful planters, $54, are made of white porcelain clay and are charming homes for tiny plants. Craft Collective Dave Bradley crafts modern wooden serving boards and salad servers, which are perfect for entertaining. However, it’s his whimsical raindrop birdhouses — $75, available in turquoise, yellow, orange and pink — that caught my eye. His shop is based in the riverside village of Wakefield, Que., far from the retail scene in Toronto. “This is my second year in the Etsy section; it’s a great way for me to get more exposure to customers and shops in the Toronto area. The show is also a fantastic place to meet other makers and exchange advice and inspiration,” Bradley says.