A Made-in-Canada Holiday Gift Guide
Workshop members make some amazing things. Here's a sample of them for you to shop for the holidays or anytime.
Inspiration
Creativity needs fuel. One solution? Looking at what other people are making, and hearing their stories. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the most inspiring collections of makers, as well as shared some of their best advice.
Anatomy of a Product: Songbird Yarn & Fibres
Making a product that stands out in the marketplace isn’t always easy — but it helps if the idea itself is a selling point. Here’s one yarn brand that had its customer base in mind from day one.
“How I Turned My Pandemic Project Into a Thriving Business”
Amy Jackson started Native Love Notes to cheer people up during lockdown. Now she’s got a thriving business, a retail shop in Winnipeg — and big plans for the future.
Anatomy of a Product: Uasau Soap
This Iqaluit-based skincare business has built a brand that features local ingredients and is grounded in Inuit culture, heritage and community. Here’s how they did it.
Anatomy of a Product: Murder Mystery Cross-Stitch Kits by Diana Watters Handmade
Toronto designer Diana Watters’s cross-stitch kits have sold like hotcakes since the pandemic hit. This year, she upped the ante with a set of kits designed to keep customers engaged, and coming back for more.
Inspiration: 6 Canadian Hat Makers We Love
We the North require a little warmth for our noggins for a good chunk of the year, so it’s no wonder that the toque is essentially a national icon. But there are more styles to protect our heads from the cold. Here, six makers who’ve crafted their own chapeaux — including a requisite toque designer.
Anatomy of a Product: Upcycled Skateboards by AdrianMartinus
The AdrianMartinus team started their business with a simple goal: to design functional, attractive furniture and products out of discarded skateboards. Here's how they made it happen.
Inspiration: 6 Bag Makers We Love
Leather or canvas, upcycled or fresh off the fabric printing press, these bag makers in Canada design and sell totes, zipper pouches, purses and more to an audience eager to upgrade their collections.
Anatomy of a Product: Halloween Brooms by Prairie Breeze Folk Arts Studio
Amina Haswell structures her broom-making business like a fashion house, creating seasonal collections each year. Here’s how her most recent line came to be, and where she’s going next.
Inspiration: 7 Toy Makers We Love
The toy market can be tough. For every product you sell, you have to make two customers happy: the adult who buys it, and the kid who’s going to play with it. Here are seven makers who’ve managed to create delightful toys that bring a smile to everybody’s face.
Home on the Farm: How One Potter's Return to Her Roots Allowed Her Business to Blossom
For Melissa Schooley of The Raging Bowl Pottery, her family's support and idyllic apple orchard gave her a chance to build a thriving studio and boutique.
Anatomy of a Product: Beadwork-Inspired Fabric by Indigenous Nouveau
Kaija Heitland wanted to create a fabric collection inspired by her heritage and produced entirely in North America. Here’s how she achieved it, and where she’s going next.
Inspiration: 6 Ceramicists We Love
From mugs and bowls to teapots and beyond, Canadian ceramicists are creating beautiful functional art that sells. Here are six makers we're inspired by.
Inspiration: 6 Jewellery Makers We Love
The challenge with accessories isn’t so much the market — no jewellery fan ever said they had too many earrings — but defining your own unique style. Here are six makers who’ve achieved that goal.
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