Toronto

Make Yarn! On a Spindle!

yarn with kristynLovely proprietor of Pleasurecraft, Kristyn Woodfine, is making a very special trip to our metropolis from the idyllic wilds of eastern Ontario to teach us to spin yarn! On a spindle!

We’ll be congregating at the Workroom (1340 Queen St. West) at 3pm on Sunday, February 28. The workshop will follow the regularly scheduled programming of Quilt Sunday.

Come learn & make!

Fight Moths with Craft!

photo by Becky Johnson

photo by Becky Johnson


So there seems to be a moth problem in this fair, yet chilly city and favorite sweaters and socks are breezier than they should be this time of year. Instead of scrapping them, mend them with the age old technique of darning!

The Toronto Church of Craft is hosting a darning workshop with wool connoisseur Becky Johnson. Bring in your old, your haggard, and your much loved woolens and learn how to make them wearable for another season of deep freeze.

We’ll be congregating at Heartbeat 960 – 960 Queen St. West (map) on Saturday, January 16 from 1pm to 4pm.

Drop on by, and mend! We’d love to see you out of hibernation!

Toronto Church of Craft gets all HYPERBOLIC!

green plane webSpace and time is relative – did you really think this little spot in the “www” would remain vacant forever? Of course not! And so, the T.O. CofC is shaking the cobwebs off our cache of crochet hooks to help bring you a very special night, examining a very special project.

Without further ado…the official blurb:

The Toronto Church of Craft and The Toronto Hyperbolic Crochet Reef are joining forces to bring a night of beginner crochet, higher mathematics and woolly underwater creatures to Hart House’s weekly Craft Night. Pioneered by Cornell University’s Prof. Daina Taimina, hyperbolic crochet is the process of making models of hyperbolic space through the use of simple crochet techniques. The math is complex, the crochet is easy. The forms created, with their frilly folds and intense crenelations, mimic many recognizable organic forms including a plethora of sea life. This visual likeness (among other reasoning) prompted Los Angeles’ Institute for Figuring to launch a touring crochet reef project a few years ago. Their project – like life itself – has ballooned since its inception, spawning various satellite reefs across the world. Now it’s Toronto’s turn. A new, collaborative reef is being founded for the city (premiering as such at the City of Craft fair and exhibition in December) and we need busy fngers to make it grow! For Hart House Craft Night, the entire seedling reef will be on display for inspection, the basics of hyperbolic crochet will be taught (beginners welcome) and materials provided (on the contingency that you use them to contribute to the project). Members of the Toronto Hyperbolic Reef Conservation Society will be on hand to supply crochet instruction and confused mathematics as well as Leah Buckareff, Reverend Mother of the Toronto Church of Craft (more than just a figurehead, she can help you crochet, too!). If you want to keep your model, just bring your own yarn – any guage will do (just stay away from mohairs, eyelash yarns or any other frizzy stuff if you are a beginner). If you would like to donate your model, we supply the yarn.

October 20
6pm – 9pm
Hart House in the Reading Room
(here’s directions)

More info
Hyperbolic Crochet – http://www.theiff.org/oexhibits/oe1.html
City of Craft – http://www.cityofcraft.com/
Hart House Craft Night – http://www.harthouse.ca/craft_night

From the Bust Craftacular:

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CALLING ALL CRAFTERS!
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Vendor applications due November 7 for NYC and November 14th for LA. and London for BUST Magazine’s 2008 Holiday Craftaculars!

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

THREE SPECIAL DATES ONLY!
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2008
10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2008
11:00AM-6:00PM

Happening at:
THE PENN PLAZA PAVILLION
(401 Seventh Avenue at 33rd Street, NYC)
THE ECHOPLEX L.A.
(1154 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles)
THE ST. ALOYSIUS SOCIAL CLUB
(London)

BUST Magazine’s Holiday Craftacular is set for Saturday, December 13 in NYC and December 6th in L.A. and London, and it’s going to be our BIGGEST ONE(S) EVER!

BUST Magazine will be hand-picking over 300 of the most unique and talented crafters from across the country to stuff your holiday stockings with the very best in indie-designed and handmade wares! Take care of your entire shopping list while browsing thousands of ware that will include knitwears, jewelry, beauty products, ornaments, vamped up vintage clothing, silk-screened apparel, gourmet sweets, handbags, chic and original iPod cases, funky home décor, books, sassy soaps (for the naughty and the nice!), cards, the best gear for babies and more. Then take a break from shopping as the BUST DJs jingle your bells on the Craftacular dance floor.

Independently owned and operated, BUST Magazine has been a leader in the crafting movement since 1993. Now in its 16th year, BUST continues to support and influence the handmade revolution though constant editorial coverage, sponsorships, and events such as the Holiday Craftacular. Always on the cutting-edge, BUST is a revered and trusted authority in the DIY and crafting community.

The Penn Plaza Pavillion is located at 401 Seventh Avenue, between 32nd and 33rd Streets. Subway to Manhattan: 1, 2, or 3 to 34th Street Penn Station, or N, R, Q, or W to Herald Square.
The Echoplex is located at 1154 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles and there is plenty of nearby street parking.
The St. Aloysius Social Club is located at 20 Phoenix Road, London

BUST Magazine’s Holiday Craftacular will take place 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM on December 13, and 11:00am to 6:00pm on December 6th in L.A. and London. Your entry ticket also gives you a shot at winning a BUST-load of booty in the Craftacular Raffle!

1. Fill out our online vendor applications today!

Apply for NYC here
http://www.bust.com/Craftacular/Apply-NYC.html

Apply for L.A. here:
http://www.bust.com/Craftacular/Apply-LA.html

Apply for London here:
http://www.bust.com/Craftacular/Apply-London.html

2. Pay the required non-refundable $10 application and processing fee that is payable at the time you submit your application. Checks and money orders should be made payable to BUST Magazine (78 Fifth Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10011, Attention: BUST Craftacular 2008) and must be postmarked by November 7, 2008 for NYC and November 14th for L.A. and London for your application to be considered. We will notify all applicants of their status on Tuesday November 14, 2008 for NYC and November 18th, 2008 for L.A. and London. If you are accepted as a vendor, your deposit will go towards the full booth fee of $250 due by November 21, 2008. All application and processing fees are non-refundable.

For a list of frequently asked questions, go to http://www.bust.com/craftacular/faq.html
Fees and dates vary for L.A. and London, so make sure you look for more info here:
http://www.bust.com/Craftacular/FAQ-LA.html
http://www.bust.com/Craftacular/FAQ-London.html</>

Got questions? E-mail us at craftacular@bust.com.

Be a sweetheart and jingle-tell your crafty pals about BUST’ Magazine’s 2008 Holiday Craftacular by forwarding this news widely!

See you under the mistletoe,

BUST Magazine

Toronto Crafters Unite!

Toronto Church of CraftThe Toronto Church of Craft is on a bit of a hiatus. This is due to my temporary absence off the continent. However, dear congregants, there’s literally TONS of crafty happenings with workshops and get-togethers all over this good city!

Here’s some resources to get your craft on:

The Paper Place
The Paper Place is absolutely THE place for incredible workshops on all things paper.

Nathalie-Roze
Nathalie-Roze & Co. offers huge variety of workshops from working with textiles to bookbinding.

Toronto Craft Alert
Jen and her team at the Toronto Craft Alert keep you updated on an overwhelming amount of crafty happenings. Bookmark it!

The Workroom
The Workroom is so inspiring that you’re likely to inadvertently spend an afternoon there – and that’s totally okay.

City of Craft
City of Craft is collective very close to my heart. With shows and events all year long you’re hands will rarely be idle!

For the yarn fetishists:
Knit Cafe
Knit-o-matic
Lettuce Knit