Etsy: Made in Canada

I'm so excited for the weekend. This Saturday is the Etsy: Made in Canada show and I am thrilled to be participating in Toronto's pop-up.
I'll be selling my handmade toys, needle felting and accessories at the MaRS Discovery District 10am - 6pm.
Check out this year's vendors in the EtsyMIC Toronto Lookbook.
And please check out my Etsy Shop  to see what I'll have, plus there will be some special products exclusive to this show.
Be sure to get to the show early. The first 100 guests will receive a jam-packed swag bag full of goodies made by the vendors!

I've made a special run of greeting cards for the swag bags, featuring my cute-infused surface designs.
Come by and say hi!

Shows & Events!

I'm pretty excited to announce Leikey Designs will be at two shows coming up in the fall.

First stop...

ETSY: Made In Canada
Sat Sept 26th
The hugely popular show returns this year @ the MaRS Discovery District in Toronto.
Check out the Leikey table for new exclusive pieces and of course all your favourites too.
Admission is free to this show. And The Etsy Made in Canada is happening all over Canada this day so check out your local market!

Next stop...



OOAK Christmas Show
Dec 1 - 6th
That's right! I'm back at the OOAK show for my 4th round! This year, I've graduated from Rising Stars to my very own big booth! Don't forget, there are two cycles to this show. First cycle is Nov 26 - 30th. I'll be at the show for the second half from Dec 1 - 6th.
Come by and say hi!

Looking forward to seeing you at the show!

New Stockists!

Have you seen our Stockists page? You may have noticed it's getting longer!
I'm so excited to announce that Leikey Designs products are now available at TWO new shops!

Collage Collage in Vancouver, B.C.
This bright, beautiful shop on the west coast doubles as a retail shop and creative space for kids to explore and discover their artistic skills.  Now you can find a selection of Leikey Designs handmade toys at Collage Collage!

Craft Arts Market in St. Catharines, ON
St Catharines has a significant and celebrated art scene with amazing arts events like In the Soil and STRUTT. So it's the perfect situation for Craft to showcase Handmade, Canadian goods. But Craft isn't all about retail - it too doubles as a creative space, with artist run workshops. Now you can find a selection of Leikey Designs toys and Needle-felting at Craft Arts Market!


                      

Click here to find our full list of stockists.

Even More!
Find Leikey Designs Needle-felted Cacti and Bunnies at Scout on Roncesvalles in Toronto.
Limited quantities so get them quick!

Here we go again!

I'm very excited to announce that Leikey Designs will be at the 

One Of A Kind 2015 Spring Show

This year, look for me in the Rising Star section of the show.

Join us 

March 25th - 29th 

Direct Energy Centre

Toronto, ON 

Once again I'll be giving away tickets to the show, so stay tuned. 

Make sure you follow 

@leikeydesigns 

on Twitter and Instagram 

for contest details and for a sneak peek of all 

the goodies that will be available at the show!

Home-stretch

The OOAK Show is almost here! 

Join us for the 40th annual One Of A Kind Toronto Christmas Show happening... 

Nov 27th - Dec 7th 

@ Toronto's Direct Energy Centre. 

Find Leikey Designs in the Rising Stars Section, booth C52. 

Use the link to the advance tickets sales page and get a discount on your admission! 

https://www.microspec.com/tix123/eTic.cfm?code=OOAKX14&promo=ASDmymf

Hope to see you there! 

Getting Ready for the show

Just a little under three weeks away until the One Of A Kind Christmas show. 
Busy prepping and making for the show. I'll have a variety of stuffed toys, brooches and needle-felted goodies available at the show, including many of your favourites from my Etsy shop. 
This will be my second OOAK show vendor experience and my first Christmas show experience, as a vendor. 
Very excited and nervous at the same time. 
Hope to see you at the show.

Stay tuned for a giveaway coming up next week where you could win two tickets to the show!!!

For now, back to work.

 Here's a sneak peek of what's in store for the OOAK Christmas show...

*

*cat not for sale

One Of A Kind Online

With the One Of A Kind Show growing every year, it seemed only natural to expand online to reach a global audience.

Leikey Designs is very excited to announce it's involvement in the One Of A Kind Online shop, bringing the unique handmade goods you'll find at the shows, to you 365 days a year!

Many of the artisans we look forward to at the Spring and Christmas shows, you'll find year round on the new site, so you won't have to wait!

Many of the popular products Leikey Designs sold at this year's Spring Show will be available in the online shop. Take a look here

The One Of a Kind Online Shop officially launches today to shoppers around the world.
Happy shopping! 

Leaves Of Trees Headquarters Opens May 1st

You're invited to join us @ Leaves of Trees store opening tomorrow!

We're officially open May 1st 

177 Queen St. East, Toronto.
10:00am - 6:00pm

Bonus: Opening day, receive a free gift with purchase!

What is Leaves of Trees?

Roohi Qureshi is the modern-apothecary behind Leaves of Trees, a luxe artisanal skin & hair care line.
Leaves of Trees products are organic and ethically made, formulated and handmade by Roohi herself in small batches.

What's in store?

Lotions, lip balms, soaps, scrubs, Lainey Gossip fave deodorant and Argan Oils.
All products are made using argan oil sourced from a women's co-operative in Morocco where the oil is extracted the traditional way, by hand!

Shop opens for business May 1st.
With regular hours:
Tuesday - Saturday 10am  - 6pm

Stop by and say hi and try out the products while you're there. 

Unikati Pop-Up @ Leaves Of Trees HQ

This weekend (Friday/Saturday)

Unikati & Co. will be having their first ever Pop-Up Sale 

at the Leaves of Trees HQ

177 Queen St. East, Toronto

Unikati & Co. 

Is a well-curated online shop dedicated to ethically, one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted goods 

from all over the world. 

The lovely and sweet founders, Leila & Dina, have gathered a bevy of beautiful, unique pieces for sale this weekend, including some exclusive items and you should check it out!

Bonus: You can grab some of your favourite goodies, at the pop-up, from 

Leaves of Trees & Leikey Designs 


Unikati Pop Up Sale
Friday April 25th 12pm - 8pm

Saturday April 26th 10am - 6pm 

See you there!

OOAK Spring 2014

Leikey Designs is starting off with a bang this year, with a booth at the 

One Of A Kind Spring Show 

at the Direct Energy Building, Toronto. 

March 26 - 30th
Booth K20Q

Check out the Canadian artisans and springtime goodness 

the OOAK show has to offer and

click here for a special Promo Code to receive $1 off admission when you order your tickets online. 

Buy online and skip the line!

Find me at my booth in the special Spring Show exclusive, Etsy Section. 

Follow me on twitter @LeikeyDesigns and Facebook for updates and special promotion dealies. 

Check out my online shop here  for a sneak peek of what's in store at the show. 

See you at the show! 

Hamilton Arts Awards 2013

It's clearly been a while since my last post.
Happy to say, it's been a busy summer with workshops, weddings and work for the most part.

The next few posts will be photo updates of the things I've been up to including, new designs, custom orders, awards show and more.... enjoy!

First up Hamilton Arts Awards night! 
Photos generously provided by City of Hamilton Arts Awards.

I was pleased and humbled to be apart of the fabulous annual Hamilton Arts Awards this year.
Lots of friendly faces from HCA and Beehive Collective; creative people like local visual artists collective HAVN who put on a hypnotic projection installation that set a buzz and transformed the space and atmosphere of the venue; delicious food and beats by DJ Gary Buttrum. Needless to say, it was a pretty great time.

Aswell, the three animal heads you know and love mixed and mingled with the awards night guests. The heads were worn by three wonderful members and actors of the theatre company. The three chatted with guests, stumbled and made awkward encounters all around the venue. It was a great experience to see the heads in action, and to see the guests interact with them.

Photo provided by
Photographer John Rennison
of The Hamilton Spec

A great big thank you to organizers Stephanie & Jen, City of Hamilton and Hamilton Arts Council, Theatre Aquarius, our actors and photographers from the night! 

Always On My Mind - The Rest

Last year this pretty great band

The Rest

got a bunch of people together including sharp-eye director Karl Richter 

to make a fantastic music video in just 24hrs 

for their touching and haunting song 

Always On My Mind

off their stellar album SEESAW. 

For your viewing pleasure... 

here is the fruit of their labour 

Always On My Mind - SEESAW

by The Rest 

Directed by Karl Richter

Listen to the album SEESAW on Bandcamp

News & Events!

Hey have you check out the News & Events page lately?
I have a few things happening this month just in time for the holidays like...

Artisans Marketplace @ 401 Richmond, Toronto
On this weekend
Saturday 11am - 6pm
Sunday 11am - 4pm
Free Admission!

Hard Twist 7: Touch Me, Feel Me

On now until January 27th @ Gladstone Hotel, Toronto

Opening daily 12pm - 5pm

Free Admission

Intro to Needle-felting: Holiday Ornaments 

Dec 15th 1-4pm @ Needlework  in Hamilton

Catch me at one or all of these events this month! 

And don't forget to stop by the shop for the cutest holiday gifts or our 

new print shop for our Animal Collective prints!! 

Hard Twist 7: Touch Me, Feel Me

Join us for Hard Twist 7: Touch Me, Feel Me, opening November 1st.

 An exhibition of textile works set on evoking your emotions and inviting you to interact. A rare opportunity to touch the art and experience an exhibition like no other. 

Hard Twist is an annual juried textile exhibition that takes place at the historic Gladstone Hotel in downtown Toronto. 

Opening reception for Hard Twist is Nov. 1st 6pm - 9pm. 

Exhibition runs Nov 1st - Jan 27th on the 3rd and 4th floor of the hotel. 

Hotel is open daily + Free admission for gallery visitors. 

This year, I will be presenting some new pieces. I invite you to snap photos wearing and posing.

So make sure to bring your camera and ready those instagram apps! 

AWOL SQ FT Show

For the second year, I'm participating in AWOL Gallery's Square Foot Show.
This is their 10th annual show and exhibits over 500 works.
This year's show is on
from Aug 4th - 19th
@ Twist Gallery, Toronto

So hurry up and get a good look! Can you spot mine?

visit AWOL GALLERY for details! 

5-10-15-20

The 5-10-15-20 pop up shop is happening 

July 12th - July 27th

With an opening reception + art installations

 + workshops + more....

July 12th 5pm - 9pm

(just like it says on the poster ;)

You can expect to find a cornucopia of affordable design and crafts for yourself, your friends, your home and maybe even your friend's home - if you're feeling generous; priced between $5 - $20. With goods ranging from wallets and accessories to prints and small housewares. There is even a workshop to construct your own light fixture! This concept shop is spearheaded by the lovely, talented and kind Ananda Gabo - artist and events co-ordinator. 

It should also be mentioned there will be a door crashing raffle, a magnificent assortment of tropical fruits and must have kimbap, made special for opening night (Sat. July 12th) 

Shop hours:

July 12th - 27th

Tuesday-Saturday: 12pm - 6pm

Sunday: 1pm - 5pm

For vendors, info and general ogling visit 

5-10-15-20.com

And to preview some of the stuff I'll be selling
click here + exclusive *new* stock you can only get at this event!

News & Events - Drake Spring Market

Weekends were made for this! 

 Photo source: Drake Hotel Flickr page

The Drake Hotel in Toronto will be holding their FREE spring market this weekend - 

Saturday May 5th from 10am - 4pm.  

But I haven't even gotten to the best part. The Drake will be selling their goods - vintage treasures and unique finds. Plus they've assembled a collection of stunning local artisans to sell their goods as well. 

Find me there this weekend selling my own lot, some new work and exclusive pieces that are not available online! 

Will see you there! 

Drake Hotel events page

1150 Queen St. West, Toronto. 

More photos from last years event here on their Flickr page!

Noelle Stevenson - Illustrator

Have you seen Noelle Stevenson's work?

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You should, it's pretty great! Her work reminds me alot of Scott Campbell (who you may also know from his Great Showdowns series)

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Armed with a tablet and photoshop, Stevenson's illustrations are quirky, nerdy and adorable to say the least. With an indie-esc doodle-like style, she creates clever and witty comics featuring herself, characters she's dreamed up and others derived from pop culture and fiction.

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I've afforded some free time to catch up on her even growing comic series. Lately, Stevenson's illustrating an impressive line up of characters from comics, fantasy and fiction. Just to name a few: X-Men, Avengers and Hunger Games to Bones, BBC's Sherlock, and Doctor Who. Stevenson has an endearing wit and "5yr old" like humour/sensibility that is insatiable to nerds and nons alike.

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A girl after my own heart, she feeds off the creatvity of her emotions, all while watching tv shows marathons and superhero movies.

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Stevenson has a Big Cartel shop, where she sells prints. The shop is currently out of stock as she's busy with school, but I look forward to purchasing print of her work soon ;)
Enjoy!

Noelle Stevenson Illustrator -  (aka Gingerhaze)
blog
shop
bio
art work 

Melissa Christie, textile designer extraordinaire!

Never Sleep Alone! 

Chances are you'll recognize these sheets from textile designer Melissa Christie because they're blowing up on the internet right now. Spreading like wildfire since opening up her Etsy shop on Tuesday, Melissa is reaching zombie lovers from all over the globe through social media sites like her
tumblr, 
facebook and
twitter.
Selling out of all items her first day open, Melissa's Etsy shop titled 'It's Alive' sells OOAK handmade bedding featuring hand painted zombie hands! How creepy/brilliant are these sheets!

Melissa's zombie bedding is all handmade by her and made to order. Her shop currently offers standard size bedding twin - king for a flat rate in white cotton fabric. What a deal!
She is currently looking into different colour bedding options and sheets for specialty sizes like California King size. But a good option for those who can't wait is the pillowcase set which are made to fit 20" x 30" (standard size) pillow.

Melissa is working on a portfolio site that will feature some of her other works. Works like her killer Femme Fatal dresses. Over-dyed dupioni silk dresses with screen printed poisonous flowers and hand painted/sewn elements. Photographer/Developer Owen Deveney of Capture Scratch and model Alexandria Goldman of Fresh Poultry.  These dresses are not yet available in her shop, but are destined to be another successful series! Great job Melissa! Keep up the good work!

Holiday Gift Guide vol. 1 - Gifts for him

Why are guys so hard to buy for? 

It should be straight forward right?

Owen, is a pretty practical guy with very specific taste. Minimal, understated and well-made are his criteria for a successful present. Although, I'm sure he would say he'd be happy with anything I got him. Despite all that, I find it tough sometimes to find that one great gift he won't forget.

Well if you're having trouble like me, I'm starting a Holiday Gift Guide - for last minute shoppers to hopefully find that special gift for someone special.
First up is Gift Ideas for him...

Please click here for links to shops and full treasury.

This post will kick off my Holiday Gift Guide page, so follow the growing list here or on the main page in the top menu. 

Next up, Gift Guides for: Me, Moms, Dads, Kids, Babies and Her. Featuring my favourite finds on Etsy.com. 

Stay tuned for these special posts - hope you'll find something to buy or even a artisan you like!