Archives: craft fair

It totally puts me over the moon when things I’ve only dreamed of happening in Hamilton actually start to happen here on the regular: Fleas, Vintage Markets, Maker’s Market, and now Makeology.

This Saturday, at The Cotton Factory, Hamilton’s largest craft fair is about to happen.

Melissa Lowry is the creative visionary force behind the event. She’s an illustrator, graphic designer, founder of Makeology, and maker of Milo&Ben (adorable hand-crafted felt animals). So it’s no wonder that she’s got a natural keen eye for helping to search out the best of the best makers (and then putting them all under one roof).

Makeology is a one-day craft fair that will feature 80 vendors ranging from clothes and textiles, to jewellery, stationary, kids/baby goods, houseware and my fave –all things Made in Hamilton!

The Shoppery, leather goods

TJ Indigo

Coven, jewelery

Heidi van Veen Designs, screen printed totes, pouches, pillows & tea towels The Wild, accessories and apparel for kids, babies & adults Aren’t You Fancy, sleep mask

Wolf Dottir, upcycled reworked vintage china

Besides buying gifts for yourself (cause who doesn’t want to treat themselves) or others, you’ll be able to stay fuelled with caffein from Durand coffee shop (Hamilton’s newest hip cafe to hit the scene), Foundry‘s small batch gourmet ice-cream (flavours like roquefort & honey and vegan cherry chocolate coconut), and handmade confections from Sweet & Simple Co. For a little more substance Ramped up Catering will be on-site selling mouth watering bites to eat like their pork-belly sliders.

Makeology is from 11am-6pm on Saturday, April 16th. Admission is $2. Kids under 12 are free. A dollar from all admission fees will go towards 541 Eatery’s button exchange (amazing!) and FYI there is an elevator to get you where you need to go.

The Cotton Factory is located at 270 Sherman, and In case you didn’t know, it’s an old 100,000 square-foot cotton factory and textile mill in centre of Hamilton’s Industrial heartland. The space is now a creative industrial complex dedicated to artistic endeavours and home to over 60 artist studios! The venue alone is worth checking out, especially if you’ve never been before.

 *Makeology, Saturday April 16th 2016, 11am-6pm, at 270 Sherman, @Makeology, Facebook

 

 

This weekend the tall ships are coming!

In part for the bicentennial anniversary of the War of 1812, six tall ships will enter into the Hamilton harbour tomorrow afternoon (between 2-4pm) and dock for a weekend of nautical entertainment. The weekend-long event is jam packed with three nights of really fabulous live music from the likes of Hamilton locals such as: Young Rival, The Dinner Belles, Harrison Kennedy and the Soul Motivators (hailing form Toronto). There’ll also be a craft fair, an art battle, snow cones (plus other food vendors), dancing, busking and tours of these historic tall ships. For more information you can visit the Tourism Hamilton website here or take the free shuttle bus down to Pier 8 to see for yourself.

Well Hamilton you never cease to surprise me! The other evening I discovered this little piece of the city that I didn’t even know existed. The Royal Hamilton Yacht Club sits at the bottom of James St. North. If you are a member you can gain access to lakeside views like this one. Well, as a non-member, I won’t be sitting at this exclusive private patio watching the tall ships sail in. But alas that’s won’t stop me from finding a little perch of my own to watch these tall sailing beauties.