This year the Radiant Dark show, curated by Shaun Moore and Julie Nicholson of MADE, was held in Commerce Court West at King and Bay. If you didn’t make it there, like me, you can still check out pictures of the show at blogTO (including the pictures below) and Toronto Craft Alert.

Warm the hearts of those you love with unique, handmade Canadian gifts from goodEGG industries! Support local artists this holiday season, while you find the perfect something for everyone on your list.

Things to wear

1. Rosemont Sweater
2. Sleeve Neck Top
3. Twist Shrug
4. Mushroom Zip Top

Things for kids

1. Car Bingo Game
2. Felt Hippo
3. Shopping Tote
4. Fancy Octopus

Things for guys

1. Wolf T-Shirt
2. Mustache Courier Bag
3. Being a Straight Shooter Merit Badge
4. Ergonomic Guitar Pick

Things for gals

1. Black Branches Teacup Necklace
2. Laundry Necklace
3. Trees Glass Necklace
4. Requiem for a Seahorse Necklace

Things to Carry

1. Nina Purse
2. Cherry Blossom Clutch/a>

3.Green Owls Pouch
4. Mums Canvas Hobo Bag

Paper Things

1. Dutch-themed Birthday Calender
2. Trophy Print Series
3. Eyelet Letterpress Card Set
4. Lady Talk, Lady Sing Paper Puppet

Things for the home

1. Eco Cup Cozy
2. Woodgrain Coasters
3. Heartbirds Placemat and Napkin Set
4. Maplewood Pillow

If you’re in Toronto, be sure to check out this exhibition which acts as a lead up to the fabulous City of Craft next weekend. Home & Away is a thematic group exhibition featuring a bunch of amazingly talented people, including goodEGG’s own Fiona Bailey, Amy Borkwood, and Sara Guindon.

Craft processes and acts of making have a way of rooting people to their surroundings.  People make or purchase craft items to enhance their domestic spaces and make themselves “at home.”  Alternately, people take comfort in craft and art making when they find themselves in unfamiliar territory or when situated in transitional spaces such as on planes and buses and in waiting rooms.  Home and Away (and In-Between) is an exhibition that strives to explore how the act of making enables us to relate to where we are.

Home and Away (and In-Between) is a thematic group exhibition of selected vendors, organizers and installation artists involved with this year’s City of Craft event.  The exhibition also includes a few invited special guests artists. Home and Away will serve as a pre-fair party as well as a public preview of the wares in store at this year’s City of Craft.

Opening Reception:
Friday, December 4th.  7-10pm
Exhibition runs December 3-13, 2009.
City of Craft takes place December 12-13th at The Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen St. West

Location:
Cream Tangerine Café
At the Great Hall
1087 Queen Street West, Toronto

Artists:
Lizz Aston, Fiona Bailey, Amy Borkwood, Leah Buckareff, Marta Chudolinska, Heather Fagan, Meags Fitzgerald, Sara Guindon, Genevieve Jodouin, Serena McCarroll and Tyler Brett, Laurie McGregor, The Misanthrope Specialty Co., Jen Spinner, Gillian Wilson and more.

If you’re looking to shop handmade this holiday season, this is the prime time to check out your local craft fair (in addition to shopping at goodEGG, of course!) Below is a selection of some of the cool craft shows happening across the country:

Vancouver
Got Craft?
December 6
Royal Canadian Legion, 2205 Commercial Drive (@ E.6th Ave)

Shiny Fuzzy Muddy Show
Saturday, December 12th & Sunday, December 13th
Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street

Urban Artisan Craft Fair
Saturday, November 28th & Sunday, November 29th
Roundhouse Arts & Recreation Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews
http://www.roundhouse.ca

Toronto

A Craft Thing
Saturday, December 5, 2009, 11am to 6pm
St. Stephen in-the-Fields, 103 Bellevue Avenue

City of Craft
December 12+13, 2009
The Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen Street West, Toronto

One of a kind Show
Nov 26-Dec 6
Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place

Ottawa

Originals Ottawa Christmas Craft Sale
December 10-20, 2009
Landsdown Park

Montreal

Puces Pop and Rusty Plum Holiday Bazaar
December 5th & 6th (Saturday 11-7PM & Sunday 11-5PM)
St-Michel Church Hall, 105 St-Viateur O.)

Halifax

NSCAD Jewellery Department
November 24-December 5
Seeds Gallery, 1892 Hollis Street

NSCAD Textiles and Fashion Departments
December 8-19
Seeds Gallery, 1892 Hollis Street

Halifax Crafters Market
December 5, 6
The Olympic Centre, 2304 Hunter Street

Winnipeg
Last Chance Craft Sale
December 13
Club Regent, Canad Inns, (Club Regent Casino Hotel)
1415 Regent Avenue West

“This Ain’t Your Grandma’s Craft Sale”
December 13, 2009 (5-11pm)
The Park Theatre, Osborne Street

Edmonton

Make It!
Dec 11-13
11410 Kingsway Avenue

Just added these great new designs by Jenna Rose – love the new print patterns!

Nicole Tirona of it’s your life creates lovely ‘New Vintage Accessories’ using both old and new jewelry findings. We’re so pleased to have this great addition to the shop!

The always awesome Calgary-based Uppercase Press is publishing the first book in their Suitcase Series, on the life and work of Swedish artist Camilla Engman.

“Artist Camilla Engman may live in Gothenburg, Sweden, but her appeal is international. A professional illustrator and exhibiting artist, her images are whimsical, poignant, humourous and insightful. With her keen eye for finding the extraordinary in the everyday, Camilla documents her inspirations and endeavors on her popular blog.(camillaengman.blogspot.com).

The Suitcase Series presents in glorious detail the lives of select artists and designers. The books are image-based, full of artwork, sketchbook pages, beautiful photographs and artifacts from where the artists live and work. Interviews with the artist are included in both their native language and English.”

The book is now available for pre-0rder and will be available this week. In the meantime, you can check out some photos from the printing of the book on flickr or view this On press video.

We’ve got a new designer just added to the shop – pi’lo’s lovely and organic playthings for kids are now available!

Infinite interviews Jeanette Ordas of The Beautiful Project for their Thank God I’m Featured series. An excerpt:

What inspires you?

I get inspired from vintage kids books, cookbooks, old illustrations from the 1950s and ’60s. I love design and I try to take in all I can.

What’s the most exciting thing that has happened since you’ve started?

I think the most exciting thing is getting recognition for my cards and illustration. I always get excited when stores from around the world are interested in carrying my cards or when customers tell me that finally they’ve found greeting cards that they truly love.

Just heard about this lovely book and art exhibit at Magic Pony, by goodEGG’s own Melinda Josie:

Written and published by Bourgeon, Le Géranium weaves an adorable French love tale between a valiant pug and an aloof cat. Illustrated entirely by Melinda Josie and containing over thirty original paintings, this darling book is sure to become a favourite read for all ages.

Melinda Josie will be exhibiting the original artwork from Le Géranium at Magic Pony from November 7-16, so there’s a few days left to go see this great work this weekend! Or, you can also check out some of the paintings from the book on Melinda’s website.

(via)