After a three-year absence due to the pandemic, the Signatures Originals Spring Craft Show is finally returning to Ottawa, offering handmade decor and more from about 150 Canadian artists and artisans.
“We are thrilled to be back,” says John Ladouceur, founder and president of Signatures Shows Ltd. “Visitors will be able to shop a wide variety of products and meet the creators and hear their stories. The goal of Signatures Shows has always been to connect artisans with consumers and we are so excited to do so in person again.”
If you’re looking for unique, handmade items from housewares to art, furniture and accessories (and more), find inspired choices for every style and budget.
Details on the show
When: May 5 to 8
Where: EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Dr.
Hours: Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets: $8 (free for children 12 and under); parking $8
Information: info@signatures.ca or signatures.ca/originals-spring
A sampling of what you’ll find
Flower power: Amber Pollett’s felted wool decor is inspired by nature and made from all-natural fibres, including raw wool and silk. The abstract flower wall hanging is $260 and the four-foot daisy table runner is $125. ambergoesviolet.ca.
Serve it up: Playful and versatile, this wheel-thrown dragonfly-adorned casserole dish comes in three sizes ($58 to $120) and can be used for cooking or serving. Made by Bailey Brown Pottery near Belleville, the dishes are porcelain clay with lead-free glazes. baileybrownpottery.com.
Shelf art: Precision-crafted yet oddly organic, the unique woodworking of Shawni Proulx combines function with form and a penchant for recycling. All pieces, including this doussie, cherry and yellowheart shelf, are made from reclaimed wood (58 centimetres long, 19 cm high, 10 cm deep; $340). shawniwoodartisan.com.
All tied up: Artist Cori Lee Marvin likes to have fun with her paintings. She describes it as realistic and detailed still life meets nature and whimsical storytelling. An example is Clothespins, originally created in watercolour and available as a 15-inch (38-cm), basswood-framed, limited-edition print for $145. marvindale.ca.
Flight of fancy: Sue Gibb began creating dragonflies on a whim. Three years later, she refers to herself as an “accidental artisan,” loving every creative minute. Her pieces include this 20-cm shadowbox ($115), 23-cm driftwood accent ($119) and individual dragonflies/butterflies (from $19). hazydayzdragonflies.com.
On the chopping block: Perfect for cutting meat or vegetables, this black walnut and maple cutting board doubles as a stylish charcuterie board. Made by Mario Laurin of De l’arbre à Votre Table, the 1.5-inch-thick board is 14.75 by 23.5 inches (37 by 59 cm) and sells for $225. delarbreavotretable.com.
Stylish storage: Add Bohemian flair while tidying with these fabric-covered rope coiled baskets by Niagara-based Basket Case. They’re made from new and recycled fabrics with leather handles. The ones shown are about 10 inches high and 12 inches wide (25 and 30 cm) and sell for $125. basket-case.ca.
Two in one: A combined colander and serving bowl, this decorative pottery draining bowl with matching drip dish is pierced with 90 holes for the water to drain and is decorated with prints of black bees sealed under the glaze. The bowl is five inches tall and six inches wide (12.5 by 15 cm) and holds a quart of strawberries. It’s $110 from Arabesque Pottery. dianesullivan.ca.
Down on the farm: Mylène Trépanier has created three-dimensional town and village scenes since 2001. The Little Farm is oil and acrylic on reclaimed wood, inspired by ancestral architecture. It’s 24 inches by 17 inches (61 by 43 cm) for $425. creationsdoctobre.com.
Easy clean-up: The Non-Paper Towel may not be paper, but the flannel and terry cloth sheets that snap together in a roll are an eco-friendly alternative to disposable towels. Each roll has 10 towels measuring seven by 11 inches each (17.5 by 28 cm) for $55. loveyourplanet.ca.
