It's an early harbinger of the holiday season.
The annual Circle Craft Christmas Market returns for its 42nd year Nov. 11 to 15 and more than 300 jury-selected artisans from B.C. and beyond will be selling their clothing, pottery, wood and metal work, blown glass, jewelry, toys and more at the Vancouver Convention Centre West.
Next week's market boasts 50 brand new exhibitors, several of whom hail from the North Shore. North Vancouver's Mary Helen McCormick, the designer behind Maryhelen Story Bags, uses vintage bark cloth, lace and buttons to create her bags, which feature scenes influenced, in part, by her hometown outside of Regina, Sask.
Also new this year is North Vancouver's Jack Cyan (formerly Stirling Studio Prints), which creates home decor and gift items such as cushions and table runners using sun-exposed dye. Artist Jules Stirling designs, dyes, cuts, and sews every item by hand.
Other North Shore artisans making their Circle Craft debuts are North Vancouver textile designer Lorna Moffat, who makes stitched and collaged bags and accessories for the home using wool, leather and silk, and North Vancouver painter Iori Kok.
From West Vancouver, Jackie Frioud will be selling her salt-glazed functional pottery and the authors of Granny Get Your Glue Gun will have their new book on display.
Joining these new talents will be some familiar North Shore faces who have shown their work at past Circle Craft markets.
Returning exhibitors from North Vancouver include Local King Rubber Stamp, Moojoes Rain Gear, Linda Paterson Jewellery and Rain Goose Textiles. Visitors will also be able to browse handcrafted ornaments from North Vancouver's Kenfolks, apparel and blankets from Dahlia Drive, kiln-fired art glass by P.S. Designs, traditional toys with a modern twist by MiMi, reclaimed wood jewelry and accessories by Billy Would Designs, and hand-cut wood prints by Reclaimed Print Co.
West Vancouver artisans returning for another year at the Christmas market include First Nations jeweller Corrine Hunt, K-O.ME Clothing, chef Ann Kirsebom, and Ratatouille Designs.
The Vancouver Convention Centre West is located at 1055 Canada Place. Market hours are Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: $14 adults; $12 seniors and students; $10 each for groups of 10 or more. Discounted advance tickets available online at circlecraft.net.
