by Nicole Arnett | You’re currently smack in the middle of Craft Fair Season. Don’t worry, this is a good thing. Buying unique, handmade and locally sourced items as gifts is a win-win that strengthens our communities by supporting small scale makers while ensuring friends and family end up with something uniquely cool.

Circle Craft at the Vancouver Convention Centre is one of the first of the season. It’s also one of the largest. Those who participate often have a long line of smaller fairs ahead of them through the month of December, so scouting out the good stuff here – at the beginning – can be a good indicator of what’s to come. I was there, and spied these keepers…

AW by Andrea Wong | Local line of beautiful & burly handmade leather goods like purses, wallets and even tiny hand stitched lighter covers. If you ask nicely Andrea is happy to take custom orders (that’s her, pictured above). I’ve already placed mine! Available locally or online at www.awbyandreawong.bigcartel.com

Heyday Designs | Claire Madill is at it again with her functional modern porcelain. Favorite items this year include a jumbo size mason jar (hello Santa) as well as crushed beer cans and ‘wicker’ baskets. Available at local retailers or online at www.heydaydesign.ca

Goodies By Thelma (aka the BEST pickled veggies) | These are hands down the best pickles you will ever taste and each year I leave Circle Craft carrying my weight in spicy dills. Now available at local retailers and online at www.thelmas-goodies.myshopify.com

Sweet Thea Cake Company | If, like me, you have neither the time nor the talent to churn out dozens of gourmet cookies over the holidays, these good folks will more than pick up the slack. Chocolate Lebkuchen is a must have. Available online at www.sweetthea.com

Stinson Studios | Forget that plastic stacker sitting in your cupboard. These beautiful hand turned wooden bowls will make you want to bust out the salad tongs every night of the week. www.stinsonstudios.ca

Ulat Dryer Balls | These colorful balls are made from 100% Canadian wool and will help to reduce wrinkles, static and drying time for your clothes. Bonus: you can add a few drops of essential oil to them prior to use for some seriously sweet smelling sheets. Available in retailers across Canada or online at www.ulat.ca

Abeego | Keep your food ‘alive’ longer with this natural, breathable food wrap made from beeswax infused into a hemp/ cotton cloth. A brilliant way to keep your cheeses happy and keep all of that cling wrap out of the garbage. Available in retailers across Canada or online at www.abeego.com

Craftworks | Hand made felt ornaments, stockings, advent calendars and stories made by local adults with disabilities. We picked up some sweet new buddies for the tree including Haida inspired animals and the infamous ‘dentist’ elf from Rudolph the Red Nosed reindeer. Available online at www.3hcraftworks.com

iDENTITY | Vintage army & Hudsons Bay blankets turned into cozy pillows and awesome handbags. Perfect to curl up on the couch with . Available on line at www.identitytees.ca

Also check out:

Arabesque Pottery – Porcelain Pottery & Sculpture
Leanne Christie – Oil Paintings of Local Urban Landscapes
Trifly Design – Felted Tea Cozies
Love My Local – Provincial Bamboo Cutting Boards
Enchanted Designs – Refashioned Vintage Furs
Mimi – Traditional Toys with Modern Twist
Creighton Valley Apiaries – Premium Varietal Honey & beeswax candles
Junichi Tanaka – High Fire Stoneware

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Mark you calendars for the following upcoming craft fairs:

MAKE IT! | Thu, Dec 4 – Sun, Dec 7 | PNE Forum Building (2901 East Hastings St) | DETAILS

TOQUE | Fri, Dec 5 6-10pm | Sat, Dec 6 11am-5pm | Western Front (303 East 8th Ave) | DETAILS

FARMERS HOLIDAY MARKET  | Sat, Dec 6 | 10am-4pm | Croatian Cultural Centre (3250 Commercial Dr) | DETAILS

EAST VAN INDIE SWAP | Sat, December 6 | 12pm – 8pm | The Independent (188 Kingsway @ Broadway) | DETAILS

GOT CRAFT  | Sat, Dec 13 + Sun, Dec 14 | 10am-5pm | Maritime Labour Centre (1880 Triumph) | DETAILS

SHINY FUZZT MUDDY  | Sat, Dec 13 + Sun Dec 14 | 11am – 6pm | Heritage Hall (3102 Main St) | DETAILS

BLIM | Sat, Dec 20 | 12-5pm | Fox Cabaret (2321 Main St) | DETAILS