Fabricawakuwaku is an absurd, hybrid Japanese/Italian term meaning 'excitement factory'. It is an art and design project endeavouring to create handmade art toys for children and adults. Fabricawakuwaku fosters good consumer Karma with locally produced, uniquely hand-made and lead-free art toys! Adrienne produces designer, avant-guard, limited edition dolls using recycled fabric whenever possible. Each plush artwork is part of a limited edition series. Recent series have been "Green Nipples Girl", "Deep-Down Elvis Girl", "Patch Bears, Bunnies, Kitties, Monkeys and Owls", "Hairy Chest Man" and "Flying Funny Rabbits". Many of Adrienne's Fabricawakuwaku hand-made art toys can be found for sale at RareFunk.

alipink is Alison Harris, a mother and nurse who would rather be crafting. Years of scouring thrift (opportunity) shops has provided Ali with a cache of fabulous vintage finds. She loves to create bags, purses, cards and other stuff from vintage and up-cycled fabrics. Ali lives on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia and is the first of many international artists that RareFunk will soon be welcoming. A wonderful unique selection of Ali.s bags, purses and cards can be found for sale at RareFunk.

As the sole proprietor of Jade Tree, a small business in the arts industry, Breeze offers art pieces, art programs and parties to the community. All products of Jade Tree are handmade with individual flair that is unique, funky and savvy. Breeze Lewis is a creator with an eccentric heart and soul; living her life with vitality, compassion and spirit. Everything that Breeze creates is done by using re-used materials in an effort to honor the limited resources of our planet. Her credo is: reduce, reuse, recycle, re-create. As an artist, it is Breeze's belief that the earth is a gift to us all, and her artistic journey is inspired by nature, to sustain nature. By re-creating, Breeze is not only turning landfill items into unique pieces of art, she is also helping to lessen the impact on the earth. A colourful selection of Breeze.s jewellery and home decor can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Al has always been fascinated with the beauty of wood, from the smallest of twigs to the towering forests and he has been creating works of art in wood since 1985. From small tree ornaments and trinkets to quilt racks, from educational games to complex stand-up puzzles, including custom work, Al proves that wood can truly be an art in and of itself. It is for this reason that most of Al's products are left with a natural finish - to enhance this inner beauty. Each piece is sanded smooth, carefully finished, and then cured in a finishing room. Al's goal at GuelphWoodArt is to bring you in touch with wood's natural, inherent beauty through handcrafted products - providing items of value that are a pleasure to have, either as decorations, tools or games. Every item is meticulously created - no robots, no lasers, no mass production. As such, no two items are exactly the same. A variety of Al's wood puzzles and wooden magnetic lapels can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Amy is currently in her third year at the Ontario College of Art & Design in Toronto for Environmental Design. As a hobby, she enjoys custom-painting onto fashion accessories, shoes and purses. Amy also makes her own jewellery, each piece one-of-a-kind. A selection of Amy's hand painted shoes can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Andrea Manica is a twenty year old woman looking to become an illustrator. All her life she has made crafts and is inspired by things around her, especially nature and ordinary objects. She has just begun to do crafting for others, and is exploring the different mediums of expression. She hopes that the things she creates will make others happy! Currently Andrea is taking a year off from school where she studies graphic design at the Ontario College of Art and Design. Since coming home, she has immersed herself in art and a variety of different projects. Andrea volunteers at the Art Gallery and at the Working Centre, and is designing t-shirts and posters for friends and other various organizations. Andrea has self published two zines - one a drawing book and another a mini comic and she hopes to do more of this in the future, as well as continue to paint and create decorative, cute items to sell and give away. A variety of Andrea.s unique items can be found for sale at RareFunk.

As a child Andrea created and collected things. Some things she would stash in little boxes, envelopes, drawers and cubbies and others she would give as gifts. As an adult, the things Andrea now finds and collects tend to be paper, canvass and fabric, filling boxes and bags that can be found stashed in corners, cubbies, and underfoot. Each one, chosen and kept because of the small details that attracted her in the first place - almost always something one of a kind or in small editions. Andrea is also a slave to her moods and whims, so her items and work tend to ebb and flow with the medium that suits her for the moment. Andrea moves back and forth between art and craft, always experimenting with new mediums and exploring her old favourites. Dréher Hubby and their almost three children live in a little town in Southern Manitoba Canada. Andreas greeting and recipe cards, bookmarks and handbags can be found for sale at RareFunk.

With Christmas fast approaching, Kora and Andrea were looking for fun and unique gifts. They learned about screen printing and once they started, they were hooked. Friends and family were excited about their unique gifts and began requesting more. Koriander was born. Fun, funky and awesome, Koriander's one of a kind prints are inspired from photographs taken of destinations around the globe. Lovingly handmade by Kora and Andrea, these unique designs are wearable art...and they're machine washable too! Many of Koriander.s screen printed clothes for men, women and children can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Dandee Original Designs has been a constantly evolving line of hand crafted one of a kind clothing, accessories and gifts for the past ten years. Designer, Andee Penner has her full line of new and reworked clothing and accessories at Sew Dandee in the heart of Osborne Village in Winnipeg Manitoba, where she is the store owner. In addition to new and reworked clothing, Dandee has a great line of hand crocheted accessories, unique gift cards, decorated light switch plates and a line of clothing and accessories for men, women and children using hand screened images. Her focus is on recycling fabrics, yarns and anything else she can get her hands on that would otherwise end up in landfills. Andee has always been passionate about using a unique .take. on fashion to help people express their individual personalities. Many of Dandee's products such as silk screened ties, bags, pouches, switch plates, cards and clothing can be found for sale at RareFunk.

The creative force behind Arte-Facto is Colombian artist Andrea Romero. Arte-Facto emerged from a need to create wearable art. At first this took the form of organic elements such as seeds, feathers, shells, and natural fibres. Since moving to Toronto in 2007, the Andrea has adapted the Arte-Facto line by harvesting objects the city has to offer and transforming them into beautiful and wearable art-objects. In contrast to organic materials, Arte-Facto now features fashionable accessories made in a sustainable way – from recycled and repurposed materials found in the city. Andrea's up-cycled fashion accessories made out of aluminum cans, electronic cable-wire,recycled buttons and leather cord can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Angela Marie Werstine was born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia to a Mi'qmaq father and a Scottish- heritage mother. Angela never knew growing up about her Native ancestry because her Grandparents were ashamed of their roots and the conditions that their people endured on the East Coast. Angela's father and other cousins researched their background and Angela joined the Eastern Woodland Metis Nation in 2005 Angela has strived to learn as much as she can about her roots, and has faced much difficulty having to adapt to being Metis, being accepted fully in neither culture. Angela uses her Mi'qmiq heritage to create her art, either ink, acrylic on canvas, or traditional dream catchers and necklaces. She loves attending Six Nations Pow-Wow's to compare, and to learn about Native Art, even though learning about her own Mi'qmaq/Algonquin heritage is difficult in Ontario. Angela currently resides in St. Jacobs with her husband and her two children, who will always know their mixed heritage, never to be hidden again. Several of Angela's paintings can be found for sale at RareFunk.

When she is not traveling or practicing Social Work, Angelina is busy crocheting. Self-taught to beat the winter blues, Angelina creates PetiteMinouche dolls, using vintage notions and recycled yarn. Each doll is unique in design, size and shape. Every Petite Minouche doll is created with love. A selection of these colourful creations can be found for sale at RareFunk!

‘ OM ’ means harmony between mind, body and soul. Harmony is created by "Only My Designs" owner Asha Rajput by using sari materials which are either re-cycled or new. Her passion for sewing has given her the inspiration to create Yoga bags, cushion covers, sleep masks and accessories with an Indian twist. All products are handmade, durable and created by Asha right here in Canada . Each item is unique and no two pieces are identical .Custom orders are also available. Asha Rajput was born and raised in Uganda , lived in England for a few years and for the past 34 years calls Canada her home. Asha and her husband, Hardyal have raised their daughter and three sons in Eastern Ontario and also Waterloo Region. A selection of Asha's beautiful yoga accessories can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Bhupi is an incredibly talented mehendhi (henna) artist. She was born in East Africa and has lived in England, India and now in Canada, providing a unique perspective on the world and its cultures. Translating her experiences and outlook into art, one can feel the "world" influence in her designs. .Henna4You Glassware. by Bhupi skirts the border between old school traditional and modern henna designs. Her passion for henna comes through in every piece. Each high-quality piece of glassware is hand painted and signed by the artist. A selection of Bhupi's original wine glasses, tea cups and votive candles can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Brenda's life as a Scrapstar is very glamourous! She lives in the centre of it all in downtown Elmira. This is where Brenda spends her creative time making cards, paper projects and scrapbooking. Her studio is nestled in a small bedroom, on the second floor of her 100 year old yellow brick house, which she shares with her 2 mini scrapstar children and her fab husband. Brenda is living the life of a scrapstar everyday involving late nights and many "sticky"/"inky" situations. As she says "if you aren't making memories, what's the point of scrapbooking?". A large selection of Brenda's greeting cards can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Robyn and Caitlin live in Toronto and are the founders of Tayzie Crochet Co, happily named after their dogs Taylor and Kenzie. While completing their Master's in Biomedical Communications, they stumbled upon the incredibly cute style of Amigurumi (the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals and anthropomorphic creatures.) and immediately fell in love. This comeback style was an instant hit with family and friends alike, and made perfect gifts for just about every occasion. Crocheting offered the two young ladies a break from heavy studying and often turned heads in public. The two often joked that they were getting a crocheting degree on the side, as they stayed up into the late hours of the night completing projects. While both Robyn and Caitlin are traditional fine artists as well as medical illustrators, crocheting has become a passion. They have both taken on a variety of other crocheting projects, including baby wear, mittens, berets, bags and scarves but have continued to enjoy much success with their amigurumi creations. The ladies' creations can be found for sale at Rare Funk and soon in Toronto as well!

Carly has been artistic from a young age and has recently ventured into the jewelry business. Recycling buttons into wearable creations and beading rings are where she is focusing these days - turning her parent's family room into her own little factory. Carly is involved in four arts-based activities at her High School and plays a little soccer on the side. A unique selection of Carly's button necklaces can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Sewing has always been one of Carolyn's interests but she found that after her two daughters were born very close together, her 'me' time completely disappeared. Now that they are 10 and 11, Carolyn has found more of that 'me' time she longed for which has given her the chance to rediscover sewing. After her youngest received a 'Kool-Aid' bag as a gift, she realized that this was something she could make herself. Although making bags started out as a hobby and as gifts to friends, she soon found the many requests made her look at this concept more seriously. Over the last three years Carolyn has made over 35 different bags and rescued over 1200 juice pouches from the landfill. Now Carolyn has friends, family and even her children's school saving the drink bags for her! Carolyn is open to developing custom orders and many of her unique drink bag designs can be found for sale at RareFunk!

Cherry Delight Apparel is a small company created by Canadian burlesque performer and lingerie designer Carrie Russell-Bakker a.k.a Miss Cherry Delight. Her lingerie creations are made to help every woman express her inner pin-up star. From ruffle bum undies, feathered bras, waist cinchers to twirlin' tassels, Cherry Delight will meet all of your glamorous boudoir needs. Custom orders always available. In 2006 Cherry Delight Apparel gave birth to Cherry Delight Buttons and since then both Carrie and her husband have been making custom pins for local businesses, charities and bands. Cherry Delight undies, buttons and more can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Cassandra is the designer and maker of all things tweek. Her mission is to create unique pieces that speak to very specific individuals. Every creation is truly one of a kind, just like you. Cassandra values personal style and doesn’t believe in following trends, but rather in creating your own. Cassandra's focus is on reconstructing salvaged ties, making them into spectacular and wonderfully unique accessories. Her addiction to colours and patterns lends itself to this area of expertise. She has a strong consideration for the environment, and takes much pride in using recycled materials and recreating them - tweeking them - into something new and exciting. A creative selection of tweeks tie necklaces, headbands and rings can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Cassandra was born and raised in Waterloo Ontario and still lives there today. She's always been an artsy-crafty type. She began creating jewellery as a result of a dare from her University roommate and hasn't looked back since. Gathering unique semi-precious stones and glass beads on her travels, she creates one-of-kind items for any occasion. Elphame Jewels strives to provide beautiful, natural jewellery fit for the Faerie Princess in all of us. Many of Cassandras beautiful necklaces and earrings can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Stone Cottage Industry is a selection of handmade goodness by Catherine Butchart. Catherine studied Fashion Design for 3 years and has applied this knowledge working in costume design for film and theatre. Her current day job is in marketing for the travel industry, where her travels provide new inspirational ideas. Catherine strives to use recycled and repurposed materials as much as possible, which means each item is unique. A long time thrift shopper, Catherine loves the thrill of the hunt and never knows what she will find to incorporate into her work. Current obsessions include felt flowers, upcycled wool sweater mittens appliqued with owls, vintage button rings and funky 45 record insert felt pendants. Many of Catherine's unique selection of items can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Chantilly McKinnon is the one woman circus behind My Girl Thursday. Operating out of a small craft studio in Peterborough Ontario, she creates a diverse line of handmade goods that are essential to everyday life. A big believer in making new from old, you will find a strong repurposed theme in all things Thursday. A funky selection of Chantilly's hand printed clothing, record cover journals and one of a kind belt buckles can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Dave Fox is a resident of the Cambridge area, working out of a studio space located at 92 Ridgewood Crescent. He has been painting steadily for about 12 years, working mainly in acrylics. Dave can't really identify what it is that especially inspires his work, because it remains a mystery to him but that's the way he likes it! Dave loves to paint, and when an idea crops up, he does his best to bring it alive in some way. This open-minded approach to creativity allows Dave to be more prolific and able to produce artwork that interests him greatly. His most immediate goal is to open a studio in Hespeler, which will feature local art as well as his own, and in addition he will carry art supplies including brushes, paint, pencils, etc. Dave is currently looking for the right location and hopes to find it by 2009. Much of Dave's artwork is on display for sale at RareFunk.

David Irvine, a professional illustrator, is the man behind The Gnarled Branch, and is always pursuing ways to make his artwork stand out from the rest. This is not only reflected in his style and themes, but also with the type of materials he selects. Thinking 'green' and utilizing "The 3 R's" - recycle, reuse and reclaim, David makes affordable art that is fun and wacky, as well as reducing landfill. Scratched and damaged vinyl records are transformed into paintings mounted merely with a pushpin; discarded wooden furniture become decorative art pieces, beer caps and old magazines are combined to make cool pins. Some of David's fun and creative items can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Punkn's was started about a year after the birth of Donna's daughter in 2004. She had always felt that kids looked their best in bright colours and was rather sad to find that most baby clothes came in pastel colours. Donna decided she needed to create her own clothing that was bright, interesting and unique while also being easy to care for and comfortable to wear. By using her skills learned through the fashion design course at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario - Punkn's Alternative Clothing line was created from a combination of new, vintage and recycled fabrics. Pre-loved concert Tee's, jeans, ties and other clothing are a great source of fabric to recreate unique clothing for little ones, decreasing the amounts that end up in the landfill. Donna's ready-made clothing generally comes in sizes preemie to 24 months but she is slowly adding larger sizes. Custom designs are available and many of Donna's alternative clothing pieces can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Carl Douglas Burton is a Kitchener local graphic and web designer and sculptor, using Clay, Wax, Fimo and found objects. Doug's passion for wax and polymer clay allow him to create very unique candles and clay jewellery of which can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Emma has just finished her first year at the University of Guelph. She has been sewing since she was ten and makes a number of items, including one-of-a-kind pillows from previously worn t-shirts. She also makes custom pillows if you have an old t-shirt you love that you don’t wear anymore. A wide variety of pillows of different sizes and designs can be found for sale at RareFunk.

The Toronto-based Sugar Fire Jewellery was founded by Erin McLachlan, who has become known for her nature-based designs. "I like to think that people can wear these pieces and they can serve as a daily reminder of how beautiful and worthy of respect our planet really is. I love creating beautiful works of art and having an outlet to express my creativity". Erin's day job is working as an ecologist at an engineering firm, which challenges the scientific side of her brain. She realized she needed to find something to challenge the artistic side as well. Erin strives to provide her customers with simple, bright and contemporary pieces that are fun and easy to wear, as well as being a unique alternative to mass-produced jewellery. Each Sugar Fire Jewellery piece is hand-crafted, resulting in unique products that are popular with women of all ages. "I design my pieces with simplicity in mind so they are really easy for everyone to wear". Sugar Fire Jewellery.s enamel necklaces and earrings are made by sifting layers of powdered glass onto copper and firing them in a kiln at 1500°F. The glass goes through various stages of melting, each one named for its texture. The first stage of melting is called .sugar fire. because the glass is just starting to melt and looks like sparkling sugar granules. Many of Sugar Fire Jewellery's designs are inspired by the beauty of the natural environment. The inten is that by wearing a Sugar Fire Jewellery piece, people will be reminded of the beauty of nature and feel a connection with the environment. RareFunk carries a beautiful selection of Erin's unique creations.

Havery Rauchfleisch has been designing and making jewelry for the past three years. Over the last year she has begun selling in stores, participated in art shows, and sold at the downtown Kingston Market. Currently Havery lives in Kingston Ontario with her husband Piotr and their super friendly cat Toast. Life has taken Havery many places, including attending The Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto, graduating from Algonquin College in Ottawa, and now to Kingston where she is finally able to put her talents to use. A selection of Havery.s burnt wood designs such as necklaces, bracelets and rings can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Heather Russell is a Graphic Design student attending Conestoga College. For years she's expressed her interest in drawing and painting, but especially in character design, Graffiti, and videogames. Only a year ago she started working on stuffed toys. Her dream is to create videogames and open a store featuring her characters on posters and as toys! Heathers Box Monsters and Veggie Death characters can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Jana, who is also known as Kiki, (her alter-ego) from Kitchener develops creations that are both unique and versatile. Ranging from jewellery and clothing to paintings and sculptures, Jana takes inspiration from feminism, waltzing in bloody gowns, sea gazing eyes, hatred, passion, animals, forbidden cities, malnourishment, the 20's, slums and punk rockin ideals. A variety of Jana's distinctive creations are available for sale at Karma Arts Gallery and at RareFunk.

Jeff Sweeney began puppeteering with the Waterloo chapter of "Kids on the Block" and went on to found the life-sized puppet troupe "Aunt Betty's Rhubarb Pies". Later he moved to "YTV/Treehouse TV" where he performed such characters as Osbert Plunky, Cush and Stu the Dumptruck. Since then, he has puppeteered on such shows as "The Bittles" and "Santa Calls", and even had a stint with "Henson Productions". Jeff has recently turned his attention to writing, supplying songs, poems and scripts for "Farzzle's World", "Wee 3", "The Amazing Adrenalini Brothers", "Toopy and Binoo" and "My Friend Rabbit", among others. Because his poems and lyrics for Treehouse's "4 Square" proved so popular, Jeff is currently working on a book of poetry, tentatively titled Rhymes to Annoy Your Parents. Some of Jeff's amazing hand-made marionettes can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Jessica's diverse background has provided an opportunity for her to observe reality from a multitude of different perspectives. From infancy to teen-hood she lived among coconut palms and salt ocean breeze in the beautiful Nassau, Bahamas. At the age of fourteen, Jessica began attending boarding school abroad at Ridley College School in St. Catherines, Ontario, which then led to ventures at Lycee Canadien en France, a Canadian boarding school located in the quixotic city of Nice, France. Succeeding high school, Jessica studied Fine Arts at York University and then attended Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. Jessica continued to build her portfolio as an independent photographer and banked years of administrative experience while participating in Toronto's diligent work force. In December of 2007 she moved to the quaint, artistic city of Stratford, Ontario where she has established a home base. Jessica's aim as a contemporary digital photographer is to share with others, her experience of the world. While her work appears eclectic, each piece serves as an essential part of the whole; her ongoing interaction with the life that unfolds before her. Jessica's shooting technique is simple; when a form or subject demands her attention she observes it with her camera and captures it as is. Jessica does not just create the magic in the moment, she captures it. Jessica's photographs in the form of cards, clothing and framed prints can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Jessica Maranta is a local artist and diva. Her groovy sock monkeys are made from funky never worn socks and transformed into little buddies that are perfect for children and adults alike. Jessica first started making these adorable creatures 2 years ago as family Christmas gifts and had so much fun she decided to make them for all of her friends. Part of the proceeds from each sale of Jessica's monkeys will go to support one of her favourite charities - The Jane Goodall Institute which helps to protect chimpanzees. A selection of Jessica's sock Monkeys can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Jill has always loved to be creative and thinks all things natural are the coolest. In 2008 she combined these two loves, inspired by her son Joshers, and created Green Baby Clothing Company. These onesies and tees are handpicked for high quality and their eco-friendly factor (organic cotton, bamboo and hemp!). Jill designs and hand silk screens each tee with loving care, making them unique, cool and friendly to our planet! The Green Baby Cloth Diapers are all one of a kind and help save our planet too! Jill's daughter, KaiKai made her grand and early appearance in September 2009, and Jill feels completely blessed with the love of her kids, super supportive husband and Green Baby Clothing Company. A unique selection of Jill's onsies, tees and cloth diapers can be found for sale at RareFunk!

Jody Lee Miller grew up in the small town of Dorking , located near Kitchener/Waterloo, where her dreams, imagination and creativeness began. Since grade 10, Jody has aspired to become a fashion designer. Jody graduated from the Fashion Design program at the International Academy of Design and Technology in Toronto . She now lives in Kitchener , and in March 2010 launched an online clothing store, designsbyjodyleemiller.ca. Since Jody loves classic designs more than fads, she designs clothing that can last season to season, year to year, adding romantic twists and feelings. Jody believes in daring to live your dream and desires that the people wearing her creations will feel and believe the same. Therefore, Jody's motto is "follow your dreams, if you don't try you will never know if they can come true or not and if you fail, learn from them and try again!" A selection of Jody’s bags and clothing can be found for sale at RareFunk.

John has been screen printing for over five years, with experience in both textiles and flatstock. Located in Brantford, Ontario John has a home screen printing studio where he creates unique art prints. John has experience in design work, illustrations and websites for musicians, artists and small businesses. A variety of johns prints can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Julie's first love is pottery, but with 2 small children and full time job, she had to find an outlet for her creativity that would work with her busy schedule. She started beading which allowed her to combine her love of shopping and buying pretty things - the beads, with her love of creating. Making bracelets and earrings for friends and family, people started to ask if she would make more for them to buy. And so it began. Now Julie, pondering each bead, its colour, its texture, its size, strings them together and creates mesmerizing compositions. She creates jewellery she hopes people will truly enjoy wearing. Many of Julie's beautiful bracelets and necklaces can be found for sale at RareFunk.

For as long as Kathryn can remember, she has enjoyed colour, design, sewing and crafting of all kinds. As a "zoomer", her fabric and craft supply "stash" has grown over the years to include sewing clothes, home decor and quilts. Kathryn's husband of 45+ years, has generously and happily (most of the time) encouraged her in her creative endeavors, but recently Kathryn decided it was about time to downsize. Out (from all corners of the house) came the boxes of fabric and the "creative juices", reclaiming collected scraps, fabric samples (from owning an Interiors business) and inherited items, transforming them into usable items. As a grandma/nana to 8 grandchildren, Kathryn is also concerned about recycling, so she is doing her part to repurpose what she has. A variety of Kathryn's handbags made from recycled materials can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Kerri Mercer (known by most as "Scary Kerri") started making stuff since she knew what her hands were for! Kerri's whole family is very creative in many different mediums. In her early years she started with drawing and photography, and it was not long before she moved into fashion. Now primarily fashion focused, Kerri runs Black Orchid Designs full time from home. She is very inspired by Victorian, gothic, post apocalyptic and surrealism and says that although some may find her fashions a little strange, they are sure to get you noticed in a crowd! Many of Kerri's unique creations can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Kimberley Howe believes that the love that you take is the love you make and consequently founded Thank You Red based on this belief. Born in 2005, Thank You Red is a retail and wholesale accessories company with a "pay-it-forward" attitude. Both eco-conscious and community-minded, it is the mission at TYR to create one-of-a-kind accessories using as many vintage and pre-loved materials as possible while donating a portion of their profits to charity. With head held high, and several diplomas in hand, Kimberley made the decision to walk away from the corporate world of fashion and its assembly line thinking in favour of independence and creativity. Inspired by the nic nacs or curios that you would find in your grandparents attic, and fueled by her love of fashion and crafting, Kimberley and her team put their hearts and souls into each and every hand made trinket. Currently based in Toronto, TYR is best known for its unique pendants made from pre-loved dishes, books, and scraps of glass, and it's crazy stuffed art creatures. A wonderful collection of Kimberly's pendants and stuffed creatures can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Krista was born in Kitchener and still lives here! Krista is a mother to 1 boy and works full time as a Recreation Therapist. She has been crafting for as long as she can remember. Glass has always been a favourite of Krista's, so when she learned the art of glass fusing, the creations never ended. Kiki was a name adopted by her late brother so the name has stuck throughout the years. Krista has many other passions when it comes to crafting....she loves sewing and making things out of paper. A wonderful selection of fused glass wine stoppers can be found at RareFunk.

Kristen is a downtown dweller who (when she's not playing with clay) works at a local bakery making all sorts of delicious treats, as well as at The Working Centre - a local NGO. Kristen first discovered a pottery wheel in her high school art class and was hooked the moment she threw her first bowl. Restricted by the cozy little-ness of her apartment, she has recently bought a small kiln and has started experimenting with stoneware and porcelain jewellery. One of her greatest joys is peeking into the kiln at the end of a firing! Other than baking and throwing, you can often find Kristen wandering the local Clay and Glass Gallery, browsing the ceramics section at the library, trying to grow her own food, making lists and drinking tea. She hopes to soon learn how to spin and weave. A collection of Kristen's unique stoneware and porcelain jewellery can be found for sale at RareFunk.

As a child, Krestena learned to knit from her Grandma. Inspired by the ability to express her creativity through clothing design, she soon branched into other creative mediums, including sewing. The official launch of Leap Frog Creations, came with the birth of her daughter with more hair than she knew what to do with. Desperate for a solution, she developed the now famous, no slip, all fun, barrettes. These are now a must have in Krestena's household and are enjoyed by babies and girls of all ages. Being an environmentalist at heart, Krestena's line of clothing and accessories are made from post-consumer material and recycled clothing. Krestena is continuously looking for unique, fun and functional ways of outfitting her active family. A selection of Leap Frog Creations. reversible girls tunics, baby blankets, scarves, and barrettes can be found for sale at RareFunk

Kristen Wulff is a visual artist and crafter based in Toronto Ontario. She graduated from The Ontario College of Art and Design in 2007 with a Degree in Sculpture/Installation and her time now is divided between making art for a gallery setting and her crafty company, Knotted Nest. Knotted Nest is home to handmade housewares and accessories. Kristen makes a variety of items ranging from table runners and coasters, to passport covers and buttons. She believes in maintaining an environmentally conscious practice and as such, her items are made from high quality secondhand materials. Kristen is constantly inspired by vintage fabrics as well as finding new and innovative uses for them. A unique selection of Kristen's passport covers, coasters, crayon holders and map pins can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Krystal Dawn Photography is a new print and portrait photography business. Founded by Conestoga College photography student Krystal Cameron, whose passion for travel and photography has resulted in many creative prints that have been taken from all over the world. Krystal Dawn Photography has recently expanded and now offers creative outdoor portraits and wedding photography, in addition to creative prints. A unique selection of Krystal's creative and Landscape prints are available at The Working Centre Cafe and RareFunk.

Ky, as most young children refer to her, received her shortened name from her 11 year old cousin Mikey who, when younger, could not fully pronounce her name. She since took that name and adapted it into a business. At first, focusing only on photography, Kylee has since expanded to jewellery, cards and plushies. Her tattoos and fire engine red hair help her to stand out as a unique individual and, although Kylee has been experimenting with art for years, she is now getting a feel for her own style finding that the more unusual the piece, the more appealing! Inspired by the "pin up girl" era and her idol Marilyn Munroe, Kylee's whimsical and unique jewellery can be found for sale at RareFunk.

It was at a young age that Laura found her passion for sewing. With a combination of home economics, and her inherited skills from her Aunt, it became evident that fabric was close to Laura’s heart. Being vertically challenged, Laura always had to hem and mend her own pants. “The Bag Lady Laura” became an overnight success when sewing for necessity changed to sewing for creativity. After designing bags for her sister, other orders and requests poured in. Using intertwining fabrics and colors with a vintage, yet funky style, “The Bag Lady Laura” bags are becoming recognizable throughout the K-W region where Laura currently lives. “The Bag Lady Laura” hopes to continue combining her gift with the needs of others to create many years of making “The Everyday Bag for the Everyday Person”. A wide array of Laura's bags can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Sustainable Cycles is a collective of artists working to support sustainable solutions - reusing, recycling, and reclaiming materials, and incorporating them with luxurious, eco-friendly fabrics. Their goal is to create an energy independent studio and self sustaining living space. Many of Lauren's pieces such as handbags, scarves, handkerchiefs and clothing can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Sweet and Tranquil showcases a range of products from bath and body to jewellery, now including custom made invitations for your wedding or any special event. Sweet and Tranquil is the creation of Lily, a stay at home mom with a love for anything handmade. Lily started delving into her artistic side when she was a child and was taught to knit and cross stitch by her mother and aunt. The inspiration for her bath and body products came from her love of cooking and baking. Making soap to her is like creating a wonderfully scented "dish". She most recently was inspired to start creating affordable invitations and cards that have that artistic flare but without that expensive price tag. Lily's soaps, lip balms and scrabble tile pendants can be found for sale at RareFunk.

One holiday season, Lisa Olsen created soaps for each member of her family with 100% vegetable glycerine, 100% essential oils and all natural additives. These soaps were so well received that Lisa had an offer to sell them. Developed in her spare time, the soaps are created with creativity, aromatherapy and practicality in mind. A portion of the proceeds are donated to animal welfare charities. A variety of Lisa's soaps can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Lorra comes from a family of artists. Her grandfather was a photographer and her grandmother and mother paint. Lorra grew up in an atmosphere where creativity was encouraged so it is not surprising that Lorra's mediums are varied, from painting to photography to sewing and more. Lorra finds that inspiration comes in all forms and she finds that having many ways to express herself is both challenging and exciting. Each item is handmade and she frequently re-purposes fine fabrics to be remade into wonderful new items. Lorra participates in various shows and has products for sale in stores throughout Ontario and British Columbia. Lorra's hope is for each customer to enjoy her products and to bring a smile to their face! A beautiful selection of Lorra's clothing, handbags and accessories can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Megan and her daughter like to challenge themselves with ways to conserve waste, and reuse whatever items they can. The two of them work together, with Bee drawing and Megan sewing, to create truly one of a kind clothing, dolls and accessories from scrap and thrifted materials. Bee's drawings inspire Megan to create characters where each one is a little different than the rest, with the hopes of breaking down the stereotypical images people use everyday, and teach others to enjoy the little things that make "everyone different". Megan's clothing, dolls and accessories can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Meghan Kraatz is a Textile Artist from Waterloo. She has been passionate about fabric and sewing since she made her first quilt at the age of nine. After years of working at a quilt store in St. Jacobs, she decided that pursuing a career in fabric craft was right for her. Meghan attended Sheridan College for Textile Craft and Design, where she learned to hone her skills, as well as acquiring many new ones. Meghan's work usually incorporates buttons - one of her favourite things to work with. She specializes in button earrings, as well as making button brooches, hand felted brooches, tote bags, skirts, framed pieces and more. Her cute, fun and childlike pieces can be found at Rare Funk.

Prior to 2000, Michael had been a highschool art teacher for twenty-five years and was a Visual Arts Department Head at several secondary schools in the Durham region for eighteen years. He has studied at the University of Toronto, Western and Guelph and also at the Ontario College of Art and Design, Emily Carr College of Art and Design as well as Centennial, George Brown and Durham Colleges. He has given visual arts courses all over Ontario. Although born and raised in midtown Toronto, Michael has spent most of his summers in Muskoka since 1947 when he arrived at his summer destination via the steamship Iroquois. His first oil painting was of Lake of Bays ten years later at the age of twelve, and has been doing much the same ever since, although watercolours and pen and ink techniques have been added to his extensive knowledge of drawing and painting before going into landscape painting more or less fulltime. Michael however was known to most primarily as a cartoonist. Each day during his years teaching high school, he would create original cartoon images on the attendance sheets and before long, the administration would be enthusiastically anticipating each daily cartoon. As a former English teacher, many of these cartoons would be verbal in design or involve puns. While selling his paintings at various craft shows, he began to combine his cartooning skills with several craft products (clocks, wall plaques, placemats, key chains, and coasters). A humorous variety of Michael's whimsical coasters and key chains can be found for sale at RareFunk

Michelle Hambourg is a jewellery designer, an entrepreneur and above all, an artist. She has been dabbling in the arts for many years, ever since the day she painted a mural on her bedroom wall with the contents of her diaper! As the story goes, her parents were less than thrilled with this installation piece but look back on it now as the first sign of Michelle's unyielding creativity and artistic passion. As she grew out of her diapers, Michelle continued to follow her imaginative intuitions and had an active involvement in the arts throughout public school, high school and University, eventually leading to her BA from the Faculty of Fine Arts at York University. She believes that it is her artistic background that has given her the impetus to always strive to construct one-of-a-kind pieces, unlike any others she has seen before. Michelle's designs take inspiration from many sources, the most noticeable being Nature and Trees, as well as the juxtaposition of Organic versus Industrial concepts. Many of her pieces also provide a surrealistic, dreamlike quality, incorporating such elements as spiralling lines and vibrant hues. Michelle's incredible necklaces, bracelets and rings can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Nina and Dan are a husband and wife team based out of Brantford Ontario. They both love skateboarding and all things related. Recycling skateboards into jewelry and accessories has allowed this team to be a part of the skate culture through a creative and unique spectrum. One of a kind necklaces, earrings, dog tags, keychains and belt buckles are just some of All Decked Out's items found for sale at RareFunk.

Patricia has been beading for over 15 years as a hobby, but only in the last 4 years has she decided to take it seriously and been successfully selling pieces to friends and family members. In addition, Patricia hosts private jewelry parties, showcasing her one of a kind collections. Patricia also creates custom pieces, developing jewelry for both men and women. Many of Patricia.s unique creations can be found for sale at RareFunk.

A native from Egypt, Shaimaa has been living in Canada for over 4 years, is married and is the mother of a cute baby girl. Although she has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Shimaa loves making handmade items and creating - in fact she thinks "handmade rocks"! All products made by Shaimaa are original creations, one of a kind, or limited edition. A blessing she is proud of, Shaimaa's "Craft-A-Therapy" makes her happy, relaxed and brings joy in seeing her pieces find loving homes where they will be cherished. Shaimaa's pieces that can be found for sale at RareFunk are - earrings, necklaces, bracelets, hair accessories, brooches and key chains.

Shamela was born in Guyana and moved to Waterloo at a very young age. Shamela has a wide variety of artistic talents and abilities and her interests include painting, drawing, stone-carving, clay-sculpting, jewelry making, greeting cards and mosaic, as well as stained glass works. Her Mosaic Glass pieces are meticulously crafted from a variety of beautifully stained glass. All the glass is individually placed together upon which she creates beautiful patterns and layouts. A countless number of hours go into each piece, resulting in a unique work of art. Stained Glass is another outlet for her talent, creating funky unique panels that hang on the wall, as well as useable items such as candle holders & mirrors. Most of her pieces are functional as well as beautiful. Shamela offers custom designs tailored to your specific sizes, colours and needs. A variety of Shamela's stained glass pieces and mosaic candle holders and mirrors can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Blessed with two happy girls, a dynamic husband and a spunky Boston Terrier, Sharon finds creative inspiration everywhere. Limited only by the number of hours in the day, she uses several mediums to create irresistibly cute pieces of art! Born near San Francisco, California, raised in the Netherlands, and schooled in Toronto, Sharon now makes Cambridge, Ontario her home base. Contending with narcolepsy, Sharon felt drawn to stained glass as it proved dangerous enough to keep her alert! The risks of a hot iron, jumping solder, chemical burns, and razor sharp shards of glass have helped her take back some control over the neurological condition that has frustrated other desires. Sharon's heart is happy and full when she is breaking glass with her bare hands. This love affair with stained glass blossomed in 2004 and continues to grow. Rejecting traditional design, Sharon prefers creating kitschy glass cherries, 'give peas a chance' peas, and copper wire fish. When her hands need healing, she'll usually turn her focus to painting acrylics at home, or watercolours in her beloved Algonquin. On a whim she will grab her bag of felt and see what happens. Funky felt Owl pins might be born, or ridiculously colourful cupcake hair elastics. A nature girl, Sharon is not afraid to get her hands dirty, loves to upcycle and re-purpose, and is always happy to "play" with and encourage like-minded souls. Magnets litter her fridge, made from damaged books that she saved from the garbage. Sharon is proud to debut her latest creation at RareFunk: "OMG why didn't I think of that" re-usable cloth napkins for school lunches! Sharon has many things to be thankful for, and being a part of RareFunk is one of them! You can find a large selection of Sharon creations for sale at RareFunk.

Tanushka showcases a selection of elegant, affordable and trendy fashion accessories that are fun, hip, unique and stylish. Beading and jewellery have always been one of Tanya's passions and obsessions. She enjoys making fun, affordable pieces in her spare time. Most of Tanya's inspiration comes from the natural elements that surround us - vibrant colours, natural stones and unique shapes. Tanya loves to create pieces that can match a specific outfit or look, and how each piece can help to bring out the natural beauty of those who wear them. Tanushka's earrings and necklaces can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Tenille Bonoguore is an expat-Australian writer and fledgling craftisan who lives, concocts and creates in Toronto Ontario . As an avid reuse- and-recycler, she turns magazines into one-of-a-kind paper gift bows, and uses vintage buttons and ribbons to make pins, brooches, hair clips and reusable gift bows. She's also a madcap experimenter in the kitchen, but only her husband has to put up with that. A creative selection of Tenille's bows can be found for sale at RareFunk.

The Rabid Squirrels are Teresa Malone and Linda Cain, two wild and crazy moms with 4 kids between them. Looking for ways to keep their girls from driving them squirrelly, these women first started creating sock creatures and felt teddy bears, then added gauntlets and felted bags. Teresa and Linda love designing their creations from recycled wool sweaters and other recycled materials. All of their work is hand sewn and one-of-a-kind. A selection of their unique creatures, gauntlets and teddy bears can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Uberboblz began after 4 years of waiting for the right opportunity. Teressa has been a graphic designer for over 10years, the past 6 years as the graphic designer for Centre In The Square. She began attending a Fused Glass class at the Breithaupt Centre in February of 2006 which was the start of her journey. She was awarded "A New Artist" bursary and received an honorable mention for best booth at the Spring 2007 Art Works show presented by The Record. Teressa works in her home studio with two kilns to fire the pieces that are individually hand cut, polished and finished. Uberboblz unique, one of a kind pendants have been developed over the past two years using various techniques and inclusions. The greatest thrill Teressa has is seeing people wearing her artwork all of which can be found at RareFunk.

Tina lives in rural Saskatchewan with her husband and children. She loves to spend time with her family and in her free time loves crafting. She makes polymer clay jewellery, knits and crochets and loves to take photos. Many of Tina's polymer clay creations such as necklaces, bracelets and brooches can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Tony and Kevin are the founders of Pook Toques. With Tony's creativeness and Kevin's brain and the fact that they have known each other since birth, the match was sure to be a winner. It can be easily guessed that alcohol was involved and one night while Tony's mouth was running a little too freely, a friend picked up one of his traditional Canadian socks, threw it at Tony and told him to "put a sock in it". Instead of in it, Tony put it on it - on his head and the creative juices began to flow. Somehow Tony was able to envision a toque made from these socks and it was the original demand from family and friends that got Tony and Kevin thinking there may be enough crazy people out there willing to wear it! Pook Toques and Pook Dukes can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Tricia Enns is the designer and creator of Rubbish Jewellery. With a love for the environment, being creative, and changing how we see the world, Tricia's line of jewellery is a tribute to all of these values. Using her creative skills, Tricia uses recycled materials, or items normally considered "rubbish", such as beer bottle caps, to develop unique wearable creations. When not making jewellery, Tricia can be found studying toward obtaining her engineering degree, cooking up a storm, pounding the sidewalk with her running shoes, and/or practicing her downward dog on her yoga mat! Tricia's motto is to live life, respect the environment, be creative, and have fun! An inventive selection of Tricia's necklaces and earrings can be found for sale at RareFunk.

WHDesigns offers unique, personalized paintings + functional art by artist Wendy Heagney-Bakewell. Through drawing + painting, she shares her creativity with a special focus on artwork for children. Inspired by imagination and nature, her tiny brushstrokes are brought together with colour, design and a bit of fun to develop distinctive, handmade + original artwork. A selection of Wendy's work can be found for sale at RareFunk!

Yonca, pronounced "Yonja" is a Turkish Canadian who has lived in Kitchener for 6 years. Yonca's family is comprised of both Turks from the mainland as well as some Turkish Cypriots and Yonca's passion and enthusiasm for her Turkish culture is very clear throughout her creations. The evil eye bead called .nazar boncuk. is a good luck and protective bead believed to help ward off the evil spirits. This beautiful blue bead is used throughout all of Yonca's bracelets and necklaces creating unique one of a kind pieces of jewellery. Yonca is also involved in social services and humanitarian projects and although she works full time as a child and youth care worker, she also finds time to cook her Turkish and Middle eastern style dishes, another passion of hers. All of Yonca's creations are made with love and her items can be found for sale at the Kitchener Farmers Market every other Saturday and as well at RareFunk. Yonca also provides custom orders.

Zilliah Bailey is also known as Kerry Smart. After being introduced to crocheting one summer, she quickly became addicted and made more hats than she could wear. Since she almost never follows patterns or writes down what she's doing, most of her hats are unique and one of a kind. Despite being somewhere in the middle of a math degree, she prefers to spend all her time crafting, and would much rather do that than find a respectable profession. She is currently experimenting with jewelry making and polymer clay, and of course crocheting whenever her hands are free. Zilliah's creations can be found on etsy and her hats can be found for sale at RareFunk!