Vintage Love is a collection of fabulous fifties light switch plates lovingly made by Toronto artist Adrianne Kulling. Inspired by the imagery of vintage magazine ads, Adrianne creates funky and functional art objects with retro flair. These fantastic and fun light switch plates are handmade with care using quality materials. All plates are stainless steel and coated with several layers of polyurethane for a high gloss finish. In addition, each plate package includes co-coordinating screws. Stir up the nostalgia! Take a peek into the domestic life of the mid-century North American suburban housewife!

Amaryah is a self taught textile artist, helped along by seamstress friends and relatives, as well as taking formal courses on weaving, felting, and spinning. Before Sew Oiseau, Amaryah ran a one-woman book binding press, “she weaves!” for five years. Since 2005, Amaryah has been running Sew Oiseau, a home-based studio where she designs and creates clothing for women and children, and leads a variety of sewing and crafting workshops. A fun selection of Amaryah clothing for both adults and children can be found for sale at RareFunk.

An artist by instinct, Amrita has successfully completed two art-shows with her fun, funky, and unique designs. What started as a hobby, gradually took on a broader spectrum as friends and family began requesting special orders. Amrita believes that art should not be restricted within any man-made or defined boundaries. Amrita’s work has a voice, often including a sense of humour. Her designs are created with anything on everything ranging from canvas to foam board to fabric, using mixed media, paper, scraps, acrylics, ink, and recycled materials. A selection of Amritas collages, paintings, bags, pillows, laptop sleeves, and towels 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.

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.

In the early days of sidewalk chalk and friendship bracelets, Angela loved creating unique works of art. Not much has changed. Spatula offers a “flippin’ fantastic” selection of quirky retro and vintage inspired items. Angela’s obsession with the 1950’s has resulted in a house covered with images of iconic movie stars, fashions, and advertisements from that decade - a passion that has also been translated into her art. Angela’s jewellery and accessories are one-of-a-kind, fashioned from charms and beads, game pieces, rescued jewellery parts, thrift store treasures, and antique finds. She loves how each charm and trinket has a unique and mysterious past – the older it is, the more personality. A vast selection of Angela’s fantastic pieces 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.

Creating is a very important part of Ariane’s life. For as long as she can remember she has been making things out of new & found materials. Ariane’s creations are cute, quirky and sometimes unusual. Her crochet hobby started about 4 years ago when she received an amigurumi book as a gift. The idea that you could create 3D objects in crochet fascinated Ariane, and she was hooked! Once she learned how to make basic forms she stopped following patterns and started creating from her imagination. Ariane loves the challenge of creating something from a simple ball of yarn. Whether you are looking for a gift or something for yourself, Quirkology has the uniqueness you are looking for. A little whimsy, a dash of creativity and a whole lot of cuteness!

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.

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.

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 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.

Chainmail Zombies is a small business recently set up in Kitchener by Cliff and Kayt, partners in life and in creativity. Cliff has been creating chainmail pieces for many years, and after these two paired up, he taught Kayt the craft, and she hasn’t stopped since. Recently, they have both been expanding their creative centers, coming up with new projects, and trying new materials to work with. Since coming across the variety of coloured aluminium rings and the fun ways to twist the colourful rubber rings, the pair makes jewellery appealing to everyone. Whether you like pink and frilly, or if you prefer a more elegant and refined look, even if your tastes drift towards the darker side, these two can cater to your chainmail wishes, and are always happy to make custom pieces for those who show an interest. A unique selection of necklaces, earrings, bracelets and key chains can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Named after their cats from their 'single girl' days, jake + cleo is a merging of clean lines and whimsy, organization and free thinking, squares and circles. Designed and created in Winnipeg Canada, the result is fine and sterling silver jewelry that is modern, handmade and eco-friendly. How is it GREEN? Jake + Cleo’s .999 fine silver starts with a pat of precious metal clay, which contains 100% RECLAIMED silver. All scraps, filings and dust are captured to be used in future designs: RECYCLING creates zero production waste. A beautiful selection of Jake + Cleo’s necklaces and earrings can be found for sale at RareFunk.

When Dan is not working as a chef to earn his bread and butter, he paints. Dan’s style ranges from abstract to pop-art mixed with elements of surrealism. Punk rock and early NY graffiti (Dondi), Andy Warhol, and vibrant Latin murals (influences from my Cuban heritage) are his biggest inspirations. Although Dan has no formal training in art – it has been self taught and engrained from his early teens sketching and working with spray paint. Eventually Dan got involved in the art scene in high school doing presentations on graffiti for Arts Celebration week. More recently he has been using acrylic in combination with spray paint and oil on canvas. Dan has participated in fundraisers, exhibiting his pieces at The Skydragon Café, Parkview Nursing Centre and Touche nightclub. Dan’s work has been on Exhibit at The Pepperjack Café, Atomica Tattoo, This Ain’t Hollywood, and The Casbah Music Venue. More recently Dan has been busy operating his own business (Abstract Visions) from home producing custom art for homes and commercial spaces as well as dabbling in some live music and band photography. A selection of Dan’s paintings 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.

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.

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.

Emma Dines has been hounded for years by friends to make her crafts and sell them! She has just recently taken the dive into producing crafts to sell and is really enjoying creating her label Bike and Elephant Crafts. Emma studied theatre and creative writing at the University of Waterloo and currently teaches yoga, tends to her garden and dances. She is a founding member of the Spark Poets collective, a secret gang of rowdy girls making art at night in public places. The Spark Poets have had a number of photography exhibits around the KW area and are thrilled to be represented by Emma at RareFunk.

Random Joy is two sisters, Erin and Rachel McCarthy who grew up in the small town of Fergus. Erin is a Sheridan College graduate who studied Illustration and Rachel a graduate from Georgian College who studied Goldsmithing. Together with their love for fashion they combined talents and started designing and creating their very own line of accessories. Everything is one of a kind and made out of recycled fabrics and sterling silver.

Erin runs both Anatomy of a Skirt, and Robot a Day. Anatomy of a Skirt started as a line of reconstructed clothing, and turned into a line of industrial felt and mill-end vinyl purses. Robot a Day started as an art project, that Erin never completely finished; she had a baby instead of finishing it and now Erin is a professional nose-wiper, diaper-changer, and sippy cup filler. She also drinks lots of coffee! Erin really likes puppies and unicorns, because they are awesome. She uses the word “awesome” a lot. She also thinks alot is one word (it *should* be) and wishes she had four pairs of arms so that she could make everything she wishes to make. And a time machine.

Eva is a lover of all things vintage and DIY in addition to anything spooky and mythical! These interests have added to Eva’s inspiration to combine conflicting objects creating serene and modern compositions. Eve enjoys the current uprising community of artists and the gain that can be accomplished from all of the hard work. “The vast fashion industry is great in the sense that you can keep evolving which suites my growing business. I'm thrilled to be sharing a truly loved work of art with others!"

Evelyn Zhang is a high school student in Waterloo with a love for paper and making papercrafts. She transforms everyday paper into pieces of art by folding, cutting and gluing. She loves to create papercutting art, origami, paper jewellery and anything else that can be made out of paper. In grade 3, Evelyn fell in love with making papercrafts when she discovered how to make origami Pokemons. She was instantly hooked and couldn’t stop folding them and showing every single one of creations to her mom. That addiction has continued until today and she is still making papercrafts with the same fervor as that nine-year-old girl. Other than making pieces of art from paper, Evelyn also enjoys painting and swimming. A unique selection of Evelyn’s earrings, magnets, bookmarks and framed images can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Garden Dub was first created with thoughts of living free and loving nature. It began with little hair accessories and expanded to handmade recycled and new material items of clothing and bags. This little handmade label tries to expresses an idea of natural romanticism, with a blend of poetry and daydreaming. Materials used are new, recycled and fabric ends found in the discount bin at the fabric store. The ends are the best and most unique because they are always hand picked resulting in no two items of clothing to being the same. A unique selection of Georgiana’s clothing and deliciously smelling soaps can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Grace’s mom taught her to sew when she was young, and she enjoy’s designing with new fabrics and upcycled materials. Grace sews bags and custom designed purses. She started Gracey2GO by sewing a purse for her daughter, and then one for hersefl. People admired them, and wanted to see more. Grace also sells at craft shows and from her Facebook page. Grace has lived in Waterloo Region most of her life, doing community development and volunteering with causes that are important to her. She is married and has 2 adult children. Grace also enjoys walking her dog, reading, gardening and hanging with friends and family.

Tentacle Tarte Studios was founded by Heather Soeder and Amanda Nightingale-Terwoord in 2010. A graduate of Graphic Design at Conestoga College, Heather lives in Kitchener Ontario with her husband Dan, and her pets Doom, Robby and Keester. Heather is like a mad scientist with her pencil and paper and is the designer of the Tentacle Tarte stuffies found for sale at RareFunk. A Software Bartender by training, and a general "Jack of all trades" since birth, Amanda strives for both perfection and knowledge in all things. Amanda lives in Kitchener Ontario with her husband Nick. Amanda has always be very curious and if bored (and unsupervised) would likely take apart nearby equipment just to see how it works, which most of the time she knows how to put back together again. Amanda takes care of the more technical side of Tentacle Tarte Studios, but is also a contributing artist to the sewing of the stuffies found at RareFunk!

After 22 years in the high tech industry, Jan stopped working four years ago to be home with two busy teenage boys. Since her teenage years, she has always had past times involving sewing/knitting/crocheting. After "retiring", she put her skills to use supporting her two boys' hockey teams. The "Waterloo" (yellow and black) Hockey Scarf was in demand so she began selling them to hockey moms and putting the proceeds toward her kids' teams. Today, Jan is focused on making more fashionable scarves and demand has spread to women beyond the hockey arena and are purchased as gifts for themselves, family and friends. She continues to enjoy keeping busy making her crafts during the many hours spent in hockey arenas and at the hotels during away hockey tournaments. Her fashion scarves are handmade in various colours, weights and textures of materials, can be worn year-round as accessories and are sold at various retail gift stores and handmade craft shows.

Rockin' Ramzi's Rockabilly and Pin Up Emporium features retro and vintage themed delights created by Jennie Rage including her own personal line Rotten Cherry Retro. Love of rockabillly, psychobilly, punk, pin up girls and Hollywood starlets have combined and are presented in wearable art forms such as fascinators, hair bows, jewelry, corset styled phone cozies, unique box purses and more. Jennie Rage has been crafting most of her life, a life that has seen her travel from coast to coast of gorgeous Canada. Settled now in Kitchener, Ontario she has kept with her own ideals and those she experienced while living on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia and Millbank, Ontario. Big awareness often comes from small communities! A proud supporter of local organizations, Rockin' Ramzi's Rockabilly and Pin Up Emporium currently sponsors the Royal City Roller Girls ( Guelph's female roller derby league) and The Girly Show (K-W's burlesque troupe), Jennie Rage's dream is to homestead in Northern Ontario spending her evenings crafting by the warmth of a wood stove. For now, her creations can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Jess was born and raised in Kitchener and has always had an interest in many forms of art, but has only found her true passion in graffiti style artwork within the last year. Jess has a great respect for the power graffiti has to communicate the artists’ message using the world as its canvas. Jess spends most of her days working in the community as an outreach worker for local youth, and most evenings are spent in the garage creating. Jess has a passion for expressions in all forms (hence the tattoos she sports) and is always looking for new ways to create, share and express what she see’s in our world.

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. Catherine’s, Ontario, which then lead 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 observe 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.

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!

As a recent graduate of the University of Guelph, Honours Studio Art program, Kailey has used this past year to explore various themes and topics in her paintings and prints. Kailey has also spent much time doing commissioned work, while traveling between two small work spaces in Windsor and Cambridge, where she grew up. Kailey has participated in the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, and the One of a Kind Show. The majority of Kailey’s work consists of bright, bold colours and she likes to explore vintage and contemporary textile/wallpaper patterns. Using a collage-like style, Kailey’s work is very much influenced by popular fashion and home decor. Juxtapositions and the notion of surprise are elements that she embraces in her work. A selection of Kailey’s prints and painting can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Kat was born in a century-old log cabin in the wilds of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Surrounded by a community rich with artifacts of the early pioneers and settlers, she grew to have the heart of a dreamer and the spirit of an explorer. Her inquisitive nature has led her to explore many different crafts and trades, absorbing new techniques and inspiration every step of the way. Over the years she has enjoyed access to many skilled artisans, studios and supplies. Since moving to Toronto, Kat has spent her time making fantastic jewelry, designing bouquets and creating magical environments with fresh flowers. Her work is heavily influenced by the designs of the Victorian Era, in which romance, whimsy and elegance were paired with fine workmanship, quality materials and exquisite detailing. Kat also draws inspiration from many literary sources including works by Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, Frank L. Baum and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. She has always been deeply aware of the balance and beauty of the world around her. Through her work, she loves to marry the natural with the mechanical, drawing unexpected beauty from the mundane. With her vivid imagination, Kat sees a story in everything and seeks to unveil the magic in all she touches. Her current collection features a wide variety of salvaged treasures accented with premium quality, traditionally pressed, brass stampings.

Since childhood Kate has been a handwork enthusiast. Crafty parents and some formative years spent at the Calgary Waldorf school encouraged and nurtured her creative spark. She learned to knit at age nine and while it is her first love she also indulges in crochet, felting, spinning, sewing, soap making, paper making, and just about any craft she can get her hands on Now as a recent graduate from Wilfrid Laurier University she is trying her hand at being a craftsperson professionally! You can find her phone monsters and DNA scarves 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.

Kim is a crazy lady from the ‘Shwa” (Oshawa, ON) who would love to give up any kind of “normal” employment in order to shop in thrift stores and craft Penny Rugs all day long. Home Ec. and Art were the only subjects in school she could tolerate, needless to say, she isn’t a PhD. She attended Hair Dressing School in Guelph in the early 80’s after high school but gave up her official Hairstyling career to care for her 3 daughters (now grown). While her kids were small she sewed clothing and quilts to help keep her sane and express her creativity. She also ran a home daycare business and cut everybody’s hair. Attending part time classes at Algonquin College for Design also helped keep her creative flame alive. She sold many crafted items over the years through a variety of venues including craft sales, consignment and private commissions. PennyHeaven began 6 years ago when Kim began to fall in love with Penny Rugs after seeing them in a Primitive Country Design book from the library. Already an avid thrift shopper Kim experienced a surge of creativity that has yet to cease. Her love of all things recycled and thrifted has helped her come up with new ways to use old stuff.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Taught by her Italian mother, Linda learned to knit at the tender age of 9. Influenced by the ancient European way of holding the needles and yarn, knitting has always been part of Linda’s life. No matter how hard she resists, she always has at least 150 balls of yarn in her house at any given time, waiting to be created into something wonderful. Over the years Linda has tackled many serious and complicated patterns in order to prove that she has the skill. Now, however she prefers projects that can be knit quickly resulting in instant gratification! Linda creates knitted pieces with novelty and a sense of humour as well as creating seasonal accessories. Recently, Linda has revived her old business developing in "Fancy Pet ~ Fancy Baby". Knitting for babies and fur babies brings her joy and a smile to proud parents. If you happen to see someone knitting in and around Waterloo Region in unusual locations such as in the line at a movie theatre or in a café, it's probably Linda! A limited number of seasonal knits are being sold at exclusively at RareFunk as well as a unique line of fancy pet collars.

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.

Maggie Krawczyk is a self taught artist, specializing in the creation of unique jewellery. In 2007 Maggie started her first business, Neogami Origami Jewellery and now has her work being sold in several boutiques, online, and at local craft shows and events. In 2010 she came in to possession of over 100 vintage pornographic novels, and got to work right away finding a purpose for them. After much design and debate, XXXLittWear came in to being! Maggie now creates simple yet shocking pendants, rings, and cuff links all featuring original excerpts from vintage adult novels, and bearing the XXXLittWear logo.

Marie-Suzanne Nunes is a Canadian art photographer who graduated from the Marsan School of Photography in Montreal. For the past five years, she's lived abroad in Malaysia and in the Unites States. Her extensive travelling ensures a unique and diversified portfolio of her two favourite subjects, people and nature. In addition, her new collection of original images is local, from Victoria Park, Kitchener, where she’s inspired by the colour and beauty of nature and her surroundings. Through her photographs, there is a challenge to explore hidden messages in nature, in people and in things. She also understands and creates images that inspire happiness. She is energetic, friendly and is passionate in creating nourishing and inspiring photographs. There is an innovative, social and compassionate view of the world and she shares it beautifully. A wonderful selection of cards and framed prints 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.

The Rejected clothing line is by designer Megan Philbin, of St Thomas Ontario, a small, yet eclectic town with an active punk/industrial/metal scene. Her favourite designers are the influential Vivvienne Westwood and Betsey Johnson. Established in 2005 and normally sold exclusively online, anyone can show their playful side with this line of unique fits and embellished details. The clothing line strives to be fun, flirty, quirky and sexy, with clothes and accessories that can be mixed and matched for day or night time, dressed up or down, and look great on ANY body type. Every season boasts pieces that range from soft and comfortable, to funky and eye-catching. A fabulous selection of Megan’s clothing can be found for sale at RareFunk.

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.

Melissa Murray was born and raised in Mississauga. She went to Waterloo University for Psychology and later attended Sheridan College for Interior Design. Currently working for Rogers Communications, Melissa needed to do something creative to fulfill her passion of design. In September 2011, Melissa and her husband Michael welcomed their first child into the world. Kyela has brought so much love into Melissa's life and has motivated her to put her design skills to use in creating baby clothes and accessories. Enjoy!

Nancy Alberton is an Honors Graduate in Women's Studies at University of Guelph with a special interest in Women and their art. She spent part of her childhood in England where she became inspired by the myriad of art forms found in the village church and graveyard (which dated 1100 ad) and her uncles estate home. She was introduced to the pantomimes, opera and theater at a very young age. Mesmerized by the spectacular costuming, accessories and hats she became involved with scene painting and costume design in high school along with art murals anything that involved a creative touch. In 2009 she participated in "Illuminating The Middle Ages" an exhibit of art inspired by the Middle Ages at the Guelph Civic Museum with three other Guelph artists. She has surrounded herself with the work of many talented local artists and continues to paint and create in a multitude of media on a daily basis. Now as a volunteer she is heavily involved in bring the "Art Experience" to primary school children and working in therapeutic painting for children with special needs. Fascinated by mythology both ancient and modern she expresses herself through jewelry design/craft, painting illuminated miniatures, sculpting and creating unique adornments. Nancy offers two very unique design experiences through two very different businesses. "Signature Adornments" specializing in adorning women any way their heart desires. From taking bridal commissions to restyling a treasured vintage piece or simply creating that perfect pair of earrings or that "signature" piece of jewelry. And "Out There Creations" that caters to her saucy and naughtier persona "Fleur du Mal" who is a little disturbed and irreverent and thinks nothing of creating anything from maggot infested, twisted, bloodied chunks of flesh for her zombie loving friends to designing one of a kind little monster creatures and gothic style jewelry...the best thing about "Fleur" is she is predictably unpredictable and never produces an item that isn't as unique as she is.

Niclin is an eclectic self taught traditional artist that does a variety of art in a variety of different styles. [Mostly pencil and pencil crayons with a dash of watercolors]. Mostly working with fantasy and realistic drawing. Although she does love a challenge and is not afraid to try new styles. She can turn anyone into a fantasy creature, or render a life like drawing of a person or pet. She also does a variety of other crafts that can be viewed either through her face book account or on her deviant art account. So if you’re looking for something special and just for you, let her know and she would be more than happy to make it. Consignments welcome!

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.

Pauline has lived in Kitchener and was born into classic funk. Two things Pauline loves most are making music and making hand-crafted items. Although Pauline is a fabric and embroidery addict, she especially loves to work with all sorts of yarns - particularly those that are reclaimed, found, or recycled. For the past few years, her favourite way to feature the numerous textures, types and colours of yarns in her "hoard" is through knitting very special scarves, shawls, Afghans and the occasional crocheted funky blanket. Pauline's long tube scarves are a popular fashion item - instead of starting at one end and finishing at the other, they go round and round in serendipitous bands and stripes - no two exactly alike. They are really a welcome return of 19th-century funk, when people wore colourful "mufflers" over their greatcoats and could be pulled up around their ears or wound around their heads in a blizzard. Pauline's equally funky horizontal scarves, which are knit widthways from one long side to another, instead of end-to-end, offer yet another way to play with fabulous stripes, bands and textures. Many of Pauline's one-of-a-kind knitted scarves can be found for sale at RareFunk.

Rob "Rawbe" DaSilva is the lead Monster Catcher for "Top Secret Monsterz". He has been helping monsterz find loving homes for many years now. His ultimate goal is to make sure that all good monsterz find a best friend. A friendly selection of these furry friends can be found for sale at RareFunk. TOP SECRET MONSTERZ COME FROM A LAND FAR AWAY. THEY COME TO PROTECT YOU FROM BAD MONSTERZ, AND KEEP YOU SAFE FROM BAD DREAMS. THEY WILL NEVER BE FRIGHTENING AND MAKE YOU SCREAM. THEY'LL MAKE YOU HAPPY, AND THEY'LL MAKE YOU LAUGH, WITH A MONSTER FRIENDSHIP THAT IS BUILT TO LAST! SO HOLD THEM REALLY CLOSE AND HOLD THEM REALLY TIGHT. TOP SECRET MONSTERZ WILL PROTECT YOU WITH ALL OF THEIR MIGHT!

Ruth views writing artist biographies about herself as a chore. There’s only so many creative ways to describe being crafty, cheap and a thrift store goddess living in suburban Winterpeg, Canada. Ruth views musty abandoned books and bags of industrial obsolescence as a challenging way to keep her Etsy store stocked. Her children are mostly embarrassed, as teenagers tend to be, and her husband will look the other way if she brings him a cold one first. The dog is fine with it all. Ruth likes to keep things from ending up in the trash and has a special relationship with a few factories that feel sorry for her and would rather set the rapid technology change induced trash aside, than rescue her from the trash bin, again. A selection of Ruth’s computer component jewellery and pin back buttons are available at RareFunk.

Sarah is a local artist, who sews and assembles her creations in her Waterloo apartment, closely supervised by a calico cat and a miniature schnauzer. Taught to sew by her mother in grade school, Sarah is a self taught designer and textile artist. Domestic Puss came into being in February 2008, starting with vinyl handbags, wallets and change purses. Gradually becoming bigger, women's clothing (including Plus Sized and Gothic Lolita-inspired skirts), baby items and a wide range of hair accessories were soon added. Small clothing alterations and repairs are also available.

Seika has been creating eclectic fashions for more than 30 years. Her designs reflect a bygone era where Royalty, Gypsies, Troubadours and Commoners party in a realm of wonder and imagination. Each piece is one of a kind and her creativity may be found on many runways as well as in film, TV and music videos.

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.

Sacred Garden was born out of a passion for providing natural skincare products and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Especially as a parent, Shannon has been increasingly concerned about the impact of toxic chemicals on the health of families. Like you, Shannon is bombarded with news about the many potentially harmful ingredients that are found not only in our food, but also in the many products we use every day on our skin and hair. The more she learned about hazardous ingredients in many of the products we were using, the more compelled Shannon felt to find an alternative. While in school for alternative healthcare Shannon began researching the "natural" products that were available on the market. What she discovered shocked her. Any company can slap the name "natural" or "aromatherapy" or even "organic" on a label with absolutely nothing to back it up. The laws governing this form of false advertising are getting stricter; however it is up to the consumer to check the ingredient list to be certain of what you are putting on your skin. This lack of quality natural products prompted Shannon to create her own line of all natural products. Shannon’s goal was to create a unique line of products that combine the freshest possible ingredients with the healing powers of essential oils and natural extracts. These products are not only healthy for you; they also effectively soothe and restore the skin. Plus, they feel and smell sublime. No chemicals, no artificial preservatives, no colours, just natural, raw ingredients. The plain honest truth is that our skin reflects how well we take care of it. Every day we expose it to the environment, with all of its harmful elements, from the ultraviolet light of the sun to insidious airborne pollutants. Every day we should also protect it, helping it to withstand the daily onslaught and look and feel its best. Sacred Garden products are like food for the skin— ...that most tender and vulnerable of organs, and the organ that most visibly reflects our total health. Shannon enjoys peace of mind in using Sacred Garden products on her children and herself; and they love having healthy, well-nourished skin, too!

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.

Sherrie has been a resident of Kitchener-Waterloo on and off for 20 year now. She has taken art and photography classes at University of Waterloo, Home Watson Gallery, and various community courses over the years. Sherrie was also a member of the Waterloo Potters Workshop for a number of years. Sherrie’s paintings have sold at small arts and craft sales in the past. The last 2 years have been full with change for Sherrie. She recently moved from downtown Kitchener where she has lived the last 12 years, to Waterloo with her boyfriend and his 2 daughters. Sherri has a part-time massage therapy practice at Blue Skies Yoga and works at the Region of Waterloo in GRT. Sherrie’s visual art has been a constant companion and form of self-expression throughout her life.

Stephanie Butler was in the bead business for 20 years. She was one of the pioneers of bead stores in Canada, having established the Bead Bazaar in 1991, and retired in2010. Her main inspiration is the satisfaction she gets from teaching others and watching them discover the fulfilling and rewarding results of their endeavors. A partial list of her accomplishments are; teaching a wire working course, basic to advanced beading courses, creating jewellery and accessories for weddings and other special events, making stunning lamp work glass beads and incorporating them into jewellery designs, establishing great rapport with suppliers, customers and the community.

Odd Bird transforms ordinary little objects into pieces of unique jewellery. Inspired by game pieces and other bric-a-brac, Odd Bird sets out to create mixed-media jewellery that’s decidedly quirky yet fun to wear. Odd Bird is for those who want to stand out from the flock! The Odd Bird is actually a human named Tara Campbell, who has always enjoyed alternative crafting. Tara is also a long-standing member of the Fresh Collective (designer's co-op in Toronto) and works in the animation industry. A funky selection of Tara’s necklaces, rings and brooches can now be found 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.

Terra started sewing because she is from a small town where she could not find clothing to suit her spooky style. She would visit her local thrift store, digging for garments with unique fabrics. She would bring them home and throw them on her mom’s sewing machine to create exclusive items that no one in town would have, though some might recognize (think “Pretty In Pink” just spookier). Terra moved to the city where she was able to find clothes that suited her style but she continued to have the same problem when it came to her home decor. Only during that magical time called ~halloween~ was Terra able to find home decor items and fabrics she liked. Once again she found herself at the sewing machine creating spooky quilts, pillows, and curtains for her home. Terra had always enjoyed creating collages. Once she tried quilting–which is fabric collage–she was hooked! She made two quilts for herself, one for her little sister, and donated one to charity. This past summer, Terra set up a table at Rue Morgue’s Festival of Fear selling her pillows and quilts. The response was so great that she decided to take her scary creations to the web. Terra enjoys using traditional quilt patterns or just making it up as she goes along. She adores taking naps and being cozy. Her quilts are created with this in mind–they are backed with polar fleece which is warm but not too heavy. Terra is a bit of a geek: she enjoys sci-fi, fantasy, horror and comics. She is happy if her creations touch on any of these genres but is willing to work with just about anything you have in mind. Being a second-hand shopper, she loves the hunt for the fabric almost as much as making the pillows and quilts.

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.

Wanda June is an independent designer specializing in crafting beautiful handmade hats, clothing and accessories for women, men and children. Wanda is well known for her hats. The original inspiration for hats came when she realized she couldn’t find a good fitting hat. Each unique piece is designed and handmade by Wanda in her studio in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Wanda June is not just a fashion statement, but a political statement. To buy locally and think globally is a statement of cultural revolution, of sustainability and a lifestyle choice that is making changes for the future.

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!