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| Corina Penner and Emily Fryer – Jake + Cleo 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. |
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Angela Desloges – Spatula 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 Anglea’s fantastic pieces can be found for sale at RareFunk. |
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| Amrita Lamba – Artist 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. |
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| Alissa Aune – AJ Alissa and her partner moved to the area about two years ago from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Before their move, Alissa always enjoyed making jewellery for friends and family. After moving to Canada, she explored this passion further and took multiple classes in jewellery making. Alissa feels that the process of jewellery making is calming and therapeutic. Many of the various types of stones she uses in her pieces are believed to hold powerful healing properties. A wide range of Alissa’s beautiful necklaces, bracelets and rings can be found for sale at RareFunk. |
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| Wanda Hownslow 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. |
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| Tara Campbell – Odd Bird Designs 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. |
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| Penelope Edgar - Photographer/Artist Penelope is an Environmental Photographer/Artist based in Mississauga, Ontario. She loves all things natural and recycles as much as possible. She has an on-line vintage clothing store on Etsy and also makes fun, fashionable shoulder bags out of vintage recycled clothing and fabrics. All fabrics and items used in making the bags are cleaned and made out of recycled and natural products (ie. hemp tags/recycled paper product tags). A variety of Penelope’s bags can be found for sale at RareFunk and she hopes that you will enjoy the bags and promote recycling! |
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| Natalia Baltazar – Third Life Designs Natalia Baltazar is a self taught designer and has been making clothes for the last couple of years. Natalia loves taking used and vintage pieces that are no longer wearable, and turning them into something new and exciting! Her clothing line ‘Third Life’ ensures your outfit will be unique, and that no one piece can be replicated. Natalia’s goal is to help those who wear her clothes feel beautiful and comfortable and will create a custom piece to suit your individual needs. An elegant selection of Natalia’s designs can be found for sale at RareFunk. |
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| Morganna Leblanc and Michelle Potter – Postart Blooming Collective Morganna and Michelle are Ottawa artists who create beautiful fashions and artwork from vintage and recycled materials. Each piece is colourful, one-of-a-kind and handcrafted with love. A creative selection of brooches, necklaces and earrings can be found for sale at RareFunk. |
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| Marie-Suzanne Nunes – FotoMoments 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.  Linette works in environmental consulting by day and volunteers politically by night. Until recently, her Treasure Boxes were only made as Christmas or birthday presents for friends and family members, but now she is sharing them with the world. Linette collaborates with photographers, using their cast-off prints for some of her boxes, as well as making custom boxes from greeting cards, calendars, and photos of all kinds. Donations of these printed materials are warmly accepted. Also an amateur candy maker and baker, Linette wishes she had more time for martial arts, cycling, yoga, and belly dance. Linette often prods people to "Think of all the fun things you could do with your day if you never had to sleep!” A unique collection of Linette’s treasure boxes can be found for sale at RareFunk. |
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| Linda Zavarella – Fancy Pet ~ Fancy Baby 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. |
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| Katharine Zywert – Fiber Artist Katharine Zywert is a fiber artist, writer, and BodyTalk practitioner living in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. Her botanically-themed work features hand stitching,machine sewing, needle felting, embroidery, and beadwork. Katharine’s creative interest in the natural world is inspired by her early immersion in gardens, her study of ecotherapy, and her academic work with ethnobotanists. She has been working with fabric, yarn, thread, and beads for twenty years. A unique and creative selection of Katharine’s fiber art trees are available for sale at RareFunk. |
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| Hannah Richardson – Foundlings Foundlings is a treasure trove of unique vintage inspired designs specially handcrafted with the trend-setting green shopper in mind. Whether it's cute or camp, nifty or nerdy, silly or stylish – you may just find the perfect fit! Hannah began her fashion journey 10 years ago after completing her studies in Creative Fashion Design at George Brown College in Toronto. She got her start in the costume design world as a sewer for Mirvish Production's “Mamma Mia” and went on to work as a pattern cutter for a local designer. In 2000, Hannah’s papier mache Archie comics dress and stole made from gutted teddy bears was selected as a finalist in the Wearable Art category at the REVAMP fashion show, hosted by the Recycling Council of Ontario. It was here that Hannah’s interest in re-purposing materials began. In February 2010, she officially launched her own line of vintage inspired women's clothing, Foundlings. Many pieces in the collection are crafted from vintage and upcycled fabrics and supplies. The Foundlings collection is available at various stores in Toronto, as well as RareFunk in Kitchener. |
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| Georgiana Marcu – Garden Dub 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. |
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| Evelyn Zhang - Washi Papercrafts 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. |
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Cliff Townsend and Kayt DeWeerd - Chainmail Zombies 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. |
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| Carolyn McLeod-McCarthy & Catherine Butchart. Duna & Gertie Eco Refashionistas were born in a gravel pit. Catherine Butchart (Duna) and Carolyn McLeod-McCarthy (Gertie) met while walking their dogs and soon discovered they had a mutual interest in turning other peoples castoffs into something useful and funky. What other people see as trash or useless – and even ugly - the ladies see as something that can be transformed with hard work and creative vision. You will find them hunting thrift shops, church sales and even the curb for their next diamond in the rough. They’ll even help you update that piece of family furniture that you’ve been holding on to but don’t use because it just doesn’t ‘suit your décor’. Founded in 2010, Duna & Gertie has big plans for the future. What started in a garage has now moved to a studio that only promises more space to flex their creative muscle. Catherine Butchart uses her fashion design background and all things fabric to enhance many projects, not to mention her incredible eye for finding those items that can be turned into useful treasures. Carolyn McLeod-McCarthy has mad woodworking skills and her professional graphic design and fine arts background lends itself to creative solutions to turn trash into functional art. Together, this duo is doing their part in saving the planet from overflowing landfills by repurposing quality finds for new a life. |
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| Amaryah deGroot – Sew Oiseau 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. |
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| Adrienne Kulling Vintagelove 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-ordinating screws. Stir up the nostalgia! Take a peek into the domestic life of the mid-century North American suburban housewife! |
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