Posted on

At the Market this week: Green thumbs of little ones

This week at the East Lynn Farmers’ Market!

Garden Jane: 

Garden Jane will be on hand to teach kids how to make compost tea and red wriggler homes for worm composting.  For more information on what this dynamic garden educator does, check out her website.

A family affair… 

Like many of the farmers who bring their produce to East Lynn Park each week, Larry Short of Sun Ray Orchards comes from a long line of farmers. He now runs the Beamsville farm that his great-grandfather ran and lives a farmhouse built in 1830 with his wife Tammy and their five children. You can’t miss them, just look for the tent filled with red heads.

Larry is always interested new and challenging ways to keep youth interested in farming. That’s why he involves all five of his children in the farming operations – whether it be picking the tomatoes, helping produce the baked goods and jams, or coming to help sell at the market; and, it seems to be working.  Larry says that his children are already excited to see what they can plant on their own next year.

So if you’re looking for some berries, peaches, watermelon, pies, jams, cider, or even a little parenting advice on keeping children interested in farming, check out Sun Ray Orchards.

Come see us! 

If you haven’t stopped by the DECA tent lately, you should.  You can find out about our upcoming DECA events, including the Arts Fair, Applemania and Harvestfest.  You can also pick up one of the colourful DECA t-shirts that we have for sale. If you live in the DECA borders, please consider getting or renewing a membership for $10 per household. We’re your neighbours, so you can even come and just say “hi”!

DECA’s borders are Monarch Park Ave to Mortimer/Lumsden to Main St down to the train tracks. To learn more about DECA please visit our website.

The East Lynn Farmer’s Market runs every Thursday from 3-7 p.m. between June-October at East Lynn Park, located on the south side of Danforth Ave, just west of Woodbine Ave.

Posted on

Danforth East Arts Fair: Joan Jamieson of Norrie and Hank

In our series of artist profiles leading up the Danforth East Arts Fair, writer Shauna Rempel introduces us to Joan Jamieson of kid-friendly Norrie and Hank.

Jamieson spent 30 years as an elementary school teacher, so she has a good sense of what children like. The local artist also been sewing for 50 years and that experience is easy to see with Norrie and Hank, the imaginary friends behind a line of clothing, playthings and accessories for kids that puts new and repurposed fabric to good use.

In a unique twist, Jamieson chooses trims and embellishments from the trunk full of fabric she inherited from her mother, who was an avid quilter. “I combine these treasures with repurposed clothing, linens and other notions to create things that are comfortable for kids to wear and fun for them to play with.”

Baby boots fashioned from a lambswool sweater, felted to be extra soft and washable

For the Danforth East Arts Fair, Jamieson is focusing on three types of items. First, she’s making accessories for young children including soft fleece-lined baby boots, hats and mittens. Jamieson’s second focus is on fun, functional clothing that will grow with the kids, such as dresses that can later be worn as tunics. “I like to make things that can last several years,” Jamieson says. She’s also making playthings such as vintage-style hand kites. Included in this third category are a trio of playmats intended for preschool and school aged children to use while playing with toys. The playmats are designed to fold up into a messenger bag with a pocket so kids can tote their treasures with them. Take note, DECA fans, one mat is decorated with Toronto landmarks, including a representation of the East Lynn Farmers’ Market!

A pirate jacket that isn’t just a costume. It’s a functional jacket made from men’s pants and fully lined with what used to be a plaid flannel shirt.

The best part about Norrie and Hank? Most of Jamieson’s items are partly made with repurposed fabric so you can teach your kids about recycling while kitting them out with unique and fashionable items!

Joan Jamieson’s wares, which range in price from $10 to $100, will be for sale at the Danforth East Arts Fair in East Lynn Park on Sept. 15 & 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit www.deca-arts.ca or check out Facebook or Twitter.

 

Posted on

Market this week: fun-filled activities for all!

As usual, there’s lots to do at the market this week:

  • Joanne will be back doing Henna body art by donation, starting at 3:00 p.m.
  • Mrs. Darling’s craft this week is Recycled Paper Bead jewellery – necklaces, bracelets or friendship pins.  Crafting starts at 4:30 p.m.

  • The gang from Silly Goose Kids will be hosting activities for kids starting at 5:30 p.m.  This week they’re bringing special guests Sally Jaeger and Erika Webster for stories and circle games, and if that’s not enough, they are also bringing their GIANT bubble wands!

Check out the amazing photographs and write-up of East Lynn Market on BlogTO.

The East Lynn Farmer’s Market runs every Thursday from 3-7 p.m. between June-October at East Lynn Park, located on the south side of Danforth Ave, just west of Woodbine Ave.

Posted on

Danforth East Arts Fair: Bonnie Dorgelo of Dorgelo Jewellery

In our series of artist profiles leading up the Danforth East Arts Fair, writer Shauna Rempel introduces us to Bonnie Dorgelo of Dorgelo Jewellery. 

Jewellery maker Bonnie Dorgelo’s fascination with stones began early: as a child she collected rocks and even entered her collection into the local fall fair.

Fast forward to today and the established artisan has become known for exciting, contemporary sterling silver jewellery featuring semi-precious stones. When it comes to semi-precious stones, Dorgelo says she selects pieces that have visually appealing colours, patterns and shapes while paying attention to the special properties they carry. “I find intriguing ways of combining shapes, textures, sheens and other opacities.” Combined with Swarovski crystals and wrought in sterling silver, the result is classic yet unpredictable.

Although they can easily be considered heirlooms, Dorgelo’s earrings, necklaces and bracelets are not meant to languish in a safety deposit box. She says her “versatile, interchangeable and detachable designs” have an elegant yet casual attitude.  They  are “intended to be worn as often as one wishes,’’ she declares.

     

For Dorgelo, who grew up on 100 acres of land and is currently based in Collingwood, nature is a constant inspiration. The graceful sweep of a flower petal, the cascade of water over rocks or moonlight as it streams through the branches of the tree — all are fuel for her creative pursuits.

This multi-talented artist, who is also passionate about painting, says she encourages everyone to find their own inspiration and pursue their creative dreams.

Bonnie Dorgelo’s jewellery, which range in price from $10 to $500, will be for sale at the Danforth East Arts Fair in East Lynn Park on September 15 & 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information about the Danforth East Arts Fair and our artists, visit www.deca-arts.ca, or check out Facebook and Twitter.

Posted on

Peachfest & Movie Night

Peachfest Poster

It’s Peachfest! There’s so much to see and do at the market this Thursday – a magic show at 5:00 p.m., music from Bad Dog, peachy treats from True Brew, topped off by a movie in the park at 8:30 p.m. Check out the poster for more details.

Speaking of peaches… they’re a favorite of Angela Russo. Angela and her husband have been bringing the fresh fruit and baked goods of Loffredo Fruit Farms in St. Catharines to our market for five years now. She says making peach pies is her favourite, especially when the peaches are freestone like they are right now, which we’ve learned means that they separate from the pits very easily. Even though she sells out most of her baked goods each week, it’s not the business that keeps her coming back. Angela loves the friendly people and the atmosphere of our market.

Posted on

Secret artist at work on our streets

This just in from one of our art-loving neighbours…

These colourful crocheted cozies are appearing all along Wolverleigh Blvd. near Earl Beatty school – on bike racks, poles and more. They’re beautiful, and as they multiply, they warm up the street and bring a smile to the faces of passerby. Whoever could be behind this wonderful art? Is it someone who learned about the art of “yarn bombing” through Amy Barnes during Art of the Danforth? Some of her students’ “bombs” still adorn poles on the Danforth. To whoever it is, we say thank you. Whatever the reason behind your guerilla crochet, we’re thankful for it and hope it continues.